Annie Young-Perret goes undercover at the Edinburgh Scotland office of a multi-national insurance company to investigate the suspicious hit-and-run death of her school friend Chantals husband Duncan. Meantime other company employees are murdered in Boston Colorado Springs and Saint Petersburg Russia by a serial killer who delights in finding original ways to kill her victims. Joining the search are Annies retired French police chief husband Roger; a writer from the new Early Scottish Poets Museum for which Chantal is curator; a coworker of Duncans; and two off-duty Edinburgh police. When the insurance company CEO learns of their inquiries he orders a contract on a new target.