When Spenser's closest ally, Hawk,is brutally injured and left for dead while protecting bookie Luther Gillespie,Spenser embarks on an epic journey to rehabilitate his friend in body and soul. Spenser quicklylearns that the Ukrainian mob is responsible for the hit, but finding a wayinto their tightly knit circle is not nearly so simple. Their total control ofthe town of Marshport, from the bodegas to the police force to the mayor'soffice, isn't just a sign of rampant corruption-it's a form of arrogance thatonly serves to ignite Hawk's desire to get even. As the body count rises,Spenser is forced to employ some questionable techniques and even morequestionable hired guns while redefining his friendship with Hawk in the nameof vengeance.