DCI Red Metcalfe investigates a brutal series of murders. Each death, vile in execution, is different from the last, but the murderer leaves an unmistakable calling card, cutting out the victim's tongue and replacing it with a silver spoon.

As the killings continue, a pattern emerges: each victim shares his name and occupation and type of death with one of the twelve disciples. DCI Red Metcalfe and his team try to catch the killer before he can complete his grisly quest.

Personal grief has to be put aside when brilliant detective Red Metcalfe is faced with a series of grisly and sadistic killings. Each body provides a taunting clue to the murder method to come and the police team and their families could be next on the hit list.

DCI Charlie MacIntyre has paid a terrible price for putting the wrong man behind bars - and he won't be the last. Now the stakes are raised for Red to track down the sadistic murderer whose aim is to be judge, jury and executioner of the guilty. But the killer is always one step ahead.

DCI Red Metcalfe's renowned ability to get under the skin and into the minds of deranged killers is put to the ultimate test when he is forced to confront an old adversary - Pace Tierney, an enemy Red thought he had put inside forever. An inquiry into prison brutality, conducted by DS Kate Beauchamp, suddenly explodes into a terrifying ordeal when inmates, led by Pace Tierney, riot and take hostages.

The death toll at the hospital continues to rise as the chief suspects are murdered. DCI Red Metcalfe uncovers the unwelcome connection between the victims.