Robert B. Parker's erudite Boston sleuth, Spenser (Mantegna), makes a return appearance along with his associate, Hawk (Mahmud-Bey), and lover Susan Silverman (Harden). This time Spenser is asked to check out a possible miscarriage of justice--did a streetwise young black man actually rape and murder a white suburban college student, the crime for which he's been convicted. But as things turn increasingly dangerous, it's clear someone doesn't want Spenser snooping around.