The scene of the crime is Thing East, a coffee house in the Village, a new establishment for Robin Kenely and three youngsters, one of whom she's in love with. Robin wigs out, holding a blood stained knife, and leaving two bodies in an upstairs room. She's a second cousin of that former cop, Mitch Tobin, who sees a pattern in the meaningless, motiveless three crimes to follow... Not too out for the oldsters (as are the Baxt books) and a welcome return for Mitch Tobin, who does a rough smooth job.