When a young woman is found unconscious at the wheel of her car, evidence at the scene suggests this was no ordinary crash. Especially when it turns out that her boyfriend is the son of a high-ranking politician, and neither of them is willing to talk to the police. But it's their bad luck that John Rebus is back on the force -- albeit with a big demotion -- and he's a man who doesn't generally take no for an answer. As Rebus sets about doing what he does best -- aggravating people in power -- he finds himself the subject of unwelcome scrutiny. A thirty-year-old case is being reopened, with Rebus and his former team suspected of corruption -- and worse. Known as "the Saints," his colleagues swore a bond of mutual loyalty on something called "the Shadow Bible." But with Malcolm Fox as the investigating officer -- and determined to use Rebus for his own ends -- the crimes of the past may not stay hidden much longer.