Violent crimes

Amanda Jaffe is hired to defend Brandon Masterson, the estranged son of a Portland, Oregon, lawyer who made his fortune defending oil and coal companies. Brandon, a committed environmental activist, has admitted to killing his father, saying the act was a protest against the harm his father's clients have caused to ordinary people. Amanda expects a simple case, but the evidence starts to look far less straightforward.

The murder follows the death of Christine Larson, a colleague at Dale Masterson's large law firm. Her death has drawn scrutiny to the firm's business practices, and a junior employee is already under suspicion. Dale is then found beaten to death in his home, and his son's confession seems to close the matter until Amanda looks closer.