Homicide detective, Scobie Malone, is called in to help with a murder, but when the main suspect disappears the case goes onto the back burners. It sits there until the suspect is spotted four years later and apprehended. Of course the suspect says he is innocent, which Scobie doesn't believe. That is until  a witness comes forward and makes a comment that changes everything for him and puts in a difficult situation.

Scobie is also involved in another case, a kidnap murder, which has nothing to do with the first case and at times feels like it is just padding. If the case never existed the story would still be better.

I feel there is a breakdown in the logic when blame is transferred from one to another, in both cases, as it comes down to an unexplained feeling. That is where this story is a bit of a let down. The ending is also a bit of let down but sometimes you can't always get what you want.