Frank Elder has become estranged from his troubled daughter. Up until now, Katherine has been unable to come to terms with the terrible events of her past and her father has been powerless to help her. So when Katherine suddenly appears on his doorstep, Elder knows that something is wrong. Katherine has become involved with an older man; a controversial artist known as much for his pornographic paintings as the public's suspicion that for him, life imitates art. But the breakdown of their relationship has sent Katherine into a self-destructive tailspin, made worse when the artist is found murdered in his studio. As a damaged young woman, Katherine had made the perfect muse. But now that he's dead, should that make her the prime suspect? Elder must solve the case if he has any hope of saving his daughter.