Ex-detective Dave Robicheaux has made a new life for himself and his wife, Annie, in the outskirts of New Orleans. When they save a little girl, the sole survivor of a plane crash, their lives become forever changed. A visit from DEA agent Dautrieve brings out the detective instincts in Robicheaux and he begins to ask about the rest of the passengers. This brings trouble to Robicheaux and he turns to drug lord Bubba Rocque, a childhood friend. But the friendship becomes estranged when an assault on the Robicheaux home leaves one victim…Annie. In the face of personal tragedy, he seeks salvation in a bottle of booze while planning retribution against those who have shattered his life.