Dr. Walter Hollingworth, noted criminologist and convicted murderer offers his help to Virgil McLendon and Tina Rant as they work to solve cases that look to be copycat killings based on those of Hollingsworth. Each murder is based on one of the doctor's own crime scenes, but the good doctor enjoys mind games and riddles as he pushes Virgil to find the answers, teasing and prodding at the investigators. The crime scenes are adding up and the body count is big, but Virgil and Tina keep finding more questions than answers, and know that the killer is several steps ahead of them. As McLendon and Tina Rant work the case, they find that Hollingsworth both helps and hinders the investigation with his endless questions. Some questions will take Virgil all the way back to his first case, as he feels that something then, in that case, may hold answers he needs now. Only by taking the cases apart and looking for the tiniest of clues will Virgil figure this case out in time to save townspeople and himself. According to Hollingsworth, the final crime scene it supposed to be his death, but Virgil has a few tricks left. The case is full of clues, but which are vital? Which are the ones that will point the true way? And why is each case staged to cause as much fear as possible? The answers may be where Virgil least expects because even copycats can be clever.