Despite showing up to the interview intoxicated, he is hired as chief of police for the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts.

The novel begins with Stone's cross country road trip to Paradise during which the disintegration of his marriage is detailed through flashbacks.

Genest is a huge body builder, who assists local gangsters in a money laundering operation and also provides muscle for Hathaway.

Soon after, Genest proceeds to taunt Stone by vandalizing a police car and killing the station cat as well as writing the word "slut" on both.

Along with being the board of selectmen chair, Hathaway is also a wealthy bank owner and leader of "The Freedom’s Horsemen", a local militia group.

However, Genest can't help but leave his calling card by writing the word "slut" on Tammy's corpse to further taunt Jesse.

Jesse begins to investigate Tom Carson's murder, and discovers that Lou Burke had traveled out west at the time of the homicide.

While all these events are taking place, Genest organizes a weapons deal between Hathaway's militia and gay Boston mob boss Gino Fish.

During the standoff, Chief Stone refuses to release Genest and the militia retreat when local and state police arrive.

Jenn becomes fearful for Jesse's life as the events in Paradise unfold and she realizes she still loves him.

First, although Hathaway is still a money launderer, he is portrayed as an unwilling accomplice in the other crimes, as opposed to the hard-nosed extremist he is in the novel.

He makes a point several times of clarifying that he had too much to drink the night before, and made the mistake of having one scotch in the morning to steady himself.