Bosch investigates under an order of confidentiality and finds Vance actually had a son, Dominick Santanello, born shortly before his mother's suicide and adopted soon after birth.
Bosch receives, in the mail, a handwritten will by Vance, giving $10 million to his longtime personal assistant and secretary Ida Forsythe and the remainder of his estate to his heir.
Noting inconsistencies in the case, Bosch eventually discovers a fraud initiated by Ida Forsythe when she believed Vance was dying.
The parallel crimes Harry is investigating were perpetrated by a serial rapist who they have code-named Screen Cutter after his method of entry to victims' homes.
Bosch then has to find and rescue his partner Bella Lourdes, whom Dockweiler had abducted and imprisoned when she too came to suspect him as the Screen Cutter.
Maureen Corrigan of The Washington Post wrote: "This latest Bosch outing is its own accomplishment: brooding and intricate, suspenseful and sad.