AsafavortohislongtimeloverDr.SusanSilverman,Spenseragreestoinvestigatethestalkingofatheatercompanydirector,probono.Butbeforehecangetstarted,anactoriskilledbyanarrowinthemiddleofaplay.Nowthatthere'sareal-lifemurdertoinvestigate,SpenserandHawk,gettodowhattheydobest--evenifitmeansdeaththreatsfromtheChineseunderworld,beingorderedoutoftownbythetoughlocalpolicechief,anddodgingbulletsandcrossbowsateveryturn.Bythetimetheyleavethequaintoceanfrontcommunity,thepopulationhasdecreasedbythree,andlivetheaterwillneverbethesame.