J. D. Daugherty and Hoolie Smith return in this riveting 1928 mystery. A sadist is preying on young women, especially Native American girls. He murders them and dumps their bodies by two creeks--one near Pawnee and one near Claremore--both named Panther Creek. Hoolie, his family, and his friend John Tall Soldier have driven to Pawnee, Oklahoma, to visit the Shield Chiefs. After Mary Shield Chief goes missing, Hoolie and John find her body in the bed of Panther Creek. Hoolie's family begin a hunt for the murderer.

Meanwhile, J. D. has a new partner in Liz Shelby, daughter of oil man Big Bill Shelby. Together they search for the missing daughter of another wealthy Tulsa family, but they soon find her body at Panther Creek near Claremore. Their cases colliding, Daughtery, Shelby, and the Smith clan find themselves up against a wily killer and running against time to bring him to justice.