Child Protective Services social worker Tessa Riley has a lot on her plate. She's responsible for the safety and welfare of Purisima County's most vulnerable citizens. At the same time, her own life is full of a chaos disturbingly similar to so many of her clients: Tessa's daughter is losing her battle with addiction and poverty, and Tessa's raising her grandchildren. Her on-again, off-again romance with attorney David Ellroy is foundering, and some days Tessa feels like it's all she can do to keep her head above water.

Tessa's commitment to doing the right thing is unshakeable, and so when a child on her case-load disappears and later turns up dead, Tessa knows she can't just walk away.

What she uncovers is a monstrous conspiracy, where children are commodities for sale to the highest bidder - and where Tessa's own family lies squarely in the crosshairs.