故事发生在清末,大致是说一个大户人家的小姐(哥哥是个秀才一类的吧,有功名)被不怀好意的仆人诬陷,说她和自己的哥哥有染并怀有身孕。官府以重罪将小姐传唤,验身稳婆被人收买,说小姐不贞,并逼她当众脱衣验身;小姐坚决不肯,也知清白难辩,于是在公堂上愤而自杀
恶仆怕事情穿帮,竟然将怀孕的妻子谋杀,与小姐的尸体掉换,鱼目混珠;县令见血溅公堂,少不得也须推卸责任,由他蒙混。但苦主家自然不肯甘休,坚不受冤认罪,终将此事闹大,从县一级一级闹上去。小姐的哥哥被收押在监,验明清白的方法就是把死去女人的骸骨拿来蒸,然后把哥哥的血滴上去验——意在证明他们有血缘关系,则罪名即可坐实。一次又一次的仵作都被收买,每次都加固了罪名。大意就是这样,反正清朝的贪官都一副德行。这个冤案一直拖了很久,最后是哥哥的女儿告了御状,才将一堆赃官正法,牵连甚广。
A tale of adultery, religion and perversity as Fitz attempts to unravel a strange murder case. Meanwhile, his wife, Judith, is about to split the family assets down-the-line, leaving Fitz and his son Mark to fend for themselves.
Fitz is assisting the police in identifying a serial rapist. Floyd Malcom was scarred as a child, both physically and mentally. He now preys on women, often the wives of people he knows. His pattern is always the same: he wears a mask and after raping his victims he chats with them, as if he wants to be their friend. He's also taken to calling in to Fitz's radio talk show for a...