Pendergast and his new cohort, Special Agent Coldmoon, are dispatched to Florida to investigate a rash of ritualistic murders. A killer is carving out the hearts of his victims, and depositing the stolen organs alongside the headstones of existing graves. Accompanying each heart is a cryptic letter, signed by a Mr Brokenhearts . There is one more intriguing aspect to Mr Brokenhearts macabre modus operandi: the chosen graves all belong to women who have committed suicide.