In post-World War II Washington, D.C., the story begins with the murder of Joseph Samuels, a Jewish man, found in his apartment. Finlay, a dedicated detective, takes on the case, quickly realizing that prejudice may be a motive. He interrogates a group of recently discharged soldiers who were the last known individuals to see Samuels alive. Among them are Sergeant Keeley and Corporal Mitchell. Mitchell, who has no clear memory of the night due to his drunken state, becomes the prime suspect when it's revealed he was seen leaving Samuels' apartment. Keeley, believing in Mitchell's innocence, decides to conduct a parallel investigation to uncover the true perpetrator.

As Finlay dives deeper into the lives of the soldiers, he uncovers underlying racial tensions and hidden secrets. Each soldier's background is meticulously examined, drawing attention to their wartime experiences and personal ideologies. The detective navigates through a web of deceit, paranoia, and bigotry that threatens to thwart his search for justice. As clues slowly unravel, Finlay's pursuit of truth reveals not just a crime of murder but an indictment of societal prejudices and hatreds.