In 19th century Baltimore, a string of brutal murders comes to the attention of police detective Emmett Fields. He discovers that the crimes closely mirror the gruesome scenarios found in the macabre stories of writer Edgar Allan Poe. Fields brings Poe into the investigation, both as a suspect and as an expert on his own works. Poe vehemently denies involvement but is drawn into the case, recognizing that someone appears to be taunting him by recreating his fictional horrors in real life. As Poe and Fields work together, the killer continues to strike, escalating the grotesque nature of the murders. The situation grows increasingly dire when Poe's beloved, Emily Hamilton, becomes the next target.

Fields and Poe race against time to decode the killer's messages hidden within Poe's stories. Their pursuit leads them through a labyrinthine series of clues, each more cryptic and dangerous than the last. The bond between the detective and the tormented writer is tested as they delve deeper into the hunter’s psyche. With the city gripped by fear and the clock ticking down, the investigation builds to an intense climax, revealing unexpected twists and testing the limits of both men's resolve.