A killer flees the scene of a homicide at a prestigious music school and locks himself in a classroom. Within minutes, the police have him surrounded. There's a shout from inside, followed by a gunshot. The police break clown the door. The room is empty. Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are brought in to help with the high-profile investigation of a master illusionist. But the conjurer baits them with gruesome murders that become more diabolical with each fresh crime. As the fatalities rise and the minutes tick clown, Rhyme and Sachs must move beyond the smoke and mirrors to prevent a terrifying act of vengeance that could become the greatest vanishing act of all.