Mike is invited to play in a pro/am golf championship. While there a seemingly impossible murder takes place. Mike begins to investigate and worry about his own safety.
A boxing trainer calls Barnett in because he has concerns about his boxers performance, and suspects the fight be fixed. As Barnett investigates he discovers things are worse than anyone thought, and Barnett's own life could be in danger.
A drunken conventioneer looking for "a good time" gets lured to a private party with the promise of a high-takes dice game, but winds up getting beaten up and robbed.
Barnett's car breaks down near an old hotel. Deciding to stay the night he discovers things are not as expected, and despite being on holiday becomes dragged into a very strange situation.
Barnett acting as a store detective discovers a rash of thefts from the staff and customers within the store. Because the thefts all occurred in and around the toy department, Barnett suspects a child must be somehow involved.
While investigating a suspicious insurance claim regarding stolen jewelry, Mike discovers that a local beauty parlor is connected with several such crimes that take place when the victim is having a complete makeover.
Mike is hired by a his fashion model friend after a fellow model is murdered in her apartment and she recognized the suspect when he left her building...more importantly, the murder suspect recognized her.
Mike Barnett focuses on the Connecticut State Police as they track two armed and dangerous bank robbers through the forests in the western part of the state. Barnett only appears in the beginning, ending and as the narrator.