Bored by his desk job in Northumberland, Arnold Landon welcomes the opportunity to join a group of criminal-hunters who specialize in tracing artifacts and looted antiques. Led by the formidable Carmela Cacciatore, Landon sets off on the trail of an ancient bronze statuette of Artemis the Huntress, part of a hoard looted first by the Nazis and then by Stalin's trophy brigade. As Arnold and Carmela dig deeper they are faced with the murder of an informant, and as further killings pile up their efforts are frustrated. As they uncover a history of greed, corruption, murder, and betrayal the long arm of revenge reaches out to kill once again.