DCI Red Metcalfe investigates a brutal series of murders. Each death, vile in execution, is different from the last, but the murderer leaves an unmistakable calling card, cutting out the victim's tongue and replacing it with a silver spoon.

As the killings continue, a pattern emerges: each victim shares his name and occupation and type of death with one of the twelve disciples. DCI Red Metcalfe and his team try to catch the killer before he can complete his grisly quest.