Hired to represent the estranged eco-warrior son of an oil and coal interests lawyer who has been found murdered, lawyer Amanda Jaffe searches for the identity of the true killer when she learns that the suspect has only confessed to promote a cause.

Dale Masterson, senior partner in a large Portland, Oregon, law firm, has become wealthy and successful representing the interests of oil and coal companies. When his colleague, Christine Larson, is found dead, Masterson's business practices are put under surveillance and a lower-level employee stands accused. Then Dale is found beaten to death in his mansion. His son Brandon, a dedicated eco-warrior, confesses to killing his father on behalf of all the people whose lives are being destroyed by his father's questionable clients. When Amanda Jaffe is hired to represent Brandon, what seems like an open-and-shut case quickly begins to unravel.