When street cop Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie) discovers a hideously mutilated corpse, her superiors call on forensics expert Lincoln Rhymes (Denzel Washington) to investigate. Paralysed after an injury sustained in the line of duty, the case gives Rhymes a new lease of life, but he needs a reluctant Donaghy to do the legwork for him if he is to stop the murderer from striking again.