A corpse in a cornfield. Neighbor waging war against neighbor. A journal written in code.

Forensic pathology Bodhi King's silent retreat at Buddhism monastery hasn't been as contemplative, or silent, as he hoped.

Bodhi's plan was to meditate on the meaning of a recent run-in with an old flame, but instead he's pressed into service to identify a murdered stranger.

He teams up with a pair of federal agents, a bold, brainy plant pathologist, and the no-nonsense, small-town police chief. The players' loyalties shift continually, and nothing's as it seems.

Counseled by his Buddhist monk hosts, and out of his depth, Bodhi finds himself in the middle of investigation with international political and financial implications.

And, to think, all he wanted was a little peace and quiet.