During the mid-1980s, a brutal killing spree began in Los Angeles as several women were murdered, having been sexually assaulted and shot in the chest with a .25 calibre gun. The man responsible was Lonnie David Franklin Jr. However, his identity wouldn't be revealed for almost thirty years, by which time he had become one of America's most prolific serial killers.

At the time, Los Angeles was a city struggling under the weight of racial inequalities and a crack cocaine epidemic that was sweeping through its most deprived areas. Many in the communities of South Central felt that this caused a lack of interest on the part of the LAPD in properly investigating the these murders. In 2010, Franklin's escape from justice finally came to an end, and he was eventually convicted of the killings of nine women and one teenage girl in 2016, although it is suspected that he could be responsible for killing many, many more.

In this book, investigative journalist Victoria Redstall delves into the mind of America's most notorious serial killer to discover the truth, in his own words, behind his appalling actions as well as speaking to neighbours, family members, victims' family members and police connected to the case. By visiting Franklin in prison and gaining his trust, she allows Franklin to reveal a terrifying lack of empathy for the victims whose lives he so brutally ended. This is a chilling and fascinating look into the crimes of the Grim Sleeper.