In this, his second novel, Ron Dawson takes us into the inner world of Joseph L Stepping, a psychopathic killer totally defunct of normal human emotion, understanding and empathy. Stepping is an emotionally, socially and sexually inadequate young man in his early twenties. He lives alone with his attractive mother, Rose. An unsuccessful and unplanned rape attempt results in his first murder and awakens a sexual desire for his mother. He learns of the Oedipus myth and becomes obsessed by it. He creates a distorted perception of the myth making Oedipus his God and guide to sexual fulfilment via his mother's bed.

When he discovers that he is a child of incest, his newly aroused sexual desire for his mother is enhanced. On learning that his biological father is still alive he concludes that, as Oedipus killed his father, so he must kill his. The murder of his father, however, does not take him to his mother's bed and leads only to his greater frustration. He attributes his failure to being a virgin, and hence not worthy either to adopt the mantle of Oedipus or an active place in his mother's bed. To achieve his 'manhood' he embarks upon a campaign of attacking young women but, when he is unable to penetrate his innocent victims, he blames them for his failure and kills them in retribution. The experiences of power, excitement and media interest, previously unknown to him, intoxicate and empower him. He becomes a confident and calculating killer.

His father's death, however, releases his mother from a denial of her own sexuality and she takes a lover, a work colleague of Stepping's. When an opportunity arises Stepping kills this rival for his mother's affections. At the funeral of this lover his mother meets a new and more formidable rival for her affections, a detective investigating the rape victim murders. Stepping comes to believe that this detective suspects him of the murders and is setting up situations to expose him. Feeling threatened, vulnerable and yet all-powerful, Stepping resolutely vows to both achieve his manhood and to eliminate any rival for his mother's love.

Following a multiple killing spree, his mother discovers his crimes and dark passion and makes a sad desperate attempt to save her only son from retribution, with disastrous consequences for all.

'Ron Dawson's stunning narrative enters the disturbed mind of the killer with such credibility that it is both horrifying and fascinating...a dark tale that weaves serial murder with the most ancient of sexual taboos.' (Sue Bates, MA.Cam. MTB reviewer).