Nick Karras is a Korean War veteran and a tough Chicago Homicide detective. But his newest challenge is his most difficult. A serial killer named the Coast to Coast Killer has been raping and murdering young women all across the United States. Nick runs into all kinds of roadblocks to catch this murderer, a man who has raped and left for dead his own daughter Penelope, who now lies in a catatonic state in a mental institution. Penelope's mother deserted her daughter and husband several years back.

Nick meets and falls in love with Nora, who becomes his second wife. Nick finds out that Nora has 'gifts' that might aid him in the capture of the serial slayer who left Penelope for dead in a Chicago alley.

Ferocious is set in the 1970s, back before DNA and cellphones and computers, back when an investigator had to use his wits to bring down murderers. Nick Karras is relentless in finding this so-called Coast to Coast serial killer, and he means to avenge the brutality inflicted on the killer's own daughter.