"Winter Prey" by John Sandford is one of a series of books about Minneapolis cop Lucas Davenport. Davenport has left the police department and has retreated to his cabin in the North Woods of Wisconsin. One snowy and bitterly cold winter night, a deputy comes to Davenport's door to ask for his help in solving a crime.

A sociopath named "The Iceman" goes to the family home of Claudia and Frank LaCourt, kills the entire family and burns the house to the ground. The man is looking for a photograph of himself with a young boy, one that was published and could ruin him if discovered. The LaCourt's daughter, Lisa, had a copy and showed it to her parents. The boy in the photo had been found dead.

Davenport comes on the scene and meets the sheriff and the deputies. The sheriff deputizes Davenport as the small town sheriff does not feel capable to handle a multiple homicide. Davenport has a reputation as being one of the best homicide cops in the business.

On the scene, Davenport meets Dr. Weather Karkinnen, county coroner.

Davenport teams up with the sheriff and deputies and begins to work the case. The task of eliminating suspects is tiresome work. One of the main persons of interest is Father Phil Bergen, the local parish priest, who was seen leaving the general vicinity of the LaCourt house less than two minutes before the fire was called in to 911. Bergen asserts his innocence.

The Iceman is involved in a sex ring involving children. The boy in the photo had to die after he sent the photo into a porn publication. The other people involved in the group include the boy's father, a local married couple, and a single man. When things start to get rough, the single man and married couple vanish.

The Iceman is involved with one of the young girls in the sex ring. The girl will do anything the Iceman asks.

The Iceman knows that Weather Karkinnen must die because she is the one person who will be able to identify him from the photo. All attempts on Weather's life fail.

Father Bergen is the next to die because his innocence threatens the Iceman's freedom. If Davenport figures out how the fire was set, Bergen would be off the hook and the Iceman would be caught.

Davenport and the rest of the team devise several different ways to flush out the Iceman. Putting one of the members of the sex ring in jail does the trick. The Iceman kills the other man and decides to make a run for it.

Davenport gets a clear copy of the photo and Weather identifies the man by severe burns on his leg. The man is Duane Helper, the only full time fireman.

The Iceman and the yellow-haired girl have a stand off with the cops then head for the woods. The cops track them and there is a final confrontation. The Iceman runs into the woods where he is shot in the back. The Iceman is convinced he can still go on.

Davenport is shot in the throat by the yellow-haired girl and nearly dies. Love interest Weather is on hand to save Davenport's life.

The Iceman is prepared to give himself up to the police when he is eaten alive by coyotes.