On the day of trial of Simon Marcus, a murderous cult leader that Starsky and Hutch arrested, Starsky is snatched away by the cult leader's followers just before judgement is passed. The vengeful followers will only release him safely if their leader is released without charge - if Simon Marcus is sentenced to prison, then Starsky is sentenced to death. Hutch must find his partner before he is subjected to a deadly "religious" ritual, as foreseen in the deranged leader's visions...

Investigating a series of immaculately executed murders, the case leads Hutch back to school as a college student, to get the low-down on a brilliant college professor who teaches a senior student course on the ""philosophy of crime"" and specialises in murder...

A serial killing seaman, who preys on prostitutes, is badly shot during his latest attack. Wounded and on the run, he resorts to holding Hutch's friend and her wheelchair-bound mother hostage in their home. Hutch poses as a paramedic to get inside the house as he and Starsky try to apprehend the desperate killer and safely free the hostages...

The detectives are called when a witness is found dead before he can testify against a notorious racketeer. Hutch begins to suspect that his girfriend's brother may be involved.

As Starsky lies in a hospital bed at death's door, Hutch goes after the powerful man who tried to have him killed