Novelist Bob "Bobby" Kaminsky was living his life when he learned an old friend he hadn't seen in decades would soon die by lethal injection in Pennsylvania for having committed a triple murder. After chasing down others from his and his friend's time in the Air Force he starts to uncover what happened, why it happened, and what he might be able to do to change the outcome.

He quickly learns his old friend, Garrett Bensen did, in fact, kill a police officer, an ex-cop, and a career criminal. He also learns about the blindly ambitious Pennsylvania state Senator who prosecuted the case and who will stop at nothing to see the sentence carried out.

The Filthy Five is a story about the enduring power of friendship. It's also about motives; Garrett's, for killing three people, Ed's, for wanting the sentence carried out at any cost, and Bobby's for working tirelessly to change terrible circumstances for a friend.