Family man and long-time cop Matthew Donovan is looking forward to retiring from the Chicago Police force, dealing with his large and diverse brood while indulging his secret passion to become a artist in oil. But when his first lesson at the Chiaroscuro Art Studio snowballs into a murder investigation, he must marshal all his experience to solve the crime. As if mocking his interest in art, the murderous heart behind the mayhem teases out their dark story on canvas. Someone is slowly completing an image of the Devil, and suspicions fall directly on gallery owner Nita Wilson, his teacher. But Matthew has a hunch it can't be her, and refuses to accept the easy way out.The strange and satanic painting seems to hold the key to the impossible murders - but can Donovan discover its dark secret before its completion leads to another murder?Mixing family values with police procedure, a genius child adoption, combative co-workers and cryptic references to outer evil, Paint the Devil lets the private and personal clash with the public and profane, and traces the links between them to their final, surprise conclusions.