Private detective Archie Archibald is busy moving into his newly purchased cabin deep in the wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He's looking forward to having a quiet retreat where he can escape Florida's stifling summers.

Shortly before the arrival of his friend, Candace Muldoon, he makes a grim discovery. Then, a series of puzzling incidents unfold that make Archie wonder about the safety of his guests and himself. As Archie starts asking questions, he feels uneasy. Why do some of the residents of tiny Cedar River act like they have things to hide? Why doesn't the prominent attorney living down the beach ever mention the beautiful blonde who shares his expensive lake shore mansion? What about Archie's reclusive neighbor who none of the other residents have ever seen?

Three hundred miles to the south, Jill Osbourne is grieving after the recent death of her adoptive mother, a death that has created an urgent personal need for Jill to discover the truth about her birth parents. She hopes to uncover some of the missing pieces of her past during a sailing vacation with her husband.

When an unexpected storm forces them to seek refuge in a marina at Cedar River, Jill's inquiries about her family put in motion events that make it apparent: they have sought refuge in an unsafe harbor.