Everybody loves Dolly Beaugard... — At least that's what Maine college professor and amateur sleuth Sarah Deane always though. But when Dolly's bloated body washes ashore on the same spot as the drunken Gattling brothers the day before, the police rule homicide. Unfortunately for Sarah, she and her doctor-husband Alex have a local reputation for sharp-eyed detection, so Dolly's sister Alice, who doesn't trust the police, insists they get involved.

Sarah and Alex begin to discover that the connection between the reviled Gattlings and the reputable Beaugards is surprisingly close. And even though her family all depended on Dolly to keep their finances in order, some things just don't add up. Sarah and Alex's only hope is to find out who knew Dolly's secrets -- and who might be next on the killer's hit list.