Sax Douchett has returned to Shelter Bay after his discharge from the Navy. Sax's last mission as a SEAL went very wrong. He lost teammates and nearly his life. Now, he needs time to heal and his home in Shelter Bay is perfect. He and his dog, Velcro, are walking along the beach when Velcro runs off and returns with a human bone. When the sheriff arrives, he doesn't expect to see the woman he used to fantasize about when he was a teenager.

Sheriff Kara Conway has returned to Shelter Bay after her husband's death to take the job that was left open with her father's murder. She and her son, Trey, have moved in with her mother. Kara's relationship with her mother has always been a little rocky but she hopes to improve that while living there. The discovery of the bone creates a a web of lies and deceit which leads to several murders.

Sax starts to rebuild his life at the same time as he is protecting Kara from a killer who seeks to protect his secrets. His love of cooking and music lead him to rebuild Bon Temps, the place where he grew up. He knows he can do it with the help of his family and friends. Kara, too moves forward with her life after the last few years of grief and sorrow. The search for the killer results in tremendous upheaval in the lives of the residents of Shelter Bay.

Fans of JoAnn Ross will be thrilled with this addition to her Shelter Bay series. The characters are interesting and entertaining. The plot is complicated and riveting. It's the type of book that a reader will be reluctant to put down once started. Ms. Ross always delivers a wonderful story but this one delivers even more than expected. Masterfully plotted and executed, this book kept me engrossed from beginning to end.