Dinah Pelerin is again serving as maid of honor for her best friend Claude Ann, whose second marriage will take place in Hawaii. The groom is involved in a big real estate deal on the Big Island that has angered some Native Hawaiians who believe the locale to be sacred. But that's not all Dinah and Claude Ann have to deal with.

Someone is stalking members of the wedding party, a blackmailer is threatening to expose nefarious deeds and the island is trembling under the wrath of fire goddess Pele. Things take an even more sinister turn when a member of the groom's family is found murdered. An overabundance of suspects leads to rampant speculation on Dinah's part as to who the murderer is, why it happened and if he (or she) will strike again. Her sleuthing not only uncovers secrets of the past, but endangers her life. Is the truth worth it, in the end?

Matthews fills her narrative with many Hawaiian myths and legends, Hawaiian language and its meanings, as well as detailed descriptions of the island setting. This makes for a true feel of the place and time in this challenging, interesting mystery.