Summer on California's rugged north coast. Cliffs, rocky shores, tall trees, beaches, coastal lagoons, campers, and a naked dead body at the edge of the surf. Detective John Ragsdale takes the call and steps into an investigation that leads into the shadows of international intrigue and clandestine operations.

The case seems to point in the direction of the vacationing Paul McAfee without clearly involving him or his new friend and neighbor Jean Parker.

The deeper Detective Ragsdale and his partner Tom Schroeder dig, the larger the scope of the case becomes and every effort to shine light on the truth casts darker shadows and raises more unanswered questions.