Paul Steiger learns of the death of his closest friend in a shocking phone call from his friend's mother.

Happened four days ago, Sarabella said. Last Friday. They’re calling it suicide. They’re full of shit. Sarabella Norbeck was a very delicate society matron, filthy rich, and never wrong or so she had always said.

The funeral's tomorrow at two. Tomorrow night after the funeral, there will be a dinner at my home for special guests. I want you to attend.

Paul discovers it is a dinner with six persons who have motive and opportunity to kill his closest friend.

The death happened on an island in the Detroit River connected to the mainland by two old narrow bridges. To find the killer, Paul must peel back a scab hiding social rot, old forgotten murders, and an international crime syndicate dominating the island community.