Seven million people visit the breathtaking beaches of North Carolina's Outer Banks each year looking for fun, relaxation, even romance - but not murder.

An influential politician's staffer is found dead, right in the middle of a campaign. State Bureau of Investigation Agent and struggling mother of three Michael Francis catches the case and finds herself in a gathering storm of cover-ups, crooked cops, drug trafficking, and attempts on her life while she deals with a difficult separation from her police detective husband. In the midst of unexpected and confusing romantic overtures from a prime suspect, an approaching hurricane threatens to sabotage her investigation as Michael chases down a serial killer who's been operating in the shadows for years.

Michael is forced to deal with human threats more dangerous than mother nature herself in a climactic ending with an unexpected twist. Will she be able to solve her case before the ocean reclaims her crime scene and the murderer disappears? Or will a multitude of nefarious forces stop her dead in her tracks?