Eleanor Taylor Bland's popular African-American heroine, homicide detective Marti MacAlister, and her partner, Matthew Jessenovik, are assigned a most unusual case--all that's left of the unfortunate murder victim is an arm. Their investigation into this murder and dismemberment leads them into the exclusive and secretive history of the artistic community in Lincoln Prairie, Illinois.

Meanwhile, Marti's troubled best friend Sharon is slowly getting involved with a man who makes Sharon's friends and family uneasy. When he spirits her away to the Bahamas, then lures her daughter down after them, Marti has no choice but to go to the islands on a dramatic rescue mission.