Loyalty to a friend brings Cally Macdonald to green, idyllic Stone Face Island. But instead of sun and serenity she finds a bitter family conflict rooted in tragedy, and a history of murder going back centuries. Despite her faith in her friend Sheila, and affection for Noel, Sheila's twin, Cally is drawn to the grim, silent adopted brother, Matthew, even though the twins seem to fear and hate him. Muddying the clear northern waters, Cally's charming ex-fianc�, Aubrey, has been hired as piano coach for Ginevra, a girl crippled by a fall from the island cliff. And the memories of Ginevra's dead mother, and Matt's vanished former girlfriend, still haunt the island. As the atmosphere of jealousy and suspicion thickens, so do the heat, drought, and threat of fire. Violent incidents: a prowler in the woods, a sabotaged canoe, a vandalized cottage, hint at approaching disaster. When the storm breaks, Cally will need all her courage and wits just to stay alive, and to save the lives of those she loves.