Lord Julian Caldicott associates the seaside with war, partings, death, and dyspepsia. At the request of his dear Hyperia, he nevertheless journeys to the shore, where he and his lady plan to speak their wedding vows and begin their honey month at the oceanfront home of Lady Ophelia Oliphant.

Unbeknownst to Julian, Lady Ophelia has rented out cottages on her estate to a pack of professional writers, one of whom, J. Worthington Pierce, lords the success of his children's books over his literary colleagues. Nobody seems to like Pierce, and somebody is threatening him, his property, and his family. Julian agrees to investigate, but then suspicion falls on Hyperia, and finding answers becomes imperative if the wedding plans aren't to be tossed into the sea!