Murders, a mysterious gemstone, and lost manuscripts offer banished Brit journalist Tosca Trevant a chance to earn her way back to her beloved Cornwall and her job in London. The strange happenings at her California island home include a woman dropping dead practically at Tosca's feet, a famous author's works showing up under suspicious circumstances, and a creepy collector of rare musical instruments. Helped by retired Secret Service Agent Thatch MacAuley and a few well-placed Cornish cuss words, Tosca digs deep to track down the killer.