When Ember Mackay learns she has a life-threatening illness, she flees to the old Placid River cabin, but instead of solace, she finds mystery, murder and a revenge plot that has taken a generation to unfold. 
Diagnosis: hepatitis C. It's a shocker for Ember Mackay. In 2010, there is no cure and she is far too young to die. Ember needs time to process, so she makes for River Lane, the Southwest Washington summer community her grandparents helped establish long ago. The old cabin holds happy memories, but can they ease the grim reality that will change her life forever? 
Her focus shifts when an elderly River Lane patron is found horribly murdered and his brother dies a mysterious death. A handsome artist whom Ember hasn't seen since childhood becomes friend, lover, and then protector, but his care may be coming too late. When a third neighbor is killed and the cops are no nearer to discovering a motive, let alone the killer's identity, it becomes clear no one is safe.

Like stones beneath Placid River, a dark tragedy lurks.