The infamous Dodd murders are hardly among Eastport's proudest legacies. So when bestselling true-crime author Carolyn Rathbone arrives to research the case for a new book, the locals in the seaside town let her know that she's about as welcome as a spoiled clam. But surely no one would harm a crime writer out of a sense of civic pride—or would they?

Jake has her own problems, from the mysteries of old house insulation to an anonymous caller plaguing her with death threats. But with Carolyn's arrival, the slayings of the wealthy Dodd women suddenly go from cold case to hot topic—much to someone's dismay, for Carolyn Rathbone's untimely investigation has unearthed a string of deadly secrets that a cunning killer is grimly determined to rebury, right along with Carolyn herself.