Detective Deb Ralston has promised her husband, Harry, that she'll happily forget work for three weeks and concentrate on relaxing, sightseeing, picknicking - they'll have a real family vacation (although taking a teenager, his girlfriend, a toddler, and a pit bull by van from Fort Worth, Texas, to Salt Lake City, Utah, can't be all that relaxing).
The Ralstons settle into Georgina Grafton's bed-and-breakfast in Salt Lake City. But while sightseeing in Gilgal Sculpture Garden on the trip's second day, they find the body of Georgina's sister, Alexandra, who has been killed by a fist-sized rock aimed at the back of her head. Georgina tells them that Alexandra, a victim of multiple personality disorder, was a handful, but she was certainly not dangerous enough to murder.
Or was she? While Deb may be out of her jurisdiction, she's not out of her league: Because their grieving hostess trusts them, she and Harry volunteer to help Salt Lake City Police Detective Charlie Sosa with the case. Promising not to get too involved, because she wouldn't want to put her family in jeopardy - and, anyway, she is supposed to be on vacation - Deb investigates Alexandra's life and her family's tragic past until she learns enough to make her a target for the killer.
Following her most personal case in The Day That Dusty Died, Deb again works overtime to balance the demands placed on her by her dangerous job, her overflowing family, and murder - which she can't seem to leave behind.