Beautiful Ariel Logan was last seen quarreling with her boyfriend outside a Monterey pub. Now she lies dead on a California beach. An autopsy reveals that Ariel's death is no accidental drowning, but a cold-blooded killing.

Vacationing private investigator Jeri Howard has more than professional interest in the case: Ariel's boyfriend, the prime murder suspect, is Jeri's rowdy cousin, Bobby Ravella. Despite Bobby's refusal to defend himself, Jeri believes in his innocence - and instinct tells her the murder is part of a far larger evil. Perhaps there's a connection to the recent spate of senseless pelican mutilations.

Or a link within the malevolent pranks aimed to destroy the flawless reputation of Cafe Marie, one of Monterey's best-loved restaurants. To find the answers, Jeri goes fishing for a big one in deep and treacherous waters - and discovers that Ariel's short life was not free from dark secrets.