As North Carolina's sea turtle nesting season begins, the barrier island of Sea Oats Beach must turn off its lights at night to provide a dark, safe place for endangered loggerhead sea turtles to lay their eggs. Walking the shoreline dotted with the protected nests, Bree Hart expects nothing more than the salty breeze and the rhythm of the waves, but her peaceful morning is shattered when she discovers a lifeless man half-submerged in the surf. The victim was a member of the turtle patrol.

While authorities write it off as a tragic riptide, the victim’s partner is fiercely convinced he was murdered—and when her beloved little poodle mysteriously vanishes, she fears she is next in the killer's crosshairs.

A volunteer at the animal shelter, Bree’s social anxiety makes her much more comfortable around animals than humans. But unable to resist a plea to locate the missing dog, she finds herself reluctantly dragged out of her shell and into a high-stakes murder investigation.

Pack your bags for the North Carolina coast and join Bree, her loyal friends, and the dedicated sea turtle patrol for a gripping mystery where the island’s hidden secrets are far more dangerous than the tide.