Eleven-year-old Jillie Ross escapes the vicious relatives threatening to flush away her beloved sister's ashes if she doesn't lead them to her dead father's rumored treasure. Determined to find her sibling's ashes and honor them along with their parents' remains, the feisty orphan must endure harsh weather, escape a stalker, and hide from the police. But how long can she survive when at least one family member wants her dead?

Albuquerque divorcee Frankie O'Neil dreams of having a normal life. However, given her penchant for making the worst possible decisions about men and the fact she hoards food and hears the voices of dead relatives who hint at a dark family secret, her life is anything but normal. When her brother is shot minutes after leaving a package in her freezer, the police suspect her of murder and order her not to leave town. But sticking around brings on a new set of problems—trying not to fall in love with the deputy who suspects her of being a cannibalistic serial killer and proving her innocence by finding the real killers before they kill her. And, if finding a death threat written in children's chalk beside a strangled bird on her front porch, dodging a speeding car intent on running her down, and barely escaping flames destroying her home are any indication, time is running out.