When her fiancé is delayed in London, Emily Harrington sets off on their long-awaited vacation to the exclusive Caribbean resort of Island Bluffs on her own. Fearing boredom, she is pleasantly surprised to discover that this romantic resort is filled with fascinating people: Roger Stirhew, a foremost travel writer, whose pernicious wit and words prove deadly; his disillusioned wife Jessica; Marietta St. John, an ageing society columnist; Nora, her devoted companion; Jon Peterson, an eager young restaurateur engaged to the lovely Sarah Maitland; and Annie and Martin Maitland, owners of Island Bluffs Hotel, whose lives are intertwined with those of their guests. Emily soon finds herself witness to the secrets of her fellow vacationers and, as the days unfold, new relationships offer friendship and diversion. But, when Roger Stirhew is found dead on the ocean beach with a bullet through his heart, diversion soon turns deadly.

Emily Harrington returns to the Caribbean where she is reunited with old friends, romance . . . and murderWhen Emily Harrington heads back to Aruba for the wedding of Annie and Martin Maitland's daughter, Sarah, in the stunning coastal resort of Island Bluffs, she is soon reunited with old friends, including Chief Inspector Thomas Moller, and makes new ones too.But the morning after the wedding, the body of a beautiful young girl washes up on Manchebo Beach. The police have little to go on except for a gold bangle bracelet on her wrist. Will it lead them to her murderer? As the mystery of the bracelet is unravelled, Emily finds herself plunged into danger again.