In Hollywood, if you rock the boat, you'd better know how to swim. That's what New York lawyer-turned-investigator Stone Barrington learns the hard way when he goes to Los Angeles in search of an old flame who's disappeared on her new husband. Before it's over, Barrington will take on big-time mobsters, big-screen directors, and a big anchor.

Stone Barrington thought he'd heard the last of former girlfriend Arrington after she left him to marry Vance Calder, Hollywood's hottest star. The last thing Stone expected was a desperate call from Calder. Arrington has vanished, and her new fianc wants Stone to come to LA and find her.

In a town where the sharks drive Bentleys and no one can be trusted, Stone soon discovers he's drowning in a sea of empty clues that takes him from Bel Air to Malibu to Rodeo Drive. Running out of time and leads, he needs to keep his head above water and find Arrington fast, or end up swimming with the fishes himself.