Ives Berrien, literary plagiarist, general heel, and a man despised by the commercial swordfishermen and other residents of Penberthy Island, was found murdered in his boat one fine day. Elisha Macomber and Andrea Philbrick, a mystery writer by profession and eager to try her deductive ability, teamed up to track the killer.
Berrien was cordially disliked by a great many people, particularly those who witnessed an unsavoury episode in which he was involved when he first appeared with the swordfishing fleet. Andrea consulted her journal of events and was able to tell Elisha of the other murky episodes in Berrien's past. This, plus Elisha's own acuteness, effectively trapped the murderer.
The island atmosphere, the excitement and real danger involved in swordfishing add up to a superior whodunit and one with a really surprising denouement.