Even with her plate full, Scotia decides seven days at a new spa on the nearby, yet remote, Santa Maria Island may be just what she needs. Upon arrival at the converted convent, Scotia encounters more group activities and sharing than she was hoping for, and judging from the dynamics of the group, many of them are not happy to be stranded with limited means of communication and a group of angry islanders. Retreat owner Mimi St. Clair confesses to Scotia that she was met with a lot of resistance from the eighty or so locals when she first proposed the spa. Her suspicions were confirmed when, during construction, many items went missing and shipments from the mainland were waylaid.

Still, when retreat guest Eric Szabo is found unconscious at the bottom of a stone staircase, Mimi can't believe the locals did this as a means of protesting her spa. When one of the participants, in an overheard late night argument, is found dead in the morning, Mimi turns to Scotia to help uncover the secrets of the guests and to determine if someone is interested in seeing the spa closed permanently.

Scotia MacKinnon has grown into a strong and very likable heroine with a reputation for taking care of others. This time she decides to take some time for herself, time that is quickly vied for by several people, both at the retreat and at home. While helping Mimi sort out her fledgling business woes and helping her daughter work through her feelings toward her father, Scotia still manages to find time for herself. She is able to make some good decisions, including one surprise one, about her future.

There are many suspects on the island for Eric's accident and Zoë's murder, but when a second attempt on Eric's life is made while he is in the hospital on the mainland, Scotia suspects there is more than a disgruntled local at the root of the violence. With a slower paced beginning, matching the relaxing retreat, the pace becomes steadier as Scotia begins her investigation, culminating in a fast-paced final confrontation. A remote island lends itself well to both Scotia's need for relaxation and to the traditional village cozy. An overall slower pace for Scotia, but another side of her, another interesting mystery and the promise of sailing off into more sunsets make another terrific addition to the series.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry