A peaceful gathering of old friends, families and law partners at an isolated fishing club hidden among the primeval pines of East Texas, a sanctuary for purple gallinules, bald eagles, blue herons, bass, crappie and red ears, nutria, alligators and dozens of other species, deteriorates into a cauldron of hate, adultery, pride, ambition, greed, envy, embezzlement, and finally a killing. Jess Funderburg, the local sheriff, is challenged to determine if the death was an accident, or whether one of these sophisticated Dallasites has committed a murder.