The sun-bleached beaches of northwest Florida become a battleground for the protection of endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. Chief among these is the Choctawhatchee beach mouse, which live exclusively on the shifting sand dunes of this section of the Florida coastline. Those responsible for the protection of the mice work diligently against the odds to prevent the blink out or extinction of the species. The plot thickens with the murder of the wildlife biologist responsible for the protection of the last remaining colony of the mice. Quinn Wilson, an environmental consultant charged with the biologist's murder, works with the FBI to unravel the conflicts between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, private conversation organizations and the developer of the Water Color resort to find the murdered and restore the colony of beach mice to health.