In this compelling mystery readers accompany affable New York art sleuth, Peter Grant, on a hair-raising and sensual quest to an exotic and violent Caribbean island nation. Abandoned by his beautiful but problematic wife, Claire, Peter finds comfort in her parting gift, a Yorkshire terrier named, "Hemingway." On the sidewalks of New York City they witness the shocking murder of Peter's old friend and fellow art expert. Among the dead man's possessions Peter finds a manuscript, which reveals information about a renowned Haitian artist abducted years ago by henchmen of the notorious Haitian dictator, "Papa Doc" Duvalier. Peter and "Hemingway" locate the kidnapped artist's comely Creole daughter, Michelina, in New Orleans. They travel to Haiti in a daunting attempt to find her missing father. The only clue to his whereabouts resides within the crumbling walls of an immense and foreboding 18th century mountain-top fortress called the Citadelle. What they find propels them into a sinister nightmare of corruption and murder conducted by brutal military strongmen who go after them. A harrowing chase sends Peter and his companions back to the mountain stronghold where they uncover a vast conspiracy and an astonishing legacy of Henry Christophe who built the fortress. As the military closes in an unlikely rescuer suddenly appears and the hunted seek safe haven to become the hunters.