In the heart of the Ten Thousand Islands/Everglades National Park region lies the small town of Mangrove Bayou. Troy Adam, mixed-race, ex-Army, and northern-born, was fired from his job as a Tampa cop, but has been reluctantly hired by the town council, on probation, as Mangrove Bayou's new police chief. After surviving a hurricane and solving a crime involving the death of a local citizen, Adam had hoped his employers would view him differently. Unfortunately, they still view him as "soft and squishy on the inside." This all changes when a college student on vacation goes missing. Adam has to deal with overwhelming press attention, a town council doubtful that he can solve the crime, and a powerful judge. Can Adam solve the case on his own terms and finally prove his merit without giving in to his ruthless side?