Arriving in Santa Barbara California, to carry out a valuation of a hotel group; Daniel Forbes recently divorced and now out of work, snatches at the chance for a change in the direction of his life. Stumbling into the murky lives of the hotel owner, planning authority, and venture capitalist he is faced with multiple murders and sexual encounters. Travelling between Santa Barbara and San Francisco he tries to unravel the murder of the friend who hired him. Delving into the complex dealings of the venture capitalist he discovers other murders and illegal cash. In the course of steering the police in the direction of the criminals involved he makes the decision to flee the U.S. with the cash and wife of his friend. Determined to keep the money and stay away from the U.S. they travel to lofty heights of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. There they are pursued by more ruthless people intent on recovering the money and terminating them.