The owners of the River Queen hire Sam to prove their innocence. As she engages in a game of wits with Sparrow, Jake investigates the riverboat murder while struggling to patch up his relationship with Sam. The story line is fun due to the various charcaters. Sam is a wonderful heroine who grapples with her dichotomous feelings towards her husband. Sparrow is an intriguing killing machine who brings the danger to the plot.
Mystical elements fit into the tale and add to the overall enjoyment.