Regan, the daughter of a famous mystery writer, utilizes her mother's novels to investigate the disappearance of her best friend Abigail's former beau who "borrowed" $100,000 and then promptly disappeared.

Private investigators Regan Reilly and Alvirah Meehan are guests on the maiden voyage of the Santa Cruise, courtesy of Commodore Randolph Weed. What Weed doesn't know is that his sinister nephew has smuggled two escaped criminals on board. Regan and Alvirah must uncover clues leading them to the dangerous men.

Private investigator Regan Reilly and her husband Jack, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad, hop from one Jersey shore resort town to the next in hopes of solving a tough case, one which is complicated when Regan bumps into an old friend she hardly recognizes.