When the body of a cantankerous lobsterman washes up on a small island in Southern Maine, it sparks controversy, an arrest and unexpected plot twists in a coastal village. A recent law school graduate sees a newspaper report of the arrest of a black man for the murder of a local lobsterman. The accused, an old friend, needed legal help and was adamant that the young lawyer be the one to help him. Reluctantly, Charles Atkins agrees to defend his friend despite his lack of real world legal experience. His attempt to find the murderer leads to intrigue, frustration and two dramatic trials. The story reveals the traditions of lobstering in Maine. Traveling the rocky coast, Atkins meets the daughter of a helpful judge and falls in love. The investigations take the lawyer’s team to Charleston, South Carolina, the fishing town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and to unexpected discoveries.