A freak snowstorm blankets the foothills town of Issaqueena, South Carolina. When it clears, the body of Clifford Deaton is found in a farmer's creek. No one knows how he got there - or what really happened to him.

For Detective Luke Steele, this case cuts deeper than most. The victim's family ties him to a past he's tried to leave behind - and as he investigates, old memories surface alongside new threats. The investigation leads into the darker corners of the college town: late-night deals, illegal drugs, and powerful people with secrets to protect.

As Luke closes in on the truth, he must solve the mystery before the snow melts - or become the next body left in the cold.