It's not every day you get to sit on pristine blue water holding a beautiful, first edition Nadine Gordimer novel, and wondering if you'll survive the day.

Poe Baxter has always wanted to go to Capetown, and when she hears that a rare book by a famous South African novelist has come on the market, she takes the opportunity to fly to the city. But as soon as she and her best friend Beattie begin researching the whereabouts of this supposed literary treasure, they come upon another mystery that takes their attention and puts them in peril.

What is a rare book worth? A human life or two?