The manager of Harbor View, Venus White, pleads with Rachel Alexander to bring her therapy dog, a pit bull, Dashiell Hammett-DASH, to fill in for the missing Lady. The residents are upset by Lady's disappearance and by the death of Harry Dietrich, the owner of Harbor View. Venus is suspicious of the "accident" that killed Dietrich. Rachel agrees to bring Dash to the home and to work undercover to see if there is any basis for Venus's suspicions. She discovers that the residents know more than anyone thinks they do, and tries to uncover the information from their disturbed minds. From clues, she determines that the accident was no accident, but part of a conspiracy by Dietrich's family of greed and murder.

This is a story which features a therapy dog, Dash, who is smart and well-trained in the needs of disturbed people. There is much information on the training of therapy dogs and in this instance puts to rest the reputation of pit bulls as being dangerous. There is also much information about the treatment of people who are suffering from autism. The care of Venus for the inhabitants of Harbor View is well founded with her dedication to them. The plot is well constructed. The story moves at a steady pace with no violence, no sex and no "adult" language, holding the reader's interest throughout, especially if they are a dog lover.