Up, down, or across . . . S.O.S. spells the same thing – danger! When a famous Hollywood actress and her friend set sail off the coast of Nantucket – and never return – everyone assumes they were victims of an accident. But when their dinghy suspiciously washes up in a cove where the tide can't reach, it sounds more like foul play.

P.I. Rosco Polycrates and his paramour/crossword editor Belle Graham are sharpening their pencils and their minds to solve this case. When Belle discovers anonymous puzzles with clues left on her doorstep, it looks like they're off to a good start, and it will take all their sleuthing skills to fill in the missing blanks.