A popular American novelist, who has written her first non-fiction work about the political infidelities and corruption within the tiny South American country of San Hermoso, returns to that very country as part of a publicity junket prepared by her publishing company. Traveling with her best friend and confidant, she is abducted by a mysterious cartel that proves to be the secret police arm of the government. In order to win her freedom and to save her friend's life, she is forced to commit a murder that would be beneficial to San Hermoso's dictator. Will she be willing to trade a life for a life and pull the trigger to murder her unknown target in cold blood? Will the C.I.A. be able to reach her in time? Will she even survive?
Down at the docks a very enterprising but dangerous element is making life miserable for Sheriff Marga. But she is distracted by a series of puzzling kidnappings that is plaguing her parish. Could the culprit be the mysterious Queen - the dance hall queen of the docks? Or could it be an even more sinister figure: The Killer Tarantula?