Ever wished you'd stayed at home? Rowan Vane, a wannabe writer with the confidence of a leaf in a hurricane, is on a soul-searching vacation with his damaged family in Hell's Gulf - a ramshackle, no-horse stain on Florida's reputation. You might be forgiven for asking why he'd go there, but forgiveness isn't much of a commodity amongst the denizens of this godforsaken place - they've a bit of an axe to grind. With a history as dark and pungent as its waters, this bit-too-quiet beach town in the navel of nowhere is patrolled by a delightfully xenophobic sheriff who sees 'foreign agents' arriving on every rotten jetty. This picturesque town boasts abandoned ghostly ruins, unusually amorous sea life, mutant creatures and dastardly deeds that form the stories of the town's affable alcoholics. Oh, and something's been killing the people here for decades. Yes, folks, Hell's Gulf really has it all. All you need is a little imagination. Fortunately, Rowan's brought his along with all the bells and whistles. And some fishing tackle.