Young history Professor Jack Turner is settling into his new position at Culpepper University, when he gets a surprise visit from his friend, police Sgt. Joe Boyd. Joe has started a new hobby, a fun pastime that's also helping him lose some weight—metal detecting. Joe asks if he can do this on Jack's lakefront property, which includes over a dozen acres of woods. Intrigued by a hobby that combines physical exercise and Jack's love of history, Jack asks to tag along. Neither man has any idea that this seemingly harmless hobby will cause their paths to cross with a seventy-year-old mystery involving tragedy, smuggling, multiple murders, and stolen Nazi loot. It's just an innocent hobby, Jack tells his wife, Rachel. Really, what could go wrong?