Gemini Berry is looking forward to spending a lazy summer in her small hometown of Meadow Lake, Pennsylvania, with her best friend, Sunny. The teens' main goal is to get their hands on the Ring of Atlantis, a supposedly enchanted object that brings the bearer wealth and luck. Along with their new friend, Ivy, they plan to try the ring for themselves. But their carefree caper is soon halted by a crime that outrages and divides the town.

Charles Wilkes, a prisoner at the local penitentiary, has been killed by the warden, Hugh Luther. Gemini's mother, Geraldine, witnessed the crime and swears...