Hannah West may look like any other funky, artistic, street-smart Seattle twelve-year-old, but there's more to her than meets the eye. In addition to being a detective, adopted, and having a sixth sense for bus schedules, Hannah's also homeless, a fact that she and her single mom deal with by moving from one house-sitting job to the next. This time, they're taking care of a houseboat on the tranquil waters of Lake Washington. Before long, someone starts making waves, and before you can blink an eye, Hannah West is on the case. Hannah's not sure who is dumping chemicals in the water—or why—but one thing's for sure: if Hannah doesn't get to the bottom of things soon, they'll all be in deep water!