In Paradise, South Carolina, the tide is shifting—and not just on the shoreline. What began as political maneuvering after the Stonehurst scandal has split the town into three municipalities: South Paradise, North Paradise, and Eden. But paper divisions quickly give way to real danger, and the Riley family finds themselves at the center of a rising storm.

Sheriff Emilee Riley, returning from maternity leave, struggles to command a department fractured by jurisdictional lines and political sabotage. She is the first woman to wear the badge in generations, and the council would rather see her fail than face the truth of Eden’s suffering. Each misstep is weaponized against her, even as hate crimes and turf wars threaten to ignite.

Fire Chief Jordan Pryce is stretched to breaking point as his underfunded stations face back-to-back blazes. What looks like negligence soon points to arson, and worse, a deliberate campaign to cripple Eden while North Paradise thrives. With broken equipment and dwindling morale, Jordan risks everything to protect those most at risk, even when the council turns a blind eye.

Town Solicitor Chris Riley digs into a trail of shadow companies and buried land deals, all tied to North Paradise powerbroker Conrad Wheeler. What he uncovers is more than corruption: it is a systematic effort to reshape Paradise into a haven for the wealthy at the cost of its history and its people. Haunted by his father’s legacy and his own compromises, Chris must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice to expose the truth.

As the fires grow hotter, the council chambers colder, and neighbors turn on one another, the Rileys find their Sunday dinners more fragile than ever. Coleman’s empty chair still casts a long shadow, but the family remains their anchor in the storm.

When coordinated attacks push Eden to the brink, the truth can no longer be ignored. Political sabotage, hate-fueled crimes, and ruthless ambition collide in a reckoning that forces the council to act: Paradise is formally split into three towns, severing ties that have bound the community for generations.

Undercurrent is a story of small-town politics turned personal, where family loyalty is tested against the undertow of corruption and fear. In a town divided, love and resilience may be the only forces strong enough to keep Paradise from drowning.

Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Pat Conroy, and John Grisham, Undercurrent delivers an intimate Southern family saga woven through with political suspense and emotional depth.