[close] A Christmastime carjacking plunges two small children into the icy waters of Lake Erie. Private investigator Joe Banks becomes part of the case when the insurance company holding a considerable policy on the children begins looking into the matter and asks for his help. When Banks starts asking questions of the victims' family, the Dellaplantes, he uncovers a family torn apart by jealousy and greed. And the cold, hard truth lies buried beneath an avalanche of lies. Titled for the volatile, unpredictable snowstorm of deception created for those intent on solving the case, Lake Effect explores the lengths to which a man will go to protect everything and everyone he holds dear.