Judith McMonigle Flynn is trying to remember an upcoming event she wished she could forget. In a rash moment the previous spring, Judith donated a dinner and overnight for eight people as her contribution to Our Lady, Star of the Sea’s parochial school auction. Unfortunately, the winning bidders were Norma Paine (see Holy Terrors in case you’ve forgotten this painful pair). The only good part is that the senior Paines aren’t coming to Hillside Manor. Instead, they’ve purchased the pricey item for their children and grandchildren—none of whom Judith actually knows. But maybe the younger generations are an improvement over Norma and Wilbur…

Besides, she has bigger problems than the impending Paine visit. Joe’s insurance fraud surveillance gig ended abruptly when the alleged perpetrator was shot to death in his lakeside condo. It’s January and the B&B’s least profitable month. An anxious Judith tells him to get to work, but instead, he gets arrested as the prime suspect in the condo case. Not even the fact that old partner and pal Woody Price is in charge of the investigation can ease Judith’s mind. Nor does she have time to fret over Arlene Rankers’s tale about several school children at Star of the Sea falling ill after eating their catered hamburger lunch. Even Cousin Renie’s outrage over having her Shrimp Dump recipe rejected in the parish cookbook doesn’t faze her. And her mother’s obvious glee at watching Joe get hauled off by the cops definitely doesn’t do much to lift Judith’s sagging spirits.

The only consolation is that City Hall Reporter Addison Kirby, a former ally in a couple of other homicide cases, comes to her aid. However, his help is offset by the unexpected arrival of the uber-wealthy Beard-Smythes who have sought refuge at the B&B because they have a gas leak in their mansion. Judith has reluctantly allowed them to spend the night because they’ll pay her for taking the inn’s most expensive room. (Judith is still a bit too trusting…)

Finally, on Friday night, the Paines descend en masse. To say that the evening is Paine-ful is an understatement. The horse on the porch only adds to Judith’s dismay. Somehow in this chaos Judith has to find out why the police are still holding Joe at headquarters. Addison is a genuine help, but Renie is more trouble than she’s worth, almost getting herself arrested for attacking a couple of cops and parking in the mayor’s place at City Hall. And somewhere along the way, Judith has to figure out not only who the victim is and finger the real killer before she ends up in the morgue, too.