The Cypress Arete Society is the town's oldest and most exclusive book club. When Trudell Beckett, the town's spunky assistant librarian, is invited to speak to the club about the library, Trudell's friend Flossie invites herself along. When Tru and Flossie arrive early for the book club, they're shocked to find the club leader dead in the kitchen. The main suspect: Detective Jace Bailey's mother, the host for the evening. With Jace removed from the case due to the conflict of interest, Trudell must help him investigate and prove his mother's innocence in a case where nothing is as it seems.