Kate Hamilton hasn't been back to her dead-end hometown of Asheboro, Maryland since high school. When she discovers that her hometown is on the verge of going bankrupt and that the town council has decided that Kate's skills in the hospitality industry make her the perfect person to redo the Victorian mansion they're hoping to use to attract tourists, she's less-than-pleased. To make matters worse, the only person who has presented an alternate plan is Cordelia Walker - who had a hand in driving Kate away from Asheboro fifteen years ago. When Kate finds a murdered Cordelia on the steps of the mansion, she's a prime suspect. Juggling the murder investigation and her growing fascination with the old house, Kate knows she must clear her name and save her town.