Newly engaged to her devoted boyfriend, Like, and in the midst of wedding plans, Tess Darcy, owner and operator of the charming Iris House B&B, manages to volunteer some spare time at the senior center, but her goodwill is challenged by petty, mean-spirited Edwina Riley, an elderly tyrant. With her sharp tongue, bullying manner and nasty temperament, Edwina harasses people into meeting her demands. And if they refuse, there's the devil to pay.

But it is Edwina's time to pay, when she unwittingly makes her final appearance at the quilting circle and then dies before Tess's eyes. As expected, no one is sorry about the despot's demise. But murder is murder, and as Tess begins investigating Edwina's family and long list of enemies, she discovers some startling secrets aboutsome not-so-innocent seniors and the bizarre company they keep. Now she'll have to connect motive to murder -- and learn who wanted to end the strife of Riley.