Purple Sage, Texas, is experienceing a natural disaster, with floodwaters rushing through the streets and torrential downpours continuing with no end in sight. This calls for a dinner party! The governor's in town to assess the damage, and Jolie Wyatt, mystery novelist and amateur sleuth, is hosting an after-tour reception in his honor. Only problem is, the historic home that's to be the site of the extravaganza is under six feet of water.

Not to worry - Jolie has it under control. She moves the party next door, making the best of the resulting logistical and personal problems, since the new hostess is the younger second wife of the ex of one of Jolie's best friends. Despite the distractions, the governor's visit is running smoothly until a dead body turns up in a rain-drenched ditch.

The investigation takes the whole town by storm, forcing Jolie to step in to find out what really happened on that dark and rainy night in Texas.