Since the end of the previous book in the series, Aurora Teagarden has settle back into a life of happiness. Her relationship with mystery writer Robin Crusoe has allowed the two of them to grow closer. She is also settlingback into her position at the library. Once again, familial troubles will prove a distraction. In both cases, the troubles have a long history.

The first goes back to her father, who had left town when she was just little. In the interim, her mother became a successful career in real estate. Her father remarried and is also the father of a son. Unfortunately, the marriage is not going well, and Roe's 15-year-old brother Phillip has run away. He turns up on her doorstep with the hopes of seeking refuge with her from his parents' troubles.

Unfortunately, this is not the worst of things to come. Her mother has also remarried, and with the new marriage comes a pair of stepbrothers. After attending a community event with one of their wives, Roe and her sister-in-law stop in to see why the other sister-in-law missed the event, and find her lying murdered in her kitchen.

Poppy and her husband John David had always had a unique relationship. As teenagers, they had fought often, broken up, and made up. As they settled into marital bliss, they each took the opportunity to dally in extramarital affairs. It was something that was supposedly permitted, but it will lead to no shortage of suspects as the various people involved become known.

On top of all of this is the quickly approaching Thanksgiving weekend. Roe and her family are not sure what there is for which to give thanks.

I have really come to like these books. Roe is one of those unlikely detectives forced to step up and solve mysteries because of the loss of those around her. She is a really likable character, though, I have to say that she is starting to get persnickety and less patient/understanding that she used to be.

The book builds to a stunning conclusion that is also filled with a nice surprise at the conclusion for Roe herself.