In the brief time since surviving her first foray into murder investigations, dog walker Matilda Smithwick has lost a girlfriend, inherited a spare house, taken on more business than she can reasonably handle in her current location, and sworn off any and all detective work. When her old friend and client Leigh Matthews begs Maddie to prove she's innocent of the murder she seems to be the prime suspect for, Maddie has no choice but to return to amateur sleuthing.

Along the way to finding the real killer, Maddie comes up against Leigh's hazy, alcohol-infused memory of events, the surly and unpleasant Detective Fitzwilliam and a list of potential suspects longer than most epic poems. Meanwhile, her best friend Dottie seems to be avoiding her (in favor of her irritatingly efficient new assistant), and an ex-lover returns to complicate Maddie's life and her investigation.

Can Maddie stay focused long enough to clear Leigh's name and stay out of danger?