"Music has charms to soothe the savage beast." Evidently William Congreve had not spent any time in Coconut Palms Community Band trying to make music. Cin Fin-Lathen finds out too late that she shares the dream of performing in a community group without musicians whose talent is eclipsed by their egos, with a serial killer. From the first beat of the baton, the main suspect is Cin herself, whose imaginary hit list is being poached. First, Carl the lead saxophonist is discovered by Cin onstage at intermission, followed soon by another thorn in Cin's side.

Can Cin with the help of Harry O'Rourke solve the murders in time to save herself? Or will she too fall victim and face a "Death by Saxophone" in the second novel of the Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries.