Hemlock Falls is a pretty little town in upstate New York. Sarah Quilliam, with her talent for business, now runs the Palate Restaurant, while her sister, Meg, keeps the patrons happy with her culinary abilities. But when it comes to murder, the Quilliam sisters have to rely on other skills—spotting clues, solving crimes, and catching culprits.

The Quilliams have sold the Inn at Hemlock Falls, only to find that they miss the place—bills and all. Worse yet, the new owner has started turning a tidy profit playing host to big spenders, like the group of Texas longhorn cattlemen who are currently trying to sell the locals on the idea of raising their own herds. It seems like a can't-miss opportunity for all—until one of the cattlemen gets sent to that big trail drive in the sky. As the list of suspects grows, the Quilliams set out to catch the culprit and reclaim their precious inn—without getting stampeded themselves.