Christmas has come to Moorehaven. With only one guest to take care of in the Victorian writer's-retreat B&B, Pippa decides to attend a swanky party with her boyfriend, Lake, and his estranged one-percenter family. But numerous tensions arise during the evening, resulting in hurt feelings, sabotage, and a body on the floor. To make matters worse, Pippa's catering neighbors are the main suspects.

As Pippa recruits her gossip group to prove the innocence of a beloved local, a thief's bold move muddies the waters. Alarming rumors regarding the true character of Moorehaven's founder come to light, threatening Pippa's livelihood. Lake falls under the spell of his entitled family, so Pippa must turn to her friends and family for help to solve the murder of a man who wasn't what he seemed. But an unexpected ally with an old family secret comes to Pippa's aid, changing her life forever.

As a vicious winter storm roars toward Seacrest, Pippa must identify a jewel thief, team up with Lake's ex-wife the police chief to catch a killer, follow clues to unearth Moorehaven's lost secrets, and convince her boyfriend that she's worth slumming for.