When a murder takes place in the sleepy market town of Bakerbury, the police are baffled by a crossword puzzle left on the body. With their case going nowhere, they turn reluctantly to Cora Felton, a recent arrival, whose fame as a newspaper puzzle writer suggests she can help DCI Hooper and the local police unravel the clue and solve the case.

It's Cora's birthday and she's fed up. It's been too quiet since she jailed The Graveyard Killer and she's itching for another mystery to solve, so Cora is thrilled when Becky hires her to investigate a case.

Wealthy businessman, Ray, and his dynamic wife Gloria, have sponsored Dennis Pride to play a gig in Bakerbury. Meanwhile, Cora is distracted by love, as she's wooed by a charming suitor, Gilbert. When Sherry says he seems too good to be true, it causes a rift between the women but plants a seed of doubt in Cora's mind.