Rich-as-Croesus Uncle Victor has only a few months to live. Edward, his favorite nephew and heir to his fortune, was recently shot to death. Now a second nephew, John Lander--the next in line to inherit--is enlisting the help of Manhattan PI Desiree Shapiro. It seems that just days ago John himself managed to avoid a close encounter with a bullet.

Desiree soon learns that three of Uncle Victor's other relatives stand to benefit handsomely if both John and Edward should die before the old man does. Which makes the dedicated foodie's new client far from the ideal life insurance candidate. But her persistent sleuthing among the decidedly devious trio of suspects fails to uncover a single clue to the assailant's identity. And eventually Desiree begins to fear that she's been overlooking someone. Someone who's stayed one step ahead of her all the time.