The people of Pickax are in a state of eager anticipation. The Pirate's Chest, the long-awaited new bookstore, is finally set to open, and the Theatre Club is preparing to perform Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. However, the play is brought to an abrupt halt as a cast member is killed in a car accident. But was it really an accident? As suspicions rise, Qwill and his sleuthing Siamese cats have their work cut out for them.

A fictional columnist Jim Qwilleran presents a collection of stories that spotlights the colorful world of Moose County and its residents in such legends as "The Secret of the Blacksmith's Wife" and "The Dimsdale Jinx."

Koko, Yum Yum, and James Qwilleran embark on their latest mystery when gold prospectors, wildlife photographers, and pirates arrive at the Nutcracker Inn to take part in a game.

All the world's a stage--and now Jim Qwilleran's apple orchard has become the stage--for a real-life murder scene. The much-disliked director of the Pickax Theatre Club's Shakespeare production, Hilary van Brook, is found dead after the closing-night cast party ... and with the help of his super-smart Siamese, Qwill must cast a suspicious eye on all the players--especially the ones pussyfooting around behind the scenes.