As soon as Ellie Avery and her husband, Mitch, arrive at his parents' gracious home in Smarr, Alabama, they are shocked to learn that Mitch's Grandpa Fanklin has passed away. More shockingly, a too-quickly-closed police investigation raises more questions about Franklin's death than it answers.

As a regular volunteer at North Dawkins Elementary, Ellie would never miss the annual Mother's Day breakfast-even if she has to tolerate the likes of Gabrielle Matheson. The rivals aren't exactly sworn enemies, although Ellie still thinks there's only room for one professional organizer in their small Georgia town. But when Ellie sees Gabrielle in the hallway, she's a mess. It looks like Gabrielle's seen a ghost-or, as she explains, a dead body inside...