Plot

To look into a small-town murder, Jessica poses as the sister of the slain woman.

At lunch, Mary Rose Welch tells Jessica about her sister Charlotte Welch dying in her own Garden of Eden Hotel and then being cremated the next day. She shows her an anonymous letter indicating it was murder. While leaving the restaurant, Mary Rose Welch, is hit by a car that was tying to kill her but puts her in the hospital with a broken leg. Jessica decides to go there with family lawyer, Lewis Framm, posing as Mary Rose. The maid, who was absent that day, doubts it was a heart attack, as everyone keeps saying, and shows her that stashed papers are stolen, including a will. About the whole town of Eden, Oregon, including Sheriff Landry, Dr. Lynch and Reverend Willard Manchester, seems hell-bent to get the strangers out without finding out. To stir the ambitious young manager, Lila Benson, Jessica announces she will stay to run the place and find out more, notably about blackmail, while businessman C.J. Dobbs makes her a joint bid from several locals.—KGF Vissers

Jessica decides to travel to Eden, Oregon after someone seemingly tried to kill her friend, Mary Rose Welch, with his car. Mary Rose's sister, Charlotte, had recently died in Eden where she had lived for many years and was a successful businesswoman running the local hotel. Accompanied by Mary Rose's lawyer, Lewis Framm, she poses as Mary Rose but gets a chilly reception in the town. Charlotte supposedly died of a heart attack and was promptly cremated the next day. The Sheriff has no interest in investigating her death and the town doctor, Dr. Lynch, seems to be a bit short on detail. Local businessman C.J. Cobbs had business dealings with the hotel owner but the hotel itself is something of a surprise. It appears that Charlotte may have been involved in blackmail. Finding her victims will no doubt lead to the killer.—garykmcd