Former English teacher Jessica Fletcher travels to New York to celebrate the success of her debut novel, but when an unwanted guest is murdered at a costume party, she wishes she'd stayed home.

Broadway legend Rita Bristol and her daughter star in a musical produced by her son, not knowing that murder is lurking in the wings.

One of Jessica's former students is murdered and she takes a personal interest in the investigation.

Jessica and Grady head to the home of publisher Christopher Bundy, whose publishing company owns the rights to Jessica's first short story. Jessica is quite upset, as Bundy's magazine is known for it's racy pictures of young women. While there, Jessica is pleased to run into an old acquaintance, Chester Harrison, and when Harrison is accused of murdering Christopher Bundy, Jessica vows to prove his innocence but runs into trouble when the family isn't interested in having their own skeletons dragged out of the closet.

The phone wires get crossed during a storm and Jessica can't convince anyone that what she heard was real.

Grady Fletcher is in big trouble when his boss, a specialist in tax shelters, is found dead and he is the main suspect.

Grady gets into a spot again when he is found with the body of woman known from college days and now had been dating a frat brother who was married.

Somebody put the maitre d' on ice. Jessica wonders if she has made a bad investment.

A colossal mix-up puts Jessica in jail as a suspect in a murder only she witnessed. British agent Hagarty returns.

Grady's wedding seems doomed when someone does in the persnickety housekeeper.

Grady and his pregnant wife are tending Jessica's house in her absence when an old seaman is killed in her front room.

The townspeople are concerned about a massive development on their shore and it is further complicated for Jessica since the firm employs her nephew, Grady.