From the cunning mind that gave us PRICK and JERK… comes a mystery lover's consummate tale of long-hidden secrets, self-preservation, and murder.

The iconic mystery writer Penelope Highsmith has made a name for herself with unique plot twists, selling millions of books. Her announcement of an early retirement, a real-life twist no one expected, adds a new layer of mystery to her already enigmatic persona. But before she bids adieu, she has one last puzzle to present—a true crime retrospective focusing on the unsolved murders of her high school classmates in the small town of Willow’s Bane. The publisher plans a special event for the book's release at the very place Penelope has avoided since graduation.

On the fateful morning of the book's release, Penelope’s lifeless body is found on her hotel bed, an empty bottle of antidepressants still clutched in her hand. The circumstances of her death have left everyone with more questions than answers, including Penelope’s estranged daughter, Parker.

Even though she hasn't seen Penelope for years, Parker believes that her mother would never have taken her own life. She knew her mother had a dark side that contrasted with her public image, but those secrets didn’t explain Penelope’s recent behavior. Parker firmly believes that the key to her mother's death lies somewhere in the pages of the book no one wanted published—especially the residents of Willow's Bane. To get to the truth, Parker must confront her own repressed emotions and do what nobody seems willing to do: find the person responsible for her mother’s death.

What she uncovers, however, is a twist nobody saw coming!