Jim Qwilleran is getting accustomed to his new status as the richest man in the northeast. He has hired a housekeeper, his former landlady, Iris Cobb and a part-time secretary, Lori Bamba, former postmistress. His relationship with Melinda Goodwinter which began in The Cat Who Played Brahms seems to be progressing. But she is not a big favorite with Koko and Yum Yum. His attorneys for the estate, the brother and sister team of Penelope Goodwinter and Alexander Goodwinter seem unsure about how to take their new client and his responses to his new-found wealth. But Qwill's moustache and Koko's tricks with the books lead him to inquire about the disappearance of a young girl 5 years previously. Koko leads him first to the closet where he finds her suitcase and other belongings and then to the barn on the Klingenschoen property where she had her apartment. When her mother dies just before Qwill is due to speak to her and then another young girl is murdered just after she speaks to Qwill about the missing girl, our fearless duo of human detective and cat detective are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. An excellent read with unexpected twists and surprises.