As fireflies dazzle like tiny glowing lanterns, tea maven Theodosia hosts an elegant evening tea on the patio of the Tangled Rose B and B. But in this gentle darkness, an intruder has made their way in and slipped deadly drugs into the Baked Alaska of Mrs. Van Courtland, one of Charleston's local grande dames. Theodosia, shocked by this brazen act and urged on by Mrs. Van Courtland's grieving son, begins her own shadow investigation. Soon, she finds herself at odds with a greedy developer, the questionable residents of Honey Badger House, a vengeful ex-daughter-in-law, several ne'er-do-well relatives, and a housekeeper who knows all the secrets. As Theodosia hosts a Moulin Rouge Tea and a Queen Victoria Tea, her tea sommelier, Drayton, is assaulted by a masked stranger and the fiancee of Mrs. Van Courtland's son is kidnapped. It's only at the Starry Starry Night black-tie ball that Theodosia stumbles upon the killer and gets pulled into a dramatic life-and-death chase.