Who would try to poison a helpless cat in an old folks' home? Is it a prank? An accident? Or something more sinister? Buckingham Courte's own Carolina Pennsbury is just the amateur sleuth to find out. As the beautiful cat Apolonia is owned by her friend Margie, one of the Courte's most pitiful and harrassed residents, Carolina suspects that the poison was actually intended for Margie, so she gathers all of her investigative powers to determine the evil mind behind the devilish plot and to protect her friend until she is able to bring the culprit to justice. She soon narrows the field of poisoner candidates down to three new residents who have filled an empty seat at the table where Carolina, Margie, and their three friends--Annie, Rita, and Dot--all dine regularly. Could the potential murderer be the lacivious Mike who can't seem to keep his hands off any of the Courte's female residents? Could it be frigid Frieda who finds Margie's behavior, appearance, and background totally tasteless? Or could it be the polite but boring Paula who has all the personality of the chair she occupies? This may be Carolina's toughest case--a case of of DINNER AND DEATH.