Who was Cassandra Timmerman? When Mallory Timmerman returns to her hometown of Haven for her Aunt Cassandra's funeral, she didn't expect to face so much controversy and malevolence in the small town. Some of Cassie's closest friends refuse to believe she died from a fall. They're convinced she was murdered and they know who did it Cassie was close to discovering who was responsible for the death of Jessica Archer. The police said it was suicide, but Cass knew that was impossible. Jessica would never leave her daughter. One of the members of the fiber guild contacts the coroner. Cassie knew someone was responsible for Blake Doucette's disappearance. The police said he left his wife and two sons, but Cassie and Blake's grandmother believed that was laziness on the part of the Haven police. As Mallory is settling her aunt's affairs and cleaning out her house, she finds a box of journals under Cassie's bed, along with a note from Cass urging her to read them and share them with Karl and Temple, the couple next door. Reluctantly, Mallory reads the journals. She learns about a pastor who is waging war on Haven's library, a corrupt real estate developer who is scamming elderly widows, and a bully with whom she attended high school is now the chief of police. She reads about Cassie's special project and wonders what it is. Mallory is amazed to find Cassie's computer on an antique desk in the basement. When she sees the padlock on one of the drawers, she's certain the special project is hidden there. She shares the journals with Karl and Temple and they discuss the activities and insights of Mallory's 79 year old aunt. They see the logic behind Cassies' friends' insistence that she was murdered and wonder how they can prove it. One journal entry is especially perplexing: who are Aryx and Zooric?