Liz Rooney, amateur sleuth, sat bolt upright when she heard the news that Manhattan socialite Countess Harriet Hunterdon Zanardi had been found dead in her bedroom due to a suspicious fire. Instinctively, Liz knows that the socialite has been murdered and decides to make the case her project. However, NYPD Detective Ike Eichle, Liz's boyfriend, seems reluctant to discuss the case, although they collaborated on a few other cases in the past where she had provided excellent clues and theories that ultimately helped solve the mysteries. When Ike shuts down on her, she decides to take matters into her own hands, secretly taking a chambermaid job in the murdered countess' household and conducting her own investigation.
Undercover in the mansion, Liz learns that the household members--including family, friends, and servants--universally despised the countess. Surrounded by suspects, Liz finds herself in a dangerous situation. With a stroke of good luck she manages to collect vital information and clues to turn over to Ike.
But things with her boyfriend are strained regardless of her help on the case. Suddenly Liz is torn between solving murder mysteries and solving her relationship problems with Ike.