Grace Tolliver, former probation officer and new owner of Pearl's antique lamp shop, hires Duane Kerbey, a troubled young man, as a holiday employee. When a prominent local citizen of Barnstable Village, Cape Cod is murdered, and Duane is arrested for the crime, blame is placed on Grace. After all, she sent the young man on an errand to the victim's home. Between learning the craft of constructing and hand painting lampshades, readying the shop for the annual Village Stroll and trying to keep an eye on the antics of her eighty- four year old father, Grace sets out to solve the murder by shedding light on the victim's complicated past. Her quest is hampered by the attractive detective assigned to the case who doesn't appear to be seriously pursuing fresh leads, but is keeping close tabs on Grace. With a town full of likely suspects, a second murder and a series of bitter snowstorms battering Cape Cod, Grace must prove Duane's innocence and restore her reputation by uncovering the shady and unrepentant killer.