Mrs. Pollifax is on loan to her retired CIA friend Farrell. Her mission is to the Middle East: to smuggle out of Jordan the final manuscript of the dissident Iraqi novelist Dib Assen, who was recently murdered.

After her mother's untimely death, Beatrice Steel, eldest daughter of Simon Steel becomes exceedingly possessive about her family home, Pine Hurst. Unexpectedly, Simon Steel dies. Revelations of indecent family history dismay the Steel daughters. Beatrice's security is threatened and she must plot to protect her position and her most precious possession.