AbrownleatherbriefcasecontainingpricelessfamilyjewelsbringschaosandcarnagetoBea’sorderedlifeinthelatestlivelyAbbotAgencymystery.Lookingforwardtoapeacefulweekend,BeaAbbot’splansaredisruptedbytheunexpectedarrivalofoneofherclients,bearingabrownleatherbriefcasefullofexpensivejewellery.MagdaSummerleyshasbeenworkingasahousekeeperforwealthyartexpertLucasRycroftwho,shesays,entrustedherwiththebriefcaseforsafekeeping-andwhoseemstohavedisappearedwithouttrace.DrawnintothetangledaffairsofthedysfunctionalRycrofts,Beasoondiscoversthatothermembersofthefamilyaredeterminedtogettheirhandsonthejewels-bywhatevermeansnecessary.Alsocaughtupinthechaosisherex-husbandPiers,whohadbeencommissionedtopaintLucasRycroft’sportrait.ThenabodyisdiscoveredatLucas’shome...andeventsbegintospiraloutofcontrol.
