Full-figured Manhattan P.I. Desiree Shapiro doesn't like public speaking, so she's surprised when her talk at a mystery writers' convention is a hit. But she receives an even bigger surprise when eccentric author Belle Simone approaches her with a truly bizarre proposition.

If Desiree can solve the mystery in Belle's yet unpublished novel, sheall be paid $24,940 Desiree is engrossed by Belleas story of adultery and murder. But the real mystery is: why someone would pay her such an exorbitant sum to solve a homicide that exists only on paper?