As the nineteenth century draws to a close, Fancies and Fashion reporter Emma Cross is sent by the Newport Observer to cover an elite house party at Rough Point, a “cottage” owned by her distant cousin Frederick Vanderbilt that has been rented as an artist retreat. To her surprise, the illustrious guests include her estranged Bohemian parents<U+2014>recently returned from Europe<U+2014>as well as a variety of notable artists, including author Edith Wharton. But when one of the artists is discovered dead at the bottom of a cliff, Rough Point becomes anything but a house of mirth. After a second murder, no one is above suspicion<U+2014>including Emma<U+2019>s parents. As Newport police detective Jesse Whyte searches for a killer, Emma tries to draw her own conclusions<U+2014>with the help of Mrs. Wharton. But with so many sketchy suspects, she<U+2019>ll need to canvas the crime scenes carefully, before the cunning culprit takes her out of the picture next . . .