Gilman's first and only detective novel spoofs the genre as it deconstructs the murder of a pernicious attorney who has been shot, stabbed, bludgeoned, strangled, and poisoned! The feisty husband-and-wife detective team that solves the murder presents a model of true partnership, while the unfolding details of the case offer poignant evidence of the injustice that poor and powerless women can suffer at the hands of a brutal man. Gilman weaves a case for women's freedom and empowerment into a mystery rich in twists and turns, colorful characters, red herrings, suspense, and wry humor.