First there's the spectacular blaze that totals the antebellum home of genealogist Oliver Host. Then the appalling murder of librarian Estelle Carhart, a lady too softhearted even to collect fines for overdue books. Delia Cannon, a library volunteer and something of an amateur genealogist, suspects a connection between the crimes. But Delia doesn't yet realize that she already knows too much for her own good . . . and that somebody in Jesus Creek wants her to check out of the library and the sleuthing business -- permanently.