While visiting Boston, Jessica runs into her former neighbor John Winslow who brusquely insists that he's never seen her before in her life. Quickly dialing up Winslow's wife Maude, Jessica is informed that John died two weeks before! To solve this mystery, Jessica capitalizes upon her friendship with gruff-but-lovable Boston P.I. Harry McGraw.

Jessica Fletcher crosses swords with rival mystery writer Eudora McVeigh Shipton. Envious that Jessica's star has risen while hers has fallen, Eudora publicly declares that she intends to murder our heroine! But when Eudora shows up in Cabot Cove, she couldn't be more friendly or effusive towards Jessica. In fact, Eudora is even bearing a gift...a basket of big juicy apples.