When someone begins taunting Aurora Teagarden with cryptic clues left at crime scenes, the librarian-turned-crime buff attempts to figure out who is behind the creepy "game." But when the people closest to Aurora become targets, the game takes on a much more dangerous edge as it points to a planned murder. And once it is discovered that Aurora's blossoming relationship with Professor Nick Miller might be the source of jealousy that is driving the crime spree, Aurora must be especially careful not to become the next victim.

While attending a weekend confab of murder mystery and true crime fans, Aurora and her Real Murders Club pals agree to appear in the stage production of a fun murder mystery. However, when a very real murder is committed on stage in front of everyone during an unplanned blackout, Aurora's nephew Phillip becomes the prime suspect when the lights come back up and he is found holding the murder weapon, a bloody knife.