Halloween is just around the corner, and between cauldrons of candy and a deliciously cute new neighbor, Jaine Austen is struggling to resist her sweet tooth. But this year, her once humdrum neighborhood seems to be handing out more tricks than treats.

When her faithful feline Prozac unwittingly scares the resident curmudgeon's parakeet to death, Jaine finds herself knee-deep in toil and trouble. When the ornery neighbor is murdered with her own Do Not Trespass sign on Halloween night, the area residents are relieved, though most of them are on the suspect list. Jaine, however, is the prime suspect.

To clear her name, Jaine summons her sleuthing skills and soon discovers that everyone has a few skeletons in their closets -- and the motives for murder are endless. As the masks come off, Jaine's search for sweet justice turns up more questions than answers. And just as Jaine closes in on the killer, she learns the true meaning of grave danger . . .