It is late winter 1934 in Manhattan when DeeDee Carlson dies after falling from the balcony of her apartment at the Ansonia. Her boyfriend, Chip Stevenson, begs Honoria Barlow-his late mother's closest friend, and his, as well-to look into the circumstances of DeeDee's death. Honoria insists that her experience as a script doctor doesn't qualify her to play gumshoe, but out of love for Chip, and against the wishes of her protective, Russian-born husband, Mikhail, she agrees to do a little sleuthing. This commitment takes Honoria and her assistant, Maybelle, into some of New York's most elegant dwellings where they meet the dead girl's mother and friends. Some of DeeDee's friends adored her; some loathed her. The young woman had many secrets, and as Honoria begins to uncover them, the situation turns as dangerous as the murderously cold weather.
