"In this fourth book of the series, Clive and Henrietta return to Highbury, where Clive discovers all is not as it should be. Increasingly convinced that his father's death was not an accident, Clive launches an investigation, despite his mother's belief that he has become 'mentally disturbed' with grief. Henrietta eventually joins forces with Clive on their first real case, which, as they unravel the truth behind Alcott's worrisome affairs, becomes darker--and deadlier--than they first imagined. Meanwhile, Henrietta's sister, Elsie, begins to take classes at a women's college in an attempt to evade her many troubles. When she meets a bookish German custodian, however, he challenges her to think for herself... even as she discovers some shocking secrets about his past life."--Page 4 of cover.