"Sophie Winston's reclusive neighbor, Professor Mordecai Artemus, has died and left his sprawling home to his Pomeranian. Sophie feels a tad guilty for not having befriended Mordecai. But at least she's not as heartless as her nemesis, Natasha, who's descended upon the house with a crew of interior designers and contractors to renovate the place for the statewide Spring Home and Garden Tour. Even Sophie's been assigned a room to decorate: the family room, where the Professor did most of his living, and where he died. In the midst of cleaning, spackling, and painting, Sophie uncovers a second body, but when she looks again it's disappeared! Now Sophie has to hammer away to discover the truth about the missing man, before her best friend gets nailed for murder..."--P.[4] of cover.