Gilded-age lady detective, Lucy Pinkston, responds to an intriguing request from New Orleans. The summons is from Robert Winthrop; handsome, rich and widowed. Lucy is thrilled to be invited to his home; her eccentric family and husband in tow. But they are in for a shock. Winthrop hasn’t hired just them, but a veritable team of detectives! The purpose? To recover a stolen tiara of woven silver, decorated with copious diamond.

Lucy delves into the mystery, determining the tiara was taken by Winthrop’s son, Willie. But for what purpose? As the other detectives depart on the hunt, she devotes her talent to what the Pinkston’s do best–meddle.

But when someone from her husband’s past interrupts her progress, the Creole Caper seems fraught with danger. And when James Smith goes undercover, Lucy is beside herself with concern. Has he truly relinquished his wild side? Or has the wicked city of New Orleans corrupted her long-time love?