With work on the reconstruction of her beloved home almost complete, Jessica Fletcher is in high holiday spirits. The only thing dampening the holiday cheer is the discovery on Jessica's property of two sets of bones: one set ancient, the other only a few weeks old. Soon, tabloid reporter Franklin Joy arrives in Cabot Cove to write a story about what he calls 'Murder Cove, USA.' But when Franklin himself is murdered, Jessica speculates that his arrival, his death, and the discovery of the bones are all connected.