The planned merger of a large corporation with a small, family-owned company proves to be more of a partnership in crime in this latest mystery from Emma Lathen, "Wall Street's Agatha Christie," featuring intrepid banking whiz and amateur sleuth John Putnam Thatcher. ASI is a large, impersonal, kitchen water-fixture manufacturer looking for a merger partner to break into the more lucrative retail market. Their choice is Ecker, a small but profitable family-owned-and-operated kitchen appliance company. But merger leads to murder as mayhem erupts from both parties and those who view this supposed "golden" merger as a potential disaster:. Victor Hunnicut: ASI's overly ambitious assistant division manager fears there won't be any room for him once Ecker comes aboard. Hunnicut's badmouthing and scandal-mongering result in his being literally skewered to death at a trade show. Phil Pepitone: Rumor has it ASI's Executive Vice President was paid off to bring in Ecker. And worse, some bad decisions of the past are returning to haunt him. Sam Bradley: ASI's research scientist's ideas have been running dry lately, or has he been running to the competition? Bob Laverdiere: Ecker's production manager would prefer that things remain in the family, and worries about the power Hunnicut threatens to wield over his nice, secure niche. Tina Laverdiere: Bob's wife and Ecker's financial watchdog. Was a fire in her offices just before an ASI audit conveniently set in order to hide secrets Tina didn't want discovered? With suspected arson and a possible murder, John Putnam Thatcher finds himself once again drawn into an ever-widening web of corporate chaos and mystery.