Rose Leary tends bar in 1980s New York City to subsidize her writing career. Someone keeps killing women at her job, and Rose suspects she's next. Despite official warnings to leave sleuthing to the pros, she struggles to find the murderer in a desperate race to save herself and her work. Smart and stubborn Rose brings her sharp wit to the search, defying her fear with dark humor. And cocktails.

Rose Leary writes murder mysteries, but she never wants to see another real corpse. She tends bar to buy time to write in 1980s New York City, until her gruesome discovery of a murdered colleague derails those careful plans. As threats escalate, Rose fears for her next novel, her safety, and even her trust in Detective Frank Butler. Work lurches into chaos as inexperienced new bosses mismanage the restaurant, making accusations and blame seem like daily specials. Questions about guilt and innocence contaminate more than the crime scene, while jealousy and suspicion swirl in the oppressive...