Soon after arriving in San Francisco Carolyn takes a deep breath and does what she has to…calls her mother-in-law to tell her they’re in town. The answering machine picks up: “You have reached Professor Vera Blue. I am not home because I have been arrested for first degree murder.”

Now Carolyn has to go directly to jail—to find out why the famous feminist was at the scene of the crime with the victim’s blood all over her. Between police and prisoners, lawyers and liars—and even a few earthquake tremors—Carolyn is truly shaken. However, while sampling San Francisco fare, she perseveres in her investigation of the murder, with the help of a motorcycle-riding, ex-pro football player private eye, who calls himself the Sam Spade of the Castro.