There was an epidemic of death in the town. Lila Connor, neighborhood flirt and sex goddess, lay dead in her home, victim of an ill-placed letter opener. Larry Connor, successful accountant and distraught husband, lay dead in his office, slain by the giant Mickey Finn. And at Shady Acres, Nancy Howell was crazy wondering who killed Lila and Larry. Was a killer even now hidden in Shady Acres, waiting for a chance to slay again...?(cover)

Recipe for a backyard cookout: one guest skewered by another

"Lila was shameless," Mae Walters said to Lieutenant Masters. "I'm surprised someone didn't kill her long ago."
"Now, Mae," Stanley Walters said, "you needn't make Lila out to be worse than she was."
"Yes, darling," said Vera Richmond, "you mustn't exaggerate. All Lila did was to give Stanley a meaningless kiss. As a matter of fact, Lieutenant, it started us all off kissing one another immediately."
"Did anything else happen I ought to know about?" asked Masters.
"Nothing at all, Lieutenant," Vera said. "It was just a little backyard cookout. We didn't ask any gangsters."
"Apparently," Masters said, "you asked a murderer."

With cast of characters at the beginning.Written by Fletcher Flora.