As president of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society in Philadelphia, Nell Pratt relies on the generosity of philanthropists. But when someone starts killing benefactors, it's Nell's turn to come to their aid....

When Nell reads the obituary of a former board member, Adeline Harrison, she makes a mental note to send flowers and doesn't think twice about it - until FBI agent James Morrison shares his suspicions about the nature of Adeline's death. It turns out that a number of other members of the local cultural community have died in the last few months under similar circumstances. Soon Nell uncovers what seems to be a plot to rid Philadelphia of harmless elderly philanthropists - but why? If she can figure out the killer's motive, she has a chance of stopping the misanthropic murderer before another do-gooder is done in....