A seemingly innocuous quilting bee in a quiet English village unearths a decades-old secret and a potential curse. Lori Shepherd, left at home while her family camps, attends a village events committee meeting where the widow Annabelle Craven announces a quilting bee. While seated with Mrs. Craven, Lori learns unsettling details about the widow's first husband's death, hinting at a dark secret known locally as the "widow's curse." Guided by Aunt Dimity's spectral advice, Lori begins to investigate, uncovering a tale that grows increasingly horrifying with each revelation.

This installment in Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series is likely to appeal to fans of traditional cozy mysteries, offering a familiar blend of amateur sleuthing and village life. The premise suggests a plot driven by secrets and local lore, with the "widow's curse" providing a central element of intrigue. Readers can expect Aunt Dimity's characteristic gentle guidance to assist Lori in unraveling the mystery. The narrative structure likely focuses on Lori's investigation and the gradual revelation of past events, culminating in a surprising discovery.