The wealthy Mistress of Arroways disinherited her daughter when missy rejected mama's choice of husband and eloped.  So, mama adopted the rejected swain,   and made  him the beneficiary of her will.  But when mama dies, her 'real' granddaughter comes to inherit Arroways  and the murders begin.  A lot of action mixed with a little romance and just the right amount of blood flow.  The author manages to sustain an aura of menace throughout the book.  Read as many Helen Reilly books as you can find!