As the bones pile up in Wilfred, Oregon, librarian and apprentice witch Josie Way hits the books--and soon finds herself playing Dr. Watson to none of the than Sherlock Holmes!

When human bones are discovered beneath an old outhouse covered in blackberry vines, no one knows who they once belonged to. But elderly Helen Garlington wants Sam the sheriff to test the remains, suspecting they may solve the mystery of her long-vanished husband. It's not a match, and Helen takes it hard, drowning her disappointment in sherry at the tavern--where she sees a contestant on a game show who she swears is her missing spouse, Martin. To ease the woman's mind, Josie contacts the show to track down the look-alike guest, who kindly agrees to travel to Wilfred--and is then found dead the next morning.

Horrified by this fatal turn of events, Josie asks the spellbound books for help, seeking the aid of Sherlock Holmes. But strange things continue to happen--frightening images flash on the screen of a long-abandoned movie theater and flocks of crows seem to appear wherever she goes. Is Josie about to meet her own Moriarty? It will take all her courage to untangle the twisted vines of this mystery before this chapter in the colorful story of Wilfred claims another life . . .