Jessica Fletcher, now in her later years and still sharp‑witted, returns from a quiet writing retreat in Maine to discover that Cabot Cove has changed more than she expected. The town’s historic inn—once her refuge for research and gatherings of friends and fellow mystery lovers—is preparing to host a large conference of true‑crime podcasters and amateur sleuths. Jessica is invited as a keynote speaker, an honor she accepts with her usual mix of pride and gentle trepidation. Yet before the event even begins, a well‑known podcaster is found dead in his room, and the media descend on Cabot Cove, turning Jessica’s tranquil home into the center of a sensational investigation.

Although local authorities initially treat this death as a tragic accident—or perhaps suicide—Jessica’s instincts tell her something is off. The victim’s equipment is missing, there are unexplained foot traffic logs, and one of the conference organizers seems unusually evasive. Jessica begins interviewing attendees, visiting the inn’s service areas, and uncovering old grudges among podcasters who compete fiercely for clicks and reputation. She learns that several people had motive: someone whose podcast was overshadowed by the victim, others who disagreed with his “take” on cold cases, even someone who believed he plagiarized a story.

As Jessica digs deeper, she is joined by her longtime friend Dr. Seth Hazlitt, who helps sort through medical reports and verifies what was supposed to be a clean cause of death. Meanwhile her nephew Grady arrives, hoping to help with logistics, but instead becomes entangled when he discovers that the victim had sent him an anonymous message just before his death, asking for help in exposing a long‑buried crime. Grady’s involvement draws attention—not all friendly—and puts him at risk.

In the climax, Jessica pieces together a web of lies involving the inn staff, the conference organizer, and a jealous competitor. She discovers that the victim had uncovered evidence that two of the podcasters had misrepresented their work, and he was about to go public. The murderer, facing disgrace, sabotaged the victim’s tech and contrived an accident to silence him. In true Fletcher fashion, Jessica orchestrates a gathering of suspects in the old inn’s ballroom, revealing the clues one by one: the missing recordings, the manipulated logs, the overheard whispered threats, the hidden relationships.

In the end justice is served, though not without emotional cost: some friendships are broken, reputations permanently scarred, and Jessica once again reflects on how even passion for truth can lead people to dangerous places. As the conference dissolves and the town returns to its peaceful rhythms, Jessica returns to her writing desk, notebook in hand, already considering how this latest mystery might inspire her next novel. Cabot Cove may have changed, but Jessica Fletcher’s resolve hasn’t.