Recently divorced from art gallery owner Elliot McCallister (Steven Brand), Samantha Kinsey (Martin) inherits her Uncle Bobs' crime mystery-specialized bookshop. Jack Stenning (Robert Wagner) is Samantha's former literature professor and is working on a new true crime book. His adopted daughter Tracy tells Samantha that she worries her father's pursuit of his latest story may turn out to be dangerous. At a party in his home, Jack is murdered by a surprise guest who stages Jack's death to look like a suicide. Jack's estranged son Tom (Troy Bishop) and his boss Lieutenant Robert Hawke (William R. Moses) investigate but rule it a suicide. Although general heir and claiming she loved Jack despite serial adultery, his widow Mary (Joan Severance) asks Samantha and her friend Cassie to investigate it as a murder. Shortly after, Sam is the target of a break-in and sabotage convincing her that there is more to the mystery. She and her uncle's mysterious friend, Ian Philby (Freeman), discover that Jack's new book was connected to the disappearance of heiress Rebecca Carlson 10 years ago and his own murder may be linked to Carlson's murder.

A recluse hit author Clare Beckman (Beth Broderick) is about to announce her retirement at Samantha's bookshop when a gunshot is heard. While Clare manages to dodge the bullet, she is killed by cleverly planted bee venom which kills her instantly due to her being allergic to bees, a fact which few people knew about.

Samantha's close friend Barbara (Patty McCormack) is agitated when she is left out of her brother Avery's will who recently died in a car crash. Barbara now suspects that there may be more to her brother's death. She requests Samantha to develop some photographs she took on Avery's birthday (on the day of the crash), certain that an explanation can be found but also worried that she can't trust anyone from her family including the family lawyer, Benson, who is trying to prove her unstable. Before Samantha can get back to her, Barbara is shot and murdered. Samantha investigates her friend's death with almost every family member of Barbara's making it on to the suspect list.

Mystery Woman bookshop owner, Samantha Kinsey, has offered to host a charity concert for a once-famous folk-rock trio out to recapture their old fame. But the band's promoter is found murdered in his hotel room. Samantha and her partner in crime, Philby, set out to investigate and must ask all the band members to relive memories from their hazy past if they want to find the truth.

Samantha is invited to a state of the art resort and spa to shoot photographs for their brochure. Samantha and her friend Cassie meet the staff and other guests but soon one of the guests, Debbie, is found murdered incidentally right after her friend and fellow guest Alice discovered Debbie was having an affair with her husband. All the guests at the healing center become suspects as Samantha tries to find the killer.

An old friend from Samantha's elementary school days trying to sell his latest mystery video game and a reclusive author holding a book signing at Mystery Woman don't seem likely to cross paths. But a fatal poisoning using a biological weapon screams GAME OVER for one of them. Now Samantha has to play detective or risk losing more than just a game.

Samantha finds her mother, who gave her up for adoption. Then Samantha’s mom is arrested for murder. Samantha sets out to solve the crime.

Samantha is helping plan the Wild West Days event in her town of Walden, which will include the famous Clint Lawson and his gang of actors from the Red River Days Western-themed TV show. But an accident with Clint's saddle and the shooting of one of the Red River Days cast members forces Samantha, Philby, Cassie, and Chief Connors to saddle up to roust out ugly secrets from these cowboys and cowgirls.

A couple accused of a murder go on the run, leaving their baby in the care of bookshop owner & amateur sleuth Samantha Kinsey. Can Samantha look after the baby and solve the case?

A rare first edition from a pioneer author goes missing in the mystery novels-specialized Kinsey bookshop during remodeling by the local firm of Tyler Dell, who recently lost his father, a Vietnam veteran. Retired English teacher Jim Carter, who overheard everything, is murdered shortly after a row in Reverend Tucker's homeless shelter Haven with aggressive lush Murphy. Rude police chief Connors isn't up to an investigation while the killer keeps sniping, so the bookstore's armchair sleuths duo does it alone, starting from a lacquered box left by Jim for his illegitimate daughter, who never even knew his name. It starts a set of cues, slowly unraveling a grim intrigue starting during a 1965 US illegal intrusion into Red Khmer territory.

While searching for a KGB double agent who was about to be exposed by another Russian spy-turned-successful author, Samantha and Philby are thrust into the murderous world of international espionage.