Mrs. Louise Robilotti, a well-meaning but judgmental socialite, hosts a charity dance where she tries to introduce four young women from a home for unwed mothers to prospective husbands. Although not the marrying kind, Archie agrees to fill in for a casual ne'er-do-well acquaintance complaining of a cold and proceeds to have a good time with the attractive women, the hostess' alcoholic daughter, and the free-flowing champagne. The evening suddenly comes to an abrupt end when one of the young women collapses and dies on the dance floor. Because the dead girl carried cyanide with her and openly talked about a death wish, suicide is initially suggested by Mrs. Robilotti who dreads the bad publicity a murder would bring. Along with Archie, Nero suspects that the death is indeed murder and together they expose the means, the motive, and the murderer.
—Gabe Taverney (duke1029@aol.com)