When wealthy socialite and notorious party girl Vivian Bowers, heiress to a pharmaceutical empire, is found dead of an overdose, no one is really surprised. She lived a troubled, reckless life. But the FBI is convinced that her death was a homicide, and they have a clever plan to get to the truth: Detective Joanna Locasto. Twenty years ago she was Vivian's best friend, having grown up in the Bowers' home as the housekeeper's daughter. And when she appears at Vivian's funeral, the family re-embraces her. Joanna quickly begins to uncover dark secrets and clues about why Vivian's life was very much in danger. At the same time, she rediscovers the allure of the luxurious lifestyle she once knew. She's about to see once again just how the other half lives...and dies.