With the real estate economy in a downturn, Aggie Sloan- Wilcox and her best friend, realtor Lucy Jacobs, are backing away from their house-flipping business for a while. Lucy has just made a terrific land sale, however, to an evangelist with her own cadre of exotic circus animals, and is billed as Sister Nora's Inspirational Tent Show. This is the second most talked about subject in Emerald Springs, Ohio.

The most popular item of conversation is the upcoming Emerald Springs Idyll, a talent contest to help raise funds for a pediatric wing at the local hospital. The whole town is excited that one of their own, actor and singer Grady Barber, will be returning to be a celebrity judge. Aggie is a volunteer for the fund-raising committee, and since she was late to the first planning session, got elected to be the liaison between Grady and his personal assistant, Fred. In other words, over the next few weeks, Aggie gets to run her buns off and neglect her family and friends for a rude, demanding aging star whose glory days are far, far behind him. It doesn't surprise her that someone finally kills the man. And, Aggie being Aggie, and against Detective Roussos's personal request not to get involved in this one, jumps in with both feet to find the killer.

A LIE FOR A LIE is another fun and fabulous outing with the residents of Emerald Springs. Life is never dull in this small town since the local minister's wife keeps stumbling over dead bodies. The characters are outstanding and the storyline has heart and humor. Emilie Richards continues to write the best-of-the-very-best cozy stories on the bookshelves today.