Jane Stuart and Ivy Benson were once best friends. Ever since Ivy's daughter Marlene was murdered, things have been rocky. To patch up their friendship, Jane invites Ivy to the writer's retreat Jane organized.



Off-season Mt. Munsee Lodge is a mountain-top hotel which is perfect for relaxing and having fun. But Ivy brings Johnny, her new man, who turns out to be on the run. To Ivy's displeasure, Johnny swoons over one of Jane's students, Carla, a waitress with little promise as a writer but potential as a home wrecker. And when an unexpected blizzard leaves everyone marooned in the snow, there's no chance for escape.



Out for a walk the next day, Jane finds her old friend Ivy on the snowy trail—dead. Ivy has been stabbed with an ice pick. Johnny's the likeliest suspect, but he's vanished. The killer is someone who knows a lot more about murder than writing.



But who? The snow melts, giving up clue after clue. Jane and her trusted tortie Winky investigate every lead and soon uncover Ivy's dark secrets.



Writing can be murder, every writer knows that! Before this killer strikes again, Jane and Winky must find the one who may not know much about plot structure, but sure knows murder—cold.