When Violet's Aunt Adelia decides to abscond with her newest paramour, she leaves behind her role as the most popular Agony Aunt in Victorian London, "Miss Hermione," in Violet's hands. And of course, the first letter Violet receives is full of ominous portent: Ivy Armstrong is in need of help and fears for her life. But when Violet visits the village where the letters were posted, she finds that Ivy is already dead, and in this series debut, she finds both marauding husbands and murder are part of her new job.