Dead Men's Plans

In Mignon G. Eberhart's "Dead Men's Plans," the esteemed Minary family, pillars of Great Lakes shipping, is plunged into turmoil following the death of patriarch Julius. His meticulously structured legacy is quickly destabilized when his son, Reg, returns from post-war Europe with a new, older French wife. This enigmatic woman swiftly asserts her dominance, dismissing long-serving staff, including Reg's beloved stepsister and their housekeeper, from the family's opulent Chicago mansion. Her ambition doesn't stop at domestic affairs; she soon sets her sights on the Minary business empire. However, her ascent is brutally interrupted when Reg is shot, an incident initially dismissed by police as a random holdup. Yet, as the recent upheaval within the family comes to light, suspicion mounts. What began as a hopeful family reunion devolves into a labyrinth of mistrust, bitter accusations, and profound heartbreak. A killer lurks within the foggy Chicago streets, driven by a motive to dismantle the Minary family irrevocably, turning their fortune into a potential curse.