Sammy and her friends are startled when they interrupt what seems to be an attempted murder on Halloween. While trick-or-treating at a spooky old, house, they find the door open, and inside a man is tied to a chair while a fire rages on the floor. A robbery? But what valuable could be missing from the home of a reclusive old man? Sammy tries to solve the mystery, all the while dealing with her nemesis Heather Acosta, fending off her Grandmother's nosy neighbor in the seniors-only housing where Sammy lives illegally while her mother is off in Hollywood, and keeping up with schoolwork. Tough and resourceful, the savvy sleuth comes out on top in this fast-paced adventure that establishes Sammy Keyes as a solid series that will keep listeners riveted.