Acontroversialartistisdead,apparentlythevictimofabotchedrobberyathissuburbanestate.Take-no-prisonersjournalistMaddieMagellanisunconvinced,andshecastshersuspicionsonthedeceased'spossessivewifeandhisfrivolousmistress.Butonewasinhercityofficeatthetimeofdeath,andtheotherwasbound,gaggedandblindfoldedbythe"robber".AchancemeetingwithJonathanCreek,afamousillusionist'stechnicaladvisor,leadsMaddietobelievethathis"lateralmind"mayallowhimtoseethroughthedeceptionsinthecase,andsherecruitsthereluctantgeniusasherpartneraaa