The Last Word

DEBUT Obituary writer Winter Snow receives a call from local philanthropist Leocadia Arlington, who has a strange request: she wants her obituary written by Friday. It’s not unusual for an octogenarian to ask for a draft of their obituary, but there’s rarely a deadline. Winter meets Leocadia (and her puppy Diva) at her home, and Leocadia won’t explain why her obit is so urgent; she doesn’t seem to be expecting an imminent death. When Winter returns to Leocadia’s house discuss the draft, Diva’s agitated barking prompts Winter to break in. She finds blood on Diva, and Leocadia on the stairs, barely breathing. Before the police arrive, Winter impulsively hides Leocadia’s iPad and pockets a key to the house. Then she makes a dangerous mistake: she follows a caller’s instructions to go to a house alone and is locked inside when it goes up in flames. She is rescued in time, but after Leocadia dies and the man who locked her in the burning house also dies, Winter becomes the prime suspect.