monaghan, tess (fictitious character)

Every year on Edgar Allan Poe's birthday, a cloaked visitor leaves three roses and half a bottle of cognac on Poe's grave; it is a treasured tradition in Charm City, and Tess wants nothing to do with the man who wants to hire to uncover the visitor identity, but due to a bizarre series of events, Tess finds herself pulled into the case.

Private investigator Tess Monaghan agrees to look into a series of unsolved homicides that date back over the past six years, but as she begins digging into the case, she uncovers a disturbing connection to the wealthy Baltimore benefactor who was instrumental in launching Tess's career.