Abigail Louise Timberlake Washburn is the owner of the Den of Antiquity on King Street. It seems that a dark cloud of murder and mayhem follow Abby around. She walks in the shadow of Jessica Fletcher. She no more than buys an authentic antique carpet from Gwendolyn Spears, the manager of Pasha's Palace, when Gwendolyn's body is found floating in the Charleston Harbor wrapped in an authentic antique carpet.

It seems someone is switching authentic antique carpets with cheaper knock-offs. Several customers that Abby sold authentic carpets to now have a fake knock-off of the original she knows she sold them. It seems the rug has been pulled out from under her - no pun intended.

Abby enlists the help of a close friend, Bob, and her mama to do some detective work and find out who has set up a very successful counterfeit carpet business, and to solve the mystery of Charleston's counterfeit carpets.