When Henley Boone comes to Haplin, she tells people that she hopes to uncover information about her family’s past since her late mother enjoyed her vacation time here. But in the process, Henley finds herself drawn into a web of romance and intrigue she never could have foreseen. What is she really here for and can she be trusted?

The Haplin founding family, represented by the mysterious matriarch Peggy Haplin and her quick-tempered son, John, run the local bread factory, which is the town’s largest employer. The powerful family tries to wield control even while dealing with the fact that John’s daughter was one of the Magic Man’s many victims.

The ever-dapper Merritt Grieves, who runs a charming but perhaps irrelevant film memorabilia shop, seems strangely sinister. The lively widows residing at the Meadows Boarding House with Merritt become all aflutter whenever he is in their presence.

Haplin’s other colorful characters include the heir apparent to the Haplin fortune — Andrew Haplin, who has been carrying on a secret romance with the Conroys’ babysitter, Georgia Bravin – a nice girl from the other side of the tracks. Tommy’s colleagues at the police station, Detective Roger Hobbs and Deputy Eli “Root Beer” Rogers, are committed to solving both the heinous new crime and the past unsolved kidnappings. Other residents include Tommy Conroy’s boyhood friend, Big Dave Duncan, as well as the nefarious Stiviletto brothers.

Many in this small Midwestern town have skeletons in their closets, and some dark truths are being revealed about some familiar faces. There are signs both obvious and hidden that something strange is going on, as exemplified by a recurring bit of curious graffiti: a halo with a question mark under it. They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Happy Town.