On the eve of the presidential election of 1892, Miss Hattie Davish arrives in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a scenic resort town where those without the scent of whiskey on their breath have the plight of temperance on their tongues. Summoned for her services as a private secretary, Hattie is looking forward to exploring the hills, indulging her penchant for botany--and getting to know the town's doctor. But it's hard to get her job done with her employer nowhere to be found. An army of unassuming women wielding hatchets have descended on the quiet Ozark village, destroying every saloon in their wake. So when their beloved leader, Mother Trevelyan, is murdered, it's easy to point fingers. Hattie turns to her trusty typewriter to get to the truth.