Scent of a $windle is flush with provocative foreign intrigue and unforgettable characters–including a menagerie of animals that consist of a dog, a cockatoo, a goat, and a rooster. A disturbingly tragic murder has upset the balance of life on the white carpets of Prunedale, California. Muralist Josephine Stuart is keeping a promise by house-sitting for well-to-do Mr. and Mrs. Trippy who plan to be in Europe for thirty days. When the Trippys’ neighbor is murdered, they inherit the victim’s cockatoo Boris. So, unfortunately, Josephine becomes caretaker not only of their house, but also the bird. Being the nosy neighbor she is, Jo can’t help looking into the murder and soon she has a long roster of suspects–all of them apparently interested in one small, but valuable item.