In Southern Ghost Courtney‘s shooting, which sparks the investigation into past events in this book, makes no sense. The motive of the crimes is ownership of the Tarrant family house which through a very old trust passes to the oldest Tarrant child in each generation. Implicit in such trusts, if not actually stated, is that the oldest legitimate child inherits. The killer would know this. Courtney is illegitimate and the killer knows this, too. Why is she shot?