At the start of the book, Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire arrive at the Last Chance General Store on the run from police and residents of the Village of Fowl Devotees. They are falsely accused of murdering Jacques Snicket at the end of the previous book.

The orphans reach Heimlich Hospital, and soon apply for a job at the Library of Records with the head of Human Resources. When the orphans get the job, they soon realize there is a "Snicket file" with vital information on their beloved parents. Things turn pear shape though, when people start to recognize the Baudelaries as three cold blooded murderers, (a false accusation from the media)...