To tourists, bay-windowed Victorian mansions are quaint, peaceful symbols of old San Francisco, but on the secluded hill above Steiner Street, the gingerbread has sparked a bitter battle. Ambitious developers are pushing for restoration, and residents are fighting for their homes-until a controversial restorationist is found dead on the job, awash in garish house paint.

Private investigator Sharon McCone is called in only to discover a second bitter feud, this time between the develo ...