It's the fall of 1902, and Violet, recently widowed, is left to run an abandoned boat turned hotel in San Francisco. Many, including Violet's mother, push Violet to sell, but Violet continues to hold onto the hotel and the memories that occupy every room. The hotel is filled with guests, and the event room schedule is packed with events including a traveling museum. When the museum arrives early to open its weekend exhibit, Violet begins to regret booking the museum at all. With an over-tired staff, Violet's doubts about running the hotel on her own are doubled when the museum's opals go missing and a hotel guest is murdered. Violet knows the police have arrested the wrong man, but how will she prove it? Meanwhile, Violet's mother has contacted a relative and prospective buyer though she knows Violet doesn't intend to sell. When the prospective buyer shows up, Violet dreads telling the distant relative it's all been a mistake. But the prospective buyer turns out to be someone who can help solve the murder, and Violet soon admits - Mother Knows Best.
