Ruby Gloom and her unusually charming group of friends all live together in a Victorian mansion at the edge of Gloomsville. Ruby begins and ends each book with a letter that includes some of her charming sayings and advice like “Hold on to your friends … but give them room to breathe.” During one of her adventures, Iris finds a beautiful plant and gives it to Ruby Gloom to care for. The next morning, the friends discover that the kitchen has been ransacked and there’s not a crumb left to eat. Skull Boy assumes the role of Sherlock Holmes and investigates the crime—he even interrogates all his friends! After Skull Boy devises an elaborate trap for the culprit, we learn that each night the plant has been creeping out of its pot and devouring everything in sight. In typical Gloomsville fashion, the kids affectionately name the plant “Flora” and plant her outside their kitchen window so they can toss her snacks whenever she’s hungry.