As the Baudelaire orphans arrive in the town of Lake Lachrymose they discover that Hurricane Herman is due to arrive in a week or so.
Upon meeting Aunt Josephine they discover that she loves grammar and that she has paranoid fears about electricity, things falling over, burglars and just about anything that could happen.
After some persuading she takes the orphans into town to do some shopping (though only for food that doesn't need to be heated). They meet a thinly disguised Count Olaf there, who charms Josephine. Later, Olaf fakes her suicide.
Count Olaf reveals that in addition to his crimes of fraud, murder and endangerment of children he is also an arsonist.
Josephine's life jackets will be found around the time that the orphans are at a miserable boarding school.
Books in Aunt Josephine's library (or under her bed).
