Finding a dead body feels like Déjà vu to Maggie McManus. Her first-semester teaching at PSU was already off to a "deadly start." While taking her students on a field trip to the River Town Hotel and Conference Center, Maggie discovers the dead body of the Director of Sales and Marketing in the hotel boardroom. While working together to find the killer, Maggie and Hotel Manager Trip Evans's friendship evolves into a budding romance. But Trip's housewarming party with unexpected events leaves Maggie wondering if their blossoming romantic relationship is doomed?
Adding to her troubles, Maggie finds the dead body of her nemesis, Dr. Harrison, in his office-- directly across the hall from hers. The same detectives who had bungled the murder investigation of the director of sales and marketing are assigned to Harrison's murder-- looking no further for possible suspects; Maggie is the only one on the clueless detective's list.
Faced with finding the killer herself, Maggie discovers that Harrison had harassed faculty and students alike when their race, gender, religion, or nationality were offensive to him. Who had finally had enough of this oppressive bigot to kill him? How could he get away with bullying, intimidating, and enlisting fear in so many people for so long?