"A suspenseful, thoughtful, sexy debut" in a mystery trilogy set in the insular, backstabbing world of academia (Christopher Coake, author of You Came Back).

A famous journalism dean is found dead at the bottom of a stairwell. Accident or murder? The police suspect members of the faculty who had engaged in fierce quarrels with him—distinguished scholars who were known to attack the dean like brutal schoolyard bullies. When Meredith "Red" Solaris is appointed interim dean, the faculty suspects are furious. Will the beautiful red-haired professor be next? The case detective tries to protect her as he heads the investigation, but incoming threats lead him to believe Red's the next target for death.

"A psychological thriller that reveals the Ivory Tower to be a hothouse full of monstrous egos, where bullying thrives long past playground days and 'academic discipline' requires research skills of the detective kind." —Kate Manning, author of My Notorious Life

"Touching upon a very real subject, this author offers the perfect formula of suspects, mystery, and a handsome police detective to heat up Red's fire . . . This is a great read about what goes on behind those academic doors." —Suspense Magazine