Landry Matthews, a slightly arrogant, yet buff and attractive author of murder mysteries, exudes sex appeal and charm. Her relationships until now have been like flash fires-hot, fleeting infernos. Detective Ellery Quinn, on the other hand, is a serious minded woman with a penchant for inflaming her captain. Recently busted down to security guard, Quinn is assigned to the Southwest Desert Literary Conference in Flagstaff, Arizona. When a conference attendee turns up dead, Landry's knowledge of murder makes her indispensible to Quinn in more ways than one. Could passion be clouding Detective Quinn's judgment while the murderer is hiding in plainsight?