Georgia Jensen and friend, Ellie Forsythe, find themselves embroiled in another suspicious death when Georgia, against her better judgment, agrees to speak at a symposium for historians. The most Georgia expected was publicity for her one-woman retiree's business, "Historical Research, By George," not a dead body. But that's exactly what Ellie finds shortly after she joins Georgia on the final day of the symposium.
Hoping the death of one of the speakers would put an end to what Georgia termed "two of the worst days of her life," their hopes were dashed when the final day wasn't cancelled, and the police ask that everyone involved stay on campus until they complete their investigation.

Unhappy with having their vacation plans disrupted, Georgia and Ellie set out to 'help' the police uncover the real motive for the rising young historian's murder by following the victim's research trail through the 1920s. Wading through old newspaper microfilm, books and old city directories, they begin to realize that those efforts may not be enough to lead them to a cold and calculating murderer. The reason may lie in the past of one of others involved in the gathering of illustrious academicians, some of whom aren't exactly what they seem to be and something much more difficult to research. The deeper they dig, the more muddied the situation becomes. And their efforts may lead to naught.

Unbeknownst to them, a killer is watching and waiting, prepared to put an end to their meddling if need be. As they move closer to the truth, the killer might just manage to do away with the problem of Georgia and her research, especially if Ellie doesn't find Georgia's note in time!