When it becomes clear that someone in the upper echelons of the administration has been siphoning off the college's "overnight float" interest for personal gain, Rosemary must act quickly before the embezzler/killer finds her. Mystery fans will recognize a few familiar themes; the plot is reminiscent of Jane Langton's Harvard-set "The Memorial Hall Murders," and Munnings' opera-loving local detective comes across as a more suave and likeable version of Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse. The killer's identity is a bit unsurprising, and the story begins too slowly, but the mystery's charms lie not so much in its plot twists as its well-developed characters, spiritual depth, and intimate knowledge of the workings of a small college community. For a first mystery, this is a winner.