Washington DC is the setting of the Continental Library Association Annual Conference and Ally Derringer is anticipating a magnificent event to cap off her year as president. Many new members have recently joined the association, although it is unclear why. After a rousing keynote speech by a major political figure, the festive atmosphere is interrupted as an unsolved murder threatens to wreck the conference. Strangely, few conventioneers seem sad that the librarian is dead. Is the killer an angry ex-flame? Someone hiding criminal behavior? A political opponent? Or was it an act of terrorism by an extremist? The Three Biblioteers, making their first appearance, form an alliance hoping to solve the puzzling case.