When Dr. Mona Wright arrives at the glamourous literary party for the William Faulkner Writers' Conference at a notorious French Quarter mansion in New Orleans, she expects to be confronted by fans of her radio show. Dr. Wright is, after all, a famous New Orleans psychologist who helps people solve their problems on air. She also expects questions about her latest book-the reason for her attendance at the conference-and is personally relieved that the writer's block she suffered for years has finally cleared. When a charming man-another guest at the party-offers to escort her to see the attic of the old mansion where rumor has it slaves were mistreated, Mona isn't sure what to expect, but certainly not to be brutally raped and murdered. It is left to Detective Brian Herlihy, a former football star at LSU and Mona's lover, to find her killer and avenge his broken heart.