Organizing a conference for Professor Philip Putzel isn't high on Nina Spark's to-do list. All she wants is to enjoy the sun and sand at her new home on Pineapple Cay, hopefully with handsome fishing guide Ted Matthews by her side. But saying no to Philip isn't easy, especially after a mysterious assailant tried to kill him following his delivery of a scathing keynote address.

Sure, her arrogant former boss has a history of run-ins with everyone--Nina included--but expecting to find a real suspect in a banquet hall full of dull, book-toting academics? They're more likely to kill a...