 In St Crispin s Academy, near Cabot Cove, Jessica gives a lecture, and witnesses a prank, switching a Shakespeare bust with an Elvis. Even her protégée seems in the spell of the mischievous Prometheus fraternity, lead by silver spoon-boy Colin Forbes. Notably a Cabot Cove fisherman s son is suspected of involvement in a thefts-wave in the area. There is a vicious fight going on for the coveted post of headmaster. Jessica s friend, English professor Harry Matthews, loses against history professor James Ryerson, whose corps is shortly after found in the faculty office, with a smashed-in skull. Matthews now gets the job, but has no alibi, so he s arrested after the murder weapon was found in his locker. Jessica and the sheriff were already on the premises, and soon unearth motives and opportunities...