A Nick Hoffman / Academic Mystery, Book 2 - Nick Hoffman, desperate to get tenure, has been saddled with a thankless task: coordinating a conference on Edith Wharton that will demonstrate how his department and his university supports women's issues. There's been widespread criticism that SUM is really the State University of Men. Problem is, he's forced to invite two warring Wharton societies, and the conflict between rival scholars escalates from mudslinging to murder. Nick's job and whole career are on the line unless he can help solve the case and salvage the conference. Originally published in 1998, this new edition contains a 2020 foreword by Gregory Ashe as well as a new introduction by the author.