Darla Ballinger, history professor and mystery writer (and, sometimes unwittingly, amateur detective) is at home when the doorbell rings. She is surprised to find Annie Ragsdale, the younger sister of a former student (Fannie Ragsdale...what were their parents thinking?) on her doorstep. Annie tells Darla that Fannie, the curator of an illustrious art museum, has gone missing, and she then surprisingly asks Darla to find Fannie. In her quest to find the missing curator, Darla encounters museum staff, Fannie's fiancé, and a variety of other characters, some of whom have a clear motive for making Fannie disappear. What follows is a trail of clues and confusion, with a victim or two along the way and a surprising ending. Will Darla be able to find Fannie? Find out!