Widowed Joanne Kilbourn is an ex-police officer, whose deceased husband Ian was the Ontario provincial Attorney General when he was murdered. His murder was eventually solved six years after the incident. After a stint as a criminology professor, Joanne now works as the criminal and justice expert for a local television news show, and as a college professor of journalism. Her private life is going well as she has just started dating Tom Keaton, her famous journalism school colleague who has just released his second popular non-fiction book stemming from an incident when two troubled youths terrorized him. Joanne's world is turned upside down when the School of Journalism's Dean, Reed Gallagher, is found dead in a seedy motel room with a pair of pantyhose tied around his neck. Initially, the death is thought to be accidental auto-erotic asphyxiation. But, the police, led by Detective Alex Emanuel, do eventually believe his death to be murder. Alex doesn't like that ex-police officer Joanne - emphasis on the ex - has insinuated herself in the investigation. There are several people on the suspect list. Reed was known to be cheating on his wife with several students and wives of faculty members, any of the people affected by his sexual indiscretions having a motive. In addition, Reed's death occurred just before the announcement of a prestigious award and job to a journalism student. In particular, two of those students - one known to be Reed's coed of the day, another who is hiding his past criminal record - also have motive. Joanne doesn't realize that she is putting her life in danger as she gets closer to the truth.