Jancy Dewhurst, 23, a pushy, disheveled newspaper reporter, nervously attends her first homicide and immediately locks horns with Jim Wills, 27, a natty cop who has no use for reporters meddling in an investigation. Observant, Jancy marvels that she contributes more to the investigation than the cop, but must be nice and try to cultivate him as a source. A second victim marked with the killer's same odd signature is found near the university campus, prompting a second brusque run-in between Jancy and Jim. An attorney, S.B.I. Agent Wills ably assimilates information into theories of a crime; but often overlooks vital data. Jancy notices details, but has no idea how they apply. Pooling their talents, Jim and Jancy complement each other, leading to grudging regard for each other. A third killing draws both Dewhurst and Wills. The governor names Wills in charge of the investigations. After a fourth victim succumbs, Jim cautions Jancy not to snoop into the killings on her own. When she stumbles onto an unlikely lead and appears to put herself in jeopardy, Wills is livid and the fragile bond between Jim and Jancy snaps. However, they reconcile and devise a plan to flush the suspect they each independently have concluded is the ribbon murderer. The Ribbon Murders is the first of a three-book series featuring Jim Wills and Jancy Dewhurst. They pair up to solve more murders in Volume 2, Murder Aboard the Choctaw Gambler, and Volume 3, Candlesticks.