In Eden lived a serpent foul for when he heard Eve's stomach growl, he said by way of greeting: "I've cooks, beer, and pretzels, too. Deep-fried cheese and chicken stew. I've cake and candy just for you." The serpent coiled around her side, and said, although he knew he lied, "An apple isn't cheating." The serpent looked Eve in the eye, and said, "A teeny piece of pie? Remember, life is fleeting." Eve passed the apples and the chips. She held a doughnut to her lips. She never thought about her hips. Though some say greed or lust or pride, the hungry know down deep inside, the oldest sin is eating. —Kathleen Kruger The historic Maxfield Plaza hotel in downtown St. Paul is packed to the rafters with two national conventions—the members of The Church of The Firstborn, and delegates to the annual Daughters of Sisyphus convention. Five old college roommates are reunited: food critic Sophie Greenway, now owner of the hotel; Adelle, who married into the founding family of the Church of the Firstborn; Lavinia, mastermind of the Daughters of Sisyphus; and Bunny and Cindy, Lavinia's top aides. But when a death terminates one of the gang, Sophie senses that not everyone is devastated by the loss. As Sophie delicately probes the private affairs of her hotel's star guests, she recalls another loss—of a young woman who had been the group's sixth roommate. The buried secrets of that long-ago death are exhumed as a clandestine killer stalks the halls of the Maxfield plaza, preparing a taste of the oldest sin for the final victim.