Union Jack by Val McDermid

UK Title for Conferences are Murder.

Lindsay Gordon is less than thrilled to be leaving the new-found charms of California behind to research women's roles in the trades union movement, at an Amalgamated Media Worker's conference. Her memories of the warmth, support and comradeship of the British Left leave a little to be desired. But at least there's the prospect of fish and chips, and a few gallons of beer to make life bearable. Lindsay Gordon hasn't been converted to salad, mineral water and vitamin pills – of course she hasn't.

Lindsay's conference experiences haven't always been great. Her very first taste had turned into a vile cocktail of interminable, incomprehensible, not-to-say daft discussions; nasty gossip and even nastier innuendo...and the precipitous death of her good friend, Ian Ross. Now she finds that not much has got nicer. Her old 'friend' Tom 'Union” Jack has gained more power, and looks like he's doing some dirty deals. Then Jack dies – suddenly and violently...and by plunging from Lindsay's tenth floor window.

Lindsay is Suspect Number One...