Sheila Malory is offered a teaching job for one semester at a small Pennsylvania college, where she would also serve as a mentor for two women pursuing Master’s degrees in different aspects of Victorian literature, Sheila’s specialty. She jumps at the chance to spend time with her old friend Linda and Linda’s older sister Anna, and after some initial nervousness, settles quickly into her temporary home. She is intrigued by the amount of in-house spite and disagreeableness amongst the faculty, but when the brother of one of the most obnoxious faculty members is killed, she finds herself drawn into the fracas if only to protect her students and her friends…. I much enjoyed this, the fifth entry in the Mrs. Malory series, if only for the change of location and the way rural Pennsylvania is portrayed through her eyes. I’m also a sucker for mysteries set on college campuses, and this one is nicely drawn, particularly with respect to departmental squabbling and how various personalities can rub each other the wrong way. There’s even a possible romance hinted at, although it’s not clear to me if Sheila will ever follow through on that possibility; the melancholy ending gives no hint either way. It’s also interesting to remember life in the early 1990s; things mentioned here include banks of computers, fax machines and the truly horrific death sentence that was AIDS back in the day - it reminds one that, however awful 2022 seems with wars and rising illiberalism and a pandemic, *some* things have improved over time! Recommended. ( )

Mrs. Sheila Malory has been invited to teach a literature course at a small American college. This means leaving her comfortable home, cat and life in the English town of Taviscombe for a few months.

After arriving, while meeting and learning about the various faculty members, one of the least liked and most obnoxious is found murdered in an unusual location. While the majority of faculty members are glad to have him gone, no one can think of a reason. When another faculty member is found dead, the first victim's brother, then questions really arise.

Mrs. Malory finds herself drawn into the investigation and the attention of Police Lieutenant Mike Landis, who is handling the case. The common thread between Malory and Landis, besides solving the murder, is a love of Shakespeare. While the two enjoy each other's company, there are still unrevealed secrets between the two as Mrs. Malory is made privy to some of the characters' secrets and hesitates to share them with Landis.

A nice cozy and great summer read ( )

Mrs. Malory goes to Pennsylvania as a visiting professor and finds murder as well as a bit of romance.