Dru’s Short Musing:
Determined to find the person responsible for the murder of her colleague, puts Daphne Ouverture in a killer’s crosshair.

This well-written and unputdownable drama immediately grabbed my attention, quickly becoming a page-turner as I had to know who, what, and why this was all happening. The author did a great job in staging this mystery with plausible suspects tethered with inklings of misdeeds. With visually descriptive narrative, I was able to see the ins and outs of academia through Daphne’s eyes and I liked how that was interwoven with her search for the person responsible. As the suspenseful nature of the story moved forward, the pacing reached a crescendo as the pieces fell into place and the one person standing was the killer. This is a twistedly sharp whodunit that will keep you on your toes from beginning to end. Overall, an excellent read and I hope this is the beginning of a new series.

Genre: Traditional Mystery
Release: July 1, 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Book Synopsis:
A college history professor must solve her superstar colleague’s murder before she becomes the next target in this funny, romantic debut mystery, perfect for readers of Janet Evanovich, Kellye Garrett, and Ali Hazelwood.

As a newly minted junior professor, Daphne Ouverture spends her days giving lectures on French colonialism, working on her next academic book, and going on atrocious dates. Her small world suits her just fine. Until Sam Taylor dies.

The rising star of Harrison University’s anthropology department was never one of Daphne’s favorites, despite his popularity. But that doesn’t prevent Sam’s killer from believing Daphne has something that belonged to Sam—something the killer will stop at nothing to get.

Between grading papers and navigating her disastrous love life, Daphne embarks on her own investigation to find out what connects her to Sam’s murder. With the help of an alluring former-detective-turned-bookseller, she unravels a deadly cover-up on campus.

This well-crafted, voice-driven mystery introduces an unforgettable crime fiction heroine.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the publisher.