Murder Is Academic

Laura Murphy Mysteries #1

by Lesley A. Diehl

Laura Murphy, psychology professor, thinks there's nothing she likes better than coffee and donuts on a summer morning until she says yes to dinner with a Canadian biker and finds herself and her date suspects in the murder of her college's president. Laura's friend, the detective assigned the case, asks her to help him find out who on the small upstate New York college campus may be a killer. The murder appears to be wrapped up in some unsavory happenings on the lake where Laura lives. A fish kill and raw sewage seeping into the water along with the apparent drowning suicide of a faculty member complicate the hunt for the killer. And then things become personal. The killer makes a threatening phone call to Laura. With a tornado bearing down on the area and the killer intent upon silencing her, Laura's sleuthing work may come too late to save her and her biker from a watery grave.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 19, 2014

About the author

Cows, Lesley learned as a child growing up on a farm, have a twisted sense of humor. They chased her when she went to the field to herd them in for milking, and one ate the lovely red mitten her grandmother knitted for her. Determining that agriculture wasn’t her career path, she took a job as a stripper, book cover stripper for a publishing company, that is. Now after many years as a college professor and university administrator, she has returned to the world of books and uses her country roots and her training to concoct stories designed to make people laugh in the face of murder. “A good chuckle,” says Lesley,” keeps us emotionally well-oiled long into our old age.” She is the author of several cozy mystery series and numerous short stories. Go to her webpage to find out more: www.lesleyadiehl.com.

Reviews

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Is Academic tickled my funny bone and had me using my brain pan.

Laura and Annie, two college professors, just landed their canoe. While waiting for their ride home, Laura wanders over to examine something she spotted while on the lake. It’s a shirt or something, in an ugly plaid color. She gives it a tug and finds something even uglier. There’s a body attached.

As they wait for their ride to arrive, a stranger approaches them, wanting to know what they’re doing at the construction site. Laura doesn’t know if his reason for being there is legit or maybe he’s the killer so she tries out some Judo on him.

This was the first time I laughed out loud while reading this book. I could just see Laura, twisting and yanking this guys arm around and not having much affect. Guy is tall, broad-shouldered, and immovable.

Once her friend Der, the police detective arrives, the victim is identified as the President of the college and the questions begin. The funniest one was from Guy. He wanted to know if Laura was being arrested for murder, and if not, would she have dinner with him.

I have four characters I’m attached to. Laura’s friend Annie is funny and caring, someone I’d like to pal around with. Der, the cop, is Laura’s best buddy, and his sarcasm and charm are equally appealing. But there’s no hanky panky with these two. They’re just friends. Enter Guy, the sexy biker from Canada. He’s alpha male and has cast his lure at Laura. I was glad she took the bait. These two started out suspecting each other and I liked where they ended up. Now Laura, she felt so real, so alive. We shared many things in common, including sticking our heads in the icebox to relieve the hot flashes. She’s now a favorite character of mine. And there’s on e character that comes in a bit later in the story that I wanted to hug. You’ll know when you meet.

While Der is questioning suspects and chasing down leads, Laura does her own investigating. With no love lost between the President and the faculty, they’re all suspects. And as the list narrows, the killer gets more desperate. Now she is being threatened and Laura and Guy are bracing for the eye of the coming storm.

There are a few things I need in order to enjoy a mystery.

There has to be multiple suspects to sift through . I like following the trails, coming up on dead ends, and moving on to the next.

The characters have to be flawed and well-developed, especially the amateur sleuths. That’s what makes the book funny. Comic relief is a must.

The motive can’t be obvious or the killer will be easy to sort out.

And the ending has to make sense and not be rushed. I like the case wrapped up and explained without feeling like it all happened in the last pages.

In Murder is Academic the author gave me plenty of suspects, not too few and not too many, which made sniffing out the clues engaging.

The characters, especially Laura, Guy, Der, and Annie were captivating, loveable, and fun to hang with. They felt like old friends.

There was more than one motive. I felt like I was being given subtle clues right about from the beginning and my attention stayed sharp.

And now for the ending. I wanted more than one answer. As I was reading, I found I wanted to know more about Annie and her ill husband, More about Der besides what’s happening on the job, and definitely more about Laura and Guy. And, of course, I wanted to know who the killer was and why he did it. I got plenty of answers and came away happy.

Must not forget about the romance. The author having Laura and Guy hook up right from the beginning was exciting. I like when the romance is developed in the beginning and there’s no wishy-washy stuff. Then it’s just more fun to read how the romance grows, and the mystery still remains the main focus. Laura and Guy were icing on the cake.

I laughed out loud so many times while reading. I couldn’t wait to find out who did what and why. I was eager to read the next page and the next, and so on. That’s why I’d recommend this book to anyone. Friends, family, the stranger looking at me funny when I laughed out loud in the waiting room. Anyone who’d listen. I can not wait for more!

I received this book for my honest review.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do like cozy mysteries. I like mysteries period but cozies are appealing. They're well, cozy, not graphic or political, and have settings I enjoy. This is set at a college in New York and despite the cheesy cartoon cover, the blurb appealed.

Dr. Laura Murphy is a professor of psychology, somewhere in the late 30's or early 40's (an older heroine, yay!), divorced with a grown son, a good friend and nosy, nosy, nosy. She meddles, she pokes, she sticks her nose in. Her friends didn't seem to mind but her many of co-workers and colleagues did and I think I would. I got a kick out of her house being home base and grand central station. People dropped in at literally all hours of the day and night. It was convenient and helped move the story along. It helped that her house was on a lake. :) The house served as a meeting place for Laura to discuss with friends, the murders and their investigation, including police officer Der. Yep, one of her friends is a local police officer and in charge of the investigation. He initially invites her in to the investigation, then rues it, but he makes use of her willingness to help.

Laura had several thoughtless and stupid moments, such as deciding without any proof that someone is the killer then attacking him. But she's not all that good at martial arts and only embarrasses herself. From that inauspicious moment, a romance is born. :D

The mystery is clever, and I was kept guessing as to the killer's identity until shortly before the reveal. Diehl writes with wit and an eye for detail and creates believable characters that I would want to hang out with. The college setting and political academics felt real and was enjoyable to read. There are some some subplots involving Laura's romance, her friend Annie and her burgeoning romance, and a new friendship with another professor's wife. Diehl weaves them into all in an engaging mix. The story dragged a few times and Laura's meddling could be irritating but it was a good story and I will probably read more if this becomes a series.

I did have one complaint. So. many. proofreading. errors. Not the worst I've read but more than enough to be noticeable. There were typos, missing letters, wrong words used, and the wrong character's name was used at least once. They were distracting and annoying but nothing that couldn't be easily cleaned up for the next edition.

Verdict? A solid, enjoyable story that will keep your attention.

[Els · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alweer een cozy mysterie die op mijn leesmenu staat. Dit boek is het eerste uit de Laura Murphy serie en ik ben benieuwd of het eentje zal worden om verder te blijven volgen.
De titel en de cover sluiten heel goed aan bij de inhoud. Een positief punt om mee van start te gaan.
De foto kon mij al meteen aan het glimlachen brengen en daar bleef het gelukkig niet bij. Al van in het begin moesten niet alleen mijn grijze cellen in actie schieten, maar ook mijn lachspieren kregen voldoende training. Voeg daar nog een portie romantiek aan toe en je hebt het ideale recept voor een leuk verhaal. smile-emoticon
Ondertussen zijn we al een paar lijken en intriges verder, maar nog steeds zie ik geen licht in de duisternis. Wie en waarom? Dit zijn de twee vragen die tikkertje spelen in mijn achterhoofd. Zal ik kunnen afsluiten met de juiste oplossing? Ik heb iemand in gedachten. Nog even afwachten en ik kan juichen of mezelf voor het hoofd slaan omdat ik alweer fout gokte. wink-emoticon
En ja, het was weer zover. Ik zat er weer eens naast, maar dat nam niet weg dat ik het verhaal met plezier gevolgd heb. Soms vraag ik me af of ik echt zo dom ben of dat het komt dat er eenvoudigweg niet voldoende hints gegeven worden zodat je het gewoon niet geraden kan krijgen? Misschien is het ook omdat het zich in Amerika afspeelt en wij, als Belg, dan toch bepaalde aanwijzingen over het hoofd zien. Nu ja, niet getreurd. Het feit alleen al dat je kan mee speuren, is al leuk op zich.
Ga ik er nog in deze reeks lezen? Ik denk het wel, want stiekem ben je toch nieuwsgierig hoe het met het leven van de hoofdrolspelers verder gaat.
Was het allemaal positief? Nee, toch een puntje van kritiek. Ik vond dat er teveel mensen een belangrijke rol toegewezen kregen, waardoor het soms moeilijk werd om te weten wie wie ook alweer was. Het feit dat het over een universiteit ging in Amerika en het er allemaal anders aan toegaat dan dat wij het hier kennen, maakte het soms ook een beetje onduidelijk.

Conclusie

Leuk verhaal met de nodige spanning, maar, voor mij, niet altijd even makkelijk te volgen. 3 sterren voor het eerst boek uit deze nieuwe serie.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychology professor Laura Murphy and her best friend, Annie, are practicing their paddling so they can compete in the canoe regatta. The last thing they expect is to stumble upon a dead body. When the body is identified as Thomas Talbot, the president of their college, they find themselves upon a long list of suspects that could have killed him.

Much to the dismay of her good friend Detective Derek Pasquis (“Der”), Laura sticks her nose right into the middle of the investigation. She meets a construction worker, Guy La France, and things heat up between the two of them until she learns he’s a suspect in the murder, too. Laura doesn’t think he’s a murderer anymore than she is, so the relationship continues but the snooping doesn’t. Many people at the college take exception to Laura's snooping and that just makes her wonder what exactly they are hiding.

Throw in several suspicious co-workers, a deadly storm, an unlikely suicide, a tainted water supply and even Laura’s grown son, who doesn’t like her very much, and you have the start of a good, solid mystery series. I read through this one at a fast rate and tried to figure our the culprit along with Laura, but I was totally on the wrong track until later in the book. The author kept you guessing and gave many good plausible suspects and clues to lead you astray. I enjoyed the ride very much.

A couple of times I did think Laura jumped to conclusions too quickly and stuck her nose into things a bit too often, but that’s all part of the reasons I kept reading. I wanted to know how this all came together in the end. I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s work.


FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Laura Agnella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good mystery and this was no exception. It was light and fun and had enough twists that I didn't figure out who the criminal was until a few chapters before the end of the book. Laura Murphy is our main character and she was perfect. She had a small group of close friends who appreciated and accepted her for who she was, which was a good person with good intentions who consistently meddled where she really didn't belong. She may have been a detective in her previous life. She is the friend whom you love to pieces but who knows how to push all of your buttons... at once.

The story wasn't overly complicated and the reader has several opportunities to evaluate the evidence and theories and develop some hunches. Mine were wrong twice but then as I got closer to the end, I was able to figure it out and that's when the action really started. I couldn't put the book from this moment forward. In addition to the murder mystery, there is also a little romance and the unavoidable turmoil that goes with it. What story would be complete without a little bit of swoon, right?

The story wraps up nicely but also leaves an opening for the next book and I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what the characters get into next.

I also really loved the setting. Laura's house on the lake was gorgeous and made me want to start looking for real estate. The lake was also a perfect backdrop for many of the events in the story.

[Traci Andrighetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

When psychology professor Laura Murphy stumbles upon the body of her college president at a local construction site, she certainly doesn’t expect to find herself a suspect in his murder. Nor does she anticipate that rising bacteria levels in the upstate New York lake on which she lives are connected to the crime. But when the director of the college’s Biological Field Station turns up dead, she becomes convinced that something fishy is going on at the lake and at the college. As her involvement in the investigation deepens and the summer storm season gets underway, Laura must uncover the identity of the murderer before she winds up sleeping with the fishes.

As a former academic, I was impressed with the setting and plot of MURDER IS ACADEMIC. The stodgy, often chauvinistic professors and scheming faculty administrators were all too familiar, and I really identified with Laura as she wrestled with an unfinished manuscript. Ugh!

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the way in which Laura interacted with both the campus faculty and the the members of the Onondaga Falls community. She is a no-nonsense, down-to-earth character who draws in those around her—as well as her readers. Laura is like an old friend, and I hope she returns for yet another academic adventure.

[Adriane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. This is the 2nd book by this author I have read and I really enjoy how the books are murder mysteries but are very light hearted and cosy.

Apart from a couple of chapters near the middle where the leading lady was making me a little bit exasperated with her meddling, the main characters are all very likeable. They have been written well and the story develops around them very nicely.

The story itself kept me enthralled through out There was enough mystery and questions to keep me wondering till the end how this was all going to turn out for Laura! The addition of Laura's son added nicely to the idea that Laura had created a new family with her friends and I loved to see how her son fitted in.

I really hope this does become a series and I would love to slip in to Laura's world again.

I received this title for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Paula Ratcliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura and her friend Annie are out in the canoe when they encounter a dead body. It doesn't take long to figure out with the help of Laura's friends and the police that the dead man was the College president Talbot. Who seemed to be hiding something. This book was a who had the most to hide by the death in the president and from there it also leads to a apparent suicide not to mention that Talbot's house being burned down in hopes to hide something that someone doesn't want out.

In this book we meet Laura and Annie, their friend at the police station Der, Guy who is doing construction in the summer who lives in Canada. I really loved this story there was so much going on and so many possibilities I really was wondering all the way to the end who did it and the surprise ending was great! I can't wait to read more about Laura Murphy and her friends!

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting twist on a cozy, at least in my opinion. I don't know if it was me (perhaps a reading funk?) but the book didn't really start to grab me until near the end. It seemed like the story went along but I couldn't figure out how the pieces were going to fit together. But a little more than halfway through things really started to roll and some of the characters showed their "evil" side. I don't think I would have figured out the killer with the clues provided...but I did suspect this character, if nothing else as being weird and something was up.

I'd give this 3 1/2 stars

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is well written and the dialogue is good. BUT--a big one--the main character who is a psychology professor and an amateur sleuth and shows no evidence of her expertise in her sleuthing. Her attempts to get information from people is more of the bull-in-the-china-shop variety. It would be much more compelling if her psychology background was brought into play in her investigations. And her detective buddy vacillates from telling her to stay out of the investigation to asking for her help and back again.

[Patricia Gligor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder is Academic" by Lesley A. Diehl is the first book in her Laura Murphy Mystery series. I've read several books by this author and I've enjoyed them all. Because I prefer to read a series starting with the first book, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this one. Once again, Ms. Diehl has combined an intriguing plot with a cast of unique and likeable characters to create a novel that will keep you turning the pages. I look forward to the second book in this series.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written mystery in an academic setting. Lots of interesting characters and several good twists in the plot.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have noticed a trend in the books I have been reading. Many cozy mysteries feature a main character who is a woman 'of a certain age'. The closer I get to that 'certain age', the more I appreciate this trend.

And that is just the first item of several that makes me appreciate Diehl's "Murder is Academic".

Like any other business, there is a lot of jockeying for position in the halls of colleges and universities. Witness Stanford's response to Laura's opinion at Upstate College's Biological Field Stations: "You can't be equating the fuzzy procedures and approaches of psychology with the precision required in a real science like biology, can you, Dr. Murphy?" (emphasis added) I am so over that childish "My dog's better than your dog" type of competition. Here it adds a wonderful suspense to "Murder is Academic".

Concern for the welfare of the local ecosystem and inhabitants is shown in the book by exposition and dialog, rather than by taking the book, thumping us on the head with it and the hope that environmental appreciation will somehow be transferred by osmosis. Diehl's presentation of the cause in this manner assumes intelligence (native or acquired) and sensitivity on the part of her readers. I am much more likely to return to an author who does not insult my intelligence simply because my experiences are different from hers (or his).

The third thing I liked about "Murder is Academic" is the handling of the physical intimacy between Laura and Guy, the Canadian motorcycle-riding high-school teacher. I love how they met...shortly after Laura and Annie's discovery of the body of the college president at a construction site. I was a little surprised at the near-immediate onset of that level of intimacy, simply because they had suspected each other of being involved in the murder. The author lets us know what is going on skillfully, without resorting to blatant images and crass colloquialisms. The couple's intimacy adds to the story, as opposed to taking it over. Very well done.

I could go on, but you have some reading to do. First, my author interview with Lesley Diehl is below. After that, the book "Murder is Academic" itself. If I made up a list of all the things I love about cozy mysteries, "Academic" would include many of those elements and even add a few new things to the list.