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The Bay Psalm Book Murder
A former English professor from a Los Angeles college and a physical therapist-proofreader investigate a murder revolving around a priceless, three-hundred-year-old manuscript
- GenresMystery
190 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 17, 2022
I was happily reading "The Lincoln Highway" when I got this book in the mail. I had ordered it several weeks before because it was in the library of a VRBO where I stayed in Sicily and it looked interesting.
While I agree with other reviewers that the plot is light weight, the suspense is barely there, and the villains are total caricatures, there were two reasons I really liked the book and gave it four stars. One, the focus on the rare book, printing technology and bibiliography was interesting and fun for me, as a reader who should have been a librarian. Also, second, this book was BIG FUN because it was such a slice of life in Los Angeles in the early 80s. I loved all the times the hero had to look for a phone booth, the librarian had to enter Boolean logic commands to search a database of newspaper sources, and the summary of the evidence had to be typed on a typewriter. Such fun to remember those days in the midst of an interesting story. Also the author clearly loves flowers.
While I agree with other reviewers that the plot is light weight, the suspense is barely there, and the villains are total caricatures, there were two reasons I really liked the book and gave it four stars. One, the focus on the rare book, printing technology and bibiliography was interesting and fun for me, as a reader who should have been a librarian. Also, second, this book was BIG FUN because it was such a slice of life in Los Angeles in the early 80s. I loved all the times the hero had to look for a phone booth, the librarian had to enter Boolean logic commands to search a database of newspaper sources, and the summary of the evidence had to be typed on a typewriter. Such fun to remember those days in the midst of an interesting story. Also the author clearly loves flowers.
June 18, 2012
Edgar-winning first novel, #1of2 featuring Cliff Dunbar, English professor, LA; amateur sleuth/PI, bibliomystery. Very interesting tale of the murder of an academic librarian starts out slow but soon perks along in the classic LA PI style. All the usual suspects abound, the authentication of a famous old book is integral to the plot, there’s a villain you love to hate, and a hero who’s a really nice guy, plus a heroine who’s almost as tough as he is.
Although the pacing is a bit patchy and much of the plot is predictable, this is an entertaining first novel and Cliff is a wonderful creation - too bad Harriss only wrote two novels about him. There was far too much minutiae/info dumps, though, which I hope he improves upon, including the pacing, in the next book.
Wonder why Harriss only wrote three novels (two about Cliff, the last with another protag)? Although the plots are almost always predictable, I simply adore bibliomysteries, and wish he'd written more!
Although the pacing is a bit patchy and much of the plot is predictable, this is an entertaining first novel and Cliff is a wonderful creation - too bad Harriss only wrote two novels about him. There was far too much minutiae/info dumps, though, which I hope he improves upon, including the pacing, in the next book.
Wonder why Harriss only wrote three novels (two about Cliff, the last with another protag)? Although the plots are almost always predictable, I simply adore bibliomysteries, and wish he'd written more!
June 22, 2021
The case of The Bay Psalm Book Murder is an interesting one. That is, the writing of the book itself, not the fictional mystery involved. There's nothing interesting about that. The author, Will Harriss, is clearly invested in and knowledgeable about academia. He has an adequate understanding of how university research rooms operate and the internal politics of English Departments, and he invests that understanding into his rebellious protagonist, Cliff Dunbar, a college professor who is about to resign because he refuses to play by the rules of higher education.
But he also invests that protagonist with a real disdain for academia. Not only does Cliff refer to his fellow colleagues who he finds to be pansies as "those hypocrites" and "that bunch of goddamn pussycats," he shows unabashed pride in driving an expensive orange Porsche and being the only one willing to fight in the Vietnam War (i.e., the only one not afraid to show his love for his country). Additionally, he splits his time between quoting obscure literary passages and showing his expertise in "real world" endeavors like fishing, gambling, and fighting, always to great success. Richard Hofstadter would be proud.
Now, it would be one thing if he were the only character in the book who had internalized this dichotomy between crusty academic and useful professional, but he isn't. Other characters espouse this clear division as well. In fact, almost all of the characters, major or minor, except the ones who are supposed to be really bad, espouse similar views.
In one passage, when Cliff tries to get a hotel worker to spell a name correctly for him, he says, "One last thing . . . Please make sure you don't spell Silliman with a 'y' or my ass will be in a sling." To which she responds: "You're no English professor! . . . English professors don't talk like that." Shortly after, he inspires an out of shape professor to step outside of his office and be more active: "You made me realize how flabby and overweight I've become. Have you ever noticed how many English professors die in their sixties? I have resolved to get myself back into shape."
And it was at this point that it became clear that Harriss' obsession with academia was pathological. He must have had some bad experience in college while studying or gotten booted from a professorship in a former life because he just can't drop this issue.
Oh, yeah, and there's a mystery here, too, but it's not a very good one. Cliff has all the answers almost right away, so there is no real escalation of tension. The prose is scatter brained, greatly at odds with the classical writers Harriss seems to so revere. Eventually, the story gives way to the details of book printing techniques and political campaigns and an empty love story, in which a much younger female student falls in love with Cliff because he is so old fashioned and also decries how much gratuitous sex there is in movies nowadays.
I had stopped caring about the story long before its dud of a climax, which means the writer himself and his hang ups made for the far more interesting mystery.
But he also invests that protagonist with a real disdain for academia. Not only does Cliff refer to his fellow colleagues who he finds to be pansies as "those hypocrites" and "that bunch of goddamn pussycats," he shows unabashed pride in driving an expensive orange Porsche and being the only one willing to fight in the Vietnam War (i.e., the only one not afraid to show his love for his country). Additionally, he splits his time between quoting obscure literary passages and showing his expertise in "real world" endeavors like fishing, gambling, and fighting, always to great success. Richard Hofstadter would be proud.
Now, it would be one thing if he were the only character in the book who had internalized this dichotomy between crusty academic and useful professional, but he isn't. Other characters espouse this clear division as well. In fact, almost all of the characters, major or minor, except the ones who are supposed to be really bad, espouse similar views.
In one passage, when Cliff tries to get a hotel worker to spell a name correctly for him, he says, "One last thing . . . Please make sure you don't spell Silliman with a 'y' or my ass will be in a sling." To which she responds: "You're no English professor! . . . English professors don't talk like that." Shortly after, he inspires an out of shape professor to step outside of his office and be more active: "You made me realize how flabby and overweight I've become. Have you ever noticed how many English professors die in their sixties? I have resolved to get myself back into shape."
And it was at this point that it became clear that Harriss' obsession with academia was pathological. He must have had some bad experience in college while studying or gotten booted from a professorship in a former life because he just can't drop this issue.
Oh, yeah, and there's a mystery here, too, but it's not a very good one. Cliff has all the answers almost right away, so there is no real escalation of tension. The prose is scatter brained, greatly at odds with the classical writers Harriss seems to so revere. Eventually, the story gives way to the details of book printing techniques and political campaigns and an empty love story, in which a much younger female student falls in love with Cliff because he is so old fashioned and also decries how much gratuitous sex there is in movies nowadays.
I had stopped caring about the story long before its dud of a climax, which means the writer himself and his hang ups made for the far more interesting mystery.
December 19, 2025
The Bay Psalm Book Murder is a delightful find for anyone who appreciates a mystery with an intellectual edge. Will Harriss has crafted a compelling narrative that centers on a truly unique motive: the hunt for a priceless, three-hundred-year-old manuscript.
The investigative duo of a former English professor and a physical therapist-proofreader provides a refreshing dynamic. I loved the attention to detail regarding the historical manuscript; it makes the stakes feel incredibly high and the "academic" atmosphere feel authentic. It’s a smart, well-paced thriller that treats the world of rare books with the reverence it deserves while delivering a gripping murder investigation. A hidden gem for fans of literary mysteries!
The investigative duo of a former English professor and a physical therapist-proofreader provides a refreshing dynamic. I loved the attention to detail regarding the historical manuscript; it makes the stakes feel incredibly high and the "academic" atmosphere feel authentic. It’s a smart, well-paced thriller that treats the world of rare books with the reverence it deserves while delivering a gripping murder investigation. A hidden gem for fans of literary mysteries!
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September 14, 2022Trite.
December 23, 2022
Won Edgar Best First Novel in 1984. Nicely paced, interesting premise.
March 1, 2023
I'd give this a solid 3.5. Interesting book-themed murder mystery, with enough mafiosos to keep things moving. Definitely some dated racial opinions etc. held by minor characters.
October 22, 2009
Overall I liked it but the feel of the book was 1970's. It felt neither modern nor period.(published 1986) The romance between the main character and a college student was cheesy bordering on chauvinistic. The characters were too stock given that this wasn't a cozy. But somehow The plot was what carried it and the charm of the main character.
January 31, 2016
Lots of great info into the world of authenticating old books. I found the characters weak and the story line pretty predictable. A lot of stuff about font sizes and types which again, was interesting but far from riviting.
June 7, 2012
Except for learning a bit about the Bay Psalm Book and bibliography, I feel like I wasted my time. Oh, and all the characters sounded like the same person.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews