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Lila Maclean Academic Mystery #3
The Spirit in Question
Lefty Award Nominee, Best Humorous Mystery
Foreword Indies Book of the Year Awards Finalist, Mystery
English professor Lila Maclean knew drama would be involved when she agreed to consult on Stonedale University’s production of Puzzled: The Musical. But she didn’t expect to find herself cast into such chaos: the incomprehensible play is a disaster, the crumbling theater appears to be haunted, and, before long, murder takes center stage.
The show must go on—yet as they speed toward opening night, it becomes clear that other members of the company may be targeted as well. Lila searches for answers while contending with a tenacious historical society, an eccentric playwright, an unsettling psychic, an enigmatic apparition, and a paranormal search squad. With all of this in play, will she be able to identify who killed her colleague...or will it soon be curtains for Lila too?
Foreword Indies Book of the Year Awards Finalist, Mystery
English professor Lila Maclean knew drama would be involved when she agreed to consult on Stonedale University’s production of Puzzled: The Musical. But she didn’t expect to find herself cast into such chaos: the incomprehensible play is a disaster, the crumbling theater appears to be haunted, and, before long, murder takes center stage.
The show must go on—yet as they speed toward opening night, it becomes clear that other members of the company may be targeted as well. Lila searches for answers while contending with a tenacious historical society, an eccentric playwright, an unsettling psychic, an enigmatic apparition, and a paranormal search squad. With all of this in play, will she be able to identify who killed her colleague...or will it soon be curtains for Lila too?
252 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2018
21 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Kuhn
11 books497 followersCynthia Kuhn writes the Starlit Bookshop Mysteries and Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries. Her work has also appeared in Mystery Most Edible, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Literary Mama, Copper Nickel, Prick of the Spindle, Mama PhD, and other publications.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 3, 2018
Lila has been talked into working on a play that her university is putting on this semester. The play is Puzzled: The Musical written by Tolliver Ingersoll, a fellow professor at Stonedale University, and it's being directed by Jean Claude Lestronge, who is visiting the college for the semester. Putting the play on is proving to be a struggle, but things get more interesting when someone is shot during a planned blackout. That's when Lila starts to hear some stories about the history of this particular theater. Could that have something to do with what is currently happening? Or is there a more modern motive for murder?
There is a lot happening in this book, and at times, the plot appears to ramble as a result. The murder definitely takes a back seat to some of the other things going on, but I never found myself getting board since everything was entertaining. And the various bits and pieces do begin to tie together the further we get into the book. Because we get so many new characters, we don't see much of most of the series regulars, but the new characters are all developed enough to make us care about the outcome, and Lila continues to be a strong lead. And the play! I was laughing at the little bits we did learn about it over the course of the book. Heck, the song titles alone are great. It looks like a fun spoof of the mystery genre that I would go see if I could.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
There is a lot happening in this book, and at times, the plot appears to ramble as a result. The murder definitely takes a back seat to some of the other things going on, but I never found myself getting board since everything was entertaining. And the various bits and pieces do begin to tie together the further we get into the book. Because we get so many new characters, we don't see much of most of the series regulars, but the new characters are all developed enough to make us care about the outcome, and Lila continues to be a strong lead. And the play! I was laughing at the little bits we did learn about it over the course of the book. Heck, the song titles alone are great. It looks like a fun spoof of the mystery genre that I would go see if I could.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 30, 2018
Smart, witty, surprising - a great read!
October 18, 2018
This series has been on my radar for awhile now and I was excited to finally get the chance to read it. I enjoyed the style of writing. The author writes in clean and smart way I appreciated. The story was organized and well thought out. I enjoyed Lila as a protagonist and found her to be someone you wanted to root for. To make things even better, I loved that this had a supernatural feel to it, but not in an overt way where it overpowered the rest of the story, but enough to make you wonder if what was really going on was beyond this world. I will be keeping up with Lila’s future adventures for sure!
For complete review, visit: https://cozyexperience.com/the-spirit...
For complete review, visit: https://cozyexperience.com/the-spirit...
November 20, 2018
A ghost, a theater, and a fun professor sleuth! What more could you want from a cozy mystery this fall? I really enjoyed snooping around the opera house with Lila, looking for trap doors and ancient jewels. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end, and the hint of romance was nice. I look forward to seeing how the relationship progresses in book four!
April 14, 2021
This 3rd installment of the Lila Maclean Academic series has Lila serving as the dramatic assistant in a quirky stage production. I enjoyed The Spirit in Question. The stage was a fun break from Lila's usual teaching environment. Cynthia Kuhn knows how to make the complexities of the academic world fun and easy to understand. I look forward to book 4.
3 stars
3 stars
June 17, 2023
I am enjoying this series very much! This book is unique in that it is centered around the Theater House which is owned by the college. Some of the regular characters appear, but the focus is on new ones. I will definitely read book #4 soon!
October 16, 2018
Competing forces and agendas collide over the staging of a play at the Stonedale Opera House, the historic college theater in Stonedale, Colorado. On one side is the college faculty led by the outspoken Jean Claude Lestronge, the visiting professor directing the musical written by another professor. On the other side are members of the Stonedale Historical Society represented by its equally outspoken president, Mrs. Clara Worthingham. The Society fears the fragile facility will be further compromised by going forward with the play and seems willing to stop it by any means. And there is another interested party: developer Chip Turner who has offered to purchase the aging theater from the college, with plans to replace it with a state-of-the-art performance space.
With such a backdrop, is it any wonder that Puzzled: The Musical, a post-modern murder mystery featuring iconic sleuths and their authors seems doomed from the start? A series of accidents and mishaps ensue during its production, most troubling of which is the onstage death of the play's director during a rehearsal.
Who killed Jean Claude? Professor Lila Maclean, the play's assistant director and Detective Lex Archer are determined to find out. There are plenty of people with motive and opportunity. Is someone with evil intent in their midst, or are otherworldly forces responsible? Some believe the theater is haunted by the ghost of a former professor who died there years before. Instances of flickering lights, unexplained noises, and moved objects during rehearsals lend credence to such a theory. As Lila and Lex concentrate on credible facts, a psychic and a paranormal team pursue the supernatural aspect.
Beyond their search for the killer, Lila and Lex also come closer to unravelling a mystery from the past that has significance to several of Stonedale's citizens, and deepen their own relationship as well.
In The Spirit in Question, author Cynthia Kuhn has woven an eccentric cast of characters and humorous scenes into an entertaining madcap read. The story's insider look at the larger-than-life egos, creativity, and passions involved in staging a play made this reader feel a part of the production.
The book is the third entry in the Lila Maclean Academic Mystery Series, but can be read as a stand alone. I find Lila's adventures in academia intriguing, and will now immerse myself in the series' previous novels -- The Semester of Our Discontent, winner of an Agatha Award for Best New Novel in 2016, and The Art of Vanishing, Lefty Award Nominee for Best Humorous Novel in 2017 -- while awaiting the next installment.
With such a backdrop, is it any wonder that Puzzled: The Musical, a post-modern murder mystery featuring iconic sleuths and their authors seems doomed from the start? A series of accidents and mishaps ensue during its production, most troubling of which is the onstage death of the play's director during a rehearsal.
Who killed Jean Claude? Professor Lila Maclean, the play's assistant director and Detective Lex Archer are determined to find out. There are plenty of people with motive and opportunity. Is someone with evil intent in their midst, or are otherworldly forces responsible? Some believe the theater is haunted by the ghost of a former professor who died there years before. Instances of flickering lights, unexplained noises, and moved objects during rehearsals lend credence to such a theory. As Lila and Lex concentrate on credible facts, a psychic and a paranormal team pursue the supernatural aspect.
Beyond their search for the killer, Lila and Lex also come closer to unravelling a mystery from the past that has significance to several of Stonedale's citizens, and deepen their own relationship as well.
In The Spirit in Question, author Cynthia Kuhn has woven an eccentric cast of characters and humorous scenes into an entertaining madcap read. The story's insider look at the larger-than-life egos, creativity, and passions involved in staging a play made this reader feel a part of the production.
The book is the third entry in the Lila Maclean Academic Mystery Series, but can be read as a stand alone. I find Lila's adventures in academia intriguing, and will now immerse myself in the series' previous novels -- The Semester of Our Discontent, winner of an Agatha Award for Best New Novel in 2016, and The Art of Vanishing, Lefty Award Nominee for Best Humorous Novel in 2017 -- while awaiting the next installment.
October 17, 2018
Having enjoyed the first two cozy mysteries in the Lila Maclean Academic Mystery Series, I was looking forward to another. This book has many good features. Readers are filled in on background quickly. The series branches out from the typical college professor tenure issues by focusing on Professor Lila Maclean’s role as dramatic consultant to a play written by one Stonydale professor and directed by a visiting professor from France. The play is embroiled in conflicts over changes the director wants to make as well as picketing by the local historical society over potential damages to the Opera House, an old theater with a flamboyant and murderous past.
Cynthia Kuhn, the author of The Spirit in Question, chooses to develop her plot with a lot of paranormal activity, even bringing in the Spirit Wranglers who try to prove ghostly existence for their TV viewers. Is a ghost responsible for accidents and murders or is there a human element at work? Not a fan of paranormal novels, I did not enjoy this cozy mystery as much as the others in the series. I did enjoy watching Lila unravel some of the mystery threads and obtain a confession. I’m assuming the author will drop the paranormal focus in future books and resume mysteries that look more at life in the Colorado university town of Stonedale and Lila’s role there as a professor.
I would like to extend my thanks to Edelweiss and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cynthia Kuhn, the author of The Spirit in Question, chooses to develop her plot with a lot of paranormal activity, even bringing in the Spirit Wranglers who try to prove ghostly existence for their TV viewers. Is a ghost responsible for accidents and murders or is there a human element at work? Not a fan of paranormal novels, I did not enjoy this cozy mystery as much as the others in the series. I did enjoy watching Lila unravel some of the mystery threads and obtain a confession. I’m assuming the author will drop the paranormal focus in future books and resume mysteries that look more at life in the Colorado university town of Stonedale and Lila’s role there as a professor.
I would like to extend my thanks to Edelweiss and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2018
In The Spirit in Question, Lila has reached her third year on the Stonedale staff, and has taken on (or perhaps been dragooned into) helping with the production of another professor’s play, Puzzled: The Musical, a barely comprehensible mixture of detectives and dancers. The student actors and crew are having a ball—until murder mars the production.
At the request of Lex Archer, Lila stays (mostly) out of the hunt for the murderer, but there are enough other puzzles to keep her busy. The play is being staged in a deteriorating opera house owned, but not much cared for, by the university and protected by the remarkably officious head of the Stonedale Historical Society. The building not only presents mechanical dangers—what with characters dropping from the rafters and popping up through the trap door, what could go wrong?—but it may be haunted by the ghost of a previous owner, who hanged himself on the stage.
By the time the production opens, no one, least of all Lila, is quite sure who might be a target, or why. Between accidents, a seance, and a missing journal, the opera house is up for grabs—literally. At least Lila has a chance to rekindle her friendship with Detective Lex Archer—if the ghost doesn’t get her first.
At the request of Lex Archer, Lila stays (mostly) out of the hunt for the murderer, but there are enough other puzzles to keep her busy. The play is being staged in a deteriorating opera house owned, but not much cared for, by the university and protected by the remarkably officious head of the Stonedale Historical Society. The building not only presents mechanical dangers—what with characters dropping from the rafters and popping up through the trap door, what could go wrong?—but it may be haunted by the ghost of a previous owner, who hanged himself on the stage.
By the time the production opens, no one, least of all Lila, is quite sure who might be a target, or why. Between accidents, a seance, and a missing journal, the opera house is up for grabs—literally. At least Lila has a chance to rekindle her friendship with Detective Lex Archer—if the ghost doesn’t get her first.
November 16, 2018
As with other books I have read in the Lila Maclean Academic Mystery series by Cynthia Kuhn, I found that reading this book was a several day read. It isn’t that the book is difficult to read but rather, I think it is because the setting (a private small college) is foreign to me.
It took several chapters for me to understand why our sleuth (Lila) was involved in the production of a musical play. Once I understood that, I was able to relax and go with the flow.
The play sounds hysterical and I could only wish I could see it in reality. Lila feels that it is doomed to failure and is working hard with the director to save it.
A murder occurs and Lila gets involved. The mystery is one that I didn’t solve until it was revealed. There were elements of the story’s end that I did figure out early on. It didn’t make the read less enjoyable but perhaps, in some small ways, a bit predictable.
I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series thus far and will be looking forward to more in the future. This novel stands alone and can easily be read as such.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Edelweiss.
It took several chapters for me to understand why our sleuth (Lila) was involved in the production of a musical play. Once I understood that, I was able to relax and go with the flow.
The play sounds hysterical and I could only wish I could see it in reality. Lila feels that it is doomed to failure and is working hard with the director to save it.
A murder occurs and Lila gets involved. The mystery is one that I didn’t solve until it was revealed. There were elements of the story’s end that I did figure out early on. It didn’t make the read less enjoyable but perhaps, in some small ways, a bit predictable.
I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series thus far and will be looking forward to more in the future. This novel stands alone and can easily be read as such.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Edelweiss.
March 25, 2022
In The Spirit in Question, Lila has taken on (or perhaps been dragged into) helping with the production of another professor’s play, Puzzled: The Musical, a barely comprehensible mixture of detectives and dancers. The student actors and crew are having a ball – until the director is murdered during a rehearsal.
At the request of Detective Lex Archer (the love interest), Lila (mostly) stays out of the hunt for the murderer, but plenty of other problems keep her busy. The play is being staged in the Stonedale Opera House, which the university owns but doesn’t seem to maintain. The Historical Society is protesting the use of the building, multiple accidents happen during practices, and, to top it all off, the building might be haunted.
This is a light-hearted mystery. The plot moves along pretty quickly, with the accidents, a seance, a decades-old journal. There were enough clues, red herrings, and motives to keep me guessing. The characters are a fun bunch, some likable, some not so much.
At the request of Detective Lex Archer (the love interest), Lila (mostly) stays out of the hunt for the murderer, but plenty of other problems keep her busy. The play is being staged in the Stonedale Opera House, which the university owns but doesn’t seem to maintain. The Historical Society is protesting the use of the building, multiple accidents happen during practices, and, to top it all off, the building might be haunted.
This is a light-hearted mystery. The plot moves along pretty quickly, with the accidents, a seance, a decades-old journal. There were enough clues, red herrings, and motives to keep me guessing. The characters are a fun bunch, some likable, some not so much.
April 8, 2020
Professor Lila Maclean agrees to be a consultant on the Stonedale play to be produced in the crumbling campus theatre. It is called “Puzzled: The Musical,” and that is exactly what it is: an incomprehensible muddle that will be a disaster. On top of that, the theatre appears to be haunted. Of course, like all crumbling theatre mysteries, there’s a dark history behind the theatre building. Murder, as might be predicted in a Kuhn mystery, happens center stage. Plenty of antagonists appear in this plot: the local historical society that wants to save the theatre, a psychic, the ghost, and a paranormal search squad (shades of “Ghostbusters” without ectoplasmic splatter?) Lots of funny twists and turns with a very satisfying ending. Lefty Award Nominee for Best Humorous Mystery and Foreword Indies Book of the Year Awards Finalist, Mystery
December 16, 2018
English professor Lila Maclean knew drama would be involved when she agreed to consult on Stonedale University’s production of Puzzled: The Musical. But she didn’t expect to find herself cast into such chaos: the incomprehensible play is a disaster, the crumbling theater appears to be haunted, and, before long, murder takes center stage.
The show must go on—yet as they speed toward opening night, it becomes clear that other members of the company may be targeted as well. Lila searches for answers while contending with a tenacious historical society, an eccentric playwright, an unsettling psychic, an enigmatic apparition, and a paranormal search squad. With all of this in play, will she be able to identify who killed her colleague…or will it soon be curtains for Lila too?
The show must go on—yet as they speed toward opening night, it becomes clear that other members of the company may be targeted as well. Lila searches for answers while contending with a tenacious historical society, an eccentric playwright, an unsettling psychic, an enigmatic apparition, and a paranormal search squad. With all of this in play, will she be able to identify who killed her colleague…or will it soon be curtains for Lila too?
June 30, 2020
Okay, just finished. This book threw me for a loop.
Pacing was awesome.
Action was good.setting was fun. I mean, a haunted theater? What could be better!
Dialogue moved quickly, but sometimes I did have trouble deciphering who said what.
Clues and red herring plentiful, and had me changing my mind constantly on who the killer was. Well placed.
The characters were delightful. Ones to love and ones to hate. Although I wish Nate was is this book more.
It’s part of a series, but can definitely read them out of order if you have to.
Read this in 4 days, unusual for me to do it that fast.
Definitely deserving of 5 stars.
Pacing was awesome.
Action was good.setting was fun. I mean, a haunted theater? What could be better!
Dialogue moved quickly, but sometimes I did have trouble deciphering who said what.
Clues and red herring plentiful, and had me changing my mind constantly on who the killer was. Well placed.
The characters were delightful. Ones to love and ones to hate. Although I wish Nate was is this book more.
It’s part of a series, but can definitely read them out of order if you have to.
Read this in 4 days, unusual for me to do it that fast.
Definitely deserving of 5 stars.
December 20, 2018
I adore Cynthia Kuhn’s smart and sassy sleuth, Lila Maclean, and am happy to report that THE SPIRIT IN QUESTION continues to delight. In this third book in the series, Lila has been convinced to act as consultant on the production of Puzzled: The Musical. The show is a mess, but things get far messier—and frightening—when a very real murder occurs onstage. With its colorful cast of characters—not to mention a resident ghost—as well as a fast-paced plot and truly puzzling whodunit, this is a terrific read. Can’t wait to see what Lila gets up to in number four!
October 10, 2018
Review: THE SPIRIT IN QUESTION by Cynthia Kuhn
I LOVED this cozy mystery! It's so well-written, the mysteries are multiple (present and past), there's a paranormal element, strong human emotions, gentle romance. The identity of the "Bad Guy" is well concealed, and when we do discover who is at fault--the revelation is just extraordinary, and the person's character is very scary! I found it so easy to relate to the characters, especially series protagonist Lila MacLean. This is a must-read, delectable series!
I LOVED this cozy mystery! It's so well-written, the mysteries are multiple (present and past), there's a paranormal element, strong human emotions, gentle romance. The identity of the "Bad Guy" is well concealed, and when we do discover who is at fault--the revelation is just extraordinary, and the person's character is very scary! I found it so easy to relate to the characters, especially series protagonist Lila MacLean. This is a must-read, delectable series!
May 20, 2023
I liked this book simply because I like Lila and cozy mysteries, but it didn’t seem to have the same fun undertones as the previous two. I think the story centering around a play made it seem not in Lila’s wheelhouse as much, and some of the details felt muddied, like how her relationship with the original director seemed to change during the book based on who she was talking to.
October 8, 2018
I love Lila's voice, her wit, her grace, and uncanny ability to be in the right (or wrong?) place at the wrong (or right?) time. Reading her reminds me of that old bath salt commercial (Calgon, take me away) as I am gently transported to her story.
April 22, 2019
3.75 stars
Fun and quite readable cozy in an academic setting. Main character Lila MacLean teaches at a small university. In this outing she is advising a group putting on a play in a historic old theater when the director is murdered. There are a few loose ends but the overall read is enjoyable.
Fun and quite readable cozy in an academic setting. Main character Lila MacLean teaches at a small university. In this outing she is advising a group putting on a play in a historic old theater when the director is murdered. There are a few loose ends but the overall read is enjoyable.
July 29, 2021
Wonderful mystery with plenty of twists and surprises. Lila has really grown as a character and I was very impressed with how she handled a few situations. Definitely had me hooked and I couldn't put it down. Already started the next book.
October 12, 2018
Perfect atmosphere for an October read and a terrific mystery for year round. I couldn't wait to see how Lila Maclean handled this new challenge. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!
October 22, 2018
Cynthia Kuhn's 3rd book in her Lila Maclean series was well-worth waiting for! It was terrific! I loved it!
June 12, 2019
Excellent!! I especially enjoyed the Opera House setting. I reminds me of the Opera House in myhome town of Woodstock IL - complete with ghost!
October 29, 2019
Good October read with a mix of mysticism and realism, although I felt some of the story to be a bit ham-fisted.
September 28, 2022
Lila is back at being stuck in the middle of a murder, but this time there is some supernatural ghosts haunting the Opera house at the school. She has to find out who is haunting the place and who murdered the director. He investigation leads he back to the Detective who she likes, and helps her discover a new family to save. She discovers a treasure and resurrects the past to find the truth.
April 13, 2020
Well writen as usual. Lila MacLean is a wonderful and likable character.
Fans of the Kate Fansler mysteries by Amanda Cross will enjoy the Lila Maclean series.
In this novel, Lila Maclean is asked to help a director of a new play at the Opera House. There are rumors of a ghost in the Opera House.
Wonderful story.
Fans of the Kate Fansler mysteries by Amanda Cross will enjoy the Lila Maclean series.
In this novel, Lila Maclean is asked to help a director of a new play at the Opera House. There are rumors of a ghost in the Opera House.
Wonderful story.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews