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In the Study with the Wrench: A Clue Mystery, Book Two

(Clue Mystery #2)

Diana Peterfreund (Goodreads Author)

3.78 · Rating details · 267 ratings · 87 reviews

In the aftermath of Headmaster Boddy’s murder, Blackbrook Academy has been thrown into complete disarray. Half the student body hasn’t bothered to return to campus—but those who have include Orchid, Vaughn, Scarlett, Peacock, Plum, and Mustard, now warily referred to by the other students as the Murder Crew. When another staff member is found dead and an anonymous threat b ...more

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Published October 13th 2020

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Aug 16, 2020 Mara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: physical-owned, ebook-owned, arc

First let's pause in appreciation of some of the epic pun names in this series. Rusty Naylor? Yes, please, and thank you. OK anyways... Somewhere between a 3.5 and 4 star for this one-- as a follow up to the first book in the trilogy, I was happy to see that the story seemed to move into its own direction, with new conflicts as well as continuing to build on the ones established in the first book. I will say that the pacing was a bit slow for my liking with a lot of action clustered at the end b ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 Jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library, mysteries, contemporary, youngadult

These are so fun! I can't wait for number three, I MUST KNOW if my suspicions about . . . something . . . are correct!

And I really noticed this time how nearly every character's name was a color! Which makes you realize how many names are colors! Amber! Greyson! But Perry Winkle . . . I'm still laughing about that one! So fun and clever! And of course I loved the nod to Tim Curry in one of the names. ...more

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Oct 12, 2020 Amy Imogene Reads rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2020, arcs-reviewed, ya-comtemporary

3.5 stars

The second installment in the Clue Movie-inspired mystery series—another dead body, another mystery to solve, and (unfortunately) a bit too much time spent looking back at the first story.

Concept: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★
Character development: ★★ 1/2
Pacing: ★★ 1/2

So I really, really enjoyed the first novel in this series, In the Hall with the Knife. I HIGHLY recommend you check that book out if you haven't yet already—it's the perfect nod to the Tim Curry movie and will make you remember the boar ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Sara (A Gingerly Review) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book-2020, 2020

This was more fun that I could have imagined.

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Jan 03, 2021 Cathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-suspense, crime-suspense, young-adult, 2021

3.5 stars

Not as strong as the first installment but these books are SO MUCH FUN. It needed a better editor and there are plenty of things that will make you scratch your head because ... the execution isn't always great, but who cares?

I'm just along for the hilariously fun ride here.

I still like all of the characters and their distinct personalities and voices. I thought I'd figured out one part of the plot, but turned out I had the wrong guy so I actually liked being wrong. Wasn't wrong about ...more

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May 28, 2020 Kara Gemian rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, netgalley-edelweiss, ebook

*Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc*

This is so so rare, but I liked this book more than the first in the series! We had some relationship shifts, big reveals, and even more mystery. There are six POVs in both books one and two which is pretty ambitious for an author to do - have six unique voices. I think that has a lot to do with why I enjoyed book two more because I was more familiar with the characters and used to each of their defining qualities whereas in book one I didn't get enough of t ...more

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Jun 03, 2020 Jenni rated it liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 09, 2020 Gretal rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: gretal-rights

This book gave me everything I wanted from it, and I just feel immensely happy. All of the characters and everything, the plot. I'm super excited to get my hands on book three. Seriously, pick up this series. I know they're Clue books, but they're just so great. ...more

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Oct 18, 2020 Eggbeater rated it really liked it

I liked this one so much more than the first one. It was like the author really grew into her writing and it was much more original. It had a great surprise ending. I am very attached to these characters now.

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Oct 13, 2020 Nikole Clow rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I pleasantly enjoyed this sequel and surprisingly enjoyed the sequel more than the first book. I’m a huge fan of anything related to Clue, and I loved the direction this story took. In the Study with the Wrench starts off a few weeks after the ending of the first book. Now known as the Murder Crew, the survivors of the events that took place in the first book try to live normal lives after school starts again. But eventually the past catches up to each character and secrets that should have stay I pleasantly enjoyed this sequel and surprisingly enjoyed the sequel more than the first book. I’m a huge fan of anything related to Clue, and I loved the direction this story took. In the Study with the Wrench starts off a few weeks after the ending of the first book. Now known as the Murder Crew, the survivors of the events that took place in the first book try to live normal lives after school starts again. But eventually the past catches up to each character and secrets that should have stayed buried are brought to light. Secrets that, of course, lead to another murder. In the Study with the Wrench is a sequel filled with murder, drama, and a dash of romance, and it’s a book that will leave you needing the next installment.

In the Study with the Wrench keeps the Clue retelling going strong and I was living for it all. What was great was that the story naturally flowed together and was constantly developing. It took a direction that presented new conflicts and new twists, but kept true to the characters’ nature and behaviors and kept the readers engaged. There were instances where I thought I knew the direction the story was heading in but then it would take a completely different turn, which was a great surprise. Because of the constantly moving plot and wonderful character dynamics, I had a hard time putting this book down.

Whereas the first book introduced the readers to each of the main characters and extensive character development, the second book provided more plot than character development, which I enjoyed. (*hint, hint*) If you look closely in the first book, you may be able to identify a key foreshadowing for book two. One of the reasons I enjoyed this book more than the first was that each character’s unique voice stayed true to each character. As the reader, I was given the opportunity to further learn more about the characters and become more attached to them. I loved the new side characters and the fun banter between the Murder Crew; it created wonderful dialogue that kept me engaged.

And, of course, the sprinkle of romance in the second book is exactly what I was looking for. The first book set the stage for a romance between two main characters, and I was excited to see that finally unfold bit by bit. It’s enough romance that doesn’t overpower the plot but adds a bit of complexity, especially when one secret threatens to ruin this budding romance. I definitely ship these two characters and I hope to see more of that romance in the next book.

When it comes to the writing, I can tell Peterfreund truly cares about the Clue series with how much love and technique she’s poured into this story. Peterfreund articulates the Clue series so well and wonderfully captures the essence of the Clue game and characters. Plus, I was here for all the pun names, which definitely adds a bit more of fun to the story. Her writing brings the characters to life in a captivating (yet murderous) way that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Overall, with how In the Study with the Wrench ended, I’m eagerly awaiting the third installment in this series. It’s one of those endings that leaves you questioning what really happened and hoping for the best. If you’re a fan of the Clue board game and/or movie, I definitely recommend this series! And if you’re a fan of light mysteries with wonderful character development, then In the Hall with the Knife is a great book to check out! ...more

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Nov 12, 2020 Kylie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

3.5 stars
So in the first book, I wished for more of the characters side plot stories. I got it in the book, but almost no mystery, which was kind of disappointing. Knowing that this is a Clue mystery book, I was expecting a lot more of the plot to focus on the actual murder we find out about in the beginning of the book. It was kind of more about how all the characters are coping with what happened in the first book, which I feel like could have been scaled down a lot to focus more on the murder ...more

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Oct 15, 2020 Natalie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, read-in-2020

3.5 stars, rounded down

It seemed pretty obvious to me who was behind it, but I still enjoyed the mystery aspect. The first part of the story had a lot of recap from book one and while it was helpful because I didn’t remember much about the first book, it was almost too much and it got repetitive.

There was quite a cliffhanger at the end and I’m a big fan of Clue in general so I will read the next one.

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Jun 03, 2020 Katie M. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I am a lifelong Clue fan. When I was litttle, I loved to play the game and read the mini mystery books. When I was older, I watched the Tim Curry flick at least 1,000 times. (Loved the “It’s you!” nod, btw) I was ecstatic to find In the Hall with the Knife at the library in January, and even more excited to see Diana Peterfreund’s name on the cover. That book didn’t disappoint, and neither does this sequel.

As a veteran of many, many mystery novels, I am pretty good at figuring out where things I am a lifelong Clue fan. When I was litttle, I loved to play the game and read the mini mystery books. When I was older, I watched the Tim Curry flick at least 1,000 times. (Loved the “It’s you!” nod, btw) I was ecstatic to find In the Hall with the Knife at the library in January, and even more excited to see Diana Peterfreund’s name on the cover. That book didn’t disappoint, and neither does this sequel.

As a veteran of many, many mystery novels, I am pretty good at figuring out where things are headed, but these books absolutely keep me guessing. It’s not that I didn’t suspect the bad guy. It’s that I suspected EVERYONE! I still have so many questions!!! I love these characters, and I am impressed that in such a large cast, they all have distinct voices.

Vaughn is, of course, my fave, although I feel quite frustrated with the trope of “If I just told my girlfriend this one secret I’m keeping, my whole life would be easier.” I wanted the genie from Aladdin to appear and yell “Tell. Her. The. TRUTH!” Just tell her about Oliver! But on the other hand, is there an Oliver? As soon as Mrs. White called Vaughn thinking of himself as the good twin a “fiction,” I started to ask myself, has anyone ever seen Vaughn and Oliver together? I’m beginning to worry Oliver isn’t real! And that would be devastating. I need to go back and check for clues in the first one. What have you done to me, Diana?

Overall, this book was a little more dismal in tone. There were a lot of new characters on the periphery with an air of importance that was ultimately not quite addressed. And by virtue of not being contained in Tudor house, it felt a bit less cohesive. People were all over the place and not focused on the same things. But I loved how the “Murder Crew” stuck together. I especially enjoyed Finn and Mustard finally sticking together (swoon)!

If you liked the first in this series, you won’t be able to put this down. Give me more, and give it soon, please!!! ...more

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Nov 02, 2020 Rachael Fryman added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020, 2020-releases-read, bookstack

Six word summary: More murder, more drama at Brookwood!

Loved: This is just such a fun series! Love love the continuation of the color-themed names, even if they are over the top (looking at your Perry!). I loved that we saw a little more development of each of the characters in this sequel. While I definitely prefer the first book, this was still so much fun to read and I will absolutely continue with the series!

Recommend for: Teens and up, fans of murder mysteries, fans of Clue

Reminds me of: C ...more

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Dec 26, 2020 J.D. rated it liked it

Summary

After the snow storm that damaged most of the Blackbrook campus and the murder of the headmaster, Blackbrook Academy lost half of its student's to other, safer schools.
The snow storm survivors are among the few who decided to return despite what they've been through. But when another dead body is found under Tudor House, the survivors are once again determined to find the truth while also managing their own personal problems.

Personal Opinion

I didn't find this one quite as exciting as th ...more

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Nov 18, 2020 Hisgirl85 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audible-audio, young-adult, mystery

4 stars. This was a quick, entertaining read/listen with build-up and development from the first. Unlike the first, there is a bit more unanswered here, but a large part is answered. I'm excited for the next part. The narrator did a great job of voicing 6 different view points. I loved it. It was a quick, silly, fun murder mystery romp that built upon itself more this time around. ...more

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Oct 16, 2020 Mandy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was a fantastic sequel!! I can’t wait for the next book!

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Oct 16, 2020 Mandy rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book! I can’t wait for the next one!

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Oct 19, 2020 Stephanie Graves rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, favorites, ivy-league-and-private-schools, ya, noir, lgbtq, queer-fiction

Sometimes--very occasionally--a book manages to be important without doing the kinds of things we tend to think render a book important (in the bullshit, Canon-gatekeeping ways that we discuss importance, at any rate).

In the Study with the Wrench is one such book.

Of course, as a reader, I'm primed to love this novel. It's a continuation of In the Hall with the Knife, which I enjoyed, so it's got that delicious Big Sequel Energy. It's set in the complex, transmedial universe of Clue (the board ga ...more

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Oct 19, 2020 Amy A rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The students of Blackbrook Academy are still reeling after the murder of their headmaster. Specifically Orchid, Plum, Peacock, Scarlett, Green, and Mustard have been dubbed the "Murder Crew" by the remaining student body. Truly, the events that occurred during the story is still effecting them and it's consequences are far from over for the six. Some of them are still holding onto their secrets, others are trying to better themselves, and some are still in fear for their lives. When another body The students of Blackbrook Academy are still reeling after the murder of their headmaster. Specifically Orchid, Plum, Peacock, Scarlett, Green, and Mustard have been dubbed the "Murder Crew" by the remaining student body. Truly, the events that occurred during the story is still effecting them and it's consequences are far from over for the six. Some of them are still holding onto their secrets, others are trying to better themselves, and some are still in fear for their lives. When another body is found in Tudor House, it will challenge the tentative relationships they've begun to form with one another, and possibly set them in the sights of another killer.

I was really happy when I learned there would be another book in this series. I said it in my review of the first book, and I'll say it again here just because, but if you have at any point enjoyed the game, the 80's movie, or the old-school novelizations of the game, you'll find a lot to like about this series.

In the Study with the Wrench picks up after a brief hiatus from the school, the holidays allowed for cleanup after the flooding storm and murder, now the students that chose to remain at Blackbrook are getting back into the swing of things and preparing for placement tests. Each character is invariably changed from what happened, and in that regard I feel like the story picks up, emotionally, right where we left our characters. They're most still holding onto their carefully guarded secrets, but also navigating this kind of strange new dynamic they have with each other that comes with surviving something traumatic like they did.

I was happy to see a little more trust occurring between different characters. Orchid and Scarlett have become close friends especially after Orchid confided her biggest secret to Scarlett. But they're still having trouble letting go of who they used to be (before the murder) and some tension still remains between a few in the group such as Plum and Scarlett, Scarlett and Green. But regardless, they all have each other's backs. I liked the team building.

I do wish that we got further with Green's secrets. He's pretty much the only one who has not confided in anyone within the group, but I think it's something that will probably be addressed in the next book (fingers crossed for another book) based on the way things are left off in the end. We're thrown quite the shocker of an ending for sure, and I cannot wait to see how Diana Peterfreund turns around the cliff-hanger events.

The overall mystery, in my opinion is not the main focus of the story, it gets muddled in the background with the emotional fallout from the first book still carrying over in this one. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I like that we get to see the aftermath for these characters and I think it's important to address a lot of the different story threads that were left open from the first book, but I would have like the murder mystery this time around to be stronger along with everything else.

Regardless, I will definitely be reading the next book. As of this writing nothing has been announced, but I'm just going to look at it as a done deal.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Dec 18, 2020 Janice rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-lit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. We're back at Blackbrook Academy about a month after the big storm when Mr. Boddy was killed by Mrs. White. Orchid is romantically interested in Vaughn Green. Both have secrets. Orchid is hiding from her past as a famous child actress and her former manager/stalker. Vaughn is hiding that he and his twin share his scholarship and work study hours. Scarlett is dealing with being Orchid's friend; Finn and she are no longer friends; and losing her grip over campus. Finn is looking for a way to get h We're back at Blackbrook Academy about a month after the big storm when Mr. Boddy was killed by Mrs. White. Orchid is romantically interested in Vaughn Green. Both have secrets. Orchid is hiding from her past as a famous child actress and her former manager/stalker. Vaughn is hiding that he and his twin share his scholarship and work study hours. Scarlett is dealing with being Orchid's friend; Finn and she are no longer friends; and losing her grip over campus. Finn is looking for a way to get his research about a black paint back. Mustard is hiding the secret that he is gay. Peacock has a new life coach after knocking out Mustard. Ash is supposed to help her keep her stress down.

So Rusty, the chief custodian, is killed in the tunnels when sneaking a student in. Discovered by Scarlett and Finn when looking for his work. Dr. Brown, the new head, is not happy. Wants "Murder Crew" to see Perry Winkle, the new counselor. Vaughn and Orchid get closer. Orchid's things keep disappearing and reappearing. New girl, Rosa, suspicious to Mustard and Scarlett try to break into her room Rosa goes into anaphylaxis after drinking one of Peacock's smoothies. Everyone stressed about SAT test.

Oliver is looking for proof of grandmother's glue patent. All of Murder Crew stressed and fighting. Winkle ineffective. (he seems suspicious, as does Dr. Brown) Brown is threatening the Murder Crew. Winds up that Orchid former manager is Peacock's life coach. He has been stalking Orchid. He killed Rusty. Trying to bully Orchid when she clocked him with a wrench. Vaughn driving him to hospital with Beth holding the wound when they go off bridge over the ravine. Beth survives but badly injured. She may never play tennis again. Orchid feels guilty, gets out of car near the ravine, and in a storm seeks shelter in boathouse where she finds camping equipment and letters addressed to Olivia Vaughn, Vaughn Green's grandmother.

It's the set up for book 3 because not sure whether it was Oliver or Vaughn who died in the crash. ...more

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May 26, 2020 Kim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Ugh! I did not want to write this review because I enjoyed In the Hall with the Knife so much.
I love the board game, I love the movie, and I love the first book in the Clue Mystery series so I wanted to love In the Study with the Wrench by Diane Peterfreund. It was fine and if you enjoyed the first book in the trilogy you should read this one, but I didn’t feel as if it advanced the story much and it actually had me become uninterested in some of the characters. Even with that said and with what ...more

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Sep 25, 2020 Jordan Lynch rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2020, contemporary-ya, arcs

Well, I didn't hate In the Study with the Wrench, but I liked it less than its predecessor. It's still a fun romp--assuming you find murder and drama fun--and the references to the Clue movie were great ("Why would he want to kill you public?"), but there was something missing. Maybe it's the curse of the sequel, but it felt like there was too much going on. Although there's still only one big mystery to solve, all the little mysteries and side plots slowed down the pacing. Additionally, whereas ...more

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Oct 31, 2020 Brenna Clark rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the eARC of this sequel! I also received the first one via NetGalley, and I loved how it took the beloved board game and morphed it into a fun, intense, and suspenseful young adult novel. I was so excited to find out that it was going to be a series, and 'In the Study' did not disappoint! We have our 'usual suspects' back and murder seems to follow them. Despite there being familiar faces-- the content is a breath of fresh air; a new exciting plot that will lea ...more

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Oct 20, 2020 Liberty rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Actual Rating: 3.75 Stars.

I’m having so much fun reading this series by Diana Peterfreund. I knew as soon as I heard about it that I would enjoy this series so much and I have. I cannot wait for book three to come out. We don’t have a release date for it yet, but I'm hoping for no later than October of next year. This is a perfect Fall read.

At an isolated boarding school in rural Maine, a mysterious dorm full of secret passageways has a fascinating history, but none of that could compare to its ...more

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Dec 31, 2020 Marcus Laban rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 30, 2020 Courtney Anderson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I may be partial to this series because I love that its premise is around the game of Clue. I feel like their could be more mystery tied into the story and that they could be connected better. The most dynamic, interesting, and mysterious characters are Orchid and Vaughn, even though we definitely learn more about Orchid's story in this book. I wish the character's mysteries were more interconnected. We have Finn's ...more

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May 07, 2020 Jenny Ashby rated it liked it · review of another edition

This sequel was still fun but not AS fun for me as the first book. The students are barely back at school before another death brings "The Murder Crew" back together. Part of the problem for me is that I wasn't especially invested in the characters, all of whom seemed to diverge from who I thought they were in the first installment. Scarlet, for instance, became somewhat needy and unsure of herself in the face of standardized testing and a new headmaster. I wanted to see her as the self-assured ...more

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Oct 15, 2020 Sara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a cliffhanger of an ending!

But let's backtrack a bit to the rest of the story: the second book in the Clue-inspired series follows the same Blackbrook students as the first, but while the mystery wrapped up at the end of the first there's a new murder and a new mystery to solve.

Even though the pacing in this book felt slow at times, I really enjoyed reading this because of the characters. I like Orchid, Vaughn, Scarlett, Finn, Beth, Mustard, the whole Murder Crew and the rest. I like that ...more

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May 23, 2020 Caity rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoy this series. It’s fun with a great mix campy and creepy moments that keeps you on your toes. Like the first book the second is full of interesting twists and secrets but even faster paced. The setting of the book is excellent and it was fun learning more secrets of the campus. The new characters that were introduced were interesting and well integrated into the story.

I appreciated that the author showed the effects the events of the first book had on the murder crew; it was a stressful a ...more

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About Diana Peterfreund

Diana Peterfreund

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Diana Peterfreund has been a costume designer, a cover model, and a food critic. Her travels have taken her from the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the underground caverns of New Zealand (and as far as she’s concerned, she’s just getting started). Diana graduated from Yale University in 2001 with dual degrees in Literature and Geology, which her family claimed would only come in handy if she wrote ...more