Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Nick Hoffman, desperate to get tenure, has been saddled with a thankless task: coordinating a conference on Edith Wharton that will demonstrate how his department and his university supports women's issues. There's been widespread criticism that SUM is really the State University of Men. Problem is, he's forced to invite two warring Wharton societies, and the conflict between rival scholars escalates from mudslinging to murder. Nick's job and whole career are on the line unless he can help solve the case and salvage the conference.

 

 

First edition published by St. Martin's Press, September 1997.

Second edition published by author, July 2011.

 

Book Review

Please note, this is not a romance novel. This is foremost a mystery with a supporting, established gay relationship. For myself, I quite enjoy this dichotomy - so many m/m romance books cover the dating or beginning stages of a romance, not so many delve into the nuances of a mature couple and I appreciate this aspect. While this could be read as a stand-alone, reading the series in order will help explain the relationships established in book one.

 

This is an enjoyable cozy mystery. Nick, directed to organize an Edith Wharton conference for the university under a subtle threat of no tenure if he refuses, reaches out to two rival Wharton groups. While antagonism is expected, the murder of a well-known – but not well liked – celebrity author comes as a shock to everyone. Events surrounding the conference spiral out of control, the local detective is not pleased to see Nick involved in yet another mystery, and Nick is left wondering if he could find employment elsewhere after this debacle.

 

This was also a rather convoluted mystery with a substantial cast of characters – the celebrity author and her French wife, the well-known author and her publisher, the president of the college and her husband (also Nick’s new office mate), the department head, Nick’s coworker and budding friend, Nick’s coworker and co-conference organizer, the two rival Edith Wharton presidents, a former student of Nick’s, and, Nick and Stephan. The author didn’t need much in the way of ‘red herrings’ – he had so many people moving around it was a whole school of herring causing misdirection.

 

This was also an unusual mystery in that the first half of the book is about establishing the conference and the murder/mystery didn’t happen until nearly halfway through. Anyone having attended, or help run, a conference will fully empathize with the trials and tribulations Nick is going through. The fear of not having anyone show up, the concerns about the celebrity dramas, the conference space not working as planned, a job is on the line… this was all incredibly well conveyed and nearly overshadowed the primary purpose of the story.

 

In addition to the worry about the implications of the murder on the conference and how this will affect his career at the university, there is Nick’s emotional turmoil and his shaken faith in his relationship with Stephan. This was one key item established in the first book that was carried over into the second. Also noting the author did a superb job in bringing the reader up to speed if the reader forgot or hadn’t read book one. This is the established relationship that I mentioned at the start of the review that I greatly appreciated and enjoyed. No drama, no Big Misunderstanding, no tears and running out of the house – it’s just two people trying to find where they stand emotionally after the very foundations of their partnership is shaken. And I liked that aspect a lot.

 

As I write this review, I realize there was quite a bit packed into this rather unassuming mystery and while I could go on, I’ll stop here lest I start giving too much away. I found this story quite engaging as a mystery, enjoyable as a romance, and a wonderful way to pass a summer evening on the porch.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Requeered Tales for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 280 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	09-June-2020
Price	$5.95 ebook, $16.95 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Wharton-Murders-Hoffman-Academic-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08963YPH2