A small town college professor puts a school trip to Paris on hold to catch a killer “in this clever academic mystery” (Publishers Weekly). Professor Emmaline Prather is an English teacher by trade and a Francophile at heart. This semester, she’ll finally travel to Paris, along with her French colleague, André Duman, as faculty chaperones on a student trip. But before she can utter her first … before she can utter her first bonjour, a teacher dies, the plane is grounded in Minneapolis, and Em must return to Copper Bluff, South Dakota, with an unstamped passport and a crime to solve.
When André becomes the prime suspect, Em is determined to clear his name and find out who really killed their spring break plans. With thirteen travelers assembled, the possibilities are varied and villainous. Luckily, her dear friend and sidekick, Lenny Jenkins, is there to sort through the conflicting clues while “unique personalities abound and include more than one red herring” (RT Book Reviews).
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This book was even better than the last one since the characters are firmly established at this point. Em is all set to travel to Paris (where she has dreamed of going her whole life) as part of a University trip. Things get heated as the group gathers to set off since half of them seem to not get along. After a long bus ride to the airport they need they board the flight and things go smoothly until one of the Professor’s traveling with them starts acting strange and collapses. She is quickly pronounced dead and the entire group is held for questioning as the plane is turned back to where they started. With her trip ruined Em finds herself investigating again even when she knows she should leave it alone. Again the ending surprised me as I did not expect the killer to be the one revealed. This is a great mystery novel that has a strong female lead, good supporting characters that offer some funny interactions, and enough action to keep the reader turning the page while guessing what will happen next. I highly recommend it to fans of the genre and give it 4/5 stars.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A trip to Paris sounds delightful. Professor Emmeline Prather is chaperoning the trip with her French colleague, André Duman, for students and other faculty members to the City of Light over Spring Break. After the 13 travelers bus trip to Minnesota, they board the plan for Paris. But they don’t get far before one of the other professors dies and the plane turns around. They have to stay in Minneapolis until the police can rule on the cause of death. Soon, it is declared murder and André Duman is on the top of the suspect list. Emmeline returns to Copper Bluff determined to do everything she can to find the real killer. She may never get to Paris but she can save her friend.
This mystery starts out at a good clip and doesn’t let up. I read the whole thing in one evening. The mystery is like a closed room mystery a la Agatha Christie. Someone on that plane is the killer. Some of the suspects can be eliminated quickly, but others are hiding things and were sitting close enough to do the deed. The police and FBI zeroed in on one person and tried to make the evidence fit. Emmeline took the correct approach or following the evidence. When a second person dies the case really gets interesting.
Professor Emmeline Prather has a good level head on her shoulders. When she teams up with her friend Lenny, they are unstoppable. She follows the clues, does a little research and presents what she finds to Lenny and they talk it through. He is also around to ask questions she can’t. I enjoy how they work together and that they seem to be getting closer.
I liked the supporting cast, students, and faculty. They are a diverse group in age and backgrounds. They were believable and relatable.
I have read several cozy series set at a college and the author finds a way to make her setting unique. South Dakota is not a typical locale for a cozy mystery and having to travel to nearby Minneapolis opens up a bunch of new places to discover.
The author has given readers a well plotted and well-written story. She has created engaging characters that we can become invested in. I hope to visit Copper Bluff again soon!