“The best cozy debut I’ve read this year. An engaging heroine, a college setting that will have you aching to go back to school, and a puzzler of a mystery make this a must-read for cozy lovers.” – Laura DiSilverio, National Bestselling Author of the Readaholics Book Club Mysteries
English professor Lila Maclean is thrilled about her new job at prestigious Stonedale University, until she finds … she finds one of her colleagues dead. She soon learns that everyone, from the chancellor to the detective working the case, believes Lila—or someone she is protecting—may be responsible for the horrific event, so she assigns herself the task of identifying the killer.
More attacks on professors follow, the only connection a curious symbol at each of the crime scenes. Putting her scholarly skills to the test, Lila gathers evidence, but her search is complicated by an unexpected nemesis, a suspicious investigator, and an ominous secret society. Rather than earning an “A” for effort, she receives a threat featuring the mysterious emblem and must act quickly to avoid failing her assignment…and becoming the next victim.
“A pitch-perfect portrayal of academic life with a beguiling cast of anxious newbies, tweedy old troublemakers and scholars as sharp as they’re wise. Lila’s Stonedale is a world I’m thrilled to have found. Roll on book two!” – Catriona McPherson, Multi-Award-Winning Author of the Dandy Gilver Series
“A very intricate, cool story featuring the depth of an institution where everyone is dying to climb the ladder of success.” – Suspense Magazine
“College professor Lila Maclean gets an A+ for her detecting skills in this twisty mystery set at a Colorado university. With suspects and motives galore, solving the murder of department chair Roland Higgins won’t be easy, but Lila’s got brains and guts to spare. A great book…I can’t wait to see what author Cynthia Kuhn does next!” – Maggie Barbieri, Author of the Murder 101 Series
“Cynthia Kuhn takes readers on a mind-boggling safari into the wilds of academia where we encounter thundering pedants, rampaging sexists, slavering narcissists, run-amok egotists—and come to relish the few oases of sanity and kindness. Only an insider like Kuhn can reveal the savagery behind the mask of scholarship and collegiality with such acuity and grace.” – Lev Raphael, Author of Assault With a Deadly Lie
“I have a real fondness for academic mysteries and this one is first rate.” – For the Love of Books
“Takes the reader into higher education’s secrets and shadows, where the real lesson is for the new professor—how to stay alive. If you’re smart, you’ll read this book.” – Lori Rader-Day, Anthony Award-Winning Author of The Black Hour
“The murder(s) are well-plotted and the action fast and steadily-paced. I was fascinated from the first until the final page. This is a mystery-fan’s dream read. I highly recommend this book.” — Book Review Crew
“Binge reading this first novel in a new series will be almost impossible to resist. The wealth of suspects will keep readers cramming just a few more pages in before bedtime.” – BOLO Books
“Cynthia Kuhn is phenomenal at conveying the tension-filled atmosphere that inundates higher institutions, where one’s fate rests entirely on a few out-of-touch, pompous faculty members.” – Kings River Life Magazine
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The Semester of Our Discontent is the first book in the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries written by Cynthia Kuhn. To date, there are five books and this was the first one I’ve read by the author. Given how much I enjoy cozy mysteries and academic settings, I’m glad to have found it!
Lila Maclean is a professor at a Colorado university. In the opening scene, she’s surprised by her boss’s rudeness, and within a few more pages, the man is found knifed to death in a nearby conference room. We know Lila couldn’t have killed him; she’s our protagonist in many more books, right? So… was it another professor with an axe to grind? A student seeking revenge? A friend or family member hoping to make someone else look guilty? That’s where things get complicated… another murder happens, followed by an attempt on someone else’s life. Lila has been vocal about her search for the killer… it seems someone feels she’s gotten too close. Who could it be?
Within the first few chapters, the setting is clearly outlined… and I am a fan. I felt the immediate connection to academic life and irritated by the way some professors and college administrators treat new staff or assistants. I never realized how competitive the tenure process was when it came to the publishing world. I knew it was arduous, but to think people would purposely hurt colleagues because only so many opportunities for tenure are available — scary! Kuhn’s writing style helps you feel part of the drama as opposed to a separate reader. I was simply angry at some of the characters and wanted to shake them to do the right thing!
As a murder mystery, it has lots of great arcs. A mysterious published author on campus who’s secretly one of the professors… an underground society who might have something to do with murder… an English professor who seems nice but definitely has claws. A potential romance brewing that might be just a little dangerous. Friends who appear untrustworthy at times. I loved following all the angles, and when it came together in the last few chapters, it was a nice surprise. It makes sense, and I probably could’ve picked up on it if I was more focused on guessing the murderer… instead, I was just thoroughly entertained and let the story unfold on its own. Sometimes that’s the best way to relax and enjoy a great book.
Looking forward to reading more in the series this fall. Great job!
We’ve all heard about the ruthless shenanigans that take place in the world of academia–professors competing with one another for coveted tenure positions, administrative staff trying to maintain control and put forward their own agendas. Lila Maclean has enough to contend with as a new professor at a prestigious college, never mind that bodies start showing up everywhere she turns, and then finding that she’s come under suspicion. I enjoyed Lila’s intelligence and determination, the quirky and colorful secondary characters, and this peek into the darker side of the college experience!
In the cutthroat world of faculty politics, publish or perish is real.
The ink on her PhD barely dry, Lila Maclean has captured a coveted position at prestigious Stonedale University. As if teaching, grading papers, and publishing original research weren’t challenging enough, Lila’s colleague turns up dead. When the body count increases and danger lurks around every corner and tunnel, Lila teams up with her few friends to figure out whodunit before she becomes the next victim.
Introducing a cast of academic characters likely to be found at any institution of higher education, Lila navigates who can and can’t be trusted in this department full of professors with pet projects and hidden agendas. Lila’s sharp wit and dry humor is frequently directed at the police detective whose suspicions center on her. Even family and friends seem out to get her.
Part of the fun of reading mysteries is solving the puzzle. I thought I had guessed the killer several times, but didn’t get it right until the end. As an English major, I enjoyed the references to many of my favorite classic books. Anyone who loves academic mysteries or works in higher education will like this series. Semester of Our Discontent kept me turning pages until the end.
I really enjoyed this first book in this series. Lila is new to the Stonedale Campus but she keeps finding dead bodies. Her cousin is in jail for the crimes so she sets out to solve the murders. Lila is a literature professor so there is a lot of academic lit background. The author knows this background well and she does a good job describing the campus and the faculty. The mystery is really good and I was surprised by the killer. I am really looking for word to reading the next book in this series and I cannot wait to see what Lila is up to next. Enjoy this new cozy series.
Lila Maclean is excited to be teaching her first semester as a professor. She’s not so happy with her department chair, however, especially after he shoots down her idea for a course on mysteries and basically tells her to sit down and observe. Walking into a department meeting a couple of hours later, she finds him stabbed to death on a table. With rumors that she knows more than she is saying, she decides to find the killer herself.
This is a fun debut. The college came alive for me, and I really enjoyed the setting. Now that Lila’s co-workers won’t be suspects, I’m looking forward to seeing them grow more as well since I liked most of them. While the book starts out quickly, I did feel the pace lagged a little in the middle before things came together for a logical end.
I really enjoyed learning about the characters and watching their friendships and relationships grow. Good mystery kept me hooked and I already got the next book.
The Semester of Our Discontent introduces the Lila Maclean series. Lila Maclean is joyous when she gets a job at Stonedale University, a prestigious school in the mountains of Colorado. But when she finds the murdered body of one of her colleagues, she must use her brain and instincts to avoid becoming the next victim. The local detective has her on his radar, and her fellow colleagues begin to wonder when another body is found—again by Lila. Is she a murder victim magnet? A strange symbol and a nemesis in the shadows will be dangers that threaten her life. This book won an Agatha for Best First Novel. It’s easy to see why!
Very good!! Dr. Lila MacLean is a new English professor at Stonesdale University. After a meeting with the Department chair, Lila and another professor find him murdered when they go to a meeting. Lila’s cousin, Calista, also a professor at the University, becomes a prime suspect when it is discovered that a knife she had in her office was the murder weapon. Lila starts looking into things to clear her cousin’s name and keeps running across a strange symbol. When the chair’s brother, who was hired following his death, is also murdered, another professor is arrested for his murder. Lila and fellow professor Nate don’t believe the police have the right suspects. Very intriguing book and I am excited to read more of this fun series!!
Lightweight, but thoroughly enjoyable.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting and realistic. The premise is factual. Reminded me of Joanne Dobson’s series.
Immediately liked the characters. Felt as if I were getting an inside view of the world of college politics. Liked it a lot…!
The author had good writing ability, I got extremely tired of the ongoing tirade of tenure. The story could have been much more fun with out the piercing details.
Anyone who has ever been a faculty member at a college will appreciate the department politics and characters