An Act of Murder by Mary Angela - #review #giveaway

In the sleepy college town of Copper Bluff, South Dakota, English professor Emmeline Prather is enjoying the start of a new semester. But when one of her students dies working on the fall musical, it disrupts life on the small, quiet campus. Although the police rule the death accidental, Prof. Prather has good reason to suspect foul play.

Unmasking the murderer proves much more challenging than finding dangling participles, so Em recruits fellow English professor Lenny Jenkins for assistance. Together, they comb the campus and vicinity for clues, risking their reputations and possibly their jobs. After an intruder breaks into Em’s house, Lenny advises caution–and perhaps a change of address. Em, on the other hand, is all the more determined to forge ahead, convinced they’re on the brink of an important breakthrough.

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MY REVIEW

I have to admit, the fact that the crime is in a theatre and surrounds a production of Les Mis, gave this book a couple of stars from the start in my book.  (Theatre is one of my interests.)  It has made me wonder, though, about the English Departments at colleges and universities.  If cozy mysteries are any indication, ED's have the most homicidal types! (J/K)

Emmeline's friendship with Lenny was engaging.  They had each other's backs, and casually flirted with each other just enough to make you think the relationship may grow into something more.  Of course, they could stay 'just friends', but they have good chemistry nonetheless.

The young man who meets an early demise is a farm boy turned college freshman.  Now goodness knows, it is hard for someone having no prior experience away from home to adjust to college life.  Some have it harder than others and this young man is one of them.  So is it the jealous boyfriend who wants him out of the way, a fraternity hazing incident gone wrong, or is it something entirely different?

There are numerous interesting angles and twists and turns in An Act of Murder that make it a most enjoyable read.

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MEET THE AUTHOR

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Like her protagonist in the Professor Prather mystery series, Mary Angela lives on the Great Plains and teaches college writing and literature. When she’s not grading papers (when is she not grading papers?), she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. She and her husband have two amazing daughters, one adorable dog, and a cat who would rather not be limited by an adjective. 

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GIVEAWAY!!!

Please go to the Great Escapes tour page for An Act of Murder to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!

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Click on the banner above to go to the tour page, where you will find links to more reviews of this title, as well as two interviews with the author and a guest post.  You can also find out how to become a blog host for future book tours while you are there!

(Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the author and publishers via Great Escape Virtual Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.)