Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching

A Bit of Whimsey: Mysteries and Academia

 

Who did it? Where was it done? These titles will give you a look at murder, mystery, and mayhem through the eyes of professors, administrators, staff, and students. Many, but not all titles, are set on college or university campuses. Whenever we know, we provide the academic field that is spotlighted in the mystery. Read them for fun, for the puzzle, to learn a little about another field or maybe get a new view of life in academia (one way to beat the burnout blahs). If you're going on a trip, find one set in that place and read it before you go. Feeling nostalgic for your old school or grad student days? Maybe there's a mystery here that can take you back.

Have students critique the presentation of your field in a mystery or analyze an excerpt. Give the students part of the mystery and see if they can apply their knowledge of your field to spot the solution. We make no assertions about the quality of these mysteries-that's your call-but if you find one that captures your field, maybe it can give advisees a sense of what it is like to be fully qualified and working in the area.

Disclaimer: For those who couldn't figure it out on your own, the presentation of this list in no way condones acts of violence and we would encourage the use of these to illustrate the problems with violence as a solution to problems.

Additional sources of information:

Several items to note before you begin.

  1. American titles of publications were used in preference.
  2. If the author used an academician as the main character in a series then only the first title of the series is given. The word (series) appears after the author's name.
  3. Information is provided in the following order: author, title, publisher, date, main character, field of study, college or university, and location of the university (genuine or fictional).
  4. If you are looking for a particular mystery, field, school, etc. on this list the fastest way to locate it is to use your browser's search or find feature.
  5. Book titles in bold are ones available for checkout by WKU faculty/GTA's at the CTL. We currently only have a few donated books. Donations are accepted.
  6. We need your help. If you can fill in any of the blanks or provide titles please email us at Sally.Kuhlenschmidt@wku.edu. We'd also like to provide a bibliography of non-mystery fiction set in academia. Suggestions are appreciated. Enjoy! 
Index by Authors
 A-B C-E F-H I-M N-R S-Z Top End
 
Author Title  Pub., Year Main Character Field of Study University, Location
A-B Adamson, MJ Not Till A Hot January Bantam, 1986 Maira Knight  student University of Puerto Rico, PR
Aird, Catherine Parting Breath Bantam, 1977 Biology University of Calleshire, England
Albet, Susan Witting Hangman's Root Simon-Schuster, 1994 Criminology
Allen, Irene Quaker Witness Villard, 1991 Janet Stevens  paleontology, student Harvard, MA
Anderson, Rex Cover Her with Roses 1968 U. of Oklahoma
Andreae, Christine(series) Trail of Murder St Martin's, 1992 Lee Squires English Washington, DC
Anthony, David Midnight Lady and the Mourning Man Bobb-Merrill, 1969 OH
Archer, Jeffrey Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less Harper, 1994 Oxford, England
Armstrong, Charlotte Lay on, MacDuff Coward McCann, 1942
Arnold, Margot (series) Midas Murder Foul Play Press, 1995 P Spring, T Glendower Anthropology, Archaeology Oxford, England
Ball, Terence Rousseau's Ghost: a Novel SUNY Press, 1998 Prof. Theodore John Milton Porter political theory Princeton
Barnard, Robert Death of an Old Goat Collins, 1974 Bill Bascomb English Drummondale University, Australia
Barrow, Adaml Blind Spot Dutton, 1997 Marshall Quinn Chicago, IL
Beck, KK (series) Death in a Deck Chair 1984 Iris Cooper (st) Stanford University, CA
Belfort, Sophie (series) The Lace Curtain Murders Atheneum, 1986 Molly Rafferty History MA
Bernard, Robert Deadly Meeting Norton, 1970 Millicent Hetherege English Wilton University, New England
Biggle, Lloyd Interface for Murder 1970 a small Ohio College
Bishop, Morris The Widening Stain Knopf, 1942 Library Yale, Conn
Bonett, John and Emery Dead Lion Doubleday, 1949 Mandrake Anthropologist England
Bonnamy, Francis The King Is Dead on Queen Street 1945 Peter Utley Shane Sociology Oxford, England
Borthwick, JS (series) Student Body St Martins, 1991 Sarah Deane English Literature Bowmouth College, Maine
Boucher, Anthony Case of the Seven of Cavalry Simon- Schuster, 1937 John Ashwin Sanskrit University of CA, CA
Bowen, Gail Deadly Appearances Douglas - McIntyre, 1990 Joanne Kilbourn Political Science Canada
Bowen, Gail A Killing Spring McClelland & Stewart, 1996 Joanne Kilbourn Political Science Regina, Saskatchewan,Canada
Boyd, Marion Murder in the Stacks Lothrop, 1934 Tom Allen English Dept Kingsley University, OH
Bradberry, J The Seventh Sacrament St Martin's, 1991 Jamie Ramsgill Architecture Princeton, NJ
Brean, Herbert The Traces of Brillhart Harper, 1960
Brean, Herbert The Clock Strikes Thirteen Morrow, 1952 Microbiology Maine
Breaznell, Gene Star of Sutherland Walker, 1990
Brett, Michael We, The Killers 1967
Brewer, Steve Shaky Ground May, 1997 Biology U. of New Mexico
Broome, Adam The Cambridge Murders Cambridge, England
Broome, Adam The Oxford Murders Geoffrey Bles, 1929 Anthanasius Septimus Konti student Oxford, England
Burley, W J Death in Willow Pattern Walker, 1970 Henry Pym Zoology England
Butler, Gwendolyn Coffin in Oxford Bles, 1962 Oxford, England
Butler, Gwendolyn Olivia Coward McCann, 1974 Oxford, England
C-E
A-B C-E F-H I-M N-R S-Z Top End
 
Author Title  Pub., Year Main Character Field of Study University, Location
Campbell, RT (series) Bodies in a Book Shop Dover (Reprint), 1984 John Stubbs Botanist
Carkeet, David Double Negative Dial, 1980 Linguistics Research Center Wabash Institute, IN
Carlson, PM (series) Audition for Murder 1985 Maggie Ryan student
Carrier, Warren Death of a Chancellor 1986 administration small college in Wisconsin 
Caudwell, Sarah Thus Was Adonis Murdered Collins, 1981 Hilary Tamar Medieval Law England
Charles, Robert Dead Before Midnight Cambridge, England
Charnas, Suzy McKee The Vampire Tapestry Living Batch Press Edward Weyland, prof and vampire Anthropology
Clarke, Anna (series) Last Judgment Doubleday, 1985 Paula G1enning English Literature University of London, England
Clason, Clyde B (series) The Fifth Tumbler Doubleday, 1936 T Westborough Classics IL and CA
Cleary, Melissa A Tail of Two Murders Berkley, 1992 Jackie Walsh Film Rogers University, Midwest
Clinton-Baddeley, VC (series) Welcome Death (first in series) Gollancz, 1954 RV Davie English Dept St. Michael's College, Cambridge, England
Clinton-Baddeley, VC (series) Death's Bright Dart Morrow, 1970 RV Davie Cambridge, England
Cole, GDH and MI Off with Her Head Collins, 1939 Henry Wilson Oxford, England
Cooper, Brian Giselle Vanguard Press, 1958 Cambridge, England
Crider, Bill (first in series) One Dead Dean Walker, 1988 Carl Burns English Literature Hartley Gorman, TX
Crider, Bill (series) ...A Dangerous Thing Walker, 1994 Carl Burns English Literature Hartley Gorman, TX
Crispin, Edmund (series) Obsequies at Oxford Lippincott, 1945 Gervase Fen English Literature  Oxford, England
Crispin, Edmund Holy Disorders G.K. Hall & Co, 1980
Crosby, Virginia The Fast Death Factor Council Oak Books, 1990 Anne Packer-Brown (dean) Administration  Tipton College, CA
Cross, Amanda (series) In the Last Analysis Macmillan, 1964 Kate Fansler English NYCU, NY
Crossman, D. A.  Murder in a Minor Key Professor Music Dept
Crumbley, Larry
Giroux, Gary
Meyers, Bob		 NonProfit Sleuths
Follow the Money		 Dame, 1997     LSU, Baton Rouge
Texas A&M University

Crumbley, Larry
Smith, Murphy
Battles, Edith

 Computer Encryptions in Whispering Caves Dame, 1998     LSU, Baton Rouge
Texas A&M University
Dalmas, Herbert The Fowler Formula Doubleday, 1967 John Fowler English Dept New England
Daniels, Harold The Accused Dell, 1958 Ludlow College
Davey, Jocelyn (series) A Capitol Offense Knopf, 1956 Ambrose Usher Philosophy Oxford, England
Davidson, T.L. aka Thomson, D.L. The Murder in the Laboratory London: Methuen/NY: Dutton, 1929
Davis, Doris Salisbury Shock Wave Scribner, 1972 Midwest
Davis, Frederick C (series) Coffins for Three Doubleday, 1938 Cyrus Hatch Criminology
Davis, Mildred Tell Them What's-Her-Name Called Random, 1975; Hale 1976 Finlet Wuerhrmann (student, prof daughter) Whitefield U. 
Dean, SFX Ceremony of 
Innocence		 Walker, 1984
Dean, SFX Death and the Mad Heroine, 1985 Neil Kelly
Dean, SFX It Can't be My Grave Walker, 1983
Dean, SFX Nantucket Soap Opera Atheneum, 1987
Dean, SFX Suck Pretty Toys Walker, 1982
DeAndrea, William (series) The HOG Murders Avon, 1979 Niccolo Benedetti
Delman, David Death of a Nymph 1985 Administration NY
Dentinger, Jane The Queen is Dead Viking, 1994 Jocelyn O'Roarke Drama NY
Devine, Dominic Death Is My Bridegroom Walker, 1969
Dexter, Colin The Daughter 1994 Wolsey College, England
Dexter, Colin Last Bus to Woodstock St Martin's, 1975 Oxford, England
Dillon, Ellis Death in the Quadrangle 1956 Professor Daly, ret. English Literature King's University, Dublin, Ireland
Duff, James Dangerous to Know
Dunant, Sarah Snowstorms in a Hot Climate Random House, 1988 Maria Masterson Anglo Saxon Literature USA-Scotland
Dutton, Charles Judson (series) Streaked with Crimson Dodd, 1929 Harley Manners Psychology U.S.A.
Dwight, Olivia Close His Eyes 1961 English
Edwards, Ruth Dudley Matricide at St. Martha's St. Martin's, 1994 Robert Amiss (1 yr. fellow) St. Martha's College, Cambridge, England
Edwards, Ruth Dudley Ten Lords A'Leaping St. Martin's, 1995 Ida Troutbeck St. Martha's College, Cambridge, England
Elkins, Aaron J Curses Mysterious Press, 1989 Gideon Oliver Anthropology Yucatan Pennisula
Elkins, Aaron J (series) Fellowship of Fear Popular, 1982 Gideon Oliver Anthropology US Overseas College, Europe
Elkins, Aaron J Icy Clutches Warner Books, 1990 Gideon Oliver Anthropology Alaska's Glacier Bay
Elkins, Aaron J  Make No Bones  Warner Books, 1991 Gideon Oliver Anthropology Central Oregon
Elward, James Monday's Child Is Dead Carroll and Graff, 1995 NY
Epstein, Charlotte Murder in China 1989 Janet Eldine Psychology
Eustis, Helene Horizontal Man Harper, 1946 Hollymount College, New England
F-H
A-B C-E F-H I-M N-R S-Z Top End
 
Author Title  Pub., Year Main Character Field of Study University, Location
Faherty, Terence (series) The Lost Keats Worldwide, 1993 Owen Keane (Grad Student) Theology St. Aelred Seminary
Farrar, Katherine Gownsman's Gallows Oxford, England
Ferrars, Elizabeth A Murder too Many Collins, 1988
Ferrars, Elizabeth Crime and the Crystal, The Collins, 1985
Ferrars, Elizabeth Other Devil's Name, The Collins, 1986
Ferrars, Elizabeth Root of All Evil Collins, 1984
Ferrars, Elizabeth Smoke Without Fire Collins, 1990
Ferrars, Elizabeth(series) Something Wicked Doubleday, 1984 Andrew Basnett Botany
Fiske, Dorsey Academic Murders St. Martin's Press, 1980 Library Cambridge, England
Fleming, Joan Nothing is the Number When You Die Washburn, 1965 Nuri Bey Oxford, England
Florian, SL Born to the Purple 1992 Delia Ross-Merlani Philosophy NY
Ford, Leslie By the Watchman's Clock Farrar, 1932 St John's College, MD
Forrest, H.L. Publish or Perish U. in Dublin, Ireland
Forrest, Richard Who Killed Mr. Garland's Mistress? Pinnacle, 1974 Lyon Wentworth English
Frome, David Mr. Pinkerton Finds a Body Farrar, 1934 Oxford, England 
Fuller, Timothy Harvard Has a Homicide 1944 Harvard, MA
Galbraith, Ruth A Convenient Death PaperJacks Ltd., 1986 Dean of Women Canada
Gordon, Alex The Cipher Simon - Schuster, 1961 Philip Hoag Archaeology University School of Ext St NY
Gores, Joe A Time of Predators Random, 1969 Curt Halstead Sociology
Gosling, Paula (series) Monkey Puzzle Doubleday, 1985 Kate Trevorne English Literature OH
Grant, Linda Lethal Genes Scribner, 1996 Catherine Sayler Genetics University of CA, Berkeley 
Gregory, Susanna An Unholy Alliance St. Martin's Press 1996 Matthew Bartholomew Medicine, 1350 Cambridge University, England
Greenwald, Nancy Ladycat 1980 student
Gruber, Helmut The Temptation of Adam Everest, 1979
Gur, Batya Literary Murder HarperPerennial, 1994 Israel
Haddam, Jane Quoth the Raven Bantam, 1991 Philosophy Independence College, PA
Hambly, Barbara (series) Those Who Hunt the Night 1988 James Asher, vampire hunter England
Hariss, Will The Bay Psalm Book of Murder 1983 Cliff Dunbar English Literature
Harris, Charlaine A Secret Rage 1984 student TN
Hart, Carolyn G A Little Class On Murder Doubleday, 1989 Annie Laurence Journalism Chastain Community College, GA
Hart, Carolyn G Death in Lover's Lane Avon, 1997 Henrietta O'Dwyer Collins Journalism Thorndyke U. School of Journalism & Mass Comm., MO
Hebden, Mark Death Set to Music Walker, 1983
Hemlin, Tim If Wishes Were Horses Ballantine, 1996 Neil Marshall Graduate student,Creative Writing University of Houston, TX
Herndon, Nancy Lethal Status Berkley, 1996 Elena ? TX
Hess, Joan (series) Strangled Prose Ballantine, 1993
Hill, Donna Murder Uptown Carroll & Graf Pub., 1992 Melvina Trent Sociology Fuller College, NY
Hill, Reginald An Advancement of Learning Collins, 1971
Hillerman, Tony The Blessing Way Harper, 1970 Bergen McKee Anthropology
Hinkle, Vernon Music to Murder By 1978 Library  Harvard, MA
Holland, Norman N Death in a Delphi Seminar SUNY, 1995
Holt, Hazel Cruelest Month St Martins, 1991 Sheila Malory Literary Criticism Oxford, England
Holt, Hazel Mrs. Malory; Detective in Residence NAL-Dutton, 1996 Sheila Malory Wilmot College, PA
Holtzer, Susan Curly Smoke St Martin's, 1995 Anneke Haagen Computer Science MI
Holtzer, Susan Bleeding Maiz and Blue St Martin's, 1996 Zoe Kaplan Journalism MI
Hornsby, Wendy No Harm Dodd Mead, 1987 Kate Teague History CA
I-M
A-B C-E F-H I-M N-R S-Z Top End

The bibliography was compiled by Eden Kuhlenschmidt with the assistance of the DorothyL.listserv crew (LISTSERV@LISTSERV.KENT.EDU) and Lucy of Once Again Gently Used Bookstore, Louisville, KY.

Mysteries I-Z