Whether teaching at a small church connected college or a large state university, campus life is much the same for faculty. Twenty years of experience has demonstrated that truth to me. Alan Kirby has captured that atmosphere well - as I read this current mystery I felt as if I had returned to my campus roots, both as a student and as a member of the faculty. However, I am glad to say that crime never played a critical part of my experience - as a suspect, a victim, or a observer.
California Pacific University, a middle tier institution, sitting someplace between the prestigious schools that made up the University of California and the lesser-known, but very well-equipped, schools of the California State University and Colleges system, was about to become the next victim of a campus crime spree.
It was a spree - as the intensity and ferocity of the crimes increased, so did the fear that dropped upon the campus. Beginning with red paint made to look like blood, ending with a deadly arson attack, and providing an opportunity for a major campus massacre - it would take the work of Darren Kelly, Professor of Counseling Psychology and therapist at the campus Counseling Center Darren, and Jake Cooper, the lead Detective for the university police department, to identify the person responsible for the crimes.
The plot is timed well, with a major twist that will catch most in the end. It held this reader’s attention for the length of the novel - leaving little to be disappointed in. The book is easy to recommend for any involved in the academic world or for those wanting a good solid mystery to fill a week’s worth of reading. Though there is no hint of a sequel, one may hope that the author receives enough reinforcement to allow the two primary characters to work together on more cases in the future.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.
