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Promoted with Tenure
How far will science go when reputations are on the line?
The University of New Orleans is a modest, tight-knit community of diligent academics. When the chair of the biology department is violently murdered, assistant forensic pathologist Hunter Romero has her own rather unique suspicions about the crime scene.
Hunter’s intuition is tested when evidence is leaked to a prominent national magazine, releasing privileged information that could hinder the investigation, putting her trust in those nearest to her on shaky ground. As professors scramble to keep the academy alive and well, more bodies begin to surface, sending the College of Sciences into a spiraling stupor. Lured by the developing evidence, the newbie pathologist launches an inquiry of her own into one of the department’s most renowned biologists—the interim chair’s newly tenured husband.
Is Hunter’s background in entomology enough to outsmart a serial murderer, or is she merely being blinded by the familiar? And how far will science go when reputations are on the line?
The University of New Orleans is a modest, tight-knit community of diligent academics. When the chair of the biology department is violently murdered, assistant forensic pathologist Hunter Romero has her own rather unique suspicions about the crime scene.
Hunter’s intuition is tested when evidence is leaked to a prominent national magazine, releasing privileged information that could hinder the investigation, putting her trust in those nearest to her on shaky ground. As professors scramble to keep the academy alive and well, more bodies begin to surface, sending the College of Sciences into a spiraling stupor. Lured by the developing evidence, the newbie pathologist launches an inquiry of her own into one of the department’s most renowned biologists—the interim chair’s newly tenured husband.
Is Hunter’s background in entomology enough to outsmart a serial murderer, or is she merely being blinded by the familiar? And how far will science go when reputations are on the line?
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2024
11 people are currently reading
3351 people want to read
About the author
K.B. Fisher
4 books42 followersKB Fisher is an independent author of mystery thrillers. He lives in the Southeast United States and is a native of Slidell, Louisiana.
Fisher is a former evolutionary biologist and academic, where he developed a passion for writing while publishing peer-reviewed research from 2013 to 2023. He gradually transitioned to writing fiction full time as a means to escape the technical writing associated with his scientific work. Influenced by Ann Rule, James Patterson, and Edgar Allan Poe, Fisher’s fast-paced storytelling goes against the grain with morally gray characters, sinister turns, and bittersweet endings.
He enjoys reading, hiking, and cooking in his spare time.
Fisher is a former evolutionary biologist and academic, where he developed a passion for writing while publishing peer-reviewed research from 2013 to 2023. He gradually transitioned to writing fiction full time as a means to escape the technical writing associated with his scientific work. Influenced by Ann Rule, James Patterson, and Edgar Allan Poe, Fisher’s fast-paced storytelling goes against the grain with morally gray characters, sinister turns, and bittersweet endings.
He enjoys reading, hiking, and cooking in his spare time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 9, 2025
I received this book in a giveaway in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank the author and the publishing company for their generosity.
This book is about a set of murders that are happening to members of academia at a college in New Orleans.
A quick question. When is a book about a murder mystery actually not about the murder? The answer would be this book. The murder mystery was a side note. This book was all about the backstabbing world of college academia and how every member is trying to get published and ahead. I am fine if that was the intention of the book but I feel like it was a different description in the giveaway and summary. I would have never entered the giveaway as I really am not interested in that subject. I believe the intention of the author was to have the murder tie in with the world of academia. Technically the author did do this but the execution was not there for it. He went on and on about the academia world and how everyone is out for themselves. For me this is not exciting at all. How about the development of the investigation of the murder or how it ties in with the setting? This was basically nonexistent. Even the various suspects in the play had no development as the culprit had to be that person. There was no big surprise there. Maybe the motive was suppose to be the twist but it did nothing for me as I just did not care.
I realize by my review I should be giving this a one star rating. I do like the author's style as he did draw me into this world. He just needed an equal balance between the world he was creating and the reason why we here which is the murder. Instead he went with the setting and at times it came across as his own personal tirade against this world. I did not sign up for that. I think the foundation for a really exciting read was here. Too bad it never materialized.
This book is about a set of murders that are happening to members of academia at a college in New Orleans.
A quick question. When is a book about a murder mystery actually not about the murder? The answer would be this book. The murder mystery was a side note. This book was all about the backstabbing world of college academia and how every member is trying to get published and ahead. I am fine if that was the intention of the book but I feel like it was a different description in the giveaway and summary. I would have never entered the giveaway as I really am not interested in that subject. I believe the intention of the author was to have the murder tie in with the world of academia. Technically the author did do this but the execution was not there for it. He went on and on about the academia world and how everyone is out for themselves. For me this is not exciting at all. How about the development of the investigation of the murder or how it ties in with the setting? This was basically nonexistent. Even the various suspects in the play had no development as the culprit had to be that person. There was no big surprise there. Maybe the motive was suppose to be the twist but it did nothing for me as I just did not care.
I realize by my review I should be giving this a one star rating. I do like the author's style as he did draw me into this world. He just needed an equal balance between the world he was creating and the reason why we here which is the murder. Instead he went with the setting and at times it came across as his own personal tirade against this world. I did not sign up for that. I think the foundation for a really exciting read was here. Too bad it never materialized.
January 14, 2024
I was totally flabbergasted, shocked , angry, and disgusted with the academics in this story. I've always heard, "publish or die", but this was dog eat dog, underhanded, unconscionable, and without remorse of any kind. Just another day at the office. A sociopathic society of academics. There were so many "ids" at play here. I had many suspects in mind, and I loved being wrong, in this case. I even read this twice to see if I missed anything. It was just as exhilarating the second read through. I voluntarily read a free copy of this provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.
January 28, 2024
This book was absolutely amazing. It's so well written and extremely engaging, and though I haven't the foggiest idea about how academia works, there's enough explanation provided to get you into the minds of the various characters without it getting bogged down in the details or feeling like an info-dump. The chapters are from different characters' POVs, which gives you a lot of insight into various aspects of the case at hand as well as just their connections to one another and what's going on in general, which is always fun in a mystery thriller. I was about 80% sure I knew who was behind everything, and then I started second-guessing myself time and again, which is also the mark of a great mystery thriller.
My only criticism is that some chapters later in the book are flashbacks, but they're not marked in any way, so I had to double back a couple times once I'd figured that out and start the chapter again to center myself in the timeline, which pulled me out of my reading groove (and it's such a good groove with this story!). Otherwise, this book is fantastic from start to finish, and I strongly recommend it to fans of the genre. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!
4.5 stars
**I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**
My only criticism is that some chapters later in the book are flashbacks, but they're not marked in any way, so I had to double back a couple times once I'd figured that out and start the chapter again to center myself in the timeline, which pulled me out of my reading groove (and it's such a good groove with this story!). Otherwise, this book is fantastic from start to finish, and I strongly recommend it to fans of the genre. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!
4.5 stars
**I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**
January 20, 2024
I didn't read too much into the plot behind this book before reading it, I simply knew it was a murder / crime thriller.
I hadn't planned on the story being so heavy about science in academia over in America, it's not something I have any background knowledge about. Surprisingly, I found a lot of this quite interesting. The politics and sordidness of it all. I must admit, however, a lot of the terminology went over my head.
I was a little disappointed that the actual murder investigation was more of a second-thought in the book. I found myself trying to speed through the science and personal/romantic parts of the book to get back to trying to figure out 'whodunnit'.
My review is 3 stars as I enjoyed learning about how things work in American Colleges, however there was a little too much of this in the book for me, not enough investigation and clues to keep me reading. I think maybe streamlining the science-specific parts and increasing the amount of investigation parts would have made this book more 'un-putdownable'.
Thank you so much to KB Fisher for the ARC of this book. I wish it every success!
I hadn't planned on the story being so heavy about science in academia over in America, it's not something I have any background knowledge about. Surprisingly, I found a lot of this quite interesting. The politics and sordidness of it all. I must admit, however, a lot of the terminology went over my head.
I was a little disappointed that the actual murder investigation was more of a second-thought in the book. I found myself trying to speed through the science and personal/romantic parts of the book to get back to trying to figure out 'whodunnit'.
My review is 3 stars as I enjoyed learning about how things work in American Colleges, however there was a little too much of this in the book for me, not enough investigation and clues to keep me reading. I think maybe streamlining the science-specific parts and increasing the amount of investigation parts would have made this book more 'un-putdownable'.
Thank you so much to KB Fisher for the ARC of this book. I wish it every success!
January 24, 2024
This thriller starts with a murder right off the bat! It’s action-packed and intelligently plotted out. It’s clear the author knows what they’re talking about and/or thoroughly researched for this book. There’s an intimate knowledge of entomology here that is fascinating.
Beware, there is a lotttttt of red tape, a lot of academic politics. I obviously know this exists in every workplace, but for me, it was a bit exhausting to read about. I don’t know all that much about post-grad work and publishing scientific data, so some of the sections on that end were a drag to get through. However, at about the halfway mark in the book, the thriller part of the book picked up and I flew through the remainder of the chapters.
I personally was craving just a teeny bit more character development as it was hard for me to bond with the characters. I didn’t particularly love any of the leads here.
The ending is a good and twisty one, though! Just how I like it! My overall rating would be a 3.8, rounded up to a 4 as it certainly deserves more than a 3. Well done, KB Fisher! Disclaimer: I received this ARC for free as part of BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Beware, there is a lotttttt of red tape, a lot of academic politics. I obviously know this exists in every workplace, but for me, it was a bit exhausting to read about. I don’t know all that much about post-grad work and publishing scientific data, so some of the sections on that end were a drag to get through. However, at about the halfway mark in the book, the thriller part of the book picked up and I flew through the remainder of the chapters.
I personally was craving just a teeny bit more character development as it was hard for me to bond with the characters. I didn’t particularly love any of the leads here.
The ending is a good and twisty one, though! Just how I like it! My overall rating would be a 3.8, rounded up to a 4 as it certainly deserves more than a 3. Well done, KB Fisher! Disclaimer: I received this ARC for free as part of BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 1, 2024
A murder mystery with the twist of it taking place around university academia. The writing was good and the story kept you engaged. I did think it was a little hard to keep track of all the characters and he plot got a little hard to follow at the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 2, 2024
This story is based around a group of academics within one particular faculty of the University of New Orleans (UNO), just as one of them, Dr Mitch Oliver finally becomes an associate professor with tenure, and on the same night his boss, Steve Daigle, is brutally murdered. Hunter Romero is a former entomologist and has only worked for the forensic pathology department of New Orleans for a couple of weeks when she and her associate Parker have caught the case. Daigle was a professor and chair of the biology department at UNO and is not the first one who will turn up murdered. When Hunter finds a very strange insect in the victim’s nasal passage, it is clear that there is more to how this victim was displayed and this might be a clue to who was behind it. Hunter’s intuition may be valuable, but she soon finds her trust is broken when her girlfriend Deborah, a journalist, wants more information about the murder than she is willing to give. Deborah also raises her own jealousy about David, a seasoned technician on the Homicide’s forensics team, who is also someone Hunter had been seeing briefly before she turned to Deborah. All Hunter can rely on now is her dog, as Deborah breaks up with her over her occasional contact with David through her work!
There are lots of twists and turns taking you in different directions as the story develops and possible suspects are examined. Hunter’s own expertise and background in entomology mean she can identify the insect left at the scene of the first murder and that it is out of place, which others would have ignored with the presence of the dead animal next to the victim. The members of the College of Sciences, UNO, are soon left trying to figure out what is behind all these killings, which are clearly linked to their department and now replacements are needed and fast. Academia members succeed by the dogma, publish, publish, publish! If they don’t publish from an early stage, they have little hope of ever getting tenure, the gold star of achievement they all aim for, before going ever further. Each person who helps in a written submission is acknowledged in a certain manner and the placement of their name is important, especially if anything went wrong with whatever was written about or their conclusions were in fact wrong. If it is correct, then top billing will bring more prestige and future promotions within academia. With Mitch having married his actual PhD mentor, he gets his name added on many more papers. It seems his past endeavours and lack of morals which he uses to push his own position to his advantage, may come back to bite him. A killer is eliminating all they deem responsible for a past decision and Hunter’s discoveries and extra investigating may well lead to an arrest. Just, was that the right call? We may never know as the twist continues. Would have loved more about why Hunter is like she is and a bit more of the investigation, rather than the dry academia world, but decent overall. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
3 ½ - 4 stars
There are lots of twists and turns taking you in different directions as the story develops and possible suspects are examined. Hunter’s own expertise and background in entomology mean she can identify the insect left at the scene of the first murder and that it is out of place, which others would have ignored with the presence of the dead animal next to the victim. The members of the College of Sciences, UNO, are soon left trying to figure out what is behind all these killings, which are clearly linked to their department and now replacements are needed and fast. Academia members succeed by the dogma, publish, publish, publish! If they don’t publish from an early stage, they have little hope of ever getting tenure, the gold star of achievement they all aim for, before going ever further. Each person who helps in a written submission is acknowledged in a certain manner and the placement of their name is important, especially if anything went wrong with whatever was written about or their conclusions were in fact wrong. If it is correct, then top billing will bring more prestige and future promotions within academia. With Mitch having married his actual PhD mentor, he gets his name added on many more papers. It seems his past endeavours and lack of morals which he uses to push his own position to his advantage, may come back to bite him. A killer is eliminating all they deem responsible for a past decision and Hunter’s discoveries and extra investigating may well lead to an arrest. Just, was that the right call? We may never know as the twist continues. Would have loved more about why Hunter is like she is and a bit more of the investigation, rather than the dry academia world, but decent overall. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
3 ½ - 4 stars
January 23, 2024
Although I don't live in the US anything about New Orleans always attracts me as I really loved visiting there. Could just hear the 'twang' in the accents and smell the food aromas.
I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved the characters, especially Hunter. I really found myself emersed in the story and finished the book pretty quickly.
Great plot twist (no spoilers) but I got it right.
Normally I would have rated this book 5 starts but there where a couple of reasons I didn't.
Firstly having got my masters qualifications through a major university I understood what was written but feel anyone without an academic back ground could struggle with the terminology. Secondly here we have a story about some horrific murders of prominent people that in my opinion would really warranted a very heavy police investigative approach where as this book is very 'heavy' in academia.
Away from that the book demonstrated some very sociopathic characters in their relentless path to advance in the academic world without a thought of propriety or showing any care for others.
This is what, for me, really dominated the story.
Finally the story came to a rather abrupt end and left a lot of questions unanswered or outcomes finalized. I saw a major flaw in the police evidence against one character that went untouched.
I would still recommend the book as it has a lot of 'get you in' characteristics but would suggest anyone without knowledge of academic 'lingo' look up a few works or phrases early on and I'm sure you will enjoy the book more. I felt this book had the potential to be a great story but for mind just fell slightly short.
I received an advanced copy of this book, for which I am appreciative, and have provided this review freely with no outside influence.
I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved the characters, especially Hunter. I really found myself emersed in the story and finished the book pretty quickly.
Great plot twist (no spoilers) but I got it right.
Normally I would have rated this book 5 starts but there where a couple of reasons I didn't.
Firstly having got my masters qualifications through a major university I understood what was written but feel anyone without an academic back ground could struggle with the terminology. Secondly here we have a story about some horrific murders of prominent people that in my opinion would really warranted a very heavy police investigative approach where as this book is very 'heavy' in academia.
Away from that the book demonstrated some very sociopathic characters in their relentless path to advance in the academic world without a thought of propriety or showing any care for others.
This is what, for me, really dominated the story.
Finally the story came to a rather abrupt end and left a lot of questions unanswered or outcomes finalized. I saw a major flaw in the police evidence against one character that went untouched.
I would still recommend the book as it has a lot of 'get you in' characteristics but would suggest anyone without knowledge of academic 'lingo' look up a few works or phrases early on and I'm sure you will enjoy the book more. I felt this book had the potential to be a great story but for mind just fell slightly short.
I received an advanced copy of this book, for which I am appreciative, and have provided this review freely with no outside influence.
February 12, 2024
From the other reviews I've read, I'm apparently in the minority here. After reading Admit Two, I was expecting another thriller along the same lines, but I was disappointed. I dislike writing less-than-stellar reviews, especially for an author whose work I previously thoroughly enjoyed, But I promised to write an honest opinion so here goes. I had a great deal of difficulty bonding with any of the characters. They were superficial, self-centered, egotistical, and just downright mean. I could only find one redeeming quality in our main character, which was that she wasn't going to sweep people leaking information to the press under the rug. She was going to do the right thing. But then she starts out investigating on her own, without proper instructions or approval and she's still on a very probationary period. Just didn't make sense to me. Also, she seemed to think that she could go "interview" anyone she wanted even though she had no standing with Homicide. Any defense attorney worth his salt would have had a hay day with her involvement.
Then there was all of the academic stuff. Even with my background as a retired RN I felt lost at times. And having read Admit Two I kept waiting for that one unexpected twist at the end I never saw coming. And this time I didn't because there wasn't one. I had figured out who the perpetrator was by the time it was revealed, even though his motive was never explained to my satisfaction. Maybe somebody else got it, but I didn't. And then it ends. Just like that. Oh, here's the bad boy, now get back to work. Very disappointing for me, especially since it started on such a high note. And don't think I'm giving up on Mr. Fisher because of one book that wasn't to my taste. I'll be picking up his next one at my earliest convenience.
I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens and this is my honest opinion
Then there was all of the academic stuff. Even with my background as a retired RN I felt lost at times. And having read Admit Two I kept waiting for that one unexpected twist at the end I never saw coming. And this time I didn't because there wasn't one. I had figured out who the perpetrator was by the time it was revealed, even though his motive was never explained to my satisfaction. Maybe somebody else got it, but I didn't. And then it ends. Just like that. Oh, here's the bad boy, now get back to work. Very disappointing for me, especially since it started on such a high note. And don't think I'm giving up on Mr. Fisher because of one book that wasn't to my taste. I'll be picking up his next one at my earliest convenience.
I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens and this is my honest opinion
May 17, 2025
** I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, but this is an honest review.**
2.5 stars
I don’t even know where to start with this review. I think I’m feeling…confused? Maybe? Honestly, I probably should’ve DNFed this book, but I wanted to give it a chance. This book can be described with one question - where is this story going? First off, the story jumps between the academic world and the police world which was hard to follow sometimes. At one point, we even jump to the past. I think some kind of chapter heading acknowledging which timeline we’re entering would have been helpful. Second, as many reviews have already stated, this book leans heavily into the academic and political world of a university. I have a bachelor’s degree level of academic knowledge so the in-depth graduate level storyline was kind of hard to follow as I’ve never dealt with it. Third, Hunter’s story with the leaked case information, the breakup with her girlfriend, and the brief glimpse into a casual thing with a coworker left me wondering what that all had to do with *what I thought was* the actual story - the murders. I felt like we were thrown a lot of pieces that didn’t really connect. Now, enough with the negatives. Here come the positives. First, the author did really well with describing the actions of the characters, the environments, and the settings. A few times I found myself thinking, “wow, I can really envision/feel what is taking place”. Second, despite being confused by the university storyline, the level of knowledge of the academic world and biology/pathology/bug-ology(?) in general really was impressive. Overall, if you’re looking for a murder mystery, I would skip this one. If you’d enjoy a book focusing on the cutthroat (pun intended) world of academia with a side of murder, give this a try!
2.5 stars
I don’t even know where to start with this review. I think I’m feeling…confused? Maybe? Honestly, I probably should’ve DNFed this book, but I wanted to give it a chance. This book can be described with one question - where is this story going? First off, the story jumps between the academic world and the police world which was hard to follow sometimes. At one point, we even jump to the past. I think some kind of chapter heading acknowledging which timeline we’re entering would have been helpful. Second, as many reviews have already stated, this book leans heavily into the academic and political world of a university. I have a bachelor’s degree level of academic knowledge so the in-depth graduate level storyline was kind of hard to follow as I’ve never dealt with it. Third, Hunter’s story with the leaked case information, the breakup with her girlfriend, and the brief glimpse into a casual thing with a coworker left me wondering what that all had to do with *what I thought was* the actual story - the murders. I felt like we were thrown a lot of pieces that didn’t really connect. Now, enough with the negatives. Here come the positives. First, the author did really well with describing the actions of the characters, the environments, and the settings. A few times I found myself thinking, “wow, I can really envision/feel what is taking place”. Second, despite being confused by the university storyline, the level of knowledge of the academic world and biology/pathology/bug-ology(?) in general really was impressive. Overall, if you’re looking for a murder mystery, I would skip this one. If you’d enjoy a book focusing on the cutthroat (pun intended) world of academia with a side of murder, give this a try!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2024
After finishing the last chapter of the book, I'm finding it a bit tricky to decide between giving it a 5 out of 5 rating or a 4. Chapter 1 had me hooked right away, and being a registered medical technologist, I found the familiarity with the terms used quite engaging, especially since I've studied insect-borne diseases in Microbiology and parasites in Parasitology. KB Fisher did an excellent job researching these topics, particularly the scientific names of insects, which I really appreciated.
Even though I'm not particularly into stories about relationships between women, I decided to give this one a chance, and I'm glad I did. Hunter Romero's character impressed me with her cleverness and emotional intelligence, especially in handling relationships. And Drake, her dog, stole my heart - the way she described him as more than just a pet, but a friend and family member, really endeared her character to me.
David's loyalty is something I truly admire, and I found myself rooting for him and Hunter to be together. The slight hint of spice in the story was just right for me, even though the author didn't delve into overly explicit content. That restraint actually made the story more appealing to me.
I have to admit, I was a bit let down by the ending. It felt like some characters didn't get the closure they deserved. However, I still gave the book a 5-star rating because I truly loved and enjoyed Hunter's journey. Plus, I appreciated the author's writing style; learning new words along the way was an added bonus for me.
If you're into mystery, thriller, and crime genres, I highly recommend giving this book a shot. It's definitely worth your time!
Huge thanks to Book Sirens for giving me the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Even though I'm not particularly into stories about relationships between women, I decided to give this one a chance, and I'm glad I did. Hunter Romero's character impressed me with her cleverness and emotional intelligence, especially in handling relationships. And Drake, her dog, stole my heart - the way she described him as more than just a pet, but a friend and family member, really endeared her character to me.
David's loyalty is something I truly admire, and I found myself rooting for him and Hunter to be together. The slight hint of spice in the story was just right for me, even though the author didn't delve into overly explicit content. That restraint actually made the story more appealing to me.
I have to admit, I was a bit let down by the ending. It felt like some characters didn't get the closure they deserved. However, I still gave the book a 5-star rating because I truly loved and enjoyed Hunter's journey. Plus, I appreciated the author's writing style; learning new words along the way was an added bonus for me.
If you're into mystery, thriller, and crime genres, I highly recommend giving this book a shot. It's definitely worth your time!
Huge thanks to Book Sirens for giving me the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 24, 2024
I recently had the pleasure of reading this captivating book that takes readers into the heart of academia, exploring the intricate web of relationships within a community of academics. "Promoted with Tenure" by K.B. Fisher is a brilliant and engaging murder mystery that kept me hooked and guessing.
The story unfolds at The University of New Orleans, portraying a community where academics appear to thrive, with all the usual "publish or perish" emphasis. The twist in the tale comes when the biology department chair indeed perishes. He is murdered, setting the stage for a suspenseful narrative. Enter Hunter Romero, the assistant forensic pathologist. Her unique perspective and intuition add more complexity to the investigation.
What struck me most about this book is its ability to seamlessly blend the academic setting with a murder mystery. The author skillfully navigates the challenges faced by professors striving to keep the academy intact while more bodies surface, sending the College of Sciences into a downward spiral.
As the story unfolds, the reader journeys through the intricacies of scientific inquiry, ethical dilemmas, and the lengths academics may go to protect their reputations. The plot has many unexpected twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end.
The author paints a vivid picture of the academic environment while maintaining the suspense that kept me reading too late at night!
Disclosure: As an academic, I received a free copy of the book to review. Regardless, my impression of the book remained the same. I was under no obligation to write a review.
The story unfolds at The University of New Orleans, portraying a community where academics appear to thrive, with all the usual "publish or perish" emphasis. The twist in the tale comes when the biology department chair indeed perishes. He is murdered, setting the stage for a suspenseful narrative. Enter Hunter Romero, the assistant forensic pathologist. Her unique perspective and intuition add more complexity to the investigation.
What struck me most about this book is its ability to seamlessly blend the academic setting with a murder mystery. The author skillfully navigates the challenges faced by professors striving to keep the academy intact while more bodies surface, sending the College of Sciences into a downward spiral.
As the story unfolds, the reader journeys through the intricacies of scientific inquiry, ethical dilemmas, and the lengths academics may go to protect their reputations. The plot has many unexpected twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end.
The author paints a vivid picture of the academic environment while maintaining the suspense that kept me reading too late at night!
Disclosure: As an academic, I received a free copy of the book to review. Regardless, my impression of the book remained the same. I was under no obligation to write a review.
February 6, 2024
This is my first book to read by this author; I’m not sure if it’s the first book in a series or not, but it sounds like it’s possible. I liked the main character, Hunter, who is a new entomologist in the pathology department for the police; she wouldn’t typically be extremely involved in the active investigation of of a murder case, but the first murder involves not only some interesting entomological findings, but involves the academic chair in the biology department of a university in New Orleans. The dialogue is particularly authentic to the southern US and particularly Louisiana, so I really liked that. There are a lot of academic and research politics going on that contribute to the story, but they’re so involved that it was a bit overwhelming. The DEI outreach information was quite timely and presented in such a way that I couldn’t determine if the author approves of it all or not, which is probably as it should be. The story is really absorbing, with lots of potential suspects and great red herrings, and the writing is excellent, but the ending…ugh…not satisfying. We know the perpetrator by then, but not the final outcome. Will the perpetrator pay? I certainly hope so, but I would like to know that for sure and to know how that happened. There is a final confrontation that is potentially dangerous, and yet very dissatisfying. Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and recommend it; I was provided an arc, but these opinions are my own.
February 20, 2024
I was utterly stunned by the portrayal of academia in this story—a world where the mantra "publish or die" takes on a sinister, cutthroat edge. The characters' actions were not just unethical but downright despicable, devoid of any shred of remorse. It felt like navigating through a sociopathic society of academics, where moral boundaries were constantly blurred.
The narrative skillfully keeps readers guessing, with a myriad of potential suspects and hidden agendas at play. Despite my initial assumptions, I found myself delightfully surprised by the twists and turns the story took. So engrossing was the plot that I couldn't resist revisiting it for a second read-through, and the thrill was just as palpable.
This book is truly exceptional. Its prose is masterfully crafted, drawing readers in with its engaging storytelling and providing enough context for those unfamiliar with academia to grasp the intricacies of the characters' motivations. The use of multiple points of view adds depth to the narrative, offering insights into various facets of the case and the interconnections of the characters.
Overall, this novel is a gripping mystery thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It's a testament to the author's skill that even readers with no prior knowledge of academia can fully immerse themselves in the story and enjoy the ride.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The narrative skillfully keeps readers guessing, with a myriad of potential suspects and hidden agendas at play. Despite my initial assumptions, I found myself delightfully surprised by the twists and turns the story took. So engrossing was the plot that I couldn't resist revisiting it for a second read-through, and the thrill was just as palpable.
This book is truly exceptional. Its prose is masterfully crafted, drawing readers in with its engaging storytelling and providing enough context for those unfamiliar with academia to grasp the intricacies of the characters' motivations. The use of multiple points of view adds depth to the narrative, offering insights into various facets of the case and the interconnections of the characters.
Overall, this novel is a gripping mystery thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It's a testament to the author's skill that even readers with no prior knowledge of academia can fully immerse themselves in the story and enjoy the ride.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2024
"Promoted with Tenure" by K.B. Fisher takes us into the world of a university, where academics are busy with their work and secrets hide in the hallways. The story kicks off when the head of the biology department meets an unexpected end, turning the peaceful academic setting into a suspenseful murder mystery. The key investigator, Hunter Romero, brings a mix of science and intuition to the puzzle, making the journey even more intriguing.
As a fan of crime thrillers, I was excited to dive into this book. Hunter's character caught my interest, though I wished for more details about her past. The setting in an American university was interesting, full of academic plots and hidden tensions. However, the actual murder investigation seemed to play second fiddle to the larger story of university life.
For someone like me who enjoys the heart-pounding excitement of crime solving, the academic backdrop sometimes took too much focus. The twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing, but I craved a bit more depth in the murder investigation itself.
Despite this, the book surprised me with a clever twist at the end, providing a satisfying conclusion. While "Promoted with Tenure" may not have entirely matched my crime thriller expectations, the unexpected ending made it a worthwhile read. If you appreciate a mix of academic drama and crime, this book might just be the perfect blend for you.
I received an ARC for free, and I am providing this review voluntarily.
As a fan of crime thrillers, I was excited to dive into this book. Hunter's character caught my interest, though I wished for more details about her past. The setting in an American university was interesting, full of academic plots and hidden tensions. However, the actual murder investigation seemed to play second fiddle to the larger story of university life.
For someone like me who enjoys the heart-pounding excitement of crime solving, the academic backdrop sometimes took too much focus. The twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing, but I craved a bit more depth in the murder investigation itself.
Despite this, the book surprised me with a clever twist at the end, providing a satisfying conclusion. While "Promoted with Tenure" may not have entirely matched my crime thriller expectations, the unexpected ending made it a worthwhile read. If you appreciate a mix of academic drama and crime, this book might just be the perfect blend for you.
I received an ARC for free, and I am providing this review voluntarily.
January 17, 2024
Heavy! I knew going in that a book with the title Promoted with Tenure would probably deal with a lot of academia. I figured I'd handle it, (I'm well educated and love a challenge) but I was wrong. The book falls in the murder mystery/suspense thriller category, which is my wheelhouse, but it is so very heavily laced with academia that I found it hard to digest. The plot was straight forward, but presented in an interesting way for readers to figure it out. However, the law enforcement involved in solving the murder(s) were lacking the drive and intensity I think they should have had in solving the case. KB Fisher did a very good job with the setting (New Orleans, both the city and the university). Although, I think almost all descriptions were a bit overdone, almost to the point of becoming weighty. I'm afraid I didn't find any lovable or well-liked characters in this novel. However, the main characters are well fleshed out and believable. But, wouldn't the violent murder of the chair of a biology department, and subsequent brutal murder of colleagues garner more awe and drama? Not to mention more curiosity and drive from law enforcement? For me this is where the novel fell short. Thanks to BookSirens and KB Fisher for this ARC.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 1, 2025
Set against the backdrop of academia, Promoted With Tenure is less a murder mystery and more a biting exploration of the cutthroat, ego-driven world of university politics. The murder itself plays a secondary role to the interpersonal drama, academic infighting, and self-absorbed characters who populate this story. Most of the cast is intentionally unpleasant, though a few mildly sympathetic figures offer some balance.
For my taste, the narrative leans too heavily on scientific detail and filler, which slows the pacing and dilutes the intrigue. The story drags in places, and while the ending is abrupt and sharp, it left me somewhat unsatisfied—several loose threads remain, possibly hinting at a sequel.
As an audiobook, the transitions between flashbacks and present-day events were occasionally unclear, especially at the start of chapters. It sometimes took a few paragraphs to orient myself in the timeline.
That said, the narration was consistently strong throughout. The narrator delivered a well-paced and engaging performance that helped carry the story, even when the plot itself faltered.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author and am voluntarily providing an honest, unbiased review.
For my taste, the narrative leans too heavily on scientific detail and filler, which slows the pacing and dilutes the intrigue. The story drags in places, and while the ending is abrupt and sharp, it left me somewhat unsatisfied—several loose threads remain, possibly hinting at a sequel.
As an audiobook, the transitions between flashbacks and present-day events were occasionally unclear, especially at the start of chapters. It sometimes took a few paragraphs to orient myself in the timeline.
That said, the narration was consistently strong throughout. The narrator delivered a well-paced and engaging performance that helped carry the story, even when the plot itself faltered.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author and am voluntarily providing an honest, unbiased review.
March 8, 2024
What did I just read? An absolute gem of a book!
This book plunges deep into the intricate world of academia, blending a gripping murder mystery with the scholarly setting of The University of New Orleans. It's a wild ride of suspense and intrigue that had me hooked from page one.
What truly impressed me was the amount of research put into crafting this story. Despite the occasional academic jargon, the fast-paced plot kept me eagerly turning pages, eager to unravel the secrets hidden within the halls of the university. And the characters? They felt like real people, with their flaws and vulnerabilities adding depth to the story.
If you're craving a gripping read that'll keep you guessing until the very end, "Promoted with Tenure" is the perfect choice. Dive into this captivating mystery and prepare to be enthralled. Grab your copy on Amazon today! 📖🔍
Thank you for the ARC and beautiful writing K.B.Fisher!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
This book plunges deep into the intricate world of academia, blending a gripping murder mystery with the scholarly setting of The University of New Orleans. It's a wild ride of suspense and intrigue that had me hooked from page one.
What truly impressed me was the amount of research put into crafting this story. Despite the occasional academic jargon, the fast-paced plot kept me eagerly turning pages, eager to unravel the secrets hidden within the halls of the university. And the characters? They felt like real people, with their flaws and vulnerabilities adding depth to the story.
If you're craving a gripping read that'll keep you guessing until the very end, "Promoted with Tenure" is the perfect choice. Dive into this captivating mystery and prepare to be enthralled. Grab your copy on Amazon today! 📖🔍
Thank you for the ARC and beautiful writing K.B.Fisher!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
March 30, 2024
This is an academic thriller that follows the brutal murder of a biology professor while he was hunting. On the one hand, the book tells the story of the assistant forensic pathologist Hunter Romero, who wants to solve this mystery despite she is only supposed to check the evidence related to pathology. On the other hand, the book shows the tight-knit community of ambitious academics at the University of New Orleans and their power struggles.
What I liked: It was really interesting how the author depicted the academic world. I liked the scientific explanations behind the murder and the professors' research.
What I didn't like: I did not feel as hooked as I expected for a thriller, maybe because I struggled to connect with the characters, so I was ready for any of them to be the killer and/or any of them to die.
(I'd like to thank BookSirens and the author because I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
What I liked: It was really interesting how the author depicted the academic world. I liked the scientific explanations behind the murder and the professors' research.
What I didn't like: I did not feel as hooked as I expected for a thriller, maybe because I struggled to connect with the characters, so I was ready for any of them to be the killer and/or any of them to die.
(I'd like to thank BookSirens and the author because I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
March 30, 2024
While this calls itself a murder mystery, the actual murder investigation (of a university professor, which is just for starters) plays second fiddle. The main player seems to be the politics, in-house fighting and battles for power that go on in a university…well, this university. I found it tedious and rather laboured, as there is a lot of jargon (academic and entomological) used, which went way over my head. Whilst some of this narrative is necessary to explain the motives for the murder(s), it's overdone.
One other criticism is that there are a few chapters dedicated to flashbacks, but no indication that that's what they are; the chapters merely have a number and no title, so it takes a few minutes to realise, oh, hang on, we've gone back in time here.
However, I was impressed by the writing. The author is very articulate, and I did like the way he described mannerisms, his characters, their personalities…he's very adept at word-painting a scene.
I enjoyed this, albeit with some reservations, and I certainly wasn't expecting who did it!
One other criticism is that there are a few chapters dedicated to flashbacks, but no indication that that's what they are; the chapters merely have a number and no title, so it takes a few minutes to realise, oh, hang on, we've gone back in time here.
However, I was impressed by the writing. The author is very articulate, and I did like the way he described mannerisms, his characters, their personalities…he's very adept at word-painting a scene.
I enjoyed this, albeit with some reservations, and I certainly wasn't expecting who did it!
January 20, 2024
This is the second book I have read by this author. Being from Louisiana I love reading something that has touches of home in it. I love the character of Hunter and hope to see more of her in the future. I can't help but feel like there are some loose ends left at the end. And while I love a learning journey when I'm reading I feel like a lot of pages were given to the structure of power within colleges. I get it had a purpose but it was a bit much for me. Not a big fan of the bug content in that I would have liked it to be a bit more clear.
With all that being sad I would absolutely read what ever comes next for thus author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
With all that being sad I would absolutely read what ever comes next for thus author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 7, 2025
I am grateful to have received a free advanced reader copy of this book, and am leaving a review voluntarily. I was sadly disappointed in this book, especially after thoroughly enjoying another book by the author. I typically appreciate accurate details in books, however, the politics and academic details and subplots in this book were distracting, confusing, and less interesting than the mystery itself. I put the book down and picked it up twice during my time reading it in order to try to take a break and see if it was the rest of my life getting in the way of the read, but I had quite a difficult time getting through this one. Again, I loved the first book I read by this author, so I will not give up on the author, but did not love this book.
January 22, 2024
3.5**
From reading the premise, I knew I wanted to read this book. I liked the twist of the data near the end but would have liked for it to be a little more central in the story to really keep my attention.
As someone who isn’t well versed in science/university terms, I struggled to keep up with it and sometimes didn’t understand.
This author has a great way with words and I really liked phrases used throughout to really help with imagery.
I really enjoyed Hunters character and would have liked to get even more of her POV throughout and her process of pathology.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
From reading the premise, I knew I wanted to read this book. I liked the twist of the data near the end but would have liked for it to be a little more central in the story to really keep my attention.
As someone who isn’t well versed in science/university terms, I struggled to keep up with it and sometimes didn’t understand.
This author has a great way with words and I really liked phrases used throughout to really help with imagery.
I really enjoyed Hunters character and would have liked to get even more of her POV throughout and her process of pathology.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2024
Thanks, BookSirens, for the ARC. I wanted so much to love this book. The setting of research labs and dealing with politics in academia appealed to me so much - and the author really nailed this with a witty and cynical perspective. I also loved the casual queer rep that was so nice and normal!
However, I just found the story boring. I nearly gave up about forty pages in because I couldn't remember which characters were which (there are so many pairs of names with the same vibes! Hunter and Parker, Steve and Bryan, etc.), but I persevered for the setting. That was the only thing that kept me going, and I'm sad that I felt so disappointed by the story.
However, I just found the story boring. I nearly gave up about forty pages in because I couldn't remember which characters were which (there are so many pairs of names with the same vibes! Hunter and Parker, Steve and Bryan, etc.), but I persevered for the setting. That was the only thing that kept me going, and I'm sad that I felt so disappointed by the story.
February 11, 2024
I’m a big fan of crime thrillers, of all genres, so was hoping to really love this book. I liked the main character, Hunter, who seemed to have a bit of a back story, which didn’t come out in this read. The setting was steeped in academia in America, with all the plotting, subterfuge and desperation that apparently thrives amongst the faculty. The actual investigation into the murders seemed to be almost an aside to the rest of the story, as we didn’t get to hear much about it at all. I did enjoy the twist at the end so for that it was worth the read, just not the book for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 13, 2025
The story starts out strong with a murder. A hunter kills a deer. Someone kills the hunter. Killer strings them both up in a cabin for the wife and child to find. Then we get into all sorts of academic life and politics which simply didn't interest me. I understand how this was related to the murder but it was a lot to wade through.
Mitch was a character easy to dislike. Hunter was a forensic pathologist with a questioning mind. I liked the descriptions of Louisiana. The ending was a surprise and I liked it.
Watch out for those flies.
I won a Kindle copy in a Goodreads giveaway.
Mitch was a character easy to dislike. Hunter was a forensic pathologist with a questioning mind. I liked the descriptions of Louisiana. The ending was a surprise and I liked it.
Watch out for those flies.
I won a Kindle copy in a Goodreads giveaway.
May 1, 2025
The best part of this book was how well it nailed the politics of academia, especially at a research university. I was a graduate student and I’ve worked in higher ed for 8 years—it’s spot on! It might not be as engaging for someone who isn’t familiar with that environment (as evidenced by some of the reviews I’ve seen) but I think this was really well done overall.
The forensic/investigative plot line was decent but unless those characters will show up again in subsequent books, some of their stories/interactions left me scratching my head a bit. But maybe that’s the plan—to turn this into a detective series. If so, great.
The forensic/investigative plot line was decent but unless those characters will show up again in subsequent books, some of their stories/interactions left me scratching my head a bit. But maybe that’s the plan—to turn this into a detective series. If so, great.
January 26, 2024
This was a good insight of the world of academia and the chase for tenure. I enjoyed the interweaving of this academic setting alongside the work of Hunter, a junior forensic pathologist. I probably would have enjoyed more of the investigative side of things.
There were some horrible characters throughout, one in particular stands out. The twist at the end was excellent and totally threw me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There were some horrible characters throughout, one in particular stands out. The twist at the end was excellent and totally threw me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 13, 2024
The University of new Orleans is a small group of academics that are dedicated to the institution of learning, but when one of their own is violently murdered they are rocked to their core. The chair of the Biology department is murdered and assistant pathologist Hunter Romero has her own sneaky suspicions about what happened. More bodies start turning up and Hunter must try to use all her skills and cunning to find the this serial killer before he strikes again.
August 3, 2024
Straight away there is a murder and Hunter delves into the case, swayed by her scientific background to have suspicions of Steve's death. There starts an investigation into the gritty world of academics. There are plenty of characters to follow as the story provides different perspectives. This is a slow-burn story though packed with information.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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