Who Killed Professor X?

by Thodoris Andriopoulos, Thanasis Gkiokas (Illustrations), Phil Holland (Translation)

This graphic novel is both a historical novel as well as an entertaining way of using mathematics to solve a crime. The plot, the possible motive of every suspect, and the elements of his or her character are based on actual historical figures. The 2nd International Congress of Mathematicians is being held in Paris in 1900. The main speaker, the renowned Professor X, is found dead in the hotel dining room. Foul play is suspected. The greatest mathematicians of all time (who are attending the Congress) are called in for questioning. Their statements to the police, however, take the form of mathematical problems. The Chief Inspector enlists the aid of a young mathematician to help solve the crime. Do numbers always tell the truth? Or don’t they?

Genres: Graphic Novels

174 pages, Hardcover

First published December 24, 2014

Reviews

[Sofia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, the illustrations were lovely, the story not so much.
It was forcing too much information and I'm really curious if the students will actually read it with interest.
My ten year old students I tried it with did not engage with the book but went through it to read the pictures.
Maybe older students will appreciate it more. But, I really found the story dull.
Although myself, an adult, found very interesting the information at the end of the book with all the different mathematicians.
Still, not written in the most fun way.

[Darrenglass · Rating 3 out of 5]

No, not that Professor X.

It's a graphic novel about mathematicians and some characters in the history of 18th/19th century math. It's fun, but probably not for everyone.

[DV · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a fun book! A detective story for everyone and especially for those who love math and math-history!