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Henry Spearman #3
A Deadly Indifference
Harvard professor Henry Spearman―an ingenious amateur sleuth who uses economics to size up every situation―is sent by an American entrepreneur to Cambridge, England. Spearman's mission is to scout out for purchase the most famous house in economic Balliol Croft, the former dwelling place of Professor Alfred Marshall, John Maynard Keynes’s teacher and the font of modern economic theory. A near miss for the American entrepreneur and the shocking and bizarre murder of Nigel Hart, the master of Bishop’s College, soon make it clear that the whole affair is risky business. When a second corpse turns up, Spearman is jolted into realizing that his own life is in peril as he finds himself face to face with the most diabolical killer in his experience.
192 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 22, 2011
Really just a 3 1/2 ...
I appreciate the attempt to modernize this series with a relatively new edition (published in 1995). It had none of the outdated terms & prices that felt awkward in the other books. It was also markedly improved in terms of the writing ability displayed.
As a personal aside, I loved reading about Cambridge and punting on the Cam. It brought back good memories. Sigh.
Unfortunately, the book lacked the unabashed application of economic theories that made the earlier books special. The economic explanations in this book often felt unrelated to the story - like they were awkwardly added as an afterthought. At other times, theories were referenced but never fully explained.
It doesn't seem like it would draw readers into economics as the earlier books did -- and that is the whole charm of this series.
I appreciate the attempt to modernize this series with a relatively new edition (published in 1995). It had none of the outdated terms & prices that felt awkward in the other books. It was also markedly improved in terms of the writing ability displayed.
As a personal aside, I loved reading about Cambridge and punting on the Cam. It brought back good memories. Sigh.
Unfortunately, the book lacked the unabashed application of economic theories that made the earlier books special. The economic explanations in this book often felt unrelated to the story - like they were awkwardly added as an afterthought. At other times, theories were referenced but never fully explained.
It doesn't seem like it would draw readers into economics as the earlier books did -- and that is the whole charm of this series.
July 3, 2022
This was the last book in the series for me! (I mistakenly read them 4-1-2-3.) But I loved this, for the same reasons I loved my first one I found in the series (book 4).
In this one, I truly had no idea who the murderer was, and they truly used econ theory to solve the crimes! it was great. And it ended with the Harvard Econ prof matching wits with the murder in a graveyard at midnight!
Favorite quotes:
The only way a map is useful is if it leaves out major parts of reality. And it’s the same with economic theory. Theory is useful only if it abstracts away from complex reality just as a map does. p118
…what I did would have been done by anyone who took economics seriously. p172-173
You have to remember that the key to analyzing these problems is not scrutinizing the motives…but scrutinizing gains and losses. p178
In this one, I truly had no idea who the murderer was, and they truly used econ theory to solve the crimes! it was great. And it ended with the Harvard Econ prof matching wits with the murder in a graveyard at midnight!
Favorite quotes:
The only way a map is useful is if it leaves out major parts of reality. And it’s the same with economic theory. Theory is useful only if it abstracts away from complex reality just as a map does. p118
…what I did would have been done by anyone who took economics seriously. p172-173
You have to remember that the key to analyzing these problems is not scrutinizing the motives…but scrutinizing gains and losses. p178
May 25, 2025
Another terrific Prof. Henry Spearman mystery. This time, Spearman and his wife Pide have been invited to Cambridge University to help an American business man with the purchase of Balliol Croft, the dwelling place of Prof. Alfred Marshall, often considered the father of modern Economic theory. As usual with the Spearman novels, the fun comes in the way the authors interweave economics through a briskly paced mystery. Great fun!
February 25, 2022
A fun work for those interested in old Oxford/Cambridge and economics. The writing and shortness of the book made it an easy read and the economics concepts used didn't feel out of place. The story itself was okay, the resolution a bit confusing.
March 15, 2021
This book is great. Super short, with enough details, and a great way to solve a mystery via economics. Highly recommend.
January 12, 2014
Okay, here's a strange combination: economics & mystery. I wonder how these two could come together but in this book they coexist. In my opinion, if I had any idea about economics, this book would be more interesting and appealing to me. I don't understand numbers, figures, fractions anything about statistics or consumer theories so, it was sometimes hard for me to follow the book. I read it purely for the mystery element yet it was directly related to economy and I failed there, too. What I expected from the book was something Agatha Christieish but it doesn't even come near it. It was dark and gloomy and boring. Not a page-turner for sure.
December 4, 2016
Entertaining cozy mystery set in 1965 Cambridge University. That setting gives the book a bit of an "Inspector Morse" feeling.
Easy read, with very little economics standing in the way of the storytelling.
Not quite as good in plot and characterization as "The Fatal Equilibrium," its predecessor in the Henry Spearman series, but still recommended if you like cozy mysteries set in Cambridge or Oxford.
Easy read, with very little economics standing in the way of the storytelling.
Not quite as good in plot and characterization as "The Fatal Equilibrium," its predecessor in the Henry Spearman series, but still recommended if you like cozy mysteries set in Cambridge or Oxford.
November 13, 2009
Much better than the previous book in the series (The Fatal Equilibrium), this book has a mixture of horrible corniness with some good suspense and tension. One problem is that the focus can jump around a bit erratically. It's odd, but doesn't really detract from the reading experience.
June 23, 2014
Just ok - the middle was the strongest. I enjoyed most of the economics parts, but at times they seemed a little unnatural in the dialogue. Sounds like the first two books were better based on other reviews. I look forward to finding them.
October 12, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book -- great entertainment. Maybe not the best literature -- a tad heavy handed in relating economic theory to everyday life. It is akin to Agatha Christie doing introductory economics in a murder mystery!
November 30, 2014
Found that the premise was interesting but the writing is very stilted & cold. The protagonist was not interesting. Just never engaged my interest and only finished from determination. Won't read other books in the series.
August 1, 2016
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had a working knowledge of the history of economics (or an interest in economics). But still the characters, setting, and tone were delightfully old-fashioned.
June 1, 2008
The appearance of Jeremy Bentham's auto-icon had me reminiscing about my UCL days. Enjoyable but predictable.
July 16, 2011
More likes 3 1/2, but I have a soft spot for old English town.
September 21, 2011
Right wing economist uses microeconomic principles to solve a murder mystery. What's not to like here?
February 15, 2015
A decent mystery, heavily centered on economics.
December 24, 2018
Sometimes, you just want to read a fun book that doesn't make you think too much. This is a perfect book if you have a minor interest in microeconomics.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews