Murder Misread

Maggie Ryan and Nick O'Connor #7

by P.M. Carlson

Maggie Ryan returns to academia in search of clues to a grisly murder, only to make the grim discovery that the key to the crime lies in the human brain's method of processing the written word

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

181 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

P.M. Carlson taught psychology and statistics at Cornell University before deciding that mystery writing was more fun. She has published twelve mystery novels and a dozen mystery short stories. Her novels have been nominated for an Edgar award, a Macavity award, and twice for Anthony awards. Two short stories were finalists for Agatha awards. She edited the Mystery Writers Annual for Mystery Writers of America for several years, and served as President of Sisters in Crime. Besides reading mysteries, she enjoys working on her Victorian house and traveling. She has lived in Guatemala, California, Maryland, Indiana, Paris, and Brooklyn. Currently she lives in New York with her husband and a Belgian sheepdog named Nero Wolfe.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mystery in an academic setting. Maggie is a tenacious investigator in solving the mystery. I liked how she peeled away layers to get to the core of the reason for the murder. There were so many suspects I didn't know who to concentrate on. And then the twist at the end was a surprise.

Carlson's writing style is different and it took me a while to get into the flow of the words. While the novel takes place on an east coast university, I almost felt like I was reading a British mystery.

I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a methodical investigation into a murder by an amateur. You'll also learn a little about how academic research centered on reading might take place.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: statistician Maggie Ryan is consulting for Professor Fielding. She is invited to a luncheon with a retired professor, but finds him dead.

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can honestly say that I have not read the entire Maggie Ryan series of books, but I have read book 6 and now book 7. I had hoped that there might have been something to draw me into each of these murder mysteries, but to try and hold a reader through at least the first 50 pages, is a true challenge. Not sure if it is simply the way the book begins, because the writing style is so difficult to garner the readers concern enough to even care what is happening in the book.

In Murder Misread, there is an ongoing study with Maggie's alma mater at college to work as a statistician for Professor Charles Fielding. He is conducting a study to figure out how adults read and retain knowledge so well so they can come up with a plan to teach young children. The theory implies that if you can begin with those who are mastering it, then you can dissect it enough to figure out a better way to teach it. So just as Maggie begins her first day, they all agree to meet for lunch to celebrate Tal Chandler's great news. What it is remains a mystery but one he plans to share with whomever can come to lunch. Unfortunately he doesn't make it and is shot in what appears to be a suicide attempt. Of course, Maggie is one of the first on the scene and since she has no emotional attachment to any of the people who arrive on scene, she uses her previous powers of deduction to begin her own investigation.

But who would want to murder Professor Chandler? Was it his wife, that also works on the college campus, who seems a bit removed emotionally from it when she arrives to find her husband dead? Or could it be one of his partners in the study? All Maggie can deduce is who it isn't, but firmly believes it has to be one of those working in close proximity to the Professor, but soon pieces of evidence found at the scene lead Maggie to wonder if it wasn't all staged to look like a suicide when it is clear to her, that it is indeed a murder.

I received Murder Misread by P.M. Carlson compliments of The Mystery Company and Partners in Crime Tours. I had hoped based on reading previous reviews of this series, that perhaps one book might just be flawed in some way, however that is not the case. I'm not sure what I would change if anything but perhaps it is the over the top language used that keeps readers from truly connecting to the characters. I know that they are college professors, but it shouldn't require readers to figure out what is being said or isn't said with the intellectual introduction. The book doesn't begin to even gain interest until somewhere after page 50 and by then, you just want to know who did it and what their motive is. For this reader, I couldn't really buy into those Maggie interviews, especially the wife. She remains emotionally unavailable whereas I believe most would be more than shocked to learn that her husband has been apparently murdered. Not sure I would want to chance reading another Maggie Ryan mystery and for that reason I give this one a 3 out of 5 stars in this reader's opinion.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in acadamia , the main characters in this mystery have a love of words and science. They want to be able to help children learn more efficiently. In order to do that, they need to figure out how the best learners catch on to reading skills and how to teach those same skills to beginning readers.
Who knew this would be a controversial subject?
Of course any one who has spent time in a university setting recognizes the political turmoil and competitive atmosphere. Tal Chandler seems to have survived all that and is now semi retired. As the book opens he is also in an exceptionally bright mood. He does not say why but he is ready to celebrate and invites friends and colleagues to join him.
The tone turns darker quickly when Tal not only does not arrive at his own celebration but is discovered dead nearby, along with some conflicting incriminating evidence. As competiting polive forces try to choose between murder and suicide, there really being motive for neither, the amateur sleuths take it upon themselves to find the truth.

What starts out as an academic study takes on some much darker topics regarding children and abuse of authority and opportunity. Whodunit may surprise you as it is a reverse twist on a murder mystery theme.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maggie Ryan, who apparently is a continuing character for this author, is a statistician who comes to assist Professor Charlie Fielding in his research studies on how people read. Tal Chandler, an emeritus prof, has another theory on comprehension - is it shape of words and layout or is it key word and context? When Tal is killed, Maggie turns into a sleuth, a Miss Marple busy-body for whom I have little love. In addition, another bugaboo of mine, Maggie's husband drops in at the end to help, a slightly impossible deux ex machina. Slow, slow start as the characters are introduced. Got a little better when the murder investigation begins, but wasn't one of my favorites. Did enjoy info on on reading comprehension, particularly the mistake of "burglary" and burgundy" when in a false context. Title great because it's about a reading program.

[Lindig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely academic.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fairly banal mystery about killed professor turns into a child sexual abuse story. How do people learn to read?
Don't bother.