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Alice Fox #1
Murder In The Academy
MURDER IN THE ACADEMY is a gripping must-read thriller - perfect for fans of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Steig Larsson, THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY by Agatha Christie and THE CUCKOO’S CALLING by Robert Galbraith.
Reluctant sleuth Alice Fox uncovers some dirty secrets in Belfast.
A new year, a new term and the staff of the Department of Peace and Reconciliation return from the Christmas break with renewed hope and energy. One person is missing, however. Then a violent storm reveals a grisly murder.
It soon becomes clear to DI Caroline Paton that the victim, Dr Helen Breen, was almost universally disliked among the college staff – but surely departmental politics or boardroom squabbles would not unleash such a level of brutality?
Alice Fox, visiting research fellow, agrees and finds herself distracted from her studies as she is drawn back into old patterns of life as a detective in the States. She soon finds herself playing a key support role in Caroline Paton’s murder investigation.
How did Helen Breen arouse such murderous rage?
Or are there more sinister forces at work?
Reluctant sleuth Alice Fox uncovers some dirty secrets in Belfast.
A new year, a new term and the staff of the Department of Peace and Reconciliation return from the Christmas break with renewed hope and energy. One person is missing, however. Then a violent storm reveals a grisly murder.
It soon becomes clear to DI Caroline Paton that the victim, Dr Helen Breen, was almost universally disliked among the college staff – but surely departmental politics or boardroom squabbles would not unleash such a level of brutality?
Alice Fox, visiting research fellow, agrees and finds herself distracted from her studies as she is drawn back into old patterns of life as a detective in the States. She soon finds herself playing a key support role in Caroline Paton’s murder investigation.
How did Helen Breen arouse such murderous rage?
Or are there more sinister forces at work?
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2021
406 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 8, 2021
“Murder in the Academy” is a very interesting book set in Belfast during the Irish Troubles period.It was very interesting to how the Troubles impacted the community.
The characters are very relatable, especially the main character, Alice Fox, a visiting research fellow at Belfast City College and a former detective from Massachusetts, who, after a family tragedy.
At the beginning of her studies, a colleague is killed. Before you know it, Alice is drawn into the investigation.
It kept me engrossed throughout, I read this book in less than 24 hours only because I needed to have a little sleep in my life – – it was that good.
The plot is a strong combination of a Irish history and a police investigation.
I recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book. The opinions expressed in the review are my own
The characters are very relatable, especially the main character, Alice Fox, a visiting research fellow at Belfast City College and a former detective from Massachusetts, who, after a family tragedy.
At the beginning of her studies, a colleague is killed. Before you know it, Alice is drawn into the investigation.
It kept me engrossed throughout, I read this book in less than 24 hours only because I needed to have a little sleep in my life – – it was that good.
The plot is a strong combination of a Irish history and a police investigation.
I recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book. The opinions expressed in the review are my own
August 30, 2021
I am confused by this book.
It sometimes reminded me of a school text book and sometimes of a tv police show. It’s clear that the author has done her research well.
It took a long time to get to the actual murder, and that almost made me loose my interest. The eight first chapters only gives us very imformative introductions of the characters - and there’s a lot of them. I got them mixed up and had to go back several times.
The said heroine, Alice Fox, is far from central in the story. She’s like the unobtrusive side kick, living her life on the side lines.
It’s actually a good story. But the enormous amount of descriptions of the characters, their personal lives and pasts, as well as the minute descriptions of procedures, gets in the way of the story.
Like a sensory overload!
I have learnt a lot, I now know more about autopsies than I ever wanted to know and I’ve learnt things about the conflict in northern Ireland that are very interesting.
But I’m exhausted.
I read all the 45 chapters, I wanted to know how it ended, but I don’t think I’ll read the next book in the series.
Edit.
It’s been pointed out to me that the murder happened in the first chapter, and that is probably true (since the author pointed it out) so I’ll have to make an edit. However, it was after the eight chapter that I felt that the story really started. So that’s what I should have written.
I recieved an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review volountarily.
It sometimes reminded me of a school text book and sometimes of a tv police show. It’s clear that the author has done her research well.
It took a long time to get to the actual murder, and that almost made me loose my interest. The eight first chapters only gives us very imformative introductions of the characters - and there’s a lot of them. I got them mixed up and had to go back several times.
The said heroine, Alice Fox, is far from central in the story. She’s like the unobtrusive side kick, living her life on the side lines.
It’s actually a good story. But the enormous amount of descriptions of the characters, their personal lives and pasts, as well as the minute descriptions of procedures, gets in the way of the story.
Like a sensory overload!
I have learnt a lot, I now know more about autopsies than I ever wanted to know and I’ve learnt things about the conflict in northern Ireland that are very interesting.
But I’m exhausted.
I read all the 45 chapters, I wanted to know how it ended, but I don’t think I’ll read the next book in the series.
Edit.
It’s been pointed out to me that the murder happened in the first chapter, and that is probably true (since the author pointed it out) so I’ll have to make an edit. However, it was after the eight chapter that I felt that the story really started. So that’s what I should have written.
I recieved an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review volountarily.
June 18, 2023
BORING
Slogged halfway through, fell asleep a few times, and finally called it quits. This book was a complete and absolute snoozefest.
Slogged halfway through, fell asleep a few times, and finally called it quits. This book was a complete and absolute snoozefest.
October 10, 2023
Almost more police procedural than simple mystery or fiction. I had not even known there was such a thing as "social justice fiction" before I read this, and I chafed throughout at the preachiness. At times I felt I was in a contemporary history text or social justice textbook rather than a novel. Not that the topics aren't important - and important to this story - but they do rather overwhelm the human feelings, motivations, and actions of it.
This is the second book I've read in recent weeks where I felt the author had done so much research into the background that s/he couldn't let it go, and that the facts overpower the story.
The mystery is set against the undercurrents of The Troubles in Ireland, and the fragility of the "peace" that followed. If Ireland isn't the genesis of restorative justice, it certainly is an area ripe for the concept, so the backdrop isn't irrelevant at all; it's just heavy-handed. And restorative justice is a concept that can be hard for some to swallow, for an individual has difficulty seeing himself as part of a larger society when it comes to accepting blame, and there's enough blame to go around for all sides. It's a topic that simply begs people to jump into denial at first, then, perhaps, to acceptance before full enthusiasm.
Alice Fox has an intriguing role, with her academic work in restorative justice and her background in detective work (and, one presumes, patrol work, as detectives come from the ranks of the patrol officers in most cases), and Caroline Paton a unique approach to detective work in the morass that is political intrigue in Ireland. One gets the sense these two will work exceptionally well together, but I'm not certain I'm intrigued enough to follow with Book 2.
This is the second book I've read in recent weeks where I felt the author had done so much research into the background that s/he couldn't let it go, and that the facts overpower the story.
The mystery is set against the undercurrents of The Troubles in Ireland, and the fragility of the "peace" that followed. If Ireland isn't the genesis of restorative justice, it certainly is an area ripe for the concept, so the backdrop isn't irrelevant at all; it's just heavy-handed. And restorative justice is a concept that can be hard for some to swallow, for an individual has difficulty seeing himself as part of a larger society when it comes to accepting blame, and there's enough blame to go around for all sides. It's a topic that simply begs people to jump into denial at first, then, perhaps, to acceptance before full enthusiasm.
Alice Fox has an intriguing role, with her academic work in restorative justice and her background in detective work (and, one presumes, patrol work, as detectives come from the ranks of the patrol officers in most cases), and Caroline Paton a unique approach to detective work in the morass that is political intrigue in Ireland. One gets the sense these two will work exceptionally well together, but I'm not certain I'm intrigued enough to follow with Book 2.
August 28, 2021
Despite the impression the title and cover gave of being a cosy mystery (of which I’m not a fan), my interest was piqued by the blurb. And then the free first chapter was not cosy at all and sold the book to me. But as the chapters unfolded, the book was far from the gripping must-read, and even further away from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, promised in the description.
Alice Fox is a visiting research fellow to Belfast City College and a former detective from Massachusetts, who, after a family tragedy, has built a new career in the field of restorative justice. She is not long into her post-doctoral position in the Department of Peace and Reconcilliation in Belfast when a colleague is brutally killed. As the investigation into the murder progresses, Alice is drawn in to the investigation.
Although, she isn’t really, which is another misleading piece of the description.
The book read like a combination of a history textbook and police investigation manual - dry and detail-heavy. There was little in the way of character depth or development. Much of the dialogue was in the same tone and style, irrespective of who was speaking. The investigation itself progressed with steady, unexciting efficiency - even the revelations were presented without fanfare.
There were enough elements to make this the unique, complex and engaging murder mystery that I was hoping for. The US-Ireland cultural cross over from both a research and policing standpoint; the restorative justice angle; the lurking threat of spooks; the hint of past scandals covered up yet never fully buried; the far from peaceful academic setting. It is such a missed opportunity that these elements weren’t brought together to fully realise their potential. It would need radical editorial intervention to rescue the series for me.
I received an ARC of this book for free through BookSirens. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Alice Fox is a visiting research fellow to Belfast City College and a former detective from Massachusetts, who, after a family tragedy, has built a new career in the field of restorative justice. She is not long into her post-doctoral position in the Department of Peace and Reconcilliation in Belfast when a colleague is brutally killed. As the investigation into the murder progresses, Alice is drawn in to the investigation.
Although, she isn’t really, which is another misleading piece of the description.
The book read like a combination of a history textbook and police investigation manual - dry and detail-heavy. There was little in the way of character depth or development. Much of the dialogue was in the same tone and style, irrespective of who was speaking. The investigation itself progressed with steady, unexciting efficiency - even the revelations were presented without fanfare.
There were enough elements to make this the unique, complex and engaging murder mystery that I was hoping for. The US-Ireland cultural cross over from both a research and policing standpoint; the restorative justice angle; the lurking threat of spooks; the hint of past scandals covered up yet never fully buried; the far from peaceful academic setting. It is such a missed opportunity that these elements weren’t brought together to fully realise their potential. It would need radical editorial intervention to rescue the series for me.
I received an ARC of this book for free through BookSirens. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
October 14, 2021
This police procedural, the first in a series headlined by Alice Fox, was not my favorite book.
A murder mystery set on a college campus in Belfast, the description of this book sounded so promising. However, the writing was a bit stilted and convoluted for my taste. For example, the author referred to the characters by their full names on almost every reference and made sentences overly complicated. The character development was lacking. I had trouble connecting with the characters, especially the murder victim. She was so unlikable that I had trouble caring about who offed her.
Overall, the book didn’t hold my attention, and I felt it relied too heavily on stereotypes of working in the academy. I don’t think I will be checking out any more books in this series.
I received a free ARC of this book through Book Sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
More of my reviews can be found on my book blog, www.bookpicksandpics.com.
A murder mystery set on a college campus in Belfast, the description of this book sounded so promising. However, the writing was a bit stilted and convoluted for my taste. For example, the author referred to the characters by their full names on almost every reference and made sentences overly complicated. The character development was lacking. I had trouble connecting with the characters, especially the murder victim. She was so unlikable that I had trouble caring about who offed her.
Overall, the book didn’t hold my attention, and I felt it relied too heavily on stereotypes of working in the academy. I don’t think I will be checking out any more books in this series.
I received a free ARC of this book through Book Sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
More of my reviews can be found on my book blog, www.bookpicksandpics.com.
October 23, 2021
The story had a lot of potential, but the writer spent too much time describing too many things about the numerous characters, and this made it very difficult to stay interested. Some of the history about Northern Ireland might have fit well in another book, but it was distracting here. This is supposed to be an Alice Fox mystery, but she is mainly a secondary character until the second half of the book. The writer would refer to a character by her/his first name, or their full name, or their last name, and kept switching between these options, which annoyed me. The ending was very rushed, considering how long it took to get there. I don’t think I will read other books by this author. I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 23, 2021
This murder mystery reminded me of the style of Agatha Christie. At times it was very formal and verbose and could be a bit difficult to follow due to all of the extraneous information that was included. The mystery itself was handled very well and I enjoyed it. The characters were what I was expecting to find in an Irish police procedural and they didn't disappoint. There were too many instances of the investigators sitting around a table talking about what they had discovered in their individual inquiries instead of the reader being shown, but not all was "tell instead of show". There were times when the reader was brought along on an inquiry but many times the results were not revealed until the "catch-up" with the team. That could be a bit irritating at times.
The biggest issue I had with the story was the overabundance of extraneous information. I realize that some background is required for the motives for the murder to make sense, but I felt like I learned much more about academia in Ireland, Irish history, The Troubles, and the liberal bandwagon than I ever wanted to know. The premise that society owes an "apology" to criminal offenders because of the hard circumstances of their lives is plain ludicrous. It gives unwanted support to the idea that no one is responsible for their actions because of the poor circumstances in their childhood. Sorry. That's a cop-out. We are all responsible for our own actions and the ability to succeed is out there. Otherwise, there would be no success stories coming out of areas hard hit by poverty, and there are.
I received a review copy from BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.
The biggest issue I had with the story was the overabundance of extraneous information. I realize that some background is required for the motives for the murder to make sense, but I felt like I learned much more about academia in Ireland, Irish history, The Troubles, and the liberal bandwagon than I ever wanted to know. The premise that society owes an "apology" to criminal offenders because of the hard circumstances of their lives is plain ludicrous. It gives unwanted support to the idea that no one is responsible for their actions because of the poor circumstances in their childhood. Sorry. That's a cop-out. We are all responsible for our own actions and the ability to succeed is out there. Otherwise, there would be no success stories coming out of areas hard hit by poverty, and there are.
I received a review copy from BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.
July 3, 2023
M is for Murder (what else) in my ongoing project of reading through the alphabet.
This detective fiction was set in 2013/2014 post-Troubles Northern Ireland, where "everything [...] was still in some way under that historic cloud of division and dissent."
It featured a visiting American former detective and current peace and reconciliation scholar. The troubled communities of her native Massachusetts and her current home of Belfast have something in common - "deep-rooted social inequalities made crime and conflict almost inevitable."
The fact that she was a former detective and the crime involved an Irish colleague made it more plausible that she was drawn into solving the crime, both through an internal pull and an external invitation.
The novel also points out lingering homophobia in certain subcultures, but at least sexism was waning due to the Open University providing Sociology and Women's Studies courses for men in prison. :-)
The author is herself Irish, and is both an educator and an activist on issues of gender, sexuality and equality.
The book had one great action scene, and overall I enjoyed the book so much I immediately bought the second book, despite having literally over 100 books in my to-read folder (thanks to many free Kindle downloads through the free Book Bub e-newsletter).
This detective fiction was set in 2013/2014 post-Troubles Northern Ireland, where "everything [...] was still in some way under that historic cloud of division and dissent."
It featured a visiting American former detective and current peace and reconciliation scholar. The troubled communities of her native Massachusetts and her current home of Belfast have something in common - "deep-rooted social inequalities made crime and conflict almost inevitable."
The fact that she was a former detective and the crime involved an Irish colleague made it more plausible that she was drawn into solving the crime, both through an internal pull and an external invitation.
The novel also points out lingering homophobia in certain subcultures, but at least sexism was waning due to the Open University providing Sociology and Women's Studies courses for men in prison. :-)
The author is herself Irish, and is both an educator and an activist on issues of gender, sexuality and equality.
The book had one great action scene, and overall I enjoyed the book so much I immediately bought the second book, despite having literally over 100 books in my to-read folder (thanks to many free Kindle downloads through the free Book Bub e-newsletter).
September 25, 2021
Murder mystery with strong female characters.
Murder In The Academy is the first in a new Alice Fox series. Fox has recently moved from a law enforcement role in the United States to focus on academic and community work in Restorative Justice in Northern Ireland. When a colleague is brutally murdered, Fox finds herself well placed to offer insights from both sides of the investigation.
Belfast itself is a main character. We get a detailed understanding of the city and it is interesting to see how the peace process is evolving and the effects on those involved.
After an explosive start there was a lot of information to digest with quite a few suspects involved as well as Fox's backstory. Sometimes the details can be a bit overwhelming, and I found myself double-checking that I hadn't missed a previous book where all this had happened, but it's worth persevering as the second half is a fast-paced page-turner.
I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the opportunity to receive a digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Murder In The Academy is the first in a new Alice Fox series. Fox has recently moved from a law enforcement role in the United States to focus on academic and community work in Restorative Justice in Northern Ireland. When a colleague is brutally murdered, Fox finds herself well placed to offer insights from both sides of the investigation.
Belfast itself is a main character. We get a detailed understanding of the city and it is interesting to see how the peace process is evolving and the effects on those involved.
After an explosive start there was a lot of information to digest with quite a few suspects involved as well as Fox's backstory. Sometimes the details can be a bit overwhelming, and I found myself double-checking that I hadn't missed a previous book where all this had happened, but it's worth persevering as the second half is a fast-paced page-turner.
I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the opportunity to receive a digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 12, 2021
Interesting, well written, lots of detail. I found it a bit difficult to get through the beginning of the book as there was almost too much detail and it felt a bit overwhelming trying to keep track of all the characters and background.
Pay attention at the beginning and keep plugging on! It gets really interesting and more of a page turner as you get deeper into the book!
I probably would have only given 3.5 stars if half stars were an option because the beginning of the book took me so long to get through, but once past the "character introductions" the story is well worth it!
Great suspense and has you wanting more! Good history as well!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Pay attention at the beginning and keep plugging on! It gets really interesting and more of a page turner as you get deeper into the book!
I probably would have only given 3.5 stars if half stars were an option because the beginning of the book took me so long to get through, but once past the "character introductions" the story is well worth it!
Great suspense and has you wanting more! Good history as well!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 22, 2021
My interest was drawn to this book because it is set in my hometown of Belfast. I really enjoyed how the setting was such an integral part of both the plot and the characters' lives. I liked how the complex and troubled past of the city played such a big role in the novel. I thought the plot was intriguing and well-planned and the ending was satisfying. However, I found I never felt fully absorbed in the novel. The writing style made me feel like I was watching the characters from a distance, possibly because there was a lot of description and background information that I didn't think was totally necessary or that maybe could have been communicated to the reader in a more natural way.
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.
January 14, 2022
Murder in the Academy is a good history lesson regarding the troubled past of Ireland and the resulting problems that continue to exist today. The plot is really good and mixes the present and the past issues in the academic environment of a university. Alice is on a year secondment to the Department of Peace and Reconciliation at the Belfast City College Campus and her professional experience as a detective in the police force and cultural upbringing in America will prove to be an asset to the team designated to solve the killing of a professor of that school. The story is well written, fast-paced, although it details a lot of history and has great descriptions of places.
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.
June 19, 2023
This book started well with a murder of an obviously nasty piece of work. It then descended into a history text book all about 'the Troubles', a medical text book with far too much info about autopsies & a political text book about the restorative justice nonsense.
None of the characters were likeable & they all spoke in exactly the same measured, plodding tone. The 3 detectives were the worst offenders. The numerous occasions when they sat together with drinks & snacks discussing their findings became very tedious.
Alice Fox was almost a peripheral character - she brought nothing to the story. Is there a hint of her forming a relationship with the DI?
I admit I skimmed a lot of the boring bits - about 1/3 of the book . Too teachy, plodding and downright tedious .
None of the characters were likeable & they all spoke in exactly the same measured, plodding tone. The 3 detectives were the worst offenders. The numerous occasions when they sat together with drinks & snacks discussing their findings became very tedious.
Alice Fox was almost a peripheral character - she brought nothing to the story. Is there a hint of her forming a relationship with the DI?
I admit I skimmed a lot of the boring bits - about 1/3 of the book . Too teachy, plodding and downright tedious .
August 23, 2021
When I looked up this book on Amazon the information said if you were a fan of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson you would love this book you would love this book and they were absolutely right! This novel is a gripping page turner. Be prepared that you might not be able to put it down. I pulled an all nightery because I just had to read one chapter, one more page and then I just had to finish it. The story line is solid and the characters are well defined. I highly recommend this program. Excellent writing by the author Maggie Feeley. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the book with no monetary compensation.
September 3, 2021
This was an interesting book, not quite gritty but not quite cozy either.
I enjoyed the backdrop of the post-Troubles Belfast and the department of peace and reconciliation. It was clear that Helen Breen was not a nice person and there were a number of people who had a motive to kill her.
While I enjoyed the story, I didn't find it a page-turner but it held enough of an interest for me that I would certainly want to read the next book in the series. I am curious as to how this series will develop and want to see more from DI Paton and her team, not to mention Alice Fox.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed the backdrop of the post-Troubles Belfast and the department of peace and reconciliation. It was clear that Helen Breen was not a nice person and there were a number of people who had a motive to kill her.
While I enjoyed the story, I didn't find it a page-turner but it held enough of an interest for me that I would certainly want to read the next book in the series. I am curious as to how this series will develop and want to see more from DI Paton and her team, not to mention Alice Fox.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 22, 2021
I found this book a little difficult to get into as it has quite detailed descriptions about the various departments and staff involved in the Belfast City College and the various acronyms. I was very glad I persevered however, as this was a very informative and enjoyable read, quite apart from the murder mystery. I loved that the author had such knowledge of Belfast and I enjoyed learning more about the complicated politics of Northern Ireland. I hope that there will be further books including Dr Alice Fox.
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.
October 31, 2021
This book was a little difficult for me to get into at the beginning. There was A LOT of information given and it felt a bit overwhelming. Despite this, I kept reading and am glad I did.
The book begins to pick up speed about a third of the way in and both the plot and character development took off. I enjoyed learning about policing in another country as well as the types of situations they deal with.
I will read this author again!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens.
The book begins to pick up speed about a third of the way in and both the plot and character development took off. I enjoyed learning about policing in another country as well as the types of situations they deal with.
I will read this author again!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens.
July 6, 2023
Great Mystery
A very quick resolution to the murder because of a well organized team of investors. The team stayed focused on the facts that were uncovered. The team members worked so well together dividing up the assignments that each team member contributed equally. The department team leader was efficient and utilized her investigative, leadership skills to motivate her team and to stay focused onthe facts. Alice Fox, an academic now, provided support to the team without official involvement. Excellent story and an entertaining tale.
A very quick resolution to the murder because of a well organized team of investors. The team stayed focused on the facts that were uncovered. The team members worked so well together dividing up the assignments that each team member contributed equally. The department team leader was efficient and utilized her investigative, leadership skills to motivate her team and to stay focused onthe facts. Alice Fox, an academic now, provided support to the team without official involvement. Excellent story and an entertaining tale.
August 20, 2021
This book is classic crime fiction which is well written and gripping. The aftermath of the Northern Ireland peace process, restorative practices, social justice and academic intrigue all feature. These elements make interesting and interwoven contributions to the storyline. All of this is in addition to a strong sense of place. Authentic women characters who are easy to relate to make the reading a pleasure. Treat yourself.
August 30, 2021
An interesting novel with eye-opening information concerning Belfast since The Troubles and circumstances on how it began. Woven between the scenes are background stories of the characters involved in this intricate and absorbing book. Much research went into this creation of this narrative. A superb first novel from an author we are sure to hear more from in the future.
Highly Recommended.
I received this book via Book Sirens and this is my honest review.
Highly Recommended.
I received this book via Book Sirens and this is my honest review.
September 8, 2021
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 29, 2023
not the norm
This mystery is unusual in its setting and in its social nature. There is much philosophizing in regard to restorative justice and reparations. However, it is also a gripping story with a quite unexpected ending. It is filled with information about The Troubles. There are editing errors that should have been corrected, but they did not distract enough to make concentration difficult.
This mystery is unusual in its setting and in its social nature. There is much philosophizing in regard to restorative justice and reparations. However, it is also a gripping story with a quite unexpected ending. It is filled with information about The Troubles. There are editing errors that should have been corrected, but they did not distract enough to make concentration difficult.
July 1, 2023
Heading in to intrigue
A truly remarkable piece of authorship. Alice Fox, a US detective on a one year term of transfer and leave, becomes heavily involved in a brutal murder at the college she is working at. She assists the local murder squad in their investigations in to the gruesome murder of a female professor at the college and in instrumental at discovering the perpetrators of the crime.
A truly remarkable piece of authorship. Alice Fox, a US detective on a one year term of transfer and leave, becomes heavily involved in a brutal murder at the college she is working at. She assists the local murder squad in their investigations in to the gruesome murder of a female professor at the college and in instrumental at discovering the perpetrators of the crime.
October 4, 2023
I liked it enough to already purchase Alice Fox #2.
"Murder in the Academy" was wonderful, well written, interesting characters that were more than adequately developed. The mystery kept me trying to figure out whodunit; and the interaction between Alice and DCI Paton was believable.
Possible spoiler below.
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.
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The only low spot was near the end when in a couple of pages all the pieces fell together, the murder solved and arrests made.
"Murder in the Academy" was wonderful, well written, interesting characters that were more than adequately developed. The mystery kept me trying to figure out whodunit; and the interaction between Alice and DCI Paton was believable.
Possible spoiler below.
.
.
.
.
.
The only low spot was near the end when in a couple of pages all the pieces fell together, the murder solved and arrests made.
September 23, 2021
I enjoyed this book that I received as a free advance copy. I am leaving this review because I want to encourage other readers to give this author a try. At first the introduction of so many characters confused me, but as I read on they all took their place in solving the murder. Irish and personal history teach us to remember and this story proves that to be a good rule to follow.
July 4, 2023
A good mystery
It was heavy on background detail in the beginning but worth it. I figured out who did it and was enjoying reading the way the police were pulling the information together to reach the same conclusion. This was more of a police procedural story than an Alice Fox story. I hope she is more involved in the next one.
It was heavy on background detail in the beginning but worth it. I figured out who did it and was enjoying reading the way the police were pulling the information together to reach the same conclusion. This was more of a police procedural story than an Alice Fox story. I hope she is more involved in the next one.
August 17, 2023
I quite enjoyed this book , though it sometimes seemed more like a textbook, describing post The Troubles Belfast and academia. Similarly Alice Fox was not the main protagonist but rather the DI in the police. Nonetheless the police chase, once it got going, built well and the perpetrators were only discovered in the climax
June 20, 2023
Fast moving.
Great storyline with a lot of interesting details. Plenty of twists and turns and vividly written. This book kept me coming back for more, it had me gripped. The characters were great and it was fast moving. I enjoyed this book.
Great storyline with a lot of interesting details. Plenty of twists and turns and vividly written. This book kept me coming back for more, it had me gripped. The characters were great and it was fast moving. I enjoyed this book.
June 28, 2023
A good murder story
This book is beautifully written. I like the language use in the phrasing of the story. Which brings you to a well qualified professor in a university who is spiteful have no love for her family which leads to murder. Well done.
This book is beautifully written. I like the language use in the phrasing of the story. Which brings you to a well qualified professor in a university who is spiteful have no love for her family which leads to murder. Well done.
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