The Edith Wharton Murders - Lev Raphael

A Nick Hoffman / Academic Mystery, Book 2 - Nick Hoffman, desperate to get tenure, has been saddled with a thankless task: coordinating a conference on Edith Wharton that will demonstrate how his department and his university supports women's issues. There's been widespread criticism that SUM is really the State University of Men. Problem is, he's forced to invite two warring Wharton societies, and the conflict between rival scholars escalates from mudslinging to murder. Nick's job and whole career are on the line unless he can help solve the case and salvage the conference.

"Is vulgar literary taste sufficient motive for murder? Actually, killing is too kind for the vindictive scholars in Lev Raphael's maliciously funny campus mystery The Edith Wharton Murders."

-Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review

"A savagely funny satire of academic pretensions and posturings. Definitely on my list of the year's best!"

-Dean James, co-author of By a Woman's Hand