An honor student at the University of Georgia is found dead, and a former detective searches for the answers. It appears that all the evidence points to his professor, beginning the start of a witch hunt, or maybe a hard path to the truth. Marlitt Kaplan has been wanting to solve a case. For months, she’s been less than popular at the Athens, Georgia Police Dept. Seems that she has refused to "play" by all the rules while investigating a local fraternity. She had resigned in disgrace which didn't help her relationship with her former partner and closest friend, Teddy. The whispers about her “assaulting a fraternity member” or having a “gender-coded psychotic break” only added fuel to the raging fire...literally... as someone broke into her house and set it up in flames. Now she’s living with her parents and bored OUT OF HER FREAKING MIND! Then the police bring Professor Verena Sobek into the station for questioning. Verena’s student, Ethan Haddock, was found dead from what appeared to be a suicide, but rumors are going around that he and Verena had been sleeping together. Verena's facing an investigation for misconduct as well as murder, and Marlitt’s mother, her colleague in the German Department, begs her daughter to please prove that Verena’s innocence. Marlitt is not comfortable working on behalf of the accused professor, but it allows her to investigate a case again, so she plunges into Ethan's world and soon discovers that her wish that the case had been a murder investigation may well be coming true. The story is filled with family secrets, rocky romances, a potentially "dirty" officer, and vindictive students. Despite a few opening chapters weighed down by exposition, the novel succeeds in being a page-turning mystery full of potential suspects, exciting twists, and a few red herrings. Just enough clues are dropped so the reader can investigate alongside Marlitt, but not so many that the ending feels given to us on a silver platter. It's an entertaining and well-presented mystery. ( )

Marlitt Kaplan is no longer a detective. She is now a research assistant. But her mother has reached out to her for help. Her mother has a colleague, Professor Verena Sobek, which is now being investigated for Title IX infractions with a student. She wants Marlitt to investigate the death of Verona’s student and get to the bottom of the rumors.

This moves a bit slow, by design. This story has such a fabulous build up to the finish. I love how this author reels the reader in and then hits you with a twist. Then there is the main character, Marlitt Kaplan. She has a lot of issues from her past and sometimes she cannot help but get involved in something she shouldn’t. She is so dang real and broken in places. She just gets under the skin of the reader and she makes such a unique impression.

I have read and reviewed The Resemblance, another wonderful book by this author. Y’all need to add that one to your list as well! It is not necessary that you read it to enjoy this one. But it does have more background on Marlitt.

The narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, is wonderful. I love her smooth voice!

Need a slow burn of a thriller which will have you guessing…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

The Professor by Lauren Nossett is a gripping novel of dark academia and mystery.

Disgraced ex-detective Marlitt Kaplan is called upon by her professor mother to help when her friend, Professor Verena Sobek, is questioned in the death of one of her students and investigated for a Title IX violation. Ethan Haddock was found dead in the bedroom of the apartment he shares with Spencer and Sadie, an apparent suicide. But the detective involved in the case thinks it's suspicious, and isn't backing down from his investigation. While looking into Verena's relationship with Ethan, Marlitt sees a roommate wanted sign in a window of Ethan's apartment building. On a whim, she decides to apply for it, and "Marley" is soon living in Ethan's old bedroom with his roommates. Marlitt tries talking to other students, Spencer and Sadie, and Verena to try and put together what happened. Did Verena have an inappropriate relationship with Ethan? Were they too close? Was he obsessed with her? Did she cross a line? And did she have anything to do with his death? Was it really suicide, or was it murder?

The novel was well-written and researched. For Professor Sobek's point of view, there were many times she was in the classroom teaching German, and although I don't speak German, it seemed that the author knew what she was writing. Verena's reaction to everything happening is what you would expect from someone in real life. Marley's going undercover with Ethan's roommates even though she's no longer a detective is dangerous and unwise, but she's a brazen character who leads with instinct and not rules. My only issue is that Marlitt is angry with her parents because they lied about her having an older brother that passed away at a young age. I don't understand why she's angry about this, as I don't believe it's something they needed to tell her, it's not as is he was living across town and they kept him from her. And that plot line isn't really delved into very much other than to say that her parents are liars and she's not happy with them.

All in all, this is a great mystery filled with secrets, deceit, family issues, and interesting characters. If you enjoy dark thrillers from Karin Slaughter or Ruth Ware, then you should definitely give this one a try ( )

The Professor by Lauren Nossett is a highly recommended mystery.

In Athens, Georgia, college student Ethan Haddock is found dead and the media begins to follow the incident. His professor, Dr. Verena Sobek, was taken in for questioning, after which she is suspended from teaching and a Title IX investigation is opened. Disgraced former detective Marlitt Kaplan is now working as a research assistant for her father, a professor. She misses police work and her former partner, but knows she can never return to the force. Her mother, who is also a professor at the university, is a colleague of Verena Sobek and asks for Marlitt's help in clearing Verena's name. Marlitt agrees, although questioning people when you have no authority or inside access to information is challenging.

Told through several different points-of-view, the very slow start made it difficult to engage with the narrative right from the start. It is not until later in the novel that the action picks up and the plot becomes more compelling. A critical incident in Marlitt's background is hinted at but I didn't realize The Professor was second in a series. The first novel, The Resemblance, is about the incident in Marlitt's life that preceded this novel and apparently provides some vital background information.

It is very well-written and once the action takes off, the novel improves. If you can power through the first part things get better, as in more compelling. Expect twists and surprises along with a good dose of criticism over academia's treatment of staff and students. Also expect a few incidents that require a good dose of suspension of disbelief as they strain credibility. 3.5 rounded up.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Flatiron Books via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/11/the-professor.html ( )