If you’re a fan of Lucy Connelly’s Scottish Isle mysteries, you might want to check out her series set in Wales. Like the other series, this one brings an American to a new location and job. In the Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor, Dr. Gwen Griffiths returns to Dillynaidd, Wales, where she studied journalism as an undergrad. She took early retirement from her job in Texas, where she ran a newspaper, to become head of the journalism department at the university.
Gwen’s best friend, Carolyn Montgomery, is the dean of the university. She brings Gwen in to update the journalism school, and bring real world experience. Most of the department, including Ellis Hughes, Gwen’s new teaching assistant, are excited to have her lead them because she has wartime experience as well as experience running a newspaper. There’s always one, though. Dr. Alice Rice is resentful because she thought she should have had the job.
There are many reasons Dr. Rice isn’t the new head of the journalism school. According to those who are around during the university’s break, Rice is mean, angry, and even the residents of the small town dislike her. She’s nasty to Gwen at the dinner party the dean throws on Gwen’s first night in town. When she shows up at Gwen’s door afterwards, she has time for only a couple words before she collapses and dies in the doorway.
Of course Detective Gareth Jones has questions for Gwen. But, Gwen only met the professor that evening. Gwen feels as if she’s a suspect, though, and she wants to find the truth. She enlists Ellis, her TA, to help her dig into Dr. Rice’s past. They find a lonely woman, but, they also find a number of people who might have hated her enough to kill her. As Ellis begins to write a story for the school newspaper, Gwen does some digging that attracts attention, not just from Detective Jones.
As the first in a new series, The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor acts as an introduction to a cozy mystery series. This one could have been set in any university town. I understand from the description that the January release, The Curious Case of the Bludgeoned Birder is centered around St. David’s Day, so Connelly will be using local celebrations, as she does in her Scottish Isle mysteries. The first book introduces a likable support cast along with charming locales, a pub, a bakery, a bookstore, and an Italian restaurant. But, if you’re looking for anything more than a Welsh phrase or two, you’ll have to wait.
I only had a couple quibbles with the book, and they aren’t the fault of the author. Whoever wrote the jacket copy messed up a couple character names. I can live with that since it didn’t affect the book. It’s still a mistake. I am looking forward to the next in the series. I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoy Lucy Connelly’s Scottish Isle series.
Lucy Connelly’s website is https://lucyconnelly.com/
The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor by Lucy Connelly. Crooked Lane, 2026. 288p.
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