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by Lauren Nossett

When I read The Resemblance earlier this year, I knew I had found one of my new favorite mystery protagonists in Marlitt Kaplan, so I was incredibly excited for the arrival of The Professor, which follows Kaplan in her next investigation. It did not disappoint!

Ethan, a student at the University of Georgia, is found dead, and all signs point to him taking his own life after an affair with his professor, who is in the same department as Marlitt’s mother. As a favor to her mom, Marlitt agrees to look into the circumstances of Ethan’s death. But, after the events of The Resemblance, Marlitt no longer has the resources of the Athens police department at her disposal. But, to prevent a good teacher from losing her job, Marlitt dives into the case, ruffling the feathers of her former colleagues in the process. As Marlitt navigates the power structures of higher education and the complexities of teacher/student relationships, she risks her safety to discover the truth.

The Professor is an expertly paced novel, and Nossett takes the time to develop each character, even Ethan, whose death opens the story. I appreciate that the dramatic events that closed the last book are not glossed over, and Marlitt is still reeling from the mental, physical, and professional ramifications of her actions. Even though I suspected at a certain point what was happening, it was no less satisfying as it unfolded, and Nossett’s clues along the way were subtle and well-crafted. I hope there will be more in this series, as there is so much left to explore in the characters she has created.

The audiobook narration is great and really enhances an already great story.