A Dangerous Thing [Paperback]

Bill Crider (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1996

After the new dean of Hartley Gorman College implements a controversial, politically correct curriculum, a popular professor dies suspiciously, and Professor Carl Burns uncovers a scandalous secret. Reprint. NYT.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The low-key sequel to One Dead Dean finds mild-mannered Carl Burns, English professor at a small denominational Texas college, perplexed by the new dean's campaign for political correctness. Burns's cronies, instructors Fox and Tomlin, ignore the new ban on smoking while discussing the impact of other new policies: a young male student being taken to student court by his girlfriend for "lookism," a term Burns and friends don't understand, and a famously sexist history instructor facing two sexual harassment suits. The history prof falls to his death from his second-story office window, and his widow accuses Fox's and Tomlin's wives of running after her husband. Asked by the police chief to help with the case, Burns investigates the two new people on campus, the dean and a recently hired English instructor, while also keeping his eye out for other possible suspects. Although Crider's leisurely plot is laced with pleasant, dry humor, the novel fails to gather itself into a memorable whole.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-Political correctness at a backwater college in Texas comes in for some lively but good-natured ribbing in this mystery. First, the new feminist dean shakes up the conservative campus, then the well-known professor she has hired is generally regarded with suspicion by his new colleagues for coming to such an obscure school. Soon a veteran prof is pushed from a window, and the chair of the English department, Carl Burns, gets involved. Throughout, he and the police chief are jealous of each other's attentions toward the new campus librarian. Sharp personalities, realistic dialogue, humor, and an uncomplicated plot with an easy vocabulary combine for a readable book that teens will enjoy.
Hugh McAloon, R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Frederick, MD
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Worldwide Library (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373262167
• ISBN-13: 978-0373262168
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,332,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born and brought up in Mexia (that's pronounced Muh-HAY-uh by the natives), Texas, went to college at The University of Texas and North Texas State University, and taught high school and college classes for many years. In 1992 I retired as Chair of the Division of English and Fine Arts at Alvin Community College, in Alvin, Texas. I'm married to the lovely Judy, and we have two grown children, Angela, who's an attorney in San Francisco, and Allen, who's in the music business in Austin. Other than that, I'm a pretty boring guy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book that got me hooked on Bill Crider, July 11, 2000

By 

Carol Mello "marzeedoats" (San Jose,CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dangerous Thing (Paperback)

I love mysteries. I've been reading them for 30 years. I am especially fond of humorous and witty mysteries. When I read this book a couple of years ago, I got hooked on Bill Crider. I've read all the Dan Rhodes books and most of the Truman Smith books. But I like this one, about the Texas junior college professor Dr. Carl Burns, the best. It's more upbeat than the Truman and Dan books. It's full of Texas humor and wit (my favorite chapter is the one about the goat) but the professor doesn't get beaten up several times per book like poor Dan and Truman always do.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Dangereous Thing, June 24, 2010

By 

Meri Ashland "Deanne" (Mississippi, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Dangerous Thing (Paperback)

Bill Crider's main character is professor and department chair at a small college. He allows the reader to "hear" the monologue of the character's thoughts which are humorous, critical, snide, sarcastic,appreciative, and very personal as anyone's thoughts would be. All of this can point to the solution of the mystery for the reader. The reader sees the suspects for the murder through the main character's eyes. He describes the settings and records the action in the same manner giving the reader a humorous outlook of his situation.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Dangerous Thing by Bill Crider, August 20, 2009

By 

Juliana Dowell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Dangerous Thing (Paperback)

This was my first Carl Burns book - My favorites are the Sheriff Dan Rhodes books. This one had the same laid back southern humor of the Rhodes books. I liked the protagonist a lot and would enjoy reading more of this series, if there are any. I was kept guessing up till the last minute, but I was having such a good time that I didn't care. With Crider's books this is not unusual :).