The good news: You've got tenure. The bad news: You're dead. Faculty squabbling at a large state university turns deadly when professor of education Susan Lombardi joins a committee to make a tenure decision about Abby Gillette, a controversial faculty member. After one colleague is hospitalized following a suspicious fire and another is found dead in Abby's office, Susan must try to figure out who is doing what to whom...without becoming the next victim. At the same time, she must deal with her husband's highly dysfunctional family and help a friend handle a questionable romance. The second volume in the Susan Lombardi series, this charming, witty mystery is in a class by itself.
Dr. Carole B. Shmurak is the author of ten books, including Deadmistress, her first mystery featuring professor/sleuth Susan Lombardi, which was named a Notable Book of 2004 by Writers Notes Magazine. Other Lombardi mysteries include Death by Committee and Death at Hilliard High (new for 2009). Under the pseudonym Carroll Thomas, she is the co-author of the Matty Trescott young adult novels, one of which (Ring Out Wild Bells) was nominated for the Agatha for best young adult mystery of 2001. (Please see Amazon's Carroll Thomas page for more information about the YA books.)
Carole holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, Harvard University, and Indiana University. She is Professor Emerita at Central Connecticut State University, where she still teaches a course in the history and philosophy of education. She was a chemistry and biology teacher in private schools in New York and Connecticut for 20 years prior to coming to CCSU. Her non-fiction book, Voices of Hope: Adolescent Girls at Single Sex and Coeducational Schools was named a Critics' Choice by the American Educational Studies Association.
Carole leads the mystery group discussions at the Simsbury Public Library, was the founder of the mystery readers group at the Farmington Public Library, and is a member of Sisters in Crime and the CT Authors and Publishers Association. She lives in Farmington CT with her husband Steve and cat Ariel. Visit her website at www.MattyTrescott.com/Carole.htm
