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In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: A Novel By Alan Kirby (Darren Kelly Series Book 2) by [Alan Kirby]

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Alan Kirby

In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: A Novel By Alan Kirby (Darren Kelly Series Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Alan Kirby (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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A prestigious west coast university is under attack. The serenity of the seaside campus has been rocked and the lives of the university community have been threatened. Is it the work of a determined group of students or a sociopath with his own agenda?

A shooting attack on a Middle Eastern Religions class throws California Pacific University into a state of fear and suspicion. Violent protests erupt at campus events that feature controversial speakers. Threats and attacks on the community occur every few days as an unknown assailant challenges the campus leadership, making demands for greater influence over the administration including the removal of the current Chancellor.

Those who live in the California Pacific University community are caught up in a power struggle that threatens the university with more violence. Principles of diversity, inclusion, and free speech are challenged as the university struggles to maintain control.

Darren Kelly, a professor of Counseling Psychology, and Detective Jake Cooper are part of a Threat Assessment Team that attempts to identify the attacker and release his chaotic grip on their community. But matching wits with a sociopath could pop the collegiate bubble in which they live, and the quiet seaside community will forever be changed if the assailant achieves his goal.

Print length

264 pages
Language

English
Publication date

August 21, 2018
File size

672 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

In Alan Kirby's In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower, a thrilling mystery unfolds on an idyllic college campus. The plot engages the reader from the first paragraph to the last. It seems there may be a lone sociopath who wreaks havoc on campus, but that remains conjecture until the last pages. This adds an interesting psychological twist to the story line...There are many twists and turns in the story, and the ending is unforeseen and simply clever. One has to hope that Coop and Kelly will team up again; this would be a wonderful series!-Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Reader's Favorite (5 Star Review).

Kirby (In the Shadow of the Water Tower, 2014) writes in a steady, polished prose that deftly captures the staid scholasticism of academia...The author clearly has an insider's knowledge of how a university operates, and he offers some valid critiques of the increasingly corporate model.-Kirkus Reviews.

Alan Kirby has created a first-class mystery that also puts on display his intrinsic knowledge of university life. Woven within the plot he explores the issues of free speech, tolerance for opposing opinions and the governance of higher educational facilities. He cleverly interlaces real life events to bring story line issues into focus. There is also some welcome humor...Detective "Coop" and Professor Kelly are a likable investigative duo and one could imagine them paired in further campus capers. In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower is well-written and well thought out, peopled with solid, believable characters. I do not hesitate to recommend it.-Reviewed by Charles Remington for Reader's Favorite (5 Star Review).

Critic's Report for The Booklife Prize by Publisher's Weekly--

Plot: The plot has a good blend of real life-inspired events, social issues, and a mystery that not only keeps readers on their toes but also has a very surprising ending. There'e even a good amount of humor infused into the plot.

Prose: Kirby does a wonderful job of keeping the prose smooth and interesting, and the subjects seamlessly tied together.

Originality: This story has a refreshingly different point of view regarding college life and the mystery occurring on campus. Readers will find this a fresh read.

Character Development: The characters presented in the book are all very well written, each exhibiting subtle quirks, from humorous to scary and unstable. Every character stood out as an individual and their arcs are clear and well rendered.

About the Author

For more than 30 years, Alan Kirby enjoyed a career at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He earned multiple advanced degrees at Ball State University and the University of Florida, including a Ph.D. in Counseling. Now focused on writing fiction, his first novel, In The Shadow of the Watertower, explored small-town American values and the strong bond between brothers.The second novel in this series, In The Shadow of the Ivory Tower, is a psychological mystery. Kirby provides an insider's look at a crisis in a premier research university that features aggressive protests and attacks on the campus community.He lives in Ojai, California and welcomes comments and questions at alan@alankirbybooks.com. Visit www.alankirbybooks.com for more information --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN : B07GRCTW2B
Publisher : BookBaby; 2nd edition (August 21, 2018)
Publication date : August 21, 2018
Language : English
File size : 672 KB
Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 264 pages
Lending : Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #1,986,782 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #60,689 in Suspense (Kindle Store)
- #100,485 in Suspense Thrillers
- #726,089 in Literature & Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
18 ratings

Customer reviews

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Top reviews from the United States

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Robert G. Williscroft

Well done, Doc, for a 5-star first attempt!

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2019

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The typical college campus is staid and laid back. Excitement comes from a student demonstration or a professor receiving a large grant or an award like the Nobel. Setting a mystery on a college campus is challenging. Turning that story into a page-turner is quite an accomplishment. Doing this in a first novel is breath-taking!

The story is about a concerted attempt to take over the college administration through coercion and violence. Until the end, the reader is left wanting to know the source of the violence as a professor and detective work together to find the culprit. As happens in real life, the campus erupts as student naivete results in poor decisions by campus student leaders that greatly complicate an already volatile situation.

This book has a definite been-there-done-that feel that Dr. Kirby brings to the table. Well done, Doc, for a 5-star first attempt!

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Michael

A mystery with an unusual background story

Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2018

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Having worked in an administrative capacity on 2 major university campuses over a span of 34 years, I often wondered if anyone would be able to create a literary vision of the world of academia. I think this book has done it, and in a uniquely entertaining way. The mystery is captivating. Humor is interspersed throughout. The characters are well drawn. And the culture and behind the scenes of academia are depicted as I've witnessed. Both the gratification and frustration of working on campus are spot on. Nicely done, Dr. Kirby.

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Susan Kinnell Carty

Fun mystery with a campus setting

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2019

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The characters were likable, the plot was clever, and the serious points made about problems on campuses today were well stated. The issues of free speech versus protests against hate speech are clearly in the mainstream of academic issues, as speakers are canceled because of student protests, and the lines are blurred between the right to speak and the right to make societal changes. Well worth the read!

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Bruce AM

Great read

Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2019

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Perfectly suspenseful with realistic characters and good plot. The author has an uncanny ear for dialogue and writes very humorously .

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TinaSilvestri

In the Shadow of the ivory tower

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2018

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Well done Alan I enjoy your books I especially liked the police blotter and all the local references of Ventura county

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Upstate New York Reader

University Unrest And Murder ...

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2019

Whether teaching at a small church connected college or a large state university, campus life is much the same for faculty. Twenty years of experience has demonstrated that truth to me. Alan Kirby has captured that atmosphere well - as I read this current mystery I felt as if I had returned to my campus roots, both as a student and as a member of the faculty. However, I am glad to say that crime never played a critical part of my experience - as a suspect, a victim, or a observer.

California Pacific University, a middle tier institution, sitting someplace between the prestigious schools that made up the University of California and the lesser-known, but very well-equipped, schools of the California State University and Colleges system, was about to become the next victim of a campus crime spree.

It was a spree - as the intensity and ferocity of the crimes increased, so did the fear that dropped upon the campus. Beginning with red paint made to look like blood, ending with a deadly arson attack, and providing an opportunity for a major campus massacre - it would take the work of Darren Kelly, Professor of Counseling Psychology and therapist at the campus Counseling Center Darren, and Jake Cooper, the lead Detective for the university police department, to identify the person responsible for the crimes.
The plot is timed well, with a major twist that will catch most in the end. It held this reader’s attention for the length of the novel - leaving little to be disappointed in. The book is easy to recommend for any involved in the academic world or for those wanting a good solid mystery to fill a week’s worth of reading. Though there is no hint of a sequel, one may hope that the author receives enough reinforcement to allow the two primary characters to work together on more cases in the future.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Helpful

Suspenseful with a Dash of Humor

Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2018

Someone is initiating attacks on a college campus. At first the attacks start off as seemingly “harmless” yet terrifying pranks, but when the attacker doesn’t get the results and reaction that they are looking for then things begin to escalate. This assailant is determined to get a reaction, they have an agenda and they are intent on seeing it through to the end regardless of the costs. What starts off as a paintball attack in a lecture hall escalates from mock package bombs to arson and beyond.
In The Shadow of the Ivory Tower is a suspense thriller by Alan Kirby. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it is an engaging story from start to finish. While this story touches on serious subjects and current events, it is also well seasoned with humor to keep the mood from being too somber. This story focuses on and follows collegiate life and the ivory tower that so many professors pursue…tenure. I love this reference and how beautifully it ties into the title of the story. It was surprising but well done. I like how the author builds the suspense in layers throughout the story. As I read I was kept wondering…what is the unknown assailant going to do next? What action will they take next in their quest to be recognized and in their attempt to acquire what it is that they believe they are looking for? The story is told in the first person of Darren Kelly. The story seems to shift between him telling the story and then the story giving brief moments to the individual committing these “pranks.”
There honestly isn’t anything that I don’t like about this book. The storyline is well done and from what I can tell has been professionally edited. The characters are unique and I appreciate the author using humor here and there in the storyline. I like how it breaks up the tension, and that it is done in such unexpected ways.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. The characters are interesting and they help keep the reader engaged throughout as they read about the various dynamics and the ups and downs of collegiate life and business.

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Top reviews from other countries

Dab Reader

University Plot

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

An interesting mystery set in the world of academia. What starts as a seemingly harmless prank intended to scare people develops into a more deadly mystery. The main characters, Coop the faculty police chief and the psychologist who narrates the story are developed as the story unfolds. It was a different setting to the norm and this added to the interest. At times, for me, the detailed faculty life got in the way of the mystery but it was still a very good read and I learned a lot.

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In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: A Novel By Alan Kirby (Darren Kelly Series Book 2) Kindle Edition

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