Janet Neel — Death Among the Dons

Penguin Books Ltd 1994 Paperback, 240pp. Throughout her career in Her Majesty's Civil Service, Francesca Wilson has shown herself to be cool, assured, and supremely competent. It is something of a surprise, therefore, when Francesca - married now to Police Superintendent John McLeish and on maternity leave with their young son - seems to be going to pieces. Of course, the baby does cry all the time, and Francesca never seems to get out anymore. Help arrives in the form of a nanny and an offer of part-time work as the Bursar of London's distinguished all-women's Gladstone College. Combining motherhood and career seems to be the perfect solution for Francesca - until the trouble begins at Gladstone: Two students are molested, a prominent professor is stabbed, and the school is torn apart by the debate over whether to admit men. As Francesca draws ever closer to the dangerous passions behind the serene academic facade, award-winning mystery writer Janet Neel brings us her most stylish and suspenseful novel to date. (ISBN: 9780140230574). Good.