The Student Body

Rating:
Summary: Unsatisfactory ending
Review: The Student Body is an excellent academic mystery. The college setting and English Dept. intriques come across as authentic. But as an old-fashioned mystery, The Student Body has a number of flaws.

Number one big problem is the identity of the murderer. I had that bagged very early in the novel. Four scenes held all the essential clues.

Then there is another problem with a supposed major clue that the amateur sleuth stumbles across much later in the book. I simply can't see this

particular clue working as well as it does.

And, then there is the irritating issue of the setting of Bowmouth College. How big is Bowmouth? The map provided in the frontispiece depicts a little place. And, the early chapters seem to indicate a smallish Maine liberal arts college with a small medical school. But as the story progresses, Bowmouth College seems to grow and grow. By about page 200, the college is sporting a Faculty of Forestry. And, there are libraries everywhere. In short, the setting just isn't nailed down.

As for the sleuth Sarah Deane, I kept forgetting her name. For some reason, Sarah just isn't memorable enough.

All in all, an interesting story but a bit too transparent with a dumb ending.