Code Grey

June 29, 2015
In Simon’s mildly charming ninth Dulcie Schwartz mystery (after 2014’s Stages of Grey), grad student Dulcie isn’t looking forward to spending spring break alone working on her dissertation, but when she learns that someone has assaulted Jeremy Mumbleigh, an eccentric former academic, on the Harvard campus, she turns her attention to whodunit. After all, there’s been an alarming series of break-ins on campus, though this case is different. Jeremy was carrying a missing rare book that may have connections to her own dissertation on The Ravages of Umbria, a Gothic novel. When the gentle Jeremy is accused of stealing the book, she’s sure he’s innocent. Luckily, Dulcie, who sometimes makes poor decisions, has the spirit of her deceased cat, Mr. Grey, to guide her. Her quirky appeal compensates in part for the lack of suspense, as do fascinating descriptions of rare books and Dulcie’s research topic. Agent: Colleen Mohyde, Doe Coover Agency.

January 20, 2014
Academic politics and the world of literary scholarship provide the background for Simon’s charming seventh Dulcie Schwartz mystery (after 2013’s Grey Dawn). Harvard grad student Dulcie, who’s been researching The Ravages of Umbria—a gothic romance—and the role of women in 18th-century society, is looking forward to a prestigious academic conference in Cambridge, Mass., at which she’s to present her first paper. On the eve of the conference, Marco Tesla, a visiting scholar, is found dead with a broken neck, having fallen from a balcony. Detective Rogovoy and Dulcie, with the help of three cats she communes with for assistance (one of whom, Mr. Grey, is deceased), determine that Tesla was murdered and try to uncover who, among the scholars vying for the position of department chair, is the culprit. Extracts from The Ravages of Umbria add to the fun. Agent: Colleen Mohyde, Doe Coover Agency.

July 1, 2015

Dulcinea Schwartz's homeless friend Jeremy Mumbleleigh is accused of stealing a valuable book, but Dulcie knows the gentle Jeremy, who had a breakdown years ago, is innocent. It's spring break, and the library is in the throes of a renovation. As Dulcie investigates, more crimes come to light. This is the ninth entry (after Stages of Grey) in the series, and Mr. Grey, Dulcie's cat ghost, continues to provide insights and appeal along the way.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Working on her dissertation, Dulcie Schwartz is one of the few people remaining at Harvard over spring break. Her scholarly pursuits are interrupted when she comes to the defense of a former Harvard student, Jeremy, now homeless, who is found at a construction sight, holding a long-missing, valuable book. Police like Jeremy for the rash of recent campus break-ins, but Dulcie doesn't buy it. With the help of her friend, rare-books librarian Mr. Griddlehaus, she begins to research the history of the missing book, which was part of a collection donated to the library decades ago, when Griddlehaus, Jeremy, and the head of facilities were all students. Cats play a role, of course, in sorting out the mystery, and Dulcie's abilities to communicate with felines comes in very handy. This unusual and intelligent series continues to surprise, with additional backstory on some of the characters adding layers of interest. Readers will not want Dulcie to finish her dissertation anytime soon.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)