The Semester of our Discontent by Cynthia Kuhn

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The Semester of our Discontent
by Cynthia Kuhn

The Semester of Our Discontent was an enjoyable well-written mystery with entertaining characters that will delight readers.
~Moonlight Rendezvous

Lila did not always have every hair in place, but that makes her a very approachable character. She works hard and forges her own way in the academic jungle. I hope she has a long career!
~Back Porchervations

Okay so this was a great novel…The setting was fantastic and the insight into the life of the average college professor was profound.
~I Read What You Write

The suspense builds slowly as Kuhn lays the foundation with a few twists and turns. As the murders continue, the pace of the story increases nicely.
~Christa Reads and Writes

An interesting twist on murder in academia.
~Storeybook Reviews

Really good debut for this new series, promises intrigue, suspense and amazing characters.
~LibriAmoriMiei!

The book had its share of plot twists and surprises. It was well-written and even paced…
~Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes

I really enjoyed this story. Aside from the fact that it’s set in an English department at a university (kid, meet candy store), the characters were intriguing, as was the mystery of the rose and thorn symbols that kept turning up on every corner.
~The Girl with Book Lungs

This is one of the best debut novels I have read in a long time. I highly recommend that you add this new series to your reading list.
~Booklady’s Booknotes

There are plenty of suspects to choose from, and I kept jumping from one to another as the story progressed. I’m already anxious for the next book in the series to be released.
~Book Babble

Tea and a Book Interview (Cynthia Kuhn)

What inspired you to write your first book?
In order to graduate from the PhD program I was in, I had to write a dissertation—a revised version of that project was published by an academic press and was my first book. But the idea of The Semester of Our Discontent technically preceded that—it came to me when I was working on a term paper, though I didn’t start writing it until fifteen years later.

When did you first start writing?
I’ve always written stories and poems. When I was very young, I would illustrate them, but when I was older, I realized that I was not very good at drawing.

When did you finish your first book?
The dissertation was finished in 2001, then published in 2005. I did a few other projects before starting to write The Semester of Our Discontent in 2011.

How did you choose the genre you write in?
Have been a mystery fan since discovering Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew. In the past few decades, I’ve been especially drawn to academic mysteries—probably because I’ve been working in academia for 20+ years and enjoy the humorous observations of higher education that tend to be found in those.

Who are some of your favorite authors?
Sylvia Plath, Margaret Atwood, William Goldman, Amanda Cross, L.M. Montgomery.

What book are you reading now?
Right now, I’m teaching classes on the development of the American novel and on mystery, so this week, I’m reading Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley (both favorites).

What is your favorite type of tea?
Peppermint tea, but for some completely unfair reason, it makes my throat hurt, so I have reluctantly given it up.

If you don’t drink tea, what’s your favorite beverage to drink while reading a good book?
Skinny caramel latte from Starbucks

Do you have a favorite food/recipe to go with your tea?
No, but I really wish I did so I could share it with you. Thanks so much for having me, Kym!

The Semester of Our Discontent
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Henery Press (April 5, 2016)
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635110098
E-Book ASIN: B01A7BH83S

Synopsis

English professor Lila Maclean is thrilled about her new job at prestigious Stonedale University, until she finds one of her colleagues dead. She soon learns that everyone, from the chancellor to the detective working the case, believes Lila—or someone she is protecting—may be responsible for the horrific event, so she assigns herself the task of identifying the killer.

More attacks on professors follow, the only connection a curious symbol at each of the crime scenes. Putting her scholarly skills to the test, Lila gathers evidence, but her search is complicated by an unexpected nemesis, a suspicious investigator, and an ominous secret society. Rather than earning an “A” for effort, she receives a threat featuring the mysterious emblem and must act quickly to avoid failing her assignment…and becoming the next victim.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cynthia Kuhn teaches and writes in Colorado. Her work has appeared in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Literary Mama, Copper Nickel, Prick of the Spindle, Mama PhD and other publications. She is the current president of Sisters in Crime-Colorado and blogs with Mysteristas. Visit her at cynthiakuhn.net or @cynthiakuhn.

Author Links

Webpage: cynthiakuhn.wordpress.com

Blog: mysteristas.wordpress.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cynthiakuhnwriter

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/cynthiakuhn

Twitter: @cynthiakuhn

Purchase Links
Amazon

Barnes & Noble: bit.ly/1V2QFC6
iTunes: apple.co/20bQ1G0
Kobo: bit.ly/1Jfzvkb

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Tour Participants

March 14 – Moonlight Rendezvous – Review

March 14 – Leigh Anderson Romance – Guest Post

March 15 – Editing Pen – Guest Post