The Art of Vanishing by Cynthia Kuhn Series: Lila Maclean Academic Mystery #2
Published by Henery Press on February 28, 2017
Source: Library
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 236
Format: eBook
Purchase at Bookshop.org
When Professor Lila Maclean is sent to interview celebrated author and notorious cad Damon Von Tussel, he disappears before her very eyes. The English department is thrown into chaos by the news, as Damon is supposed to headline Stonedale University’s upcoming Arts Week.
The chancellor makes it clear that he expects Lila to locate the writer and set events back on track immediately. But someone appears to have a different plan: strange warnings are received, valuable items go missing, and a series of dangerous incidents threaten the lives of Stonedale’s guests. After her beloved mother, who happens to be Damon’s ex, rushes onto campus and into harm’s way, Lila has even more reason to bring the culprit to light before anything—or anyone—else vanishes.
The Art of Vanishing is just a fun mystery. Professor Lila Maclean is on the committee in charge of Arts Week at Stonedale. She’s intelligent and capable and maybe a bit trusting. She also has connections that come in useful.
When famous author Damon Von Tussel goes missing right before he’s to present at the campus Art Week, Lila has to call her mom, famous artist Violet O, who is also Von Tussel’s ex to help find him. Violet is quite a character. They do find him, but there are several more “accidents” – clearly someone is trying to stop Arts week, or maybe just Von Tussel’s part in it.
The mystery was interesting, with several possible motives and suspects. And let’s be honest, I love mysteries that involve books and authors. The politics within the English department and the pressures to publish are mixed in well with the main plot. Lila’s mom is a hoot. The characters are a varied bunch, but they’re all believable, not quirky for quirky’s sake. I’m looking forward to seeing how some of the relationships develop.
About Cynthia Kuhn
Cynthia Kuhn writes the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries and the Starlit Bookshop Mysteries.
Her work has also appeared in Mystery Most Edible, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Literary Mama, Copper Nickel, Prick of the Spindle, Mama PhD, and other publications.
Originally from upstate New York, she lives in Colorado with her family. She is professor of English at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she teaches literature, writing, and film.
In addition, she is past president of Sisters in Crime-Colorado and a current national board member. Other memberships include Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Short Mystery Fiction Society, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Colorado Authors League, and the multi-author blog Chicks on the Case.
I love mysteries that involve books and authors, too. 😀
And bookstores and libraries . . .
It’s been ages since I read an academic mystery. I like this mystery sub-genre so will be adding the book to my TBR list.