Murder at Cold Creek College - a 5* mystery

I found this an excellent read - definitely worth 5 stars*****

This was a really enjoyable mystery. It took me a good few pages to get into the first person style and the highly descriptive nature of the story, yet once in I was drawn along with Sheridan Hendley as she rationalised her way through the clues after her colleague, Adam Millberg, is murdered on campus. It’s certainly true that she isn’t conducting the official investigative job that the handsome Detective Brett McMann is doing, but it seems that way as she uses her knowledge of psychology and behavioural studies to wonderful effect. The pace of the story is excellent throughout; the writing crisp and clear. The small College life in a small town setting is a very good one for this cosy mystery. If I had a pen and paper at hand all the way through, I’m fairly sure I could have drawn the campus accurately – so excellent is the depiction of it. There is a large cast of characters in the story and all are well defined-good points and less good. Sheridan is a strong and feisty female, yet not overtly so. Her strength is quiet, her nature one that it’s easy to empathise with – she would be the person in real life that you would turn to for a shoulder to cry on, or someone who would lend an ear while you vented some frustration on some topic or other. Her colleagues are nicely rounded and are a good mix of the sensible and more colourful, even volatile, characters one would expect in an educational establishment. Deciding on who the murderer is was a difficult task as the story unfolded!

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

The story:

 Sheridan Hendley is a professor and psychologist, not a sleuth. When her colleague at Cold Creek College, Adam Millberg, is murdered, she is charged with helping the Detective assigned to the case. Immediately, her good friend becomes the prime suspect and Sheridan is motivated to help solve the case and prove Kim isn’t guilty. It also becomes apparent that Sheridan is attracted to the handsome Detective. As Sheridan tries to connect all the people in Adam’s life, she finds out that many women have a motive for Adam’s murder. Slashed tires are the first indication that Sheridan’s involvement is obviously making someone nervous.

About Christa Nardi: 
Christa Nardi is a new author of cozy mysteries. Murder at Cold Creek College is the first in what she hopes will be a series set in a small town in Virginia. She has a background in higher education and psychology, similar to the main character in the series, Sheridan Hendley.

I'd thoroughly recommend this cozy mystery to anyone who likes to work their way through clues in character depiction.