Be Careful, Dr. Renner: Volume 1 (Gideon Marshall Mystery Series) - Tapa blanda

Dr. Clyde Renner, professor of geology, chair of the department, world renowned expert on volcanoes and earthquakes, and intellectual giant, is dead, apparently of a heart attack, alone in his insect-infested house. Leonard Branch, campus cop at Renner’s small liberal arts college in Iowa, is convinced there’s more to Renner’s demise than appears on the death certificate. Gideon Marshall, paleontologist, now acting chair, plays host to a parade of characters, including Ranner’s bullied secretary and accountant, a belligerent female prof, an untenured young scientist and his hot-headed coed paramour, her wealthy helicopter parent, Renner’s estranged gay son and his computer geek husband, and the college president; all are involved in various ways with Clyde Renner’s distinguished career and all have a stake in the autopsy results. In the end, Marshall accepts the fact that he’s probably discovered not only the perfect murder, but also ideal weapons of mass destruction.

Words are the weapons of choice in a cloistered environment like academia, where material stakes are so low and reputation is the currency. Author John Janovy, Jr. has thrived in this setting and knows it well. He has published over a hundred scientific papers, eleven trade books by major publishers, and the leading textbook in his discipline (Foundations of Parasitology, McGraw-Hill, with L. S. Roberts and S. A. Nadler). He has also written the script for an internationally televised film based on his books about the western plains (Keith County Journal, 1985, Nebraska ETV, 16mm and video, 58min; 1986 Corp. Publ. Broadcasting, 1st place in local information programming category). His book subjects include natural history essays (Keith County Journal, St. Martin’s; Vermilion Sea; Houghton Mifflin), high school athletics (Fields of Friendly Strife, Viking, winner of the American Health magazine book award for 1987), anti-intellectualism in America (Comes the Millennium, St. Martin’s, as Jack Blake), and higher education (Teaching in Eden, RoutledgeFalmer). He is the winner of numerous prizes for both teaching and research, including the University of Nebraska’s Distinguish Teaching Award, Nebraska Libraries Association Mari Sandoz Award, American Society of Parasitologists Clark P. Read Mentorship Award, and the University of Nebraska Outstanding Research and Creativity Award. Dr. Janovy has taught large introductory science courses throughout his career; that experience, along with his several administrative positions and service in international scientific organizations, gives him unique insight into the vicious conflicts that often permeate the Ivory Tower. He considers the Gideon Marshall Mystery Series to be in the genre of Literary Mystery. Web site: http://www.johnjanovy.com Blog: http://fridaycoffee.blogspot.com Twitter handle: @jjparasite Follow John Janovy, Jr., on Facebook.