"Department of Death: By Lev Raphael: Review/Giveaway

 Review by Terrance McArthur

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and links to purchase it.

Nick Hoffman is the interim chair of the English and Creative Writing Department at the State University of Michigan in Michiganapolis. He didn’t want to be. It wasn’t his idea. His predecessor was murdered. In fact, so many people in the department have died that other professors call it the Department of Death, which is the title of this tenth Nick Hoffman Mystery by Lev Raphael.

Universities and colleges are thought of as quiet, boring environments, but Raphael’s SUM bustles with intrigue, subterfuge, rivalry, and crime. Nick’s department is rife with trouble—battling German twin professors who cry foul when given separate offices, there is a secret committee in the administration that uses covert methods to watch the staff, and the Dean insists Nick give up his old office and use the chair’s office.

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 Image Source Perseverance Press

Hoffman became a professor in the first place because the school wanted Stefan, his novelist-husband, for campus prestige. Now, he is in charge, but seems to have no power. A student confides to him about a matter that could rock the foundations of the school, an acquaintance of Nick’s husband is murdered after requesting a late-night meeting with Nick, and the campus is trying to pin the crime on him. Is this typical of college life?

The book is loaded with upwardly-scrambling academics, downward-acting lowlifes, backstabbers, toadies, and a few loyal friends. It’s a harsh, satirical look at academia, ripping off the veneer of the ivory tower to show the rot beneath….OK, it’s not that vicious, but Raphael does point out attitudes that are closer to real than is comfortable, yet he makes them funny. Some parts are ripped from the headlines, sadly.

There are a few people on Nick’s side. Stefan, of course, who discovered the body with Nick; Celine, Nick’s administrative assistant, elevated from being his secretary; and Aldo, the department’s foul-mouthed financial officer (I didn’t know that college departments had their own). With their help, Nick unravels some of the threads wrapped around him to solve the mysteries.

Department of Death is a brisk read at 251 pages, but take your time. It’s earthy, snarky, gritty (did you ever imagine that word being used in connection with a university?), and worth signing up for the course.  

 Department of Death will be featured on a Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast episode soon!

To enter to win a copy of Department of Death, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "department,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 17, 2021. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. BE AWARE THAT DUE TO THE CURRENT CRISIS THERE MAY BE A DELAY IN SHIPPING THE WINNING BOOK. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode goes up next week.

You can use these links to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

Department of Death: A Nick Hoffman Mystery

Terrance V. Mc Arthur is newly retired as a Librarian in Fresno County, California. He is also a storyteller, puppeteer, magician, and maker of pine needle baskets. On top of that he writes stories that range from rhymed children's tales to splatterpunk horror. He's an odd bird, but he's nice to have around.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.