Lesson Plan for Murder - (A Master Class Mystery) 2nd Edition by Lori Robbins (Paperback)

About the Book

It was a truth universally acknowledged: Marcia Deaver's untimely death elicited very little grief from her colleagues at Valerian Hills High School.

Book Synopsis

It was a truth universally acknowledged: Marcia Deaver's untimely death elicited very little grief from her colleagues at Valerian Hills High School. Some staff members speculate the cause of death was a heart attack, or perhaps a suicide, but Liz Hopewell knows no self-respecting English teacher would kill herself without leaving behind a perfectly penned suicide note, complete with detailed footnotes and obscure literary references.

After the police begin investigating the death as a murder, Liz finds Marcia's mysteriously coded lesson plans. Convinced they hold the key to the killer's identity, risk-averse Liz finds herself obsessed with the crime. Against the wishes of her husband and the handsome detective assigned to the case, she embarks upon a quest that takes her down a sordid trail of infidelity, blackmail, and Shakespeare conspiracy theories.

When additional staff members are also poisoned, Liz realizes her clandestine pursuit has spooked the killer, and she is likely next on the list. Can Liz expose the murderer before she becomes the next victim?

Review Quotes

"Lori Robbins' brilliant plotting and rapier wit take the top grade in Lesson Plan for Murder. When the school year starts with a murdered colleague, English teacher Liz Hopewell delves into the dark secrets plaguing her New Jersey suburban high school. Unsure whom she can trust, both at work and home, Liz puts it all on the line to unmask a killer while fending off entitled students, helicopter parents, and administration politics. As a sleuth, teacher, wife, and mother, Liz brims with determination and grit. She's someone readers can't help but root for. Fans of Anthony Horowitz's Magpie Murders will devour every twist and turn in Robbins' Master Class Mysteries debut. Liz Hopewell may be an amateur, but the award-winning Robbins brings her expertise to this engaging whodunit and will keep you guessing until the final bell rings." - Sarah E. Burr, author & host of The Bookish Hour

"A gripping, clever, witty and suspenseful whodunnit! Cancel your plans and block off some time. A Lesson Plan for Murder will have you turning the pages through the night. Mystery fans will love the clever plot twists and fast-paced action. Literary gurus will appreciate the well-crafted clues inspired by the classics. This is the first in a series and I can't wait to see what author Lori Robbins comes up with next. I highly recommend it."

- Lori Duffy Foster, author of the Lisa Jamison Mysteries.

"English teacher Liz Hopewell can teach you a thing or two about the bad things happening at Valerian Hills High School...especially after she discovers the dead body of another teacher on her classroom floor. Lori Robbins' Lesson Plan For Murder is a not-to-be missed mystery

loaded with clues, hilarious dialogue, and a protagonist who makes the grade with an A+ in perseverance." - Cathi Stoler award-winning author of The Murder On The Rocks series

"Who killed Marcia Deaver? Murders of victims who are annoying to so many people are the most fun to unravel. An unpopular but sympathetic English teacher becomes amateur sleuth in the case of a brilliant colleague who is so exasperating that anyone could have wanted to kill her. Lori Robbins's dry wit and clever tongue-in-cheek descriptions combined with enigmas and word puzzles involving lesson plans keep the reader entertained and glued to the page in this engaging "High School Mystery." Highly recommend." - Erica Miner, Award-winning author of the Julia Kogan Opera Mysteries

"Lori Robbins new book, Lesson Plan for Murder, takes us inside the halls of a high school complete with bickering teachers and interfering parents. When Liz finds the body of her English Department colleague along with cryptic lesson plans, she takes it upon herself to find out who poisoned her. Liz is self-deprecating, a sharp observer and a determined detective even when the police tell her to stay out of the investigation. The writing shines, particularly when Liz is in the classroom discussing Shakespeare. A page turner." - Linda Norlander, author of the Cabin on the Lake mystery series