The Square Root of Murder

The Professor Sophie Knowles Mysteries, Book 1

By: Camille Minichino

Narrated by: Chris Kenworthy

Math Professor Sophie Knowles shares her teaching venue with many other math and science faculty, most of whom she gets along with. But one in particular gives Sophie and her teaching assistant, Rachel, a hard time, thus annoying both women. When this colleague, a professor of chemistry, is found dead, poisoned in his office, Rachel is the prime suspect. It’s up to Sophie to put her talent for designing and solving puzzles to use to find his killer.

©2011 Camille Minichino (P)2019 David N. Wilson

Decent Plot, Little Characterization

Thank goodness for clever university math associate professors, since the police clearly don't deserve to be told the full truth by anyone!

Obviously I meant that to be sarcastic, but it's an accurate representation of the plot. None of the main characters give the police enough information to do anything to solve this mystery, to the point of outright obstruction and their own personal detriment. The plot is engaging enough; the problem is that I simply didn't like any of the characters. They're not very sympathetic or well developed, and the main character is largely unfeeling toward the people around her. In short, I wouldn't want to be friends with any of them except maybe her boyfriend and one of the cops.

The narrator has a couple of noticeable pronunciation traits but does a good job overall.

It's OK, but I'm not interested in book 2.

Creative new angle for a mystery

I really enjoyed this book, especially because I have read many cozy mysteries with English teachers or librarians or book store owners, but this is the first I've encountered that featured a math professor! It was interesting and fun. I look forward to future books coming out soon!

A Different type of Cozy Mystery

This cozy mystery is not like many of the others. This one involves a math professor. One who loves to solve puzzles. Using the puzzle solving techniques that she has learned over the years, she sets out to solve the mystery of the murder of a fellow professor and exonerate her assistant. A little lengthy for the actual story, but it holds your attention.

Math, Mystery and Great Characters!

The Square Root of Murder is the debut book in the Sophie Knowles cozy mystery series. It is an enjoyable book with likable characters and an interesting mystery that kept me guessing. Sophie teaches Math at a small college in MA. An unpopular professor ends up dead and Sophie needs to clear her friend from the suspect list. It is an enjoyable cozy mystery but I found the descriptions were often too much (too many details and too long). Overall, it was good and I will read the next book. The audiobook is narrated by Chris Kenworthy who did a great job and made the characters unique and the audiobook was easy to follow. I received a copy of the audiobook from Camille Minichino for an honest review.

Outstanding murder!

The Square Root of Murder is Book 1 of Professor Sophie Knowles Mystery by Camille Minichino. This mystery was very good. I thought the characters were well written and realistic. I was not sad when the Chemistry Professor was poisoned...my bad, he was a jerk! One thing I really enjoyed was the depth of the clues, I really had to think. Chris Kenworthy gave a wonderful performance as narrator. This is a really good series.