GRAVE CIRCLE: An Ivory Tower Mystery

David D. Nolta

Quality Words in Print $21.95 hbk Rel: September 2003

Reviewed by Lorraine Gelly

Hiawatha and Antigone, brother and sister, are both college professors. She at a prestigious eastern school and Hi at a "second rate" Midwestern one. Hi, the only boy in a family of girls, has been estranged from their father for years. In fact, he is closest to his sister, Antigone, affectionately knows as "Tig". Hi has just arrived at Tig's, where he is scheduled to present a paper at a poetry seminar, when the lively, intelligent and somewhat odd pair (according to another professor) finds themselves in the middle of a mystery. Professor Cornelius Vanderlyn, whose family name is synonymous with Clare College, sold his family's spacious home years ago. Recently it has passed to the college, and reconstruction work has been going forward. Van, as he is known, is a charming, gracious and melancholy man. Ten years previously his wife, the beautiful and sometimes unfaithful Virginia, deserted Van and their then 8 year old son, Charlie. Now the unthinkable has happened.

A body has been discovered buried in the basement of Van's old homestead. The body turns out to be Virginia's. Because Charlie is in one of Tig's classes, and he seems to relate well to her, Van and the police detective assigned to the case ask Tig to talk to Charlie, who is understandably upset. Tig and Hi take that request as carte blanche to question members of the faculty who might be considered suspects. Tig finds that she is attracted to Van. Hi, who in spite of his intellect, is still the little boy who is sure there is a monster under his bed, gets overly enthusiastic about the case and goes a little overboard, even posing as a journalist in one instance.

The author has written a book right out of the Golden Age of mysteries. The murder is well off-stage, there is no violence, just lots of wonderful writing and sly humour. Not laugh out loud funny, just the quiet chuckle at well turned quips, especially the little asides to the "dear reader". The two ambitious amateur detectives are a charming and intelligent duo, a pleasure to be around.

On a more serious note, it is also about families - the lack of communication, the love that goes unexpressed between parent and child and jealousies and backbiting as well. Van's concern for his son's well being is touching. Tig and Hi's family problems are explored as well. The mystery is really secondary to the wonderful characters. David Nolta is a native of Michigan where he received his education. He currently lives and teaches in Massachusetts, the scene of Grave Circle.