"All the best stories in the world are but one story in reality -- the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape."
--Author Christopher Benson

WE HAVE MOVED!!!! PLEASE COME TO THE NEW ESCAPE WITH DOLLYCAS INTO A NEW BOOK!!!!!

YOU WILL LOVE THE NEW BLOG!!!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

The Square Root Of Murder by Ada Madison

Cover Illustration
by Lisa French
Cover Design
by Lesley Worrell
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
A Division of Penguin Book Group


A BRAND NEW SERIES
A Professor Sophie Knowles Mystery
Release Date: July 5, 2011
ISBN-10: 0425242196
ISBN-13: 978-0425242193

Henley College in Massachusetts is quite a place and Dr. Sophie Knowles teaches math there.  She also makes math puzzles and brain teasers for several publications. Her students love her. She also has a hunky boyfriend who is a helicopter pilot for a medical evacuation and transfer group, MAstar.

A tradition at the Math/Sciences Building, Benjamin Franklin Hall, is to celebrate birthdays of famous scholars with the students. Something terrible happens at the latest party that changes everything for several party attendees.  Dr. Keith Appleton, without a doubt the most disliked member of faculty at Henley, is found dead in his office.

All the evidence points to Sophie's assistant Rachel, as the prime suspect, for several reasons including the fact that he refused to recommend her for medical school.  Sophie knows there is absolutely no possibility or probability that Rachel could have killed the professor.  Sophie decides to do a little investigating of her own trying to factor out just who the actual killer is, while being careful not to get herself subtracted completely out of the equation.   

This is a wonderful debut to a really smart new series.  The setting is intriguing, the plot complex but not over the top and the characters span the gambit.  These are characters that I am sure to fall in love with as the series continues.  

Ada Madison knows her subject matter very well. She has a Ph. D. in a Physics and a BA in Mathematics.  She is also a fantastic storyteller so even those of us who did not excel in math or science still feel at home with this story.  She has published other series, under different aliases and her Web Page tells you all about them, plus even has puzzles too.

This is my first experience with this author but will be working some of her other works into my reading schedule.  I also will be anxiously awaiting the next edition to the Professor Sophie Knowles Mysteries.  They are off to a marvelous start.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel  Agent
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

33 comments:

Camille Minichino said...

It's such a pleasure to "appear" on this ocean site! I grew up on Revere Beach, MA, so there's no better background for me. I'd love to offer Dollycas's readers a little math-related "prize" and will enter the name of any commenters here.

Happy Fourth! Camille/Margaret/now Ada

holdenj said...

I admit to being a little concerned when I saw it involved math! But your comments have encouraged me to check it out. Love finding new mystery series!

hugbandit7 said...

I LOVE math so this will be a must read for me....anything to do with Pi or Pie (especially apple!)

I just realized who the author is (by the post) and I wondered if the periodic table series is over? I haven't read them yet but have one but not the first and must start at the beginning.

Victoria Zumbrum said...

I love reading murder mysteries. I would love to read your book and the series. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Debi Murray said...

Although math is not my forte, I love puzzles. I love it when a "hated" character is the victim....so many suspects & so many human foibles are revealed. I love human nature!

Judy said...

I love a good mystery. I will have to see how the math plays into it, should be very interesting.

Judy
magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

Mona said...

Thanks for the giveaway :)
I, too, am a little concerned about the math/science part -- not my strengths. But I enjoy cozies and the story sounds fun.

monagargATyahooDOTcom

Anonymous said...

Sounds like another great series to try - and I love math puzzles!
Linda K.

Ruth said...

I absolutely love murder mysteries, and this sounds like a really smart new series. I am greatly intrigued!

Esme said...

There is a joke about attorneys (ok there are many) we are attorneys because of our lousy math skills and I am living testament to that. Maybe I will learn some math-sign me up please

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo . com

Steve Capell said...

It doesn't matter how I divide it, slice it, subtract it, multiply it, the end product is that I absolutely love murder mysteries so thanks for opportunity. I hope your success is multiplied many times over!


steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

samantha35 said...

I have loved your other books- the Periodic table series- and the miniature series is one of my favorites! I cant wait to read your new series!
drakebdog@gmail.com

Mia J. said...

I love a good mystery and this one sounds very interesting and adding math to the mix, how fun! Thanks for the chance.

mia at jacobsracing dot com

DarcyO said...

Sounds like a great new series. Maybe I'll learn some new math!

Happy 4th of July!

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

dollycas aka Lori said...

I am loving all these comments. HAPPY LONG WEEKEND EVERYONE!! HAVE FUN & STAY SAFE!!!!!

Pamela Keener said...

I, too, was not a whiz at math or science but I love a good mystery. You are a new to me author and I love discovering them.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Carol M said...

I really enjoy mysteries and this one sounds good! I may not be great at math and science but I know I will enjoy this story!

mittens0831 at aol dot com

Beverly said...

Love mysteries - this one sounds great! I love math so just the title made me look again!
Thanks!
bevsharp@desch.org

Anonymous said...

I love that this book involves math! Looks like a great mystery, thank you! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom GFC Krystal Larson

Unknown said...

A new to me author!! Sweet!! Book sounds really good! Have a friend that lives near Revere Beach in MA and I LOVED it there!

blazesandbubbles AT gmail DOT com
readingwithbakingoddess.blogspot.com

Bingo said...

Oh, good! As a former math and reading teacher, this looks like a series for sure I want to check out. Thanks for introducing it to me, Dolly!

kdhaney at gmail dot com

cyn209 said...

another NEW cozy mystery!!!! YIPPEYS!!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!! can't wait to read this, as i LOVE Math!!!!

cyn209(AT)juno(DOT)com

latanya t said...

Sounds like a wonderful book. I would love to read it! Thanks for the review.

Camille Minichino said...

This is a great group of commenters, I'm afraid I'm going to have to do some math and triple the prizes -- so I'll draw 3 names at noon on July 4!

Camille Minichino said...

To those who asked: the first book in the Periodic Table series, The Hydrogen Murder, will reappear as an e-book later this summer. The 9th, Fluorine, is a short story on Kindle and smashwords, and I'll be doing more short stories in that series.

"Mix-up in Miniature," the 6th in the miniature mysteries will be out in March 2012.

Thanks for giving me this opportunity to address your readers, Lori!

Gigi Ann said...

I'm not much good when it comes to Math, but I do love a good cozy mystery. It was nice meeting a new author to me, and I will be checking out her Web Page right now.

dollycas aka Lori said...

Camille,
I will also giveaway my review copy of your book as a prize too, so you can add that to your prizes!!!!

Off to the fireworks!!!!

Dollycas

Anonymous said...

I'm by far not a math person but I am a cozy mystery person so hey, a new cozy mystery series out weighs me not understanding math. Actually today when I was at my local bookstore and I saw this book there ahead of the due date and I purchased it. Can't wait to settle back and start reading.

Liz V. said...

Have so enjoyed periodic table series, so delighted Camille Minichino has a new one, even under another name. Best wishes on its success.

Anonymous said...

I love this kind of mystery!!!

Thanks for the chance at winning!

Molly AT reviewsbymolly DOT com

LuAnn said...

I'm really enjoying the Berkley Prime Crime Mystery books and this sounds like it's a good one, too!

reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com

Camille Minichino said...

The three prize winners have been notified: PK, B, and H.
Thanks to all for commenting and for being supportive readers.
Thanks to Lori for hosting and working hard on a great site!

bookjourney said...

This looks so fun Lori! Ireally ahve to read this!