Amateur Sleuth

A unique work of crime fiction told from the perspective of a BIPOC community within an elite, east coast university. Daphne Ouverture, an expert on French colonialism, is a new junior professor. She keeps a low-key life, focused on her research and teaching, with her circle of friends and family (but most assuredly not any of her miserable dates) providing support. Wallbrook does a great job of depicting what life is like for Black women in Harrison University, an Ivy League environment (too often invisible, too often fetishized). But when young professor Sam Taylor, the darling of the anthropology department, is murdered, Daphne’s world is blown wide open. Sam was no friend of Daphne’s, although their paths crossed more than once. It gradually becomes clear that whoever killed Sam is now pursuing Daphne, believing that she has invaluable information, and there’s no place on campus she can feel safe. The pleasures of this book are many, from watching Daphne’s development—and taking on of social-justice issues that have an impact on many of the Harrison women—to the always ready advice from her father and from the appearance of a love interest to the joy of her friendship circle. At the same time, this book can go dark fast with stalking, rape, and sexual abuse all mentioned. Much is made of Daphne’s unique skills as a detective—she’s gifted—and more Daphne can only make the world a much better place.