Death by Dissertation — Dean James

For Andy Carpenter, graduate school is stressful enough without adding romantic complications and dead bodies to the mix. First, Andy has to contend with the presence of Rob Hayward, a new student in the history PhD program. He thought Rob was out of his life for good, but now he has to confront his unresolved feelings and not let his work suffer. When Andy discovers the body of fellow graduate student Charlie Harper in the university library, Rob looks like the chief suspect in the murder. Just what was the relationship between Rob and Charlie? Andy and his best friend, Maggie McLendon, agree that Rob isn't a murderer, and they decide the best way to exonerate him is to figure out who really killed Charlie. Who else might have had a motive for murder? When a second murder occurs, Andy, Maggie, and Rob must work quickly to find the killer before Rob ends up charged with two murders he didn't commit.