Ben Reese is a university archivist at Alderton University, a small Ohio private school. When one of his old friends is found murdered, he then finds himself in the role of detective.

Ben is in England on sabbatical and working on a research project. A middle of the night phone call from Alderton is the preamble to the mystery. The next morning Ben receives a telegram telling him Richard West is dead from a heart attack. Richard was Ben’s middle-of-the-night phone caller who had to shorten his call due to an interruption.

Ben is designated executor of Richard’s estate and finds some papers that make him wonder if it was a heart attack or murder.

Being an archivist, Ben is well versed in research and applies it to finding the truth about Richard’s death and another death that occurs.

This is the first book in the series. I’ve enjoyed it and have picked up three more in the series.

Ben is a character that not only looks and sees, but also thinks. The plot moves along and the characters are interesting. ( )

death of professor traces back to WWII