Not I, Said the Sparrow

Not I, Said the Sparrow is a deviously plotted mystery set in a fictional Perth university. In full view of the assembled masses at the annual Graduation Ceremony, an elderly Mathematics professor is shot dead by means of a poisoned dart. A young History lecturer, Lucy, joins her friend, Felicity, another lecturer, to act as a sounding board for the inexperienced detective, Felicity's cousin, who has been brought in to investigate. Lucy and Felicity were told not to become too involved, but they soon find themselves right in the midst of the action as they uncover a plethora of illegal activities and other skulduggery occurring on campus. Despite this undercurrent of wickedness and corruption, and despite the unpopular Vice Chancellor's attempts to address a financial crisis closing in on the University, lectures continue and students carry on as students usually carry on.This is a crime novel, but there is no gratuitous violence, and the emphasis is more on the characters and the mystery than the actual murder. It gives insights into work at a university and treats its material lightly, with a touch of humour. This book would appeal to a wide audience, especially those who like the challenge of a good mystery.