Math professor Sophie Knowles is teaching summer school on the small campus of Henley College in Massachusetts. While on the job, Sophie uses math games and activities to help students better understand math. A true devotee of mathematics, Sophie’s idea of relaxing is devising puzzles and brainteasers for publication.

Sophie’s assistant Rachel is trying to get accepted to medical school, but doesn’t stand a chance without a recommendation from her advisor. Unfortunately, Rachel’s advisor is the unpopular professor Dr. Keith Appleton who has said he will not give her the needed recommendation. Rachel is understandably furious, but while she isn’t the only person that has issues with the professor, circumstances put her at the top of the suspect list when Dr. Appleton is murdered. Sophie is convinced Rachel is innocent and is determined to solve the murder based on facts and logic, the way she would one of her math problems.

The Square Root of Murder is a well-written mystery with an interesting setting and appealing characters. I enjoyed getting a glimpse at life as a professor, both the good (getting the chance to help young people succeed in college) and the bad (academic politics). Sophie is a unique and engaging main character. She is extremely intelligent, caring, and compassionate, even when in the course of the investigation she learns sensitive secrets about another character that hasn’t always treated her fairly.

The primary supporting characters are also likeable. Sophie’s best friend Ariana Volens owns a bead shop and is all about intuition and more mystical things like reading a person’s aura in contrast to Sophie’s practical, logical way of dealing with things. Ariana is constantly trying to get Sophie to loosen up and enjoy things like beading and meeting new people, when Sophie would be satisfied staying home and working on a puzzle. However, Ariana’s encouragements are obviously done out of caring and she’s not pushy or bossy. Their personalities complement each other, and the two friends make a good pair.

Sophie’s boyfriend Bruce Granville is a medevac helicopter pilot and is likeable, but somewhat of an unknown. While I don’t feel I really get to know this character, what I see is that he is a brave, kind person who truly cares about Sophie. If he remains involved with Sophie in future books, his character will need to be further developed in order to make the series even better.

I love the way The Square Root of Murder is constructed. Nothing is random in this cleverly plotted book. Different aspects of the characters and events that occur throughout the book are all important pieces of the puzzle which come together in the satisfying conclusion. While the summer session comes to a close at the end of the book, I am looking forward to another “term” with Professor Knowles in the classroom and on another case!

The author’s new series will appeal to fans of the academic mysteries written by Amanda Cross or Maggie Barbieri. Ava Madison is a pen name for author Camille Minichino. The entertaining and intelligent writing style will appeal to those enjoy Minichino’s physics related mysteries or the cozies written under her other pen name, Margaret Grace.

~ Christine K.