Hemlock House by Katie Cotugno

Katie Cotugno returns with her two sleuths, Michael Linden and Holiday Proctor who were first featured in Liar’s Beach. This one is set on the Harvard campus where Linden is a first-year student. There he reunites with his old girlfriend Greer and the romance is going well until Bri, Greer’s roommate in Hemlock House, is found dead in Greer’s bed. He doesn’t believe the police’s verdict of an overdose and enlists the help of Holiday to investigate.

Hemlock House is told from the point of view of Michael, who relates events as they occur. He is struggling with being a scholarship entrant to Harvard and is willing to go along with unpleasant hazing to fit in with the lacrosse team. He is uncertain about his future subjects but is unable to resist looking into Bri’s death and he and Holiday gradually uncover clues to what is happening. Bri was wearing Greer’s clothes and lying in her bed. Was Greer the intended victim?  The ending seemed rushed and was a surprise to me, but on reflection clues had been scattered throughout the narrative.

A quick easy read, Hemlock House is likely to appeal to readers who enjoy mysteries set in academia, while the descriptions of parties, alcohol and drugs make it more suitable for the older teen. It can be read as a standalone but reading Liar's beach would give a better understanding of the characters.

Themes: Murder, Harvard.

Pat Pledger