The Study of Secrets by Cynthia Kuhn

There could be nowhere more fitting for English professor Lila Maclean to spend her sabbatical than in a proper Victorian mansion. The whimsical Callahan House seems to have materialized from the pages of the mystery novels she is researching, with its enchanting towers, cozy nooks, and charming library. Unfortunately, it also features a body in the study.

Residents of Larkston have long believed that the Callahan family is cursed—the murder on the estate sets the town buzzing. Wild rumors are fueled by a gossipy blogger who delights in speculation, and further crimes only intensify the whispers and suspicions. A newly discovered manuscript, however, appears to expose startling facts beneath the fictions. When Lila steps in to sort the truth from the lies, it may cost her everything, as someone wants to make dead certain that their secrets stay hidden.

The Big Thrill caught up to award-winning author Cynthia Kuhn for a quick chat about her latest novel, THE STUDY OF SECRETS:

What attracts you to this book’s genre?

Academic mysteries often provide both humor and satire—and I’m drawn to both.

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

I hope that they enjoy reading it.

Was there anything new you discovered, or that surprised you, as you wrote this book?

There were surprises with some of the regular cast of characters that I hadn’t anticipated. Readers familiar with the series will know exactly what I mean once they’ve finished this book.

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Cynthia Kuhn writes the award-winning Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries: The Semester of Our Discontent, The Art of Vanishing, The Spirit in Question, The Subject of Malice, and The Study of Secrets. Her work has also appeared in Mystery Most Edible, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Literary Mama, Copper Nickel, Prick of the Spindle, Mama PhD, and other publications. She is professor of English at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she teaches literature, writing, and film. In addition, she blogs with Chicks on the Case and is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.

To learn more about the author and her work, please visit her website.