Death by Dissertation

From the sunny shores of Hawaii to the heart of Nebraska, a mystery awaits. Cassandra Sato's leap from the tropical paradise of Hawaii to the rustic charm of Nebraska was supposed to be her big career move not a detour into danger. But at Morton College, where the leaves are barely falling before secrets start piling up, Cassandra's fresh start is anything but serene. The sudden death of a deaf student thrusts her into an investigation denser than the Nebraska cornfields. Amidst the swirling autumn leaves, Cassandra finds herself untangling a web of campus intrigue that threatens to derail her career-and possibly her life. Morton College promised a new chapter, but academic chaos reigns. Lance Erickson, a deaf work-study student with secrets of his own, becomes an unlikely ally. Add to the puzzle a sheriff with too many questions, a relentless reporter, a boss who prefers problems to stay buried, and a stalker who thinks he's Zorro. Each clue pulls Cassandra deeper into danger and greases the rungs of the academic ladder she's precariously climbing. Can she uncover the truth before she becomes the next unfortunate headline? Read the first in this smart, clean, and quirky mystery series, where murder meets academia. Kelly Brakenhoff is an author of eleven books and an ASL interpreter. She divides her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and picture books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.

Parents, kids, and teachers love the children's books and activity books because they teach American Sign Language using fun stories. And if you like a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, you'll enjoy the Cassandra Sato Mystery series.

The mother of four young adults and a hunting dog, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.