The storyine has been done before though the author does try to add a couple of twists. Besides the well used storyline, there's also a potential love triangle. Why???

There was a little continuity mistake. The cop asks Lila where she lives and she gives him directions. He'd been to her house in the first book.

The components were enjoyable enough that I finished and am interested in the third book, but I was not thrilled with the basic plot.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this one as much as the first. The secondary characters are even better then the main. It's a great cozy read

THE ART OF VANISHING, A Lila Maclean Academic Mystery, by Cynthia Kuhn is the second, and the best, in this series. Sharp, intelligent repartee that delights. I really love both this series and this author.

I'm a little surprised I requested this book from Netgalley. That cover looks an awful lot like the style used on so many not-to-my-taste cozy mysteries – I really don't like that style. It might have been the "Academic Mystery" that got me – and I'm glad it did, because I really enjoyed this. The main character, Professor Lila Maclean shares several of the characteristics cozy mystery authors often give to their characters – she's klutzy, smart, and beleaguered by her boss for no reason that is sensible to a sensible person. She has a colorful (to put it mildly) mother, with a past that serves as a great basis for this and future stories. What differentiates this book from others I've seen is that it's believable. It's – what's that really annoying adjective? Organic. Lila isn't klutzy to further the plot, or to make her an Extra Quirky Cozy Heroine – she just is. In fact, it makes sense that there's a psychological basis for it. Her boss's antagonism is somewhat out of the blue, but there is a seed of "because" in there. He hasn't taken against her randomly – and that antagonism feels really familiar. We've probably all known, and God help us worked for, people just like him. and beleaguered by her boss for no reason that is sensible to a sensible person.

The story is twisty and – yay! – unpredictable. At one point I was just waiting for one character to get knocked off – I was sure of who the next victim was going to be – and I was completely wrong. And the author did that on purpose. It was a great fakeout.

It was just a lot of fun. And I will absolutely read more by this author. This is Netgalley doing what Netgalley's supposed to do.

<I>"You should pat the gryphon too."
"I’m not going to—"
"Pat the gryphon, Lil," she commanded sternly.</i>

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

Stonedale University is all set to have author Damon Von Tussel headline their Arts Week, except Damon is a hard man to track down. Lila Maclean is given the unwanted task of finding Damon and ensuring he is present for his events. In the meantime, the University starts receiving threatening letters, accidents begin to happen, and then a manuscript goes missing. Are they connected?

For me, there are two pieces that make up a good cozy. The first is the characters and the setting. A typical cozy takes place in a small town, providing a setting where you can have regular characters throughout the series, but also have new people appear to help drive the mystery. The second piece is the mystery itself – typically one character is an amateur sleuth. Often our sleuth has a personal connection to the victim or crime that drives them to look for clues and ultimately solve the mystery.

What Worked for Me

The Art of Vanishing has a great setting and characters. It’s set at a fictional University in Colorado, which is where I live – so that is really fun for me to read about. Most books I pick up that are set in the United States seem to be in New York or California. The University provides a nice backdrop for standard characters – professors, friends, even family – while setting the stage for other unknown characters to fit in as well.

I really liked the characters and their relationships. Lila is struggling a bit in her job – she feels the chancellor doesn’t like her and one of her fellow professors seems to try and sabotage Lila whenever she can. In addition to her work, Lila has two potential love interests (I liked Detective Lex myself), her cousin is a fellow professor and close friend, and her actress mother comes to town for a visit – all which help lighten the mood and make things interesting.

What Didn’t Work

Unfortunately, the second part of the cozy equation – a good mystery – was missing for me on this book. I should point out that it’s the second in the series, and there were a few references to the first book throughout, and it sounds like THAT mystery is a good one. (I’m going to read it.) The Art of Vanishing sets us up for a few mysteries that ultimately fell flat. A manuscript goes missing, and a character’s life is threatened, but our sleuth Lila doesn’t really go digging into either of these mysteries. Her main concern to help keep her job is to ensure that writer Damon Von Tussel shows up to his events sober and on time, and she doesn’t have much time for snooping out clues.

I think the resolution came on quite suddenly, and Lila was just as surprised as I was to hear the whodunit explanation. (Don’t get me wrong, Ms. Kuhn DID leave clues throughout, I just didn’t realize we were in solving mode.)

Overall, the setting and characters worked wonderfully, but in this outing the mystery fell flat for me. I do look forward to reading more of Lila and the rest of the Stonedale University crew.

A nice enough cozy mystery, but it wasn't really for me.

Celebrated author Damon Von Tussel is supposed to headline Stonedale University’s upcoming Arts Week. But Damon has become as infamous for his tantrums or just drinking himself into a stupor, so his disappearance from a planned event does not come as a surprise. Stonedale's chancellor makes it clear that he expects professor Lila Maclean to ensure Damon behaves and shows up at his Arts Week speaking engagement. But strange warnings are sent to the Arts Week committee members and a series of dangerous incidents threaten to derail the proceedings. After Lila's beloved artistic mother, who happens to be Damon’s ex, rushes onto campus, Lila needs to stop the prankster. The book does a fine job highlighting how Lila and other new hires struggle towards earning tenure and are at the mercy of the school's administration. The egos, infighting and race amongst academics to publish their academic works are nicely portrayed.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Henery Press.

I have enjoy the idea of a mystery in the world of academia! Lila's a very engaging heroine and being only two book in, it's easy to get a handle of the series as a whole!

When Lila Maclean, a professor at Stonedale University in Colorado, is requested by the school chancellor to interview Damon Von Tussel, she's reluctant but has no choice but to agree. So she attends a book reading by the reclusive author, who, on this particular night, does what he does best - is rude and belligerent, cutting the question and answer session short. Unable to see him before the reading, she attempts to do so afterward, only to find that he has apparently vanished into thin air. While she's not looking forward to explaining her failure of her task, she's going to have to - since Van Tussel is the featured author for Stonedale's Arts Week.

Damon Van Tussel is famous for only one book written decades ago and has been living off that laudatory fame since then, But now he's managed to write another celebrated book and the university considers it a coup to even get him to speak. Since no one can find him, it's soon discovered that Lila's mother, famous artist Violet O, once dated the man, so she's put in charge of seeing that he shows up. After reluctantly asking her mother for help, he agrees to appear.

But then Lila receives a threatening email stating not to let Van Tussel speak "or else" and it seems the entire English department received the same but are, for the most part, blowing it off until during a featured panel discussing the author, one of the guest speakers is 'accidentally' hit on the head with a stage light, sending him to the hospital, and a loaned manuscript of Damon's famous novel is stolen from the library.

It doesn't help that Lila's mother shows up and decides to renew her relationship with the churlish author; a colleague does her best to sabotage her in front of everyone; and it's close to Valentine's Day and she begins to notice everyone around her seems to be coupled except her. What's worse, she's worried about eventually getting tenure and is feeling the pressure to publish her dissertation, and soon.

While this isn't your typical mystery in that nobody dies, it is still a very good one. It gives the reader an inside view into academia and the push to 'publish or perish' in order to gain tenure. There is an intense desire to be recognized in the academic world, and that depends not only upon your teaching ability, but your ability to create something others will want to read - and find a university press willing to publish the same. (One look at the giant e-tailer Amazon and you can see the massive collection of books published on various subjects). It is this world that the novice professor is trying to navigate, and her insecurities show throughout the book.

Of which this is a very good thing as it makes Lila quite a believable character, watching her try to navigate her career and still manage her personal life, which sadly seems lacking when she looks around her; and while I do believe it is a good thing, in future books I wouldn't take it amiss if Lila were to develop a bit of a backbone and bite back at certain people (I'm looking at you, Simone). There is a very cute subplot regarding this, and gives a nice break while we try to find out who wants Damon dead (and why). We also learn more about her mother, who is a delight, and their relationship. I do hope to see more of her in other books.

When we find out the reason for the many 'accidents' surrounding Damon, it comes together nicely. Even though we are not given a murder to investigate, the book is so interesting and so involved that we stop looking for a body and just enjoy the process. I think the nicest way I can summarize the end of the book is: when it rains it pours; but I implore you not to peek because the journey is as much fun as the destination. Highly recommended.

Note: Although this is the second book the series, it can be read as a standalone.

When I first heard of this book, I absolutely loved the concept. An academic solving crimes in a small college town sounded great. And, except for one flaw (which honestly has more to do with my expectations), it was.

Lila is a very relatable protagonist. I was able to connect with her from the very beginning. The secondary characters are all well developed and have very distinctive personality traits. I adored how the author included Lila's mother and made their dynamic so entertaining. I also enjoyed the behind the scenes look into the politics of academia, it was fascinating. As for the romance aspect, I know who I'm going to be heartily rooting for the sequels! The romance was very well done, it didn't distract from the mystery at all and kept readers engaged without unnecessary drama.

As for the plot, I really enjoyed it. I could never guess what would happen next, a hallmark of an enjoyable mystery for me. One slight spoiler: I was slightly distracted because I kept expecting a murder to occur (obviously I'm a very blood-thirsty mystery reader), but one never happened. This book is truly a mystery story, which I ended up enjoying as a change of pace.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, well-written cozy mystery. I will definitely be continuing with the series and I can't wait to find out what happens next!

The Art of Vanishing

by Cynthia Kuhn

Cynthia Kuhn has done it again! The second book in the Lila McClean Academic Mystery Series is as good as the first. This cozy mystery emphasizes the pressure placed on assistant professors to publish, receive high administrative approval, and achieve tenure. The main focus of The Art of Vanishing, however, is the mystery itself which evolves into multiple mysteries. Thematic elements are great. Characters in a cozy should be interesting and developed. An appealing setting is always a plus. A little romance gives extra spice to the story. I will give The Art of Vanishing an “A” in all those categories, but Cynthia Kuhn receives an “A+” for the mystery at the heart of the book. Just when it seems that there will be resolution, the waters are muddied and everything has to be viewed in a new light. At the conclusion, all loose ends are tied up satisfactorily. The reader is not left hanging, but would certainly look forward to another book in the series.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.


Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: Part of a series, but works as a standalone

Publication: February 28, 2017--Henery Press

Memorable Lines:
“The tenure thing is simple: be professional and do what’s expected of you.” “Sure, if you don’t count the personality conflicts,” I said. “And all of the political subcurrents,” he replied. “Or the jealousies.” “Or the secret alliances.” “Or any number of factors we know nothing about.” “Yeah,” he said, “not counting those.” We looked at each other for a moment and burst out laughing.

The implication of my impending failure filled the room, making it harder to breathe.

My mother had always done outrageous things; that was part of her modus operandi as an artist. If there was a rule, my mother was going to break it. A line, she’d step over it. It had been very difficult to rebel when I was a teenager because she herself was all about rebellion.

The follow-up to The Semester of Our Discontent finds Lila Maclean setting into her new teaching career at the prestigious Stonedale University in Colorado. The university "Arts Week" is to be headlined by the famous author, Damon Von Tussel. Von Tussel is celebrated for his first (and only) book. After years of not publishing, he has a new book in print. Most of his time in the intervening years has been spent behaving in a difficult and caddish manner. Of course, as he and Lila's flamboyant artist mother had a romantic relationship at one time, the chancellor thinks Lila is just the person to make sure Von Tussel behaves. Famous last words. The first event goes off without a hitch but Von Tussel simply vanishes afterward. It's time for Lila to call for her mother in hopes that she still has a way to reach him. There is someone on campus, however, who seems to be motivated to scuttle the Von Tussel appearances; valuable items go missing, cryptic messages are received, and people are injured in strange "accidents".

I find this series easy to read and different from most cozy mysteries due to its academic setting. I always knew that academia is cut-throat in its demands to "publish or perish" and political infighting. The corporate world has nothing on academia in that regard. While I like Lila, I find her a little passive and easily dominated. She just seems to stumble into solutions rather than actively seeking them out. I did enjoy meeting Lila's mother after hearing so much about her in the previous book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henery Press for an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.

RATING- 3 Stars

The Art of Vanishing: A Lila Maclean Academic Mystery
By Cynthia Kuhn
Henery Press
March 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

Stone Dale University is hosting their annual “Twenty-first Century Arts and Culture Series,” which entails conducting workshops and bringing in prestigious speakers for Arts Week. American Literature professor Lila Maclean has been ordered by her chancellor to interview the famous author Damon Von Tussel, who decades ago wrote one much-lauded novel in his twenties and only now has released a new collection of prose. Damon has become as infamous for his tantrums and neglect of teaching duties as for his writing, so his disappearance from a planned event doesn’t come as a surprise. It shouldn’t have been unexpected either that it is Lila who is charged with seeing that Damon fulfills his obligations, considering that her mother, the artist known as Violet O, once had a torrid affair with the writer.

While being Damon’s babysitter is an assignment Lila would prefer to shove off on someone- anyone – else, she is still struggling towards earning tenure and at the mercy of her dean and chancellor. Damon’s behavior, which has him often disappearing or just drinking himself into a stupor, does nothing to make him more appealing to Lila. Others definitely disagree, from Damon’s until recently unknown daughter to the professor who is president of the Von Tussel Society and writing an entire book about him. When it seems that someone is intent that Damon Von Tussel never makes his presentation, Lila finds herself once again in the midst academic and scholarly chaos.

This series excels at exploiting the egos and infighting that seems to run rampant throughout the academia. The road to publication is seen as being the chief goal for many professors, with actual teaching being secondary. What the author so skillfully achieves is highlighting how what seems inane to many, for others becomes absolutely vital and worth killing over. Lila’s relationships with her fellow professor cousin and a best friend who may be becoming more, lend humor and much-needed normalcy to her life. It is the competition within her own department that escalates the suspense and makes everything very personal. This is another highly entertaining novel that revolves around the prickly egos and insecurity of highly educated characters who seem to live outside of the mundane world.

Things start going wrong for Professor Lila Maclean when she is sent to interview author Damon Von Tussel - warning received, items go missing,and accidents start to happen.
Disappointed as I didn't find the mystery very interesting or any of the people.

The Art of Vanishing was an enjoyable, easy read that had me chuckling at parts and surprised me at others. Although no one dies in this cozy mystery there are still plenty of mysterious happenings and a culprit to sniff out to keep the reader engaged in the story. This book was the second book in the series but it could be read without having read the first.
I did truly enjoy the story but there were a couple things that bothered me. I felt like Lila doesn’t really do all the much to solve the crimes. Most of the stuff that happens in the story happens around or to Lila rather than her actually doing anything about it. I really like Lila as a character, I just wanted her to have a more take charge attitude about everything. She had some moments of actions, but each of them seemed to be reactions to her surroundings or what others had said or done. I hope that in future books she takes charge of the story a bit more.
Overall I give the book 4 out of 5 stars. Even without an actual murder it was a great read. I am looking forward to reading more stories from the author.
*I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Synopsis

Lila Maclean is a member of the Arts Week committee, “Arts Week is actually called ‘Twenty-First Century Arts and Culture Series during which notable individuals taught the-art-of-vanishingworkshops and gave creative readings or lectures.” The committee is brining in Damon Von Tussel. Mr. Von Tussel, is, to say the least, a diva. Lila is put in charge of making sure that he shows up at their event. She calls her Mom for help, who just happen to have a previous relationship with him and knows how to get a hold of him and help Lila. Finally, her mother arrives to support her daughter and Damon. The story discusses various level of plagiarism. The least of when a student “borrows” various sections from the internet to support a paper for class. The highest level involves a very popular book and the Arts Week. Now who is causing all the problems?

Summary and a rating of 4.7

I really enjoyed this book. The subtext of plagiarism throughout this book was very interesting and though that Ms. Kuhn wove it into the story is a well defined manner. This topic comes up frequently in topic in some academic circles. I do a lot of writing and some of the subtopics are “is it plagiarism when you pay for a paper to be written?” “How much is plagiarism and how much I forgot?”. This book touched on it as part of the mystery. The books enjoyable and as with her previous book, it was true to the academic community. I really enjoyed the book!

The ARC was given to me by Henery Press via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Received this arc from Netgalley. Thank you!

I really like Lila, I do, but I was disappointed in this mystery because there was no murder. I feel a little cheated!!

The Art of Vanishing by Cynthia Kuhn is the second book in her Lila Maclean Academic Mystery series. I was excited when this book came out and I'm happy to report that I was not disappointed. It was an enjoyable read that I could not put down.

I like Lila and her independent nature but she seems to be a little too naive considering her worldly upbringing with her mother, Violet O. She should have been more aware of Simone and her wily ways. Lila is also kind and supportive of her friends and her colleagues. In this book we get to know more about her and the secondary characters that were introduced in the first. I also got a kick out of finally meeting Lila's mom. She is definitely in a class all by herself and made a memorable appearance in this book. It was especially nice to meet Lex when he is off duty and begin to know him personally as we only met him professionally in the first book.

More academic politics, a cranky author, unsuccessful attempts to prevent the author from appearing at Stonedale and enough twists to keep you guessing until the reveals (yes, reveals!) There was also a hint at a possible romantic triangle which I hope does not happen as I really have enjoyed this series. I dislike romantic triangles as they often add nothing to the mystery and make the female protagonist seem indecisive.

I really enjoyed this book. If you enjoy any book published by Henery Press, you will love this one. I haven't found an author yet that I haven't fell in love with. Lila is a smart, sassy, go getter with a knack for solving whatever she seems to get involved with.

3.75 stars

This second entry in the Lila Maclean Academic Mystery Series was a fun read. Lila is an appealing character, and the Ivory Tower setting is entertaining with various strains of university politics and back-biting. Lila herself is quite likable and in this book we meet her flamboyant artist mother Violet.

Lila, a first year professor who is trying to settle into the teaching groove, gets volunteered to help with a distinguished author visit since Lila's mother happens to be an old lover of the author's. But nothing about the visit goes right, from disappearing manuscripts to sabotage to mysterious injuries.

The plot gets a bit over the top by the end, with revelation after revelation unveiled. But an enjoyable read, with lots of humor and intelligence shining through.

I was provided an ARC via Net Galley in return for my honest review..