The Professor centers around Marlitt Kaplan, an ex-detective turned research assistant, who finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation at a university. The story kicks off with the death of Ethan Haddock, a student, which appears to be a suicide. However, suspicions arise, and Ethan's professor, Dr. Verena Sobek, becomes a central figure in the investigation. Marlitt's quest for the truth forces her to navigate the complex power dynamics and dark secrets of academic life.

One of the book's primary strengths is its rich character development and the multi-perspective narrative that adds depth to the plot. Nossett's exploration of academic life and its associated dark themes provides a unique and engaging backdrop for the mystery. However, some readers might find the initial chapters a bit slow-paced. Despite this, the novel's ability to build suspense and deliver a satisfying resolution makes it a noteworthy addition to the genre.

In conclusion, The Professor by Lauren Nossett is a well-crafted mystery that delves into the sinister side of academic ambition and power. With its strong characters, intricate plot, and thought-provoking themes, it offers a compelling read for fans of dark academia and suspenseful thrillers.

I did not realize this was part of a series and do wish I would've read the first book first.

That being said, I really enjoyed the book. It started slow, but I liked how the story jumped from past to present and the way it unfolded. It was page turning. There were a lot of possible suspects, twists and turns.

I give The Professor 4/5 stars.

I received this audio book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Professor by Lauren Nossett offers an engaging glimpse into the world of academia, featuring a compelling mystery around a professor’s disappearance. The detailed university setting and well-developed characters are highlights. However, the pacing can be uneven, with some slow sections that detract from the overall suspense. While the story is intriguing, it lacks the gripping intensity needed for a higher rating. A decent read for fans of academic mysteries, but it falls short of its full potential.

This book was just alright. I admit; I did not read book one, but felt this was good as a standalone: I didn't feel lost. I did like the main protagonist, however, I did feel the situations she got into were pretty far-fetched. Overall, I give this one 3 stars - it held my attention. I did enjoy the narrator quite a bit.

I'm going to start by saying that I wish I had done a little research prior to requesting this book. If I would have know it was the sequel to Nossett's "The Resemblance", I would have read or listened to that one first. Right out of the gate, I felt like I was missing some important pieces of information and it was kind of confusing to try and sort it out. I'm still not sure I have it sorted...
I was also expecting more of a thriller feel along with the mystery but found that lacking too.

Coupling the slow pace of the book with the pieces I was missing, this one just didn't check the boxes for me. That being said, I do think that if I had read the first book prior to this one, I would have enjoyed it considerably more, so my low rating is more my fault than an actual reflection on the book.

I also want to say that the audio narration for the book was really good - clear, well-paced and smooth.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen to and review this book, I apologize for my not having read or listened to the first book in the series. I'm definitely going to put "The Resemblance" on my TBR now.
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This was a very fun mystery and had a great twist! It hard not to love a dramatic ending where the good guys win. Also the narrator did a wonderful job!

I did not realize this was book two and while the story in many ways stands alone I think the first half was very slow and I felt like something was missing. I tend to go into books somewhat blind, and did not realize this was a sequel. I don’t think it worked as well as a stand-alone book. I was getting a headache trying to put all the pieces together. At about 40%, I realized I just didn’t care.

"The Professor" by Lauren Nossett is a captivating crime novel that skillfully combines mystery and intellectual intrigue. The plot unfolds with suspenseful twists, keeping readers hooked until the final pages. Nossett's writing style brings the characters to life. A solid four stars for delivering a compelling crime narrative with well-developed characters and a touch of intellectual depth.

When I realized this was the second book of a series I paused my reading and read the first book, “The Resemblance.” I preferred “The Professor” as it focused on the case rather than interpersonal conflicts. While the background set by the first book is helpful, it’s not necessary to read prior to the second.

“The Professor” follows former detective Marlitt Kaplan as she seeks to absolve her mother’s colleague of rumored impropriety and even a possible murder charge. Marlitt’s experiences share pages with unnamed protagonists, “Her” and “Him,” in a style reminiscent of Lisa Jewell and Gillian Flynn. Some frequently used tropes are employed but not without charm. I’ll keep an eye out for Lauren Nosett’s future books.

Many thanks to Macmillan Publishers and Flatiron Books for this ARC audiobook given in exchange for an honest review.

This is a follow-up to "The Resemblance". The author has made some changes in the second book of the series. In the first book, the author struggled to stay on point and often went off on tangents. However, in this book, the author focuses on following a single plot line with fewer tangents, which has resulted in overall improvements to Marlitt's story. However, in this book, we have three points of view: Marlitt (the main character), Hers (the victim), and Him (the antagonist).

This story has Marlitt as a "disgraced cop", but she resigned from her position in the last book, so being disgraced seemed a bit dramatic. She is trying to figure out what to do with herself after the hot mess of her final case and her life after the fire. Her mother asks her to help clear a colleague's name who is implicated in an affair with a student who recently committed suicide. During this course of the investigation, Marlitt moves into the dead kid's apartment and runs into her old colleague Oliver. Marlitt is so focused on this mystery and connecting all the dots that she puts herself in harm's way. Again. We do see some introspection of toxic traits and this book seemingly paves the way for a lot more books in the future.

The positive aspects of the story are that the author has not repeated the same plot of following 10 wild rabbits, which makes the story more interesting. The main character, Marlitt, is portrayed in a more relatable and likable manner, in contrast to her previous depiction as a walking disaster. The supporting characters are also more engaging, adding depth to the plot and the protagonist. The story also shines a light on the struggles of college students dealing with mental health issues, but it is done in a respectful and sensitive way, without being preachy. It is a poignant portrayal of a young adult trying to find their place in the world while dealing with inner turmoil.

I have some criticisms about the book. Firstly, there are fewer tangents, but the pacing has slowed down significantly. Secondly, I am not sure how I feel about the change of POVs. Even though it was done to provide more perspective on the case, it completely alters the tone from the first book. Lastly, the epilogue was 100% out of character for the characters involved.

Overall, much improvement in book two, and well worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.
This was one that started off well but then fell kind of flat and slow. I also didn’t realize at first that it was part of a series.
I will check out the first book in the series to see how that one is.

The Professor continues the story of Marlitt Kaplan from The Resemblance.

Marlitt is still recovering from the fire that left her physically and mentally scarred when she is pulled into a new mystery. She must help a family friend clear their name after being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student that led to his death.

I enjoyed this novel as much as The Resemblance. The plot is unique and the twists were unexpected. The characters are memorable and I had various reactions to them. I love Marlitt, she is strong and capable and never backs down . “The villain” in this story really made my skin crawl,

This novel examines the complicated issues of identity and belonging. It also delves into the darker issues obsession and stalking.

I enjoyed getting to know Marlitt better and see her start to heal from her earlier ordeal. I am interested to see where her story will go from here.

I switched between the physical and audio books. The audio version is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld who is one of the best audiobook narrators I’ve listened to.

The Professor is a great read for fans of dark academia!

I didn’t know this was part of a series, but found book one was just so so for me, therefore decided to skip this one. Sorry to the author. Thanks NetGalley for the free Arc.

The story started out strong and caught my attention from the get go, but just like the first book in the series the middle dragged on and was losing my attention a bit. I don't know that the ending was good enough to make up for the lackluster middle section. I probably won't be continuing with the series.

Really liked this mystery and the narrator is great. I didn't realize this was the second in a series, so I missed a bit, but could still follow the story. Character development is really good and I loved the academic setting. The lead character Marlitt Kaplan is a very complicated and interesting character. Will go back and read the The Resemblance.

After reading and loving The Resemblance right at the beginning of this year I jumped at the chance to dive back into Marlitt Kaplan's world!- thank you @macmillan.audio for providing me with this lovely eALC. The fallout of the first book dictates the setting of this sequel. Marlitt is no longer a detective and she still needs to heal when a case that initially doesn't even look like a homicide falls in her lap - her mother asks her to look into allegations that concern one of her junior colleagues after a student's apparent suicide.
Free from the constraints of gathering evidence that would hold up in court, Marlitt starts a rather unorthodox investigation. Her methods may be unusual but she has not lost her analytical mind and knack for spotting things that look a little too good.
This was fast paced and exciting, there were plenty of viable suspects, red herrings and plot twists, things ramp up towards the end, the case is solved and so satisfactorily tied up but I need book three now to see if the hint of romance I detect for Marlitt's future is leading anywhere ...
Since the mystery as the central storyline stands on its own this book can be read as a standalone but if you want the character development in the central characters I would definitely recommend starting with The Resemblance.
I loved this mystery set in academia!
I listened to the audio narrated by Saskia Marleveld and it was outstanding as usual. Coincidentally my husband's niece teaches German at UNC and I do hope her experiences aren't to similar to the German junior professor's in this mystery!

The description for this book sounded so intriguing and I was super excited to read it. Unfortunately, it didn't completely resonate with me for a few different reasons. I wish I had known before requesting this ARC that this book was a sequel to the author's previous book "The Resemblance". It would have helped clear things up soooo much with the background of the characters. I was left so confused at points and trying to think back to the short recap at the beginning to make sense of some of the references to the prior book. It seemed like the first book was very relevant to this book and explaining some of the characters behaviors and the dynamics between the characters. I am not sure why the marketing for this book does not state its a sequel because I am sure I am not the only reader who struggled with certain aspects of this.

Despite all of this, I decided to go in with an open mind because I enjoyed the narrator and found the professor and detective to both be compelling characters. However, as the book went on I found myself losing interest despite the mystery becoming more complex. I'm not sure if this was due to my confusion or the way the plot was laid out. I was also not completely sold on the ending because it was a bit unbelievable for me.

Overall, I would strongly recommend reading The Resemblance before reading this book because I feel that I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had gone in with some background on the characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well-written and well-narrated mystery, but it probably helps if you realize going into it that it's a sequel (I didn't). The beginning of the book sets up a lot of the backstory of the previous novel, so you won't be lost, but if you're like me, you will wish you read the previous book first.

I'd like to read another book by this author, who knows how to weave an intelligent plot, but I'd prefer it to be a stand alone mystery instead of a sequel.

I requested this not knowing it was the second in a series so I’ll have to give that a go first I suppose but I did start listening to it and I could tell I was missing something

In the realm of psychological mysteries, "The Professor" by Lauren Nossett skillfully weaves a tale that proves you don't need a whirlwind of events to captivate readers. The narrative kicks off when Ethan Haddock, a college student, is tragically discovered lifeless in his apartment, leaving behind a cryptic suicide note implicating one of his professors. The ensuing Title IX investigation thrusts the university into the media spotlight, complicating interrogations and casting shadows on the academic community.

What stood out to me in this novel was the author's adept exploration of themes surrounding depression and mental health struggles among students, university staff, and the central heroine, Marlitt Kaplan. The nuanced portrayal evoked genuine empathy for the characters, making it impossible not to feel deeply for Ethan, Professor Sobek, and Marlitt. It's worth noting that this book might be emotionally challenging for those in a vulnerable mental state, so a trigger warning is aptly placed.

Despite my overall enjoyment, my only gripe stems from the assumption that readers are familiar with Nossett's earlier work, "The Resemblance." As someone who hadn't read the previous installment, I found the numerous references perplexing at times. To fully appreciate the intricacies of this narrative, it appears essential to delve into "The Resemblance" first. If you're intrigued by this offering, be sure to start with the precursor for a more seamless reading experience.