Did Ethan Haddock kill himself or was he murdered? He had a history of mental illness. The police zero in on the victim's professor. Eventually, the professor is suspended. A former detective steps in and investigates the crime on her own. She becomes very close to the people in Ethan's circle nad that's when the fun starts. I thought the first part of the book was draggy and almost gave up on it. I'm glad I persevered because the story did pick up.

<i>**I should have paid more attention to the author and that this is a continuation of a previously published book. I have read the prior book however, I greatly disliked it, especially the main character. We continue to follow this reckless main character who makes some of the most bizarre decisions that are so unbelievable that they take you out of the story. </i>

However, I jumped in to The Professor with a sense of cautious optimism, because again with the stunning cover and intriguing synopsis. Unfortunately, my reservations were validated as I found myself grappling with a narrative that struggles to find its footing. The main character, with her inexplicable and reckless decisions, remains a stumbling block, disrupting the flow of the story.

Moreover, the promising premise of a scandalous death and a university investigation quickly loses its resonance, leaving the reader with a sense of disconnection and a plot that seems to meander without purpose. It's evident that the author harbors compelling ideas, but the execution falls short, resulting in a disjointed and underwhelming narrative.

What initially appeared to be a captivating dark academia mystery, as suggested by the intriguing cover, dissolves into a series of missed opportunities and unexplored plot points. The story feels like a collection of fragments, with intriguing ideas mentioned only to be abandoned without fulfillment. This lack of coherence and direction leaves the reader feeling unsatisfied and disconnected from the characters and their motivations.

I found the audiobook to be fantastic and loved the narration.

<i>Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced listeners copy of this book.

There are times when a slow burn mystery is exactly what I need and maybe I would have liked this book more at a different time, but as of right now I can only rate this 3 stars. I thought The Resemblance was better overall and even then it wasn't my favorite thriller. I'll still read her next book as well though.

Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Starting right off with a fair warning to everyone, The Professor is 100% a sequel to The Resemblance. There are bits and pieces of recaps throughout the story but I think you should most definitely read the first book before diving into this one.
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Diving once again (sort of) into a dark academia setting, we’re following Marlitt, but this time she is no longer on the force and she is trying to help her mom’s friend. There’s been another death, though was this one suicide or was this murder? Marlitt continues with her rogue ways in this story and while they are pretty wild and stupid, I was all for it.
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This story is told in multiple points of view. Through Marlitt’s, through “her” and through “him”. I am not going to lie, I was a bit confused as to the point of the “her” and “him” parts of the story until the ending when everything clicked into place and my brain basically exploded. So, well done Lauren, well done.
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I love how Nossett weaves her stories, this one was also addicting and she would give little snippets of information, red herrings if you will, that keep your mind constantly guessing. I sort of but sort of didn’t guess the ending, which is perfectly fine with me because I really like where this one led. I think that Nossett tied everything together once again perfectly though I again felt the ending to be a bit rushed.
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I listened to this one via audiobook and Saskia Maarleveld was a fantastic narrator. I really enjoyed listening to this one!
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Definitely recommending this one to my dark academia / thriller / police procedural friends. The Professor was just released on November 14th, be sure to check it out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and Lauren Nossett for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked Marlitt's character and although she wasn't qualified to investigate Ethan's death at the university she did an amazing job and used intuition. I liked this dark academia story and going up against a big university/institution to make things right. The narrator was fantastic!

This is a slow-burn mystery that took a while to spark my interest. The plot is intricately executed as more evidence comes to the surface. The investigation is intriguing as Detective Kaplan puts the pieces of the puzzle expertly together. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story to life and navigating through the twisty story. Thank you, NetGalley for my audiobook.

I listened to this one on audio and I enjoyed it. The narrator did an excellent job and if it weren't for her, I probably would have put it down. I liked the premise of the story but found that the plot was a little difficult to keep track of because the chapters do not identify who is narrating. The ending was very unbelievable and far fetched, leaving me rolling my eyes. This was not the most memorable book I've read this year.

Professor is a dark academic mystery and a sequel that I have yet to delve into. Our detective, Kaplan, is haunted by a tragic past, as she investigates the suicide of a student. The narrative skillfully navigates through various characters' perspectives, revealing the intricate layers of the story as Kaplan unravels its mysteries.

Listening to the audiobook proved to be an engaging experience, although I found it challenging to pinpoint the narrator. Despite the intrigue, the conclusion didn't quite meet the expectations the rest of the novel set. Special thanks to NetGalley for granting me access to this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Lauren Nossett for this ARC!

Such a good mystery/thriller! I went into this blind so I had no idea it was the 2nd book in the series. So good! I enjoyed it and the narrator was great.

I didn't realize going into this book that this was actually the second in a series. While it CAN be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first book first as it provides a lot of background to this story that I would imagine help the plot make more sense. That being said, I did NOT read the first one first, so while I was able to piece things together and enjoy the story, I do think I missed some vital background.

Marlitt Kaplan is a former detective who gets swept up into the investigation of the death local university student Ethan Haddock. Rumors abound that Ethan was in a relationship with his German professor, Marlitt's mother's colleague and friend, Verena Sorbek, and that this was a crime related to that. Marlitt suddenly finds herself completely involved in the middle of the investigation filled with mystery, rumor, and the dark side of academia.

I listened to this one on audio and it was a slow listen. I didn't find myself totally intrigued by the plot and I do think that I would have enjoyed this one more if I had read it rather than listened. The narrator was fantastic though, and did a great job with different accents and voices for the different characters. And again, I think this would have been more intriguing to me if I had read the first book in the series before this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio copy. My review is honest and voluntary.

I read The Resemblance last year and thought it was great. The same detective is in both, but you can read them both as standalone novels, even though I suggest you just read both!

After a student takes his own life and a professor is blamed, Marlitt decides to go undercover to see what really happened. She doesn’t believe the student did this on his own, and she doesn’t know who trust… even the professor. This was a great read that I know you will love. Plus I like anything that takes place on a college campus!

I didn't love this dark academia murder mystery featuring an unofficial detective who gets asked to look into the supposed suicide of a student at a prestigious college by their professor sister. Everyone has opinions on what happened and the story jumps around from POVs and timelines quite a bit which I found hard to follow listening to the audiobook. Even the fantastic narration by Saskia Maarleveld couldn't keep me fully invested in this one unfortunately. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

2.5 rounded up

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.

The main character references a previous case that caused a traumatic injury. Knowing more about what happened and her relationship with the other detectives would have helped me feel more connected to her. As it was, I felt like I was missing a big part of her story.

Definitely a slow burn book. It picked up towards the end but overall this wasn’t the book for me. If you have read the first book in the series I think this would be more entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A dark mystery/thriller. When Ethan is found dead there are so any questions. Marlitt, a former detective receives a call from her mother asking for her help regarding a colleague. With so much on the line for so many, she steps in hopes of finding answers and redeeming things for herself. Interesting characters. an intricately woven storyline and though starts out a bit slow, it builds to a satisfying ending. The narration aded to the experience of the book.

Title: The Professor
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publish Date: 11/13/23

The Professor is the second book in the Marlitt Kaplan novels. Don’t let that keep you from reading this one. If you have patience, the author will explain the past and the characters from book one. This can be read as a stand-alone. If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy it enough to go back and read the first novel.

The Professor is a novel set in Athens,GA. College student Ethan Haddock is found dead. His death is considered suicide. However, there seems to be more to his story. Professor Verena Sobek is rumored to have had an inappropriate relationship with the deceased. A Title IX investigation causes Dr. Sobek to be terminated. Enter Marlitt Kaplan, a disgraced former cop, who is asked by her mother to clear her coworker’s name. The story takes you along as Marlitt tries to clear Verena’s name. Since she is no longer a detective she isn’t constrained by rules.

What will Marlitt do to clear Verena’s name? Will she be able to or is Verena lying? Will a former colleague and cop stop her from finding the truth?

The author has a few twists and turns in store for her readers. It’s an even paced book, in my opinion, building tension to the final chapters. You will follow the leads down with Marlitt working through her reasoning as she does. If you don’t normally read the epilogue, DON’T miss this one! I was left reeling in shock and surprise. Don’t you just love it when an author ties it all up and then gives you even more?

The narrator’s voice was smooth and conveyed the characters perfectly. You can even pick up the vulnerabilities of the characters.

Thank you #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the ARC audiobook to review

I was not aware this was a sequel, but I now want to read the Resemblance - this prior book to this.
I love Marlitt's character in this book - I find the "not official" detectives to be much more interesting characters overall. I do think it is a bit out there how far she immerses herself in these lives -- this seems extreme to me, but the way it is written and introduced makes it make sense.
There were several plot twists which were surprising and quite clever.
I also really enjoyed the professor and learning more about that profession, and the struggles they face. Especially, a female professor.

Overall, good book - the last half was un-put downable! Great twists! And, I am eager to read the first in the series (this is still great as a standalone book, and I don't think I would have known there was a first book without reading other reviews).

The Professor
⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was different. It was OK, but didn't really crab me. It was really slow. It didn't really hold me at all.

Title: Enchanting Journey into Academia

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"The Professor" by Lauren Nossett, narrated as an audiobook, is a captivating exploration into the world of academia that kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish. The narrator's voice, infused with depth and emotion, breathed life into the characters and brought a rich texture to the narrative.

Nossett's storytelling prowess shines as she weaves a tale of intrigue, intellectual pursuit, and unexpected romance. The protagonist's journey through the complexities of university life is both relatable and thought-provoking. The audiobook seamlessly transports listeners into lecture halls, faculty meetings, and the protagonist's internal struggles, creating an immersive experience.

The character development is outstanding, with each persona having a distinct voice and personality that the narrator skillfully captures. The pacing is perfect, allowing the plot to unfold at just the right tempo, keeping listeners eagerly anticipating each development.

What sets "The Professor" apart is its ability to balance intellectual depth with moments of humor and romance. Nossett's eloquent prose, coupled with the narrator's expressive delivery, makes this audiobook a delightful and enriching experience.

Whether you're a fan of academia, romance, or simply enjoy a well-crafted story, "The Professor" audiobook is a must-listen. Lauren Nossett's novel, brought to life through stellar narration, is a testament to the power of storytelling and the joy of getting lost in a world crafted with skill and heart.

Good read! I was questioning everything and everyone the whole storyline. It was a bit slow or drawn out in parts but it tied up nicely

This novel explores the price of academic ambition, the pressure on untenured professors and how social media becomes both judge and jury. I found myself listening to this audiobook nonstop.

A scandal erupts on campus when Ethan Haddock is found dead in his apartment. Rumours begin to circulate about Ethan and his German Professor, Dr. Verena Sobek. Classmates mention how he was her favourite, so perhaps there were incidents of the two being inappropriate, the relationship ending and Ethan taking his own life due to depression. A Title IX investigation is opened and Dr. Sobek is suspended.

Marlitt Kaplan is a former detective whose last case went wrong. (Disclaimer: this is book 2 of a series that I didn't read and didn't need in order to read this one. Some background on Marlitt might have been nice, but she was a captivating character without it). Now, she's asked by her professor mother to help look into the case against her friend, Verena, but without the police badge to open doors, or a partner to help her. The only way to get answers is to rent Ethan's old apartment and get close to his roommates. As Marlitt digs deeper, she finds herself in a situation that she might not be able to get out of.

This novel had me on tenterhooks throughout. There were enough twists and turns, possible suspects, and subtle hints that kept me guessing, then gasping when the truth was uncovered. The ending was perfect.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the Audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.