I got granted access to this book by NetGalley. I was unaware of the fact that it was a sequel, which explained some undeveloped parts of the main character’s trauma.
The story was still good overall, I liked the mysterious vibe of the plot and how Marlee was always stuck between her wanting to set the record straight on Ethan’s death but being limited in what she could achieve as a former detective. The final twist was good, the novel was entertaining. I have to say I expected it a bit because of the character’s mysterious descriptions, but it was fun to read nonetheless!

The Professor
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
By Lauren Nossett

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for early access to The Professor. I had hoped to finish before the release date but fell short by a couple weeks.

The Professor is an enjoyable thriller/mystery. I enjoyed the multiple point of views and the narration. The story itself was entertaining, but I didn’t feel like I was on the edge of my seat. It was more of a cozy mystery.

Verena is a hardworking German Professor at the University of Georgia in hopes of getting tenure. Her favorite student commits suicide, and investigators are lead to believe Verena was more than a professor to him.

Marlitt is a former detective, who has her own baggage. Marlitt’s mother is also a German professor and asks Marlitt to help clear her friend Verena’s name. Since Marlitt is no longer a detective or in the good graces of the police force, she is not required to follow the rules. She dives into the case and does it her way.

I wish the book didn’t have so many loose ends on Verena’s story. There were also some holes within the other characters as well. I love a nice tidy epilogue completing everyone’s story. Like many books, the ending leaves the reader/listener slightly confused.

Favorite quote: “Healing is painful. It’s awkward and uncomfortable. It starts by admitting my faults… all of them and asking for forgiveness… being willing to accept that I might not get it but doing it all the same.”

Favorite character: Verena 🖊️
Steamy rating: Cold 🥶
Profanity: Mild 😬
How I discovered: NetGalley ✅
Method: Advanced audiobook via NetGalley 🎧

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookishpost #fiction #books #audiobooks #theprofessor #laurennossett #netgalley #macmillanaudio #advancedreaderscopy #mystery #athens #georgia

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review the audiobook version of this book.

The book starts off slow but picks up once you get into it a little ways. Having read the first book, The Resemblance, I was familiar with the main and supporting characters and what had occurred in the prior story. This is somewhat important for the back story if you want to understand the main character on a deeper level and why she’s not with the PD anymore. I still wish she was a cop there so it’s cringey at times when she starts doing cop like things without being one in the beginning of the book.

The book really picks up the pace as you move through and really towards the end with a conclusion you won’t expect. It’s worth the read if you’re interested in procedural type books. Pretty good story overall. Good narrator.

Marley is a former detective, now research assistant, living with her parents after a fire left her scarred for life. When German professor, Dr. Verena Sobek is accused of sleeping with one of her students and quite possibly his murder, Marley's mom asks her to help find out who really happened to Ethan and help clear Verena's name.

Like others, I didn't realize this was a follow up book. I mean it's not even listed as part of a series in Goodreads, Because of that, there was some obvious confusion (literally any time Marley referred to something that I guess happened in that book). The story itself here was okay. The characters were okay. Nothing really spectacular. I also thought the ending was way too far-fetched, but maybe that's just me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Saskia Maarleveld was a great narrator as always.

2.5 stars // This thriller set on a college campus didn’t do much for me. Student death that looks like a suicide but a professor is being investigated for murder. A disgraced detective is on the case. I feel like we didn’t really get to know anyone very well in this story, so I didn’t feel very invested in any of the characters. Not a ton really happened until about 85% of the way through. It was okay!

I'm not sure why this book isn't listed as a #2 but we are back with Marritt from The Resemblance and she's still not following the rules (which drove me nuts in book 1) but now that she isn't an officer it doesn't bother me like it did in the last book.

Marritt is trying to help clear the name of her mom's coworker, a professor at the local college. A student died by apparent suicide and the public consensus is convinced she is responsible. Marritt is also trying to find herself after the events of The Resemblance and the relationship shifts that ensued.

The beginning of the book was a bit slow, but it picked up as it went. The story is shown through multiple points of view as well as past and present. I think I just needed to get my bearings to get into the multiple angles the story was coming from.

Honestly, I probably wouldn't have picked this up had I noticed the main character was the same, but after this book, I would find myself more willing to continue on to a book 3. I also love listening to books narrated by Saskia Maaraveld so this was a treat when I found out she was the narrator!

Pick this one up if you like college campus mysteries.

3.5 stars rounded up

When I first started reading this book, I didn’t realize it was a sequel. Perhaps my comments below would be much different if I had read the first book. I was very confused with what was going on and felt as if I was missing some important information. It just went downhill from there as I had no idea what was going on and what the back story was. The characters felt underdeveloped and unlikable. I was excited for an academia setting but found this one less than compelling.

When I finished Lauren Nossett’s “The Resemblance” I hoped that there would be another book featuring protagonist Marlitt Kaplan—so I was thrilled to learn that “The Professor” would similarly be set in the college town of Athens, GA and include Marlitt and other characters from the last book. Marlitt is a fascinating character; she does not often do what is best or what the reader may want her to do, but she is observant, dogged, and intelligent. As the book begins she is wrestling with the fallout from her last case on the police force and the fire that almost killed her. So, her investigation here takes place unofficially and rather dangerously. The story of German professor Varena and her student Ethan seems straightforward (although you know that it is not) and coupled with the life of Marlitt, as she investigates Varena’s conduct at the request of her mother, makes for a completely engrossing and captivating book. I again loved the audiobook version which was beautifully narrated. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook. Highly recommended (but definitely read “The Resemblance” first)!

Thank you MacMillan audio for The Professor by Lauren Nossett.
This book was just too slow for me, esp on audio. I had the same experience with The Resemblance, I feel at times I am in a solid police procedural that can't quite decide if it's a character slow burn study or procedural mystery. It just doesn't work for me but this book and The Resemblance get strong reviews from many others so read a few reviews. Also do read The Resemblance first, it will give background into the character. The plot stands alone but the character needs background.

I think this is also a book that might work better as a non audiobook, for me the narration style doesn't work as I could not differentiate between the POVs and the voice acting, though thoughtful, did not work for me. It is rare for me to critique narrators but for me I think the style did undermine my appreciation for the story.

This was a strong murder mystery. It was a class whodunnit blended with more modern plot devices.

The story is told from the perspective of several characters yet the main character seems to be Marlitt Kaplan. Marlitt is a former detective who has turned to research after a falling out between herself and many on the police force. Yet when the opportunity presents itself to investigate a murder and the circumstances surrounding it in order to prove a professor's innocence, Marlitt jumps in.

There are several twists and turns in this book that kept me guessing. The narration wasn't always reliable and that lent itself to the air of mystery.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was done well. It lent itself to the story and made it easier to become immersed in it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early listening copy. I chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

THE PROFESSOR by Lauren Nossett and narrated by Saskia Maarleveld is a fantastic continuation of Marlitt Kaplan!

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Marlitt is out of her detective job for now reeling from the consequences of her last case, when she is drawn into a new curious case by her mother, a professor at the University. A student is found dead and seemingly by his own hand, but it doesn't add up. When her mothers friend, another university professor, has ties to the student it brings scandal. Marlitt decides to get close to the investigation which becomes difficult without credentials, but the paths she takes might bring her too close to the answers.

I really appreciated seeing Marlitt grow a bit in this story. I think this might be why I like these kinds of detective series that can stand alone. The crime is solved in each story, but over the course of each book, the character is developed more. I actually like her more now! I will be following this series, not just for the clever dark academia that I like, but I am now invested a bit in Marlitt. This was also a gripping story that I definitely did not guess and found the motives to be fascinating and well done.

I am a fan of Saskia Maarleveld, and she did a great job with this audiobook! There were several characters with distinct accents that she gave life to that I appreciated.

Thank you @netgalley & @macmillan.audio for @flatiron_books for this ALC and letting me share my thoughts! It will be published on November 14th, so be ready for a perfect fall read!

Thank you for the advance copy! Here is my review of The Professor by Lauren Nossett.

https://www.novellives.com/2023/11/16/the-professor-by-lauren-nosset-review/

Let me start by saying that this is BOOK #2 in a series! I was NOT aware of this, and around 20-25% in I started doing some research to see what I was missing…and found that it is a continuation of book #1. But I also saw reviews that said it was terrific…so I kept on reading…and it did not disappoint!
The entire premise of the story is that a college student turns up dead. His friends don’t understand it. He didn’t seem depressed, but the police are saying suicide…and everyone is being questioned.
Add to this that he seemed to have a special friendship with one of his professors!
Then add in an ex-cop, who is currently not working, but whose Mom is good friends with said professor…
And you have a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing til the end!
BUT…did I mention there are some twists?
When it finally came to a close, my jaw was ON THE GROUND!
Holy crap! Talk about never saw it coming….

#TheProfessor by #LaurenNossett.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which was released November 14, so you should be able to find it already.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Keep up with all my upcoming reviews @BookReviews_with_emsr on Instagram.

Thanks for reading! 📚📖

Marlitt is fresh off the police force when her mother reaches out for help. A colleague is being questioned in the apparent suicide of one of her students.

Marlitt always seems to be toeing the line in her tactics of getting to the bottom of things, but there's no one to report to anymore.

I love that author Lauren Nossett's books surround the intricacies of academics. Set on a college campus, with an inside look of the mental health toll both students and teachers face.

The twisted, unsuspecting nature of this read is what makes Nossett's books so delectable.

I was really hoping for a suspenseful thriller with The Professor, but overall, the book was kind of meh. The first half was a bit of a struggle with a very slow start and progression. There is also a ton of background I felt was missing with the protagonist. Come to find out this is the second book in the series. I understand the author’s intent was create a standalone mystery, but this wasn’t successfully done.

As a former detective, Marlitt is struggling to find usefulness in her new job as an assistant. Her mother provides an opportunity for her to relive a bit of her old life by asking her to investigate the death of a student at the university she teaches at. Marlitt’s investigation is to center upon the student and his possible untoward connection to his German professor. As Marlitt pursues leads to learning the truth about the case, without the backing of her old department, she finds herself in a very dangerous situation.

The story does pickup in the end which raises its overall estimation in my opinion. The audio production is well done and helps with the slow progression in the beginning.

I didn’t realize that while it’s not a part of a series per say, The Professor is the second book featuring Marlitt Kaplan. If you’d like to read the books in order than pick up Lauren Nossett’s The Resemblance first than more on to The Professor. However, I have yet to read The Resemblance, and this can 100% be read by itself.

UGA student, Ethan Haddock, has been found dead from an apparent suicide. As rumors of an affair with German professor Verena Sobek rise up, Sobek is thrown into a Title IX investigation and officially under investigation by the police. Marlitt Kaplan’s mother happens to be a colleague of Sobek and as a result pleads with Marlitt to help clear Sobek’s name. With time on her hands, Marlitt dives into the lives of not just Haddock and Sobek, but into the lives of the people surrounding Haddock.

As a major fan of Tana French, when they compared Nossett’s writing to French’s I was sold. Nossett has done an excellent job of weaving multiple viewpoints into a slow burn police procedural-esque story. While the main plot is discovering what lead Ethan Haddock to suicide, it doesn’t rely on the traditional shock factors to keep readers engaged. Instead Nossett slowly builds up the suspense with each chapter and by alternating 3 POVs: Marlitt’s, an unknown Him, and an unknown Her. She also highlights the struggles, competitive nature of the academic arena, both for students and professions alike, and the impacts this environment has on mental health.

Marlitt’s character is fantastic, complex, and shows significant development throughout the story. I think I would have enjoyed the story a bit more if I had read The Resemblance first though. We get plenty of background on Sobek and Haddock, but we only get snippets of what has driven Marlitt to this place in life. I believe most of that is covered in the first book, so my recommendation is to read it first to gain the full effect of her character growth. Otherwise, she was a great lead for this mystery novel.

I primarily listened to the audiobook, which is excellently narrator. I enjoyed the added accents of the characters, as they were well done and not over the top. I did feel that the book could have been cut down a few chapters, which is why I took a star away, otherwise this is a great option for slow burn mystery fans.


The Professor is out now. Huge thank you to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copies in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

This was a great follow-up to Lauren Nossett's 1st book The Resemblance. I love when a story starts to come full circle and this book did that. There was some healing for Marlitt which makes me happy! This was also a wild ride and I was totally here for it! I can't wait to read her next book!

#NetGalley

This book had a very slow start and, sadly, never captured my attention. This may be for some, but simply wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Marlitt Kaplan has just lost her job as a detective. Finding herself back at home with her parents in Athens Georgia, jobless, and with scars to remind her of her previous mistakes, Marlitt is asked by her mother to investigate a supposed suicide to clear a co-professor's name in a title IX investigation. Although no longer with the force, or legally able to investigate, Marlitt finds that she needs to solve "what really happened" in order to prove to her old coworkers, partner, and herself that she she retains her detective abilities. When the opportunity to move-into the room of the deceased arises, Marlitt cannot help but jump at the opportunity. But when she finds herself entwined with the lives of her roommates, will she be able to focus on finding the truth, or will she get caught-up in her new life?

I enjoyed this audiobook, and the production quality for sure. That being said, in attempting to write the summary above, I realize there were some details that seemed to be misplaced, or seemed not to fit in the story. For one, the scars of Marlitt's face were there, but I kept forgetting they existed (in other words it did not seem to fit the character description, or seemed unnecessary?).

All that being said the story was interesting, and it certainly kept my attention. I would not hesitate to recommend to someone looking for an easy to listen mystery.

I didn't realize when I got this book that it was a second in a series. Unlike most people who failed to see that, I have actually read the previous novel. I remember that I liked it. I didn't remember much past that. The previous story was pretty enjoyable and I refreshed my memories with my previous notes. This one just seemed to drag out. I couldn't believe the actions of most of the characters and I started to lose interest really fast.