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mschrock8's review against another edition
3.0
This one was more about the college, and that appealed to me.
nick_jenkins's review against another edition
3.0
One of the characters teasingly accuses Kate Fansler of “talking like a bad imitation Nancy Mitford,” and we should probably take that as a confession rather than a one-liner. Much of the novel reads like a pastiche of Nancy Mitford and Gaudy Night, like Sayers occasionally offering something profound and like Mitford occasionally striking off a spark of real wit, but just as often producing little more than the pose of an actor waiting for applause or laughter. I suppose that what I mean to say is that there are a number of moments in Mitford and in Sayers where they misvalue the effects they have achieved; their self-satisfaction and the reader’s satisfaction are not in tune. There are more of these moments in this novel.
On the other hand, one could read Poetic Justice as a work of unflinching realism; English departments (and academia in general) teem with people who cannot accept fully that they are in fact not as clever as Wilde or as limpid as Auden (the literary genius of this novel) or as rakishly eccentric as Byron. Perhaps Poetic Justice should be read not as a comic mystery but as gimlet-eyed reportage.
On the other hand, one could read Poetic Justice as a work of unflinching realism; English departments (and academia in general) teem with people who cannot accept fully that they are in fact not as clever as Wilde or as limpid as Auden (the literary genius of this novel) or as rakishly eccentric as Byron. Perhaps Poetic Justice should be read not as a comic mystery but as gimlet-eyed reportage.
judyward's review against another edition
3.0
Mysteries involving academic institutions, professors, and students are right up my alley.
writerlibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
In this third novel in my Kate Fansler mystery series we find our heroine involve in the students revolution of the late 60's early 70's in universities and colleges around the USA. This plot focuses on the struggle of the Adult College to stay open and the relevance of the poetry of W.H. Auden. A thin plot but written with style. Cross' novels are rarely up beat, action driven plot. Here we have more a study of characters and motivation culminating in the reveal of the culprit but like an afterthought. Still interesting but less powerful than the first two novels.
missjenniferlowe's review against another edition
3.0
This was actually a re-read. This was particularly interesting to me since it was about academia, something I get to observe a close-range. I also found this to be sort of bittersweet, due to the identity of the murderer. I knew who it would be and really didn't want it to be this person.
meeners's review
3.0
dissertation defenses in the 1960s:
"Well, then, perhaps we can begin. Will you, Professor Pollinger, ask the usual first question?"
"Certainly," said Professor Pollinger, puffing through his mustache. "What made you choose this topic, Mr. Whateveryournameis?"
"Please, Professor Pollinger," Kate said, "if you don't mind, don't ask the question until we get the candidate into the room."
"Well, then, perhaps we can begin. Will you, Professor Pollinger, ask the usual first question?"
"Certainly," said Professor Pollinger, puffing through his mustache. "What made you choose this topic, Mr. Whateveryournameis?"
"Please, Professor Pollinger," Kate said, "if you don't mind, don't ask the question until we get the candidate into the room."
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