Amanda Cross. In the Last Analysis (1964)

     Amanda Cross (pseud. of Carolyn Heilbrun) In the Last Analysis (1964) A former student of Prof. Kate Fansler is murdered on the couch of her friend Dr Emmanuel Bauer. Kate refuses to believe that he is the murderer, and with the help of Reed Amhearst, Ass’t DA, and Jerry, fiancé of her niece, she uncovers enough facts to first cast doubt on Emmanuel’s obvious guilt, and then discover the actual murderer. The case involves identity theft, Freudian analysis, a host of literary allusions (one of which is crucial in solving the case), and a large dollop of somewhat laboured academic wit. The style is punctiliously grammatical and correct, which has the unfortunate effect of making all the characters sound alike.
     However, the solution to the puzzle comes about plausibly, with just the right amount of bizarre coincidence. Cross gives us a believable Kate and only slightly less believable secondary characters. Towards the end, I decided I rather liked this entertainment, and looked forward to the second book (which I have started reading already; it’s better than this one.) ** (2005)