The Weight of the Evidence — Michael Innes

An erudite Scotland Yard detective investigates after a professor meets a hellish end with a heavenly body in this classic British mystery.

When Professor Pluckrose is found dead in his deckchair on the campus of a provincial English university, it looks as though the eminent biochemist was struck by a falling meteorite. But this was no act of God -- the stone was dropped from a nearby tower.

With the local authorities baffled, Scotland Yard's Insp. John Appleby is asked to consult on the case. Combing the hallowed halls for information, Appleby finds plenty of pompous academics with their own theories about the murder -- as well as their own motives. Appleby must study the clues thoroughly if he hopes to determine who among them has a mind for murder.

Praise for The Weight of the Evidence

“Appleby's adventures in search of clues among the classics may be strongly recommended for its sturdy independence and originality.” -- The Times Literary Supplement