Words for Murder Perhaps — Edward Candy

Gregory Roberts, middle-aged and still living with his Mum, teaches Ertglish Literature at the University of Bantwich's Extra-mural Department (that's Adult Education in American). This term his course is called "Crime Fiction, Past and Present." The old ladies who generally take his classes arc quite excited by the new topic...until the crimes at the University become all too factual.

The first victim is a distinguished Professor of Egyptology--poisoned. The only clue is an obscure bit of English poetry, a line from a spookily appropriate elegy. As similar murders follow, with similarly literary clues, the police naturally assume that the killer is someone rather bookish.

Someone like the unfortunate Gregory Roberts.