Theoretically Dead is a most engaging read. A Philosophy conference on the campus of a small midwestern college provides a setting ripe with possibilities for murder. Academic rivalries, love, loyalty, and professional ambitions all come into play when a distinguished, but eccentric, philosopher turns up dead. Whereas the notion of following the shenanigans of a cadre of philosophers at an academic conference might seem dry to some readers, the charming but beleaguered narrator keeps the tone light and the perspective amusingly mundane. We are put at ease by her own admission of disinterest in the subject. Theoretically Dead provides a refreshingly personal view of academic life. It peels away the academic stereotypes and presents individuals with distinguished professional careers and quirky insecurities. The characters are well drawn, and they linger in your mind. The Midwestern college setting provides a rich sense of place that reminds me of A Cunning Man or The Rebel Angel by Robert