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Murder at the B-School

by Jeffrey Cruikshank

This author is better known for his non-fiction books on history, biography and business than he is for his fiction; however, Jeffrey Cruikshank has proven himself a worthy contender in the field of mystery with Murder at the B-School. Mr. Cruikshank's association with Harvard's Business School provides him with an excellent background for a murderous tale that stretches across Boston and upper New York State, then all the way down to Puerto Rico.

Eric MacInnes, a handsome student from a wealthy, privileged family, is discovered dead in a campus hot tub, alone and after hours in a locked and supposedly secure building where he definitely should not have been. Higher members of the faculty being held responsible are frantically attempting to placate Eric's influential family and the Boston police while avoiding publicity that could reflect negatively on the school.

Enter Captain Barbara Brouillard of the Boston police. Eric's death seems at first an unfortunate accident, but it soon becomes apparent that it could have been a suicide – then after an autopsy, possible murder.

Wim Vermeer, a teacher on the Harvard B-School faculty, is chosen by his dean to investigate. Dean Bishop wants Vermeer to work with the police, but mainly to act as liaison between Harvard and the MacInnes family. Wim is chosen primarily because he can be spared: – Last in line for tenure with an adequate teaching record, Wim Vermeer is admittedly not a brilliant instructor. And Eric MacInnes was one of his students. It seems that William MacInnes, Eric's father, believed that both of his sons, Eric and the younger James, should be exposed to the harsh realities of life then subsequently immersed in their father's business. All the while, of course, learning to control as he controlled, thus being prepared to take over at his death. Libby, Mr. MacInnes' daughter, is naturally expected only to marry and become a social housewife, even though she's chosen nursing as her preferred profession.

Marc Pirle is the senior professor of Finance, and Wim is his junior colleague. Pirle has offered to help Wim in his investigative efforts since he is business advisor for the MacInnes family. To that end, Pirle explains that the most important thing to the MacInneses is not Eric's death, but the fact that James will be able to continue the family line and that business will be able to proceed as usual. James is married to Elaine; Eric remained single. Pirle is also on the Appointments Committee, the influential group which will eventually decide whether or not Wim will receive tenure – something Wim is fairly certain he won't get.

Wim immediately begins to come up against walls to block his efforts – one of the first is the spreading rumor that he had a homosexual relationship with Eric. Given his attraction to Captain Brouillard as well as Wim's own natural inclinations, this is impossible. But one of the MacInnes' employees who is acting as Libby's bodyguard, seems to disagree. His name is Dan Beyer. Whether or not he's encouraged by the son James, who has been threatened by Captain Bouillard as a wife beater after seeing the bruises on Elaine's arm, or whether he's simply jealous, is unknown. Then Libby is found murdered. Beyer believes Wim killed her and attempts to kill him in return.

After getting some information from the head of security as well as having some other important evidence at his fingertips, Wim travels to Puerto Rico, followed there for other reasons by Captain Brouillard, who is initially ignorant about Wim's trip to the same location. Their efforts reveal the true murderer, and after Wim's near execution by that individual, the novel ends with the possibility of Wim and Barbara Bouillard getting together.

Jeffrey Cruikshank has entered the realm of murder mystery novels with an impressive story. Mr. Cruikshank is an eloquent writer, with obvious
knowledge about both his backgrounds and character personalities. If Jeffrey Cruikshank decides to continue in this vein, I can guarantee he'll create his own rapidly expanding faithful following.





Alan Paul Curtis

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