The Final Lecture

By R.E. Knight

In "The Final Lecture," a gripping locked-room mystery set within the hallowed halls of Halden University, readers are introduced to Dr. Evelyn S. Hartfield, a respected professor of criminal psychology. Known for her punctilious nature and her captivating lectures on the intricacies of the criminal mind, Evelyn's world is upended when she stumbles upon a perplexing mystery involving a colleague's inexplicable death.

 

The story begins on a seemingly ordinary day, as Evelyn notices subtle anomalies in her familiar environment – a misplaced scent of citrus, uncharacteristic chalk dust on her lectern, and an unfamiliar man attending her lecture. These seemingly innocuous details spiral into a complex web of secrets when Professor Aldridge, a close colleague, is found dead in his office, the door locked from the inside.

 

As Evelyn delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers a series of cryptic clues hidden in Aldridge's lecture notes and a photograph that inexplicably includes Vincent Marlowe, a mysterious figure claiming to be a visiting fellow. The photograph, eerily dating back over a century, challenges all notions of logic and reason.

The narrative escalates as Evelyn, along with her brightest graduate student, Timothy, and the university's top cryptographer, Laura Bennett, unearth the existence of a secret society intertwined with the university's history. The society, with its deep-rooted influence and enigmatic members, including the ageless Marlowe, poses a threat far greater than they had anticipated.

 

Faced with obfuscation and direct threats, Evelyn's pursuit of truth reveals the extent of the society's reach and the dangerous consequences of their influence. The climax is a high-stakes reveal at an academic assembly, where Evelyn exposes the society's machinations, only to realize that the battle against such entrenched power is fraught with peril.

 

"The Final Lecture" is a masterful blend of academic intrigue and thrilling mystery, weaving together historical elements, cryptic codes, and psychological suspense. The narrative, rich in detail and paced with precision, leads the reader through a labyrinthine plot that challenges both the protagonist and the reader to discern truth from deception.

 

As the story reaches its resolution, the characters reflect on the revelations and their implications for the future of Halden University. The university, and Evelyn herself, emerge transformed, ready to face a future that, though uncertain, is brightened by the light of truth uncovered.

 

This e-book is a compelling read for fans of intellectual mysteries and character-driven suspense, offering a unique blend of academic setting and thrilling investigation. "The Final Lecture" promises to engage, challenge, and ultimately satisfy readers with its intricate plot and richly developed characters.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.E. Knight
• Release date: Nov 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223345008

Book preview

A Short Story

By

R.E. Knight

COPYRIGHT © 2023 BY R.E. Knight

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Chapter One

Dr. Evelyn S. Hartfield was known for her punctuality. Each day, she briskly walked the cobblestone path leading to Halden University's oldest lecture hall, the Hargrave Auditorium, her heels clicking a steady beat that echoed off the ancient bricks and ivy. Students would often say they could set their watches by the sound of Dr. Hartfield’s approach. However, on this particular Thursday morning, there was an uncharacteristic hesitation in her step, a subtle discord in the rhythmic tap of her heels that suggested a disruption in the academic’s meticulous routine.

As she entered the lecture hall, the familiar musty scent of old books and worn leather greeted her, but today, it was undercut by something else—a trace of citrus, perhaps, that didn't belong. She paused for a moment, her keen eyes scanning the dimly lit room, searching for the source of this olfactory anomaly. It was then that she noticed the faintest outline of chalk dust that had settled on her lectern. It was unusual for the cleaning staff to neglect her space, and for a moment, Dr. Hartfield allowed herself the indulgence of a small frown.

The lecture hall was her realm, a sanctuary of knowledge where she had dispensed wisdom on the intricacies of criminal psychology for over two decades. Rows of wooden seats, like pews in a church of academia, faced the grand chalkboard that spanned the front wall. The high stained-glass windows, usually radiant with morning light, today cast a murky, subdued glow across the dust motes dancing in the air.

She approached her lectern, the leather of her briefcase squeaking softly as she laid