Cliffhanger by James Yaffe

Cliffhanger by James Yaffe Henry Lowenthal, after a long tenure of philosophy at a small western college, is looking to be appointed to an endowed chair so he and his wife can enjoy their golden years with honor and dignity. But their plans are given a rude jolt when his successor, a vindictive and ruthlessly young woman, informs him that she is not recommending him for the chair - an act of such calculated cruelty that the usually gently professor sezies a bust of Socrates and strikes his tormentor a fatal blow. As Henry and his wife plot a foolproof way to dispose of the body, compliacations arise in the form of a rather sinister young student who is about to flunk out of school (unless his grade is changed) and who happened to witness the professor's violent action. Add in a suspicious police lieutenant and you have all the ingredients for a series of suspenseful, unexpected and frequently funny developments, leading to a conclusion that will catch everyone by surprise.