Back to School for Grown-Ups - Novels with an Academic Setting

In other parts of the country, the days and nights are cooler, the air smells of fall. Students on campus are breaking out their long-sleeved shirts and sweaters.  Soon, the leaves will be turning and the days will be getting shorter.  While we're not there quite yet weather-wise here in Florida, we can still get a little of that fall feeling by revisiting school days in book form.  Here are some novels with an academic theme to help you recreate that feeling.

Murder 101 Mysteries series by Maggie Barbieri
An Invisible Sign of My Own by Aimee Bender
Evening Class by Maeve Binchy
The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason
The Kingdom of Childhood by Rebecca Coleman
The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy
The Chatham School Affair by Thomas H. Cook
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf
The Headmaster's Wife by Jane Haddam
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Schooled by Anisha Lakhani
Obedience by Will Lavender
My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman
To the Power of Three by Laura Lippman
The Notre Dame Mysteries series by Ralph M. McInerny
The Technologists by Matthew Pearl
Joe College by Tom Perrotta
The Crazy School by Cornelia Read
Straight Man by Richard Russo
Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan
I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe
Old School by Tobias Wolff

I Want to Read... Psychological Thrillers

Do you enjoy a good mystery or suspense story where the emphasis is on the personalities of the characters? Do you like a main character who relies on their own mental resources to outwit an enemy or overcome their own personal demons? Try these authors for your psychological thriller fix!

• Michael Connelly - A former police beat reporter in Florida and Los Angeles, Connelly brings his knowledge of police procedure to his crime novels, most notably the Harry Bosch series. Check Our Catalog
• Tana French - Born in the United States and living in Dublin, Ireland, Tana French has been described as "part Raymond Chandler, part Roddy Doyle." Check Our Catalog
• Jonathan Kellerman - Kellerman has a Ph.D. in psychology and practiced pediatric psychology for many years before becoming a bestselling novelist. His background gives his main character, Alex Delaware, more depth. Check Our Catalog
• Dennis Lehane - Lehane's nine novels include a series featuring the detective team of Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. His works are set in the Boston area, both historical and contemporary. Check Our Catalog
• James Patterson - Patterson is one of the most prolific writers today, writing both romance and mystery, as well as children's and young adult novels. His Alex Cross and Women's Detective Club books include elements of psychological suspense. Check Our Catalog
• Ruth Rendell - In addition to police procedurals starring her most iconic creation, Chief Inspector Wexford, Rendell writes psychological crime novels exploring such themes as romantic obsession, misperceived communication, the impact of chance and coincidence, and the humanity of the criminals involved. Check Our Catalog
• John Sandford - Another former journalist, John Sandford is known for his character Lucas Davenport, a Minneapolis detective who gets into the heads of the murder suspects he investigates. Check Our Catalog
• S.J. Watson - An audiologist who treats deaf children, this English author made quite an impact with his 2011 debut novel, Before I Go to Sleep. Check Our Catalog
• Stephen White - The author of the New York Times bestselling Alan Gregory novels, he draws upon over fifteen years of clinical practice as a psychologist to create intriguing plots and complex, believable characters. Check Our Catalog