In the competitive world of academia, it’s publish—or perish.

When the controversial head of the Animal Science Department at a local university is found dead in her lab, it looks like a tragic accident. But retired detective Mike Atwell knows better. Dr. Valerie Andrews had enemies—plenty of them—both inside the university and beyond. As Mike digs deeper, he discovers bitter rivalries, secret affairs, and a long-standing feud over scientific ethics. But it’s not just research grants and reputations at stake—someone is willing to kill for their degree.

As Mike navigates the high-pressure world of academia, he uncovers a tangled web of ambition, jealousy, and betrayal. With a killer on the loose and another faculty member poisoned, Mike must work fast to crack the case before the campus is thrown into further chaos. Who had the most to gain from these deaths, and who will be next?

For fans of cosy mysteries and intellectual intrigue, ‘Death by Degrees’ is a gripping, and yet hilarious tale of academic ambition, secrets, and deadly consequences.