Death of the Black-Haired Girl by Robert Stone

★ 

Maud Stack, a bright student at a New England University, has been having an affair with her professor Steve Brookman. Upon finding out his wife is pregnant, Steve decides it’s time to end the relationship with Maud. This leads Maud to drunkenly visit her professor’s house in a night that ends in her death. No one is sure who killed her and conflicting eyewitnesses aren't helping the case. Did Brookman push Maud or did he try to save her? Was Maud’s murder a crime of passion or an attack of retribution for an article received as insulting to the religious?

I was so absolutely disappointed with this book. The title makes you think it’s going to be something like the Girl with the Dragon tattoo. I know that it isn't a fair assumption to male, but you’d think if your title centers on the murder of a female character in your book….that your book would be more devoted to that murder. Maud isn't made to be a likeable character at all as she drunkenly stumbles home, knocks her dad off the wagon, and then makes a scene at her professors. It’s completely unfathomable as to why so many people are distraught after she does finally die. Then instead of focusing on trying to find the killer, the book focuses on red herrings that even the characters don’t even seem to find worthwhile to pursue. This book honestly felt like a waste of my time. If you decide to read it, I hope you find something likable in it because I really didn’t.