Elementary Murder

DS Michael Brennan has been called to the George Street Elementary School early Monday morning where the body of a young woman has been found locked in one of the classrooms.  It would appear that she committed suicide after failing to earn the position of teacher at the school on the previous Friday.

Brennan begins his investigation by speaking to the staff members.  They aren’t able to tell him much, however the caretaker tells him that when he had discovered the body, there was a bottle of scotch under the teacher’s desk, and it looked like someone had tried to start a fire in the coal room.

The following morning, Brennan is informed by Captain Bell, that the school inspector who had been at the school on Friday was found floating in a nearby canal the previous evening.    Dr. Monroe, the pathologist, informs Brennan that the young woman had been poisoned with arsenic in her tea, while the inspector had drowned, however he had struggled to survive.

What is the link between the two, and why would someone want them dead?  And why would a student from the school be missing?  Later in the week the headmaster is attacked and hurt.  Could this be a third attempt at murder?

Can DS Brennan discover the killer before someone else dies?  Author A. J. Wright ‘s mystery leaves the reader wondering just who the killer could be right up to the end and then surprises the reader.  This was a good read, and it is the surprise ending, which really makes it especially interesting.