Man I had such hopes for this book because I can always count on Karis Walsh for a solid book. Sadly I honestly will not be able to rate this book because it was dnf for me. This was the 2nd book in the series and just could not get in to it. I hope others enjoy it because this author is a great writer.

A Degree to Die For by Karis Walsh is a contemporary romance and the second book in the University Police series. I did not read the first book in the series, and spent a good portion of the book trying to figure out if I had. I was still able to enjoy this read, but I thing returning readers will enjoy the seeing the returning characters.

Tig Weston’s beloved classics department is evolving, expanding its course offerings to entice a new and more diverse generation of students. Not everyone is willing to accept these changes, though. Tempers flare, and when the body of a prestigious alum turns up outside Denny Hall, Tig doubts she can bring her department through the crisis. Sergeant Adriana Kent always pictured classical scholars as tweedy bookworms, but suddenly her campus police officers are being called to Denny on a near-daily basis. Arguments in the halls, threatening emails, and even a fistfight, for God’s sake. What should have been the most sedate department on campus seems to be going through a volatile transformation. And the most visible proponent of that transformation? The decidedly unstuffy and very sexy Professor Antigone Weston. Kent and Tig seem to be on opposing sides in this battle until the stakes become more personal. But before they can even think about a future together, they’ll need to fight to protect the campus from a killer.

A Degree to Die For is balanced well between the romance and mystery. The two are wound together well, and it never felt like to different aspects of the story were at odds. I enjoyed the secondary characters and setting a great deal, and while some seemed familiar, and I spent a good amount of time trying to remember if I had read the first book in the series, the circle of friends is one I would love to be a part of. I thought the development of the relationship between Tig and Kent was well done. Some readers might not like that we got different points of view through the book, but I found knowing why certain decisions were made and perceptions of more than just Tig and Kent brought everything into focus. I will say that I had figured out the big bad fairly early on, but I still enjoyed the ride as everyone one in the book worked their way to the same answer.

A Degree to Die For is an engaging read, and I look forward to what might happen next.

I finished this book a week or two ago - I can't remember for sure - and have been struggling over the rating and review ever since.

Karis Walsh is one of my go-to authors. I love her writing style and voice and sense of humor. And I also love mysteries and I thoroughly enjoyed With a Minor in Murder. I had high expectations for the second book in the series. Even taking into consideration that second books in a series rarely equal my feelings about the first, I was pretty disappointed in a few aspects of A Degree to Die For. Let me share...

Two things stood out to me: the insane insta-love and how quickly the mystery was revealed and wrapped up. Both were way too fast. Tig and Kent had met twice and that was pretty much it for their hearts. I struggled to suspend disbelief and, eventually, it took away from my enjoyment of the book.

As far as the mystery goes, I thought it was well done and I didn't figure it out until nearly when we were supposed to. My problem is that the figuring out who the bad guy was, confrontation, and the end of the book was pretty much boom, boom, boom. As someone who goes for a mystery/rom-com book regularly, I like the balance to either be equal or weighted toward the mystery.

There was quite a bit of Clare and Libby mixed in with Tig and Kent, which is understandable since Clare and Kent work together and that it's a second book in the same universe/friend circle. It wasn't unpleasant but it did feel a bit much at times with all the mentions of Libby joining the force. I wanted more relationship development between Tig and Kent. Although how much can you have in such a short time?

I went back and forth over the rating but three stars is where I land.

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I appreciate it!

I went into this novel without realising this was a second book in a series. I've yet to read book one and although at times it was hard to pick up who was who, I don't think it was detrimental either.

Tig and Kent meet when Tig finds a body and Kent is called to investigate. Although their romance quickly develops, I thought they were super sweet together. Their relationship was lovely to read, with little angst. For me, the mystery aspect wasn't a particular driving force in this novel, as it felt a little underdeveloped. Regardless, this is a very sweet cozy mystery and romance.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

This was really good. This is the second book in this series. The relationship between Tig and Kent is equal parts cute and kind of hilarious. I liked how both main characters played of each other and their relationship was really sweet. The story started off as a murder mystery, but turned into something totally different by the half way mark. You'll have to read the book to find out what I mean, because I'm not giving any spoilers. The supporting characters were people from the previous book in this series and it was fun to catchup with them and see how their relationship has progressed. There's quite a bit of action and violence in this book, plus a bit drama and angst. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to the next book by this author in this series.

Karis Walsh has released book two, A Degree to Die For, in her University Police series, and it had me curious from the start. Even though it could be read as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend it – there are too many important little titbits that would be missed, and therefore, the overall enjoyment could be compromised. Plus, book one is also rather good, so it's worth looking at.

Kent heads up the campus police and thinks she is happy keeping her head down and staying on the periphery of those around her. That all changes when she meets Tig, head of the classics department, and the chemistry spark between the two women. When one of Tig’s professors is found murdered, Kent can’t help but pull Tig in, asking for her insight, and then feeling the need to protect her.

Tig, a strong-willed, highly independent professor, can’t hide from her growing feeling towards Kent, but she also knows that her time at the university might be ending. Her department is falling apart, and her career might go with it. Still, she chooses to trust in her feeling for Kent, and side by side, they follow the leads until the murderer is apprehended.

A Degree to Die For is not only sweet but also intriguing. There is witty banter being thrown around by the protagonists, and the side characters, and the laugh-out-loud moments help soften what could be quite dark themes. Walsh does such an extraordinary job of describing the campus, the architecture, and the surroundings. It is as if the reader is right there with the characters.

This is a great series to get into if mystery and romance are your thing.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for my honest review.

This book started out with promise, but quickly devolved into a formulaic suspense and a tepid romance. I also found that a lack of a physical description for Tig (all we know is she has blue eyes) really hindered my ability to form a picture of her in my head and connect with the character.

Alas, this we a dnf for me…

Follow up to last year's 'With a minor in murder' (can be read as a standalone though) featuring many of the same characters, and an equally engaging lesbian murder mystery. This time we focus on Sergeant Adrianna Kent who is trying to investigate the murder of Tig Weston's colleagues, whilst also noticing how attractive she is. there is much banter between her and her work partner Sawyer, especially as Sawyer's partner Libby keeps trying to do the detecting. This is a fun, tale of academics, alongside an engaging murder mystery.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the series, and it was a fun read. The characters were lovable and their relationship intriguing. I really enjoyed it.

In Ms Karis’s second book in her series ‘University Police’ is another book of the happenings in the hallowed halls of ‘Denny’. This time the story features Tig Weston who heads the classics department who is in the process of adding another avenue for the students, making the classics department allow for the study of non-traditional authors from the past. Some of her professors like the idea of expanding the department while others are not so sure.
When a murder takes place and Tig discovers the body the university police send in Sergeant Adriana Kent to investigate the murder. Sure she’s attracted to Tig and Tig feels the same way but first they have to find the killer before Tig’s whole department is closed.
Great character’s along with the great supporting cast from her first novel. Fast paced with a somewhat believable feel to it. Very nice read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

2 stars. Tig Weston’s classic department is going through change with an expansion of the department. Then, a body is found at the entrance to her building, she does not know what to do and is worried about her department being shut down. Sergeant Adriana Kent is there to investigate the murder at the classic department. Kent wants to figure out who killed the professor and why. Tig is there to assist and help in any way she can as the department head. They sparks fly between the two of them, they can't seem to stay away from each other.

I did not realize this is the second book in a series. I did not read the first one, which may have helped understand a little about the university and some of the characters. This book's murder was very predictable and a little confusing for me. I did not think the whole plot made sense when you thought about it and I did not really like how it ended. I thought the love between the two main characters was a little intense early on. This book was not one I would recommend or anything. I wanted to like it, but I did not.

Tig is the Director of the Classics Dept at her university. Kent is the Sarge of the campus police.

Kent meets Tig first when Tig gets punched by mistake by one of the other professors. Then, Tig finds one of those fighting professors dead. And, Kent needs Tig's help to figure out the players on the Classics Dept stage.

This was the second book by Walsh in this set at this University. I haven't read the first one yet, but, I didn't feel like I was missing anything by reading this first. It was an ok mystery, but it was the romance that pulled me in, seeing how the two women were different, but, also how they were alike. A really fun romance, with just enough mystery to keep me interested in who it was gonna be.

Shh... I did guess wayy early in the book who was the do-er, but.... and a big but here, I've read about a million and a half (don't quote me on that figure) of mysteries in my life, so, for someone who has read fewer, they may be surprised.

The catch up from another novel was a bit overwhelming but then I now have another novel on my "buy next" list!
However I never quite settled into this. It came over as stories you are told by someone you know well about people you don't know. Without spoilers I also had an issue with why one main would have to move away for a job just because two murders she was not responsible for, happened in her department. As I didn't get the reasoning, I didn't get the tension/jeopardy.
The feeling of being a bystander never left me as I read this book. I was not immersed. It was okay, held my attention but didn't grip.

If you enjoy a good mystery with your romance this book is for you.
Professor Tig Weston has been tasked with overhauling the classics department and it's not going well. Faculty members are not happy and at least one fist fight has broken out. After receiving a call of a fight Sergeant Adriana Kent arrives to find two professors about to throw down. When a colleague of Tigs is found murdered Sergeant Kent asks Tig for her help investigating. Soon sparks fly between the two,
This turned out to be a fun whodunit that was well written and thought out. I enjoyed how the story wove between the investigation and the main characters falling in love. Very low drama and angst on the romance front which I enjoyed. The murder mystery was a fun twisty tale that I could not predicate which I always enjoy.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley for an honest review.

such cute book, though I did not think that they needed professor Antigone to be in most of the interrogations or as much as the author made her involved. I also liked the simple approach by Kent its so refreshing to read those days. AND what I adored the most was Kent and Sawyer's girlfriend relationship ( forgot her name).

This book is entertaining as hell

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

when tempers flare and fights start breaking out professor Antigone Weston or tig for short goes running straight into a fist, Sergeant Adriana Kent or kent for short manages to contain the scene

but what is going on at the classics department where it once was guaranteed to sedate and not have any problems now it seems that everyday the police are being called

and why cant kent get tig out of her mind and with all this trouble could it be the end of the classics department

its not a bad read and a very quick read but loved the interactions between the friends that support tig

An entertaining second installment to the University Police Series. I liked the banter and sarcasm between Kent and Tig. While they were trying to catch a killer on the loose that threatened to put an end to Tig's beloved Classics department and to their future together, both characters learn more about one another as their mutual respect grew despite their differences.
The mystery in book one felt superior compared to this one and I wish that aspect was better developed but I enjoyed the book either way.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed With a Minor in Murder and was happy to Washington University for another murder mystery. This time the focus is on the Classics department. Campus police Sergeant Adriana Kent takes the call to stop regarding a fight at a neighboring building. When she arrives she is surprised to find it is between two professor with Department Head Tig Weston in the middle trying to stop it. When leaving for the night Tig stumbles upon one the body of one of the fighters who has been shot in the head. Sergeant Kent decides to actively partner Officer Clare Sawyer to investigate. Clare pervasively worked as a detective and was the one of MCs of the previous book.

The two officers with the help of Tig uncover ancient artifacts, plagiarizing and cheating in awarding degrees. The flirting and acting on the attraction is delightful between Kent and Tig. They can read each other like open books and it so fun watch. Clare is there to help with the police work and build the buddy friendship with her supervisor. I actually thought the series would be a cozy mystery series with Clare and police wanna-be Professor Libby. I like the series even more that it went with a separate love interest. Libby and Tig have a good group of professor friends that could all be part of future mysteries. Now the author has me guessing which one may be next. And I’ll be waiting to read it.

This book is entertaining with good banter. I love the university setting and learning about the differing departments. The mystery is fairly easy to follow as the police investigate. If you enjoy cozy mysteries or lighter police procedurals with romance you’ll enjoy this. I would suggest reading in order to get follow the friend group. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (4.5 Stars)

I enjoyed the first University Police book and was delighted that Ms Walsh was continuing the series. This book does not disappoint. There are the same characters from the first book, but a different central couple. Antigone (Tig) is trying to adapt her Classics department to reflect the changing attitude to colonialism in academia. But somehow a stuffy old department becomes embroiled in murder and trafficking of antiquities.

Sergeant Kent is getting antsy as a desk jockey and decides to partner with Clare from the first book to investigate a punch up that develops into murder. Kent is a career cop but finds herself drawn to the funny, endearing Tig. But the relationship is surely doomed as the Classics department is giving the University a bad name and may be closed completely.

There’s a lot going on in this novel and it is all well handled by a very good author. The characters are likeable and their push/pull relationship feels ‘real’. The banter and respect between Clare and Kent as they figure out their professional boundaries is well developed and I am already looking forward to book three. Fingers crossed.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley

This is the second book in the University Police Series and focuses on the murder of two Classics Department professors at the school. I generally enjoyed the relationship between the Classics Department head, Tig Weston, and Sergeant Adriana Kent, a campus police officer who works the murder investigation cases. The murder mystery was far superior, in my opinion, in Book One of the series. This mystery seemed to get too bogged down for my liking in petty arguments between staff members. Still a worthy read. 3 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.