History Lessons is a smart, funny cozy mystery!

College professor Daphne investigates the murder of a colleague, and the killers come after Daphne thinking she knows, and has, something belonging to their murder victim. Readers learn that Sam, her colleague, isn't exactly what he seemed to be, despite his popularity.

I enjoyed reading a cozy mystery in academia; in fact, Daphne's experience reminded me of my experiences. There are lots of moving parts here, so it can become a bit overwhelming and difficult to keep up at times. However, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more from Zoe!

I absolutely lo,ved this book and sincerely hope that it becomes a series. Daphne Ouverture is a new professor of French History at prestigious, elite Harrison College (seems like Harvard). She comes from a family of investigators, and seems to have a finely tuned sixth sense, as well as an incredible memory for written text. She is Black, and is very aware and forthcoming of how differently she has to work to achieve success and be noticed and respected in the academic world. This point of view adds a lot of depth to the mystery. She is also protective of young women students, and becomes even more so when one of her colleagues, Sam Taylor, an up and coming star professor, is murdered. It seems that he had a well-hidden pattern of assaulting his students. As much as Daphne would like to keep her head down and work hard, she can't help but be drawn into solving Sam's murder. She also develops a love interest, which adds even more fun and interest to this story. I look forward to recommending this title and can't wait for more of Daphne's adventures.

Clunky writing, overuse of some tropes, and not good editing. Should have loved it, but just couldn't with the issues of language and the cluelessness of the main character.

Oh, I loved this. Smart, sharply written, emotionally grounded—and somehow both satisfying and sad in all the right ways.

Daphne Ouverture is one of the most compelling characters I’ve read in a while: brilliant, observant, guarded, and weary in ways that feel deeply human. When she receives a strange message from a colleague—followed by news of his death—she’s drawn into a layered campus mystery. But this is so much more than a whodunit. It’s about who gets believed, what gets buried, and how hard it is to live a life that’s stable but shrinking.

Wallbrook’s writing is stunning—precise, wry, and emotionally sharp. The character work is layered and unsparing: a line about shrinking the world to fit in your hand, or realizing you’re not afraid to fail—you’re afraid to win. And then a beat later, a Drag Race joke or a squirrel donut riot. It’s a voice that trusts the reader, and I loved being in it.

The novel engages deeply with race, power, and institutional harm—especially the isolation of being “the only one” in spaces built to exclude. Daphne’s story lays bare the quiet, relentless calculations required to survive in academia, and the emotional toll of constantly making yourself smaller to stay safe. The book doesn’t flatten those realities—it names them, with clarity and care—and makes Daphne’s choice to finally speak, fully and without softening, feel both hard-won and heroic.

I can’t believe this is a debut. I already want more from Zoe Wallbrook—this voice, this character, this depth. Thank you to SoHo Crime for the gifted ebook to review.

I really wanted to like this but struggled with a few aspects. I can tell this author wants this to fall within the “cozy mystery” genre, but it was a little too all over the place to hit that mark. The central mystery was interesting enough, but the prose style was very clunky and kept taking me out of the narrative.

History Lessons‘ setup ticked lots of boxes for me, so my expectations for Zoe B Wallbrook’s debut novel were high.

This novel’s fictional university campus and university town make a great setting for a crime mystery. It offers up opportunities for plausible interactions between people from all walks of life within a complex social hierarchy rife with tension and secrets. Many elements of this setting are vividly drawn, some to the brink of satirisation, such as the questionable building architecture and pugilistic squirrels. I suspect many of the fictional details are actually Wallbrook’s sly nods to relevant historical places and artefacts.

Lead Daphne is a character who is special in many ways. A young female African-American professor specialising in French History at a US university, her minority experience and viewpoint is a well that Wallbrook plumbs at multiple depths. Being a history nerd, she’s an avid researcher and reader — cue many literary, art and history references. Plus, readers progressively learn of additional skills and experience Daphne has, which prove quite fortuitous given the gutsy sleuthing she finds herself undertaking.

Is Daphne a unicorn? Yes…. but that makes for a refreshingly interesting, and gutsy, literary cozy mystery heroine. The minority representation in History Lessons does not stop at Daphne either. Pleasingly, Wallbrook has populated her novel with a genuinely diverse cast and experience set, in which strong females shine bright. Wallbrook also throws into this mix an endearing father figure for Daphne to lean on, a bookish beau to bond with, and an affectionate pet to cuddle.
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However, when you put so many wonderful fictional ingredients in a single pot, like so many debut novelists do, getting the balance between them just right can be tricky. I say this rarely, but it is possible to have too much cleverness packed into a single novel.

I enjoyed Wallbrook’s literary descriptions, self-talk and reflection, but at times the point felt laboured, or at least stymied the story pacing. At other times, Daphne’s swiftness to act required suspension of disbelief. The criminal mystery in History Lessons is sufficiently layered and complex to exercise the mind — big tick from me. But, the investigative journey felt unwieldy at times, the sense of urgency and momentum uneven.

Despite these weaknesses in execution, Wallbrook has set up a great stage and set of characters for a mystery series — one I’d certainly be interested in continuing to read. History Lessons may not be best suited for readers seeking the typical highly accessible narrative and swift pacing of a cozy mystery, but those who like more literary mysteries will find plenty to enjoy. 3.75 Stars.

I liked this book, but some of the writing was a bit clunky for me. For example, there were so many similes that pulled me out of the story. A very noticeable amount of similes!
The story was interesting and if there are more books with this main character I would probably read them because I like mysteries and I really like finding mysteries that are written by BIPOC authors.
I really liked the book discussions and the bookstore side story of course!
There were a few convenient coincidences in the book, and a lot of blatantly but cluelessly putting herself in harm's way, but overall I still liked the book!

4 stars

Fans of mysteries and generally amazing protagonists rejoice! Daphne Ouverture, the charming protagonist of this nicely paced mystery, MAKES this book.

Daphne is a new history professor and as a woman of color, she is facing all of the gross obstacles that exist for those of us who enter that profession not looking like tiny Chaucers and Emersons. Fortunately, she has an amazing network. Her parents are a kick, her friends are fully devoted (and hilarious), and her dog, Chloe, is a queen among dogs. Daphne is also brilliant, funny, driven, and layered. Folks who have worked in this field, particularly those who share one or more of Daphne's identities, will find aspects of this wildly relatable (from everyone's hatred of grading to students' approaches to their grades to the depiction of department meetings). I came for the mystery but absolutely stayed for the atmosphere.

Don't get me wrong; the mystery is also compelling. There are also romantic elements, interesting connections to texts, and generally great characters throughout.

I'd love to see this be the start of a series so that I can spend more time with these characters and with this writer. Recommended!

Zoe B Wallbrook's History Lessons worked for me on a number of levels. It is the best kind of semi-cozy mystery with a very likeable, somewhat retiring professorial sleuth. She is happy teaching, writing and hanging out with her dog. Her love life is pretty much non-existent, but she has a job she loves (most of the time) and some great, great friends. The friend dynamic that Wallbrook has created here is spectacular, and I definitely want more of the sidekicks (hoping this is the start of a series).

What made this book work for me, and has me hoping for more, is that this is more than just a cozy. The mystery that Daphne Ouverture gets drawn into is not a clean or cozy one. There is a ton of intersectional identity exploration here as Daphne navigates being a young Black woman in a heavily white, mysogynistic professional environment. When she discovers that she has been stalked without her knowledge, we feel the violation along with her. When she faces down a racist, misogynistic colleague, we're cheering right along with her.

There are some amazing bonuses here - the friends I've already referred to, the very, very charming romantic interest, and Daphne's amazing, hilarious, kick-ass parents. The gradual reveal about another intersectional part of Daphne's background is one of my favourite things about this book.

This is not an easy read - content warnings around childhood abuse, sexual assault, stalking and campus misogyny. It is, however, a read that is worth your time, and an introduction to an amazing character.

This is an amazing debut novel! I was so excited when I found out that this will be a series. This academic thriller was so entertaining. I loved the mystery aspect of the book and I’ll definitely be reading the next one.

To be honest, this one bored me to tears! I just didn't connect with the long recitations regarding French history and literature and the mystery was so convoluted. This also felt extremely long. I just wanted it to be over. Hope you have better luck!!

History Lessons comes out next week on July 1, 2025, and you can purchase HERE.

Daphne Overture, assistant professor of European history, scholar of modern French imperialism, and semiprofessional rambler on the horrors of colonial medicine slammed her car door shut.

"What are we talking about here on a scale of one to five?" The car's Bluetooth speakers took over, brightening Elise's light soprano. "One being that time you set your date's shirtsleeve on fire with a candle"

"That was an accident," Daphne muttered. "We went on like two more dates after that."

"—and five being when you went out with that silver fox of a man who was super-into you only for you to realize at dinner that he was the dad of one of your students?"

Daphne cringed while she maneuvered her car onto the road.
No wonder she'd banned dating in Calliope.

A murder mystery that's also a pointed poke at academia. Daphne is a junior professor with a speciality in French colonialism (I liked the tidbits of historical facts throughout). She's also one of the very few people of color at the university. Sam was the star of the anthropology department but he was also someone Daphne avoided so why did he text her and how on earth did she get wrapped up in is mess, a mess that she now has to solve because someone is after her. The mystery is nicely crafted, with topical elements, and there's a bit of romance, but the star of this is Daphne. She's a dynamic character- a professor who cares about her students and who goes looking for a villain not only to solve a crime but also to see things right. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Good storytelling makes for a good read. It's a nice debut.

History Lessons is a clever mystery and the main character Daphne is somebody that I absolutely would love to have an adventure with. I was gripped from the start and found the book really interesting, prompting me to do research on bits of history mentioned that I previously knew very little about. The author is very talented and I look forward to reading what she writes next!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was not my usual read but I liked it a lot! The story is smart and twisty with engaging characters and an intriguing mystery. As you might expect there's quite a bit of tension here, between the murder mystery and the academic politics, all of which definitely held my interest. There are lots of quirky and interesting details to pay attention to, with a lot of layered sub-plots, so slow down your reading for peak enjoyment. Daphne has a wry voice and outlook that I really enjoyed. Her sincere love of teaching and passion for her subject matter was endearing. Her frustration regarding how her age and ethnicity shaped other's views of her was clear and compelling, and should be relatable to a lot of readers. There is a large cast of vivid and unique supporting characters, although to me Rowan's character felt a little underdeveloped considering his role in Daphne's narrative. As mentioned above there are a lot of moving parts in this story, my only complaint is maybe there's a bit too much going on here. This made it a little harder for me to stay focused on all the facets of the murder mystery, and it extended the story past what could have been assumed to be several natural stopping points. And while it wasn't a concise book it was still very engaging and ultimately wrapped up the plot points in a satisfying way. A content note: given the variety of dark plot points in this book, if you're sensitive to certain content besides the obvious murder plot then it's probably a good idea to risk spoilers and carefully review any content warnings. And on a lighter aside, there's just way too many mention of the town squirrels in this book to be a coincidence! It's either an inside Ivy League town joke that I don't get, or the author has a squirrel fixation lol.

This book felt like maybe it's being set up as a series, one I'd happily continue reading. This is a new-to-me author with a great voice and a sharply intelligent writing style, and I would definitely read her again! 4.5 stars. Publishes July 1, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary eARC of the book, all opinions are my own.

History Lessons was such a fun, refreshing mystery! It’s set at a university, which gave it an academic vibe without feeling too heavy. I loved that the main character is a history professor and that there were so many interesting facts sprinkled throughout that actually made me want to learn more. The mystery kept me guessing, and there’s even a little romance that was super cute without taking over the plot. I loved Daphne and Chloe and can’t wait to see what Zoe has in stock for the next book.

A debut crime mystery, History Lessons (2025) by Zoe B. Wallbrook is so much more, with its humour, romance and a determined, whip-smart hero. A new college professor at Harrison University in the town of Calliope, Daphne Ouverture is enjoying her first semester of teaching French History. When Sam Taylor, a department colleague is murdered, Daphne gets caught up in the police investigation. Sam had sent her a text message prior to his death, and one of her books is missing. The appointment of a new University Dean complicates matters and Daphne’s academic career is placed under threat. Promoted as a gentle crime mystery, History Lessons is a sophisticated academic story that has subtle underpinning themes of power, politics and gender. Yet, it’s an immensely readable, engaging exposé of serious issues in an enjoyable crime mystery, that is a fiver star plus rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Soho Press and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

History Lessons follows Daphne, a junior professor at Harrison University, who spends her days teaching and going on terrible dates. When the golden boy of the anthropology department, Sam, ends up murdered, Daphne finds herself pulled into the mystery. But who killed him and why? And why did Sam send her a text in French right before he died?

I absolutely loved Daphne, her best friends, and her parents. All of them felt like real people, people that I would love to hang out with. The addition of a love interest that was into books as well made me swoon a bit too. Everything about this book felt like what I wanted to read at this moment in time. I was looking for something a bit more cozy but that had some substance to it. This was the perfect fit. While we jump into the initial story, I assumed, like many would, that the main story revolved around the mystery of Sam's work, that him planning to expose a local prison had to be involved. It was fascinating seeing the story become so much more and discuss topics surrounding sexual harassment in academia. I was sad to see it end and hope this is the beginning of a series. I'd love to see Daphne jump into investigating more cases related to academia!

Daphne Ouverture is a new professor at a small, prestigious university when a fellow professor turns up dead, having only randomly texted Daphne hours before his death. She must figure out how why she is tied to his death while narrowing avoiding her own demise. This smart, though sometimes outlandish mystery is a fun read.

i wanted to read this book after it was described as similar to the Netflix series The Chair with Sandra Oh. I thought it was a realistic and thoughtful depiction of academia, especially what Black women in the field endure on a regular basis. I thought the characters were relatable. The pacing of resolving the mystery was good, it was funny at the right times and the romance between the bibliophiles was a nice touch.

This was an ok read quick fast pace office read I liked it I will recommend for this book!!! I think some will love it as a fast read