I feel bad giving this a bad review. I was so excited for it. A cozy mystery set on a college campus written by a professor sounds like my cat nip. However the plot moves so slowly. The main character, a young tenure-track, black, history professor, is so negative. I work in academia so I am familiar with the issues. The racism, ageism, pomposity, i totally get it. But the main character has won the lottery in terms of her career and she cannot stop complaining. It took all the cozy out of the mystery. It also takes her a long time to actually start investigating? I just felt bored and frustrated.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the audiobook copy!

The cover hooked me with this novel that I had to check it out regardless of what it was about. The story was not bad but definitely could have been better. In terms of mystery, this falls into the type where we have to suffer through the protagonist (who we're told is smart) trying to solve a mystery that was very obvious from the beginning. I also wished we got more background on the other characters. It would have made up for the overall okay mystery. I would still recommend checking this out as it may work for someone but for me, I found it to be okay.

5 fun and entertaining stars
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook. It has something for everyone: a mystery, a blooming romance (that is both passionate and clean), characters with distinctive voices and strong relationships, action, subtle humor and current social issues. Wallbrook does an outstanding job weaving these elements together in a fun and entertaining narrative.

Jasmin Walker did a fantastic job narrating the book. I listen to Audiobooks regularly and her voices and dialog are among the top ones I’ve ever heard! She really made the book come alive. I will look for more of her narrations.

I hope this is part of a continuing series! Fabulous debut from a funny author who knows how to write! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

History Lessons started off slow for me, and as someone who doesn't typically read mysteries, I almost didn't finish it. But I'm so glad I stuck with it. Once the story picked up I found myself completely invested in the amateur sleuthing. The plot was easy to follow, a welcome change from some of the overly convoluted mysteries I’ve encountered in the past.

What surprised me most was the book's depth. It tackles several heavy and dark topics I wasn't expecting, like sexual assault, campus politics, and race in academia, all woven into the mystery without feeling preachy. I even enjoyed the hint of romance, which, as a self-proclaimed "romance girlie," was a bonus.

By the end, all the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place, and I appreciated that the author left no plot holes. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking mystery. The narrator also did a fantastic job bringing the characters and the story to life, making the audiobook a truly enjoyable experience.

Thank you to Zoe B. Wallbrook, RBmedia | Recorded Books and NetGalley for giving me early access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook might be my favorite cozy mystery debut novel of this year. I absolutely love our amateur sleuth Daphne Overture, who is perceptive, empathetic, and endlessly witty. I wish I could be part of her circle of friends along with her hilarious and extremely supportive best friends Sadie and Elise. What elevates this cozy mystery from the slew of others that I have read is the added discussions of life as an academic, particularly from the perspective as a BIPOC professor in a predominately white institution. The book also addresses racism, sexism, and sexual harrasment, which are woven seamlessly in the story and not heavy handed. I also appreciated the organic inclusion of diversity within the secondary characters in the book too.

Funny, thought provoking, and a cast of incredibly likeable characters, this is a debut that you don't want to miss. It is for sure going to be on my staff pick recommendations for this year. I can not wait to revisit these characters and join Daphne on her future mysteries. Two big thumbs up!

Jasmine Walker is a terrific narrator for this series. She exudes the personalities so perfectly for all of the characters. Her natural cadence made this audiobook such a delight to listen to. Please have her narrate the entire series!

TW: Sexual assault, stalking, sexual harassment, racial microagressions

Thank you to Netgalley, Recorded Books, Soho Crime for an advanced copy of the book.

I enjoyed this mystery, but its biggest strength was in its setting and vibes. the University setting felt very real, the problems faculty and students are facing relevant to today, but also the *feeling* of being in a university town was very well described and felt quite nostalgic to me.

Daphne was a believable character, fleshed out by a strong supporting cast. I especially liked her parents and the importance of her family history to her current research and values. This was helped by the great audiobook narrator who made each character come to life. I enjoyed the French elements too but as somebody who studied French I'm probably a bit biased on that front 😂

The mystery was engrossing and touched on some interesting and varied elements to keep you guessing, but I kept being taken out of it by the romance. I usually really like a romance subplot but this just felt too "instalove" for me, to the point that I didn't care about the subplot and just wanted Daphne to get back to business. Literally every time she looked at him she said something horny. It just all felt a bit much. This was probably worsened by the audiobook as if I read it in print I could have skipped over it, and it would have annoyed me less.

That said, this was an enjoyable well-written mystery and I would definitely read more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free audio copy of this book in exchange for a review.

A history professor who just joined a university, gets herself tangled into a murder of a fellow professor after realizing that the dead professor sent her a cryptic message just before his time of death. This was a very promising start and I was very invested in the story in the beginning. I liked the academic background, the university setting and the police and consultant.
I liked how Daphne kept on going even though she was in danger multiple times. It showed how brave she was and thanks to her father, his background made him so much more cooler. Very important topics were discussed in this book like university politics, racism , misogyny, misuse of power, which I really liked to read.
The mystery itself was easy to figure out for me so after that it was just me waiting to see how Daphne figures it out so that part got a little boring. but I appreciate that there were no loose ends or far fetched explanations.
Overall the setting was great but the execution could have been better.

I really enjoyed this read. I enjoyed the characters and I really hope that this becomes a series so we can keep getting to know them. This book felt smart and witty.

Thank you to the publisher (audiobook producer?) and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ok, this is a great listen. History Lessons follows Daphne, a young Associate Professor of French History at Harrison University, an elite university, trying to make tenure. She's still finding her way through academia whilst being a Black woman who has to battle prejudice, subtle as well as overt. Everything that she knows is thrown off kilter when she gets sent a cryptic voicemail by a colleague, another young, hotshot professor who strangely turns up dead. Cue her being implicated in the crime and of course, she gets involved to clear her name.

The narrator for this audiobook is great. She's extremely talented at doing all the different accents and inflections, and her voice is very easy on the ears. The story itself is a very strong one. The backdrop of a murder in academia is an interesting one as the thought of violent crime is in such stark contrast to academia but the idea works because this book divulges not only the violence of the act of murder but the various ego clashes, powerplays, power dynamics and workplace politics that go into running an esteemed institution. Not to mention there is a very necessary thread running throughout this whole book of the way in which Black people, and Black women specifically, are treated in a field like academia. This is very well covered by the author (I suspect they are an academic themselves!). As a WoC in STEM myself, I can totally identify with the impostor syndrome, having to work 10x harder to prove myself than a white colleague, the general bias that comes with looking a certain way, etc.

The mystery itself isn't the strong point, which, ok, is pretty run of the mill. The revelation of the murderer wasn't particularly shocking (especially so if you're a serial mystery reader) but the world building, themes of belonging as a Black woman in a white area, being a Black academic, the subtle microaggressions of racism that Black women face on a daily basis, this is what really makes the book interesting and worthwhile, and overall, a pretty solid read. I hope this is the beginning of a new series, because I'd definitely like to keep reading.

A solid 4 stars/5.

I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book. When it got to the point that they figured out who the killer was, I felt like that should've been the ending. The additional investigation into sexual assault was fine, my only issue is that it felt like it came out of nowhere instead of the idea being planted early on in the story.
The narrator was brilliant. Her voice was very pleasant to listen to. She was also really great at the different accents and voices.
I'll update this review with a link to the social media post once that it up.

Incredible debut! I absolutely loved the cast of characters. Daphne is a great character, and, impressively, the side characters are well fleshed out, too -- I would love future novels where we can spend more time with Daphne and her family and friends! As a romance novel lover, I am so also here for the sexy detective-turned-bookseller love interest! This had the feel of a "cozy mystery" with the college campus setting and charming sense of humor, but it does get heavy at times. For me, the characters kept me invested in this, but the mystery does tie up nicely. The narrator does a lovely job bringing these great characters to life. Highly recommend checking this one out. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook

While mystery isn't my primary genre but this book had me completely hooked. The story follows Daphne Overture, a junior history professor who finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation after her colleague is killed and a strange message links her to the case. What unfolds is a clever, layered mystery interwined with campus politics, romantic tension, and sharp commentary on life as black woman navigating academia.

Wallbrook's writing is immersive and nuanced, with worldbuilding that feels lived in and authentic. The pacing balances slower, character driven moments with tense turns, and the audiobook narration is excellent, adding depth and distinct voices to each character. And the ending? Perfectly executed. The emotional payoff feels very earned. I would love to read more about Daphne and whatever mystery she solves next. I would highly recommend for readers who love smart, character driven mysteries with romance and depth.

The moment I started this book, I was hooked. From the mystery around Daphne's colleague's death to the debate over the new Dean of the college and the dangerous target on Daphne's back. I enjoyed it all. On the surface, it seemed Daphne's connection to a colleague's death was non-existent. Until she realizes a random text from him in french is a message from a beloved personal book of hers--that's suddenly gone missing. 

Daphne's intuitive, kind and professional nature despite the microaggressions she endures at Harrison University made her an instant favorite character for me. Her supportive best friends and her ex-CIA father made the story even more entertaining when Daphne sought out answers on her own to track down her missing book. Sam's 'charmer' personality didn't fool everyone, but it hid a lot of dark secrets both on and off campus. 
The more Daphne uncovers; the greater the danger.

This was my introduction to the author's work and I'm excited to read from her again.

I loved this book. I found the story to be engaging and the plot twists intriguing. The main character is likeable and relatable in many ways, and I enjoyed the writing of how she thought through the problems.
This had a bit more substance to it than many cosy mysteries but still maintained that vibe.
Would 100% recommend!

I love the main character so much, and the rep for women and BIPOC folks in higher education. There was a little too much going on in the mystery which kinda lost me at times

I am torn about History Lessons; some things I loved, a lot I didn’t. Our main character is history professor, Daphne Ouverture, who is trying to solve the murder of another professor, Sam Taylor. Sam’s text to her the night of his death was strange, as is the fact that one of her books is missing. It all must be connected to his death and she needs to find out how.

I want to love Daphne. She’s smart and tough and I appreciated her thoughts on race and feminism and society. I didn’t like the way she instantly smitten with Rowan, the police consultant/bookstore owner. I didn’t like how unsure she seemed of herself in the beginning, especially after we meet her family and see how she deals with some situations later on in the book.

I love the language in the book and the literary and historical references. You could make a whole reading list based on this one. I liked the glimpse into faculty life and academic politics.

The mystery was engrossing, with well-placed clues and plenty of suspects. It also felt like the author had to great ideas and just had to combine them both. I do wish it the blurb had been written differently. This one deals with some heavy topics and was not as light-hearted as I expected going in. I actually almost DNFed it. It turned out I’m glad I didn’t, even if I wasn’t thrilled with the case’s wrap-up. Hopefully, the next one will be a bit more enjoyable, both because I assume it will deal with a different topic and I’ll know more what to expect.

I listened to the audio and the narrator did a great job bringing Daphne to life. The personalities she brought to the characters was great and took a bit of the dark edge off.

I sadly did not get a chance to finish this book. I got about half way through and found myself getting caught up in the spiderweb of stories going on with the actually mystery taking a back seat. I think the concept for this is lovely and I wanted to hear more about the story it advertises.

I tried very hard with this read but… It was just not it for me. To manny unnecessary things happening and the story would not get to the point of what the story actually was.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for giving me a copy of the audiobook in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own


I'm a sucker for cozy mysteries. It's one of my go-to book genres and I'm always on the look-out for a Black women led cozy mystery. So when I saw the amazing cover and the description, I thought I give this a try


Synopsis according to GJ: Daphne Overture is a junior professor at the prestigious Harrison University. Between grading papers for her French colonialism course and working on her book research, Daphne just wants to stay under the radar. After a disastrous first date, Daphne gets a mysterious text from the university's golden boy professor, Sam Taylor. Something about prisons and Chinese people??? And they weren't even close. How did he even get her number?


The next day, Daphne gets news that Sam is dead and no one can find his phone or his research for his upcoming article Soon, she realizes that there's much more to Sam's mysterious text and she might have the answers the cops need to find his killer


Review: For me, part of the fun of a mystery book is the lead. Yes, I'm looking for a competent lead and an interesting backdrop of characters but overall, I'm looking for someone I'd want to stand over a fictional dead body with. There's nothing quite so frustrating as to be "stuck" searching for answers with a character I'm lukewarm towards.


It took me a while to warm up to Daphne. Don't get me wrong, I thought she was nice. I liked her friendly demeanor and her amazing friends but something about her desire to stay under the radar didn't mesh well with me. As an autistic Black woman in my 30s, other people's opinion of me doesn't matter as much as it used to.


It wasn't until about 30% into the book where the whole thing clicked for me. As a plus sized Black woman, Daphne stands out in the world of academia, especially in her niche field. The book heavily deals with misogynoir, the particular racism Black women deal with. Throughout the book, we see the microaggressions Daphne endures on a daily basis and it's exhausting. I was constantly screaming "Excuse me?!" or "The eff you just say to her?" as I progressed through the book. In the book, one of Daphne's friends, Sadie goes off on someone in Daphne's defense and I wanted to break the 4th wall to high five her.


I applaud Wallbrook's careful handling of it. I appreciate how it doesn't come off as lecturing the audience or self pitying. Rather, Wallbrook frames misogynoir for what it is: a new layer to the terrible things existing the world. It's as if you're at a terrible party with awful food and someone you hate walks in. You just throw your arms up and scream "And now this prick just showed up! Of course!" At the end, a character says something just briming with a particular bit of privilege, it made me hang my head and sigh.


She also deftly handles the subject of harassment and sexual assault and why some victims never come forward. In the end, Wallbrook addresses the institutes that keep abusers in power as well as assuring the victims that they are not to blame.


For Wallbrook's debut novel, she did a great job with the clues and filling the story with interesting characters. This might be the first mystery book where I finished it and immediately went back to the prologue for character details. Wallbrook did a great job of leaving breadcrumbs without spoiling the whole mystery or making Daphne seem incompetent or too naive. Once the plot really got going, I found myself cheering Daphne along. By 70%, I was screaming "LET'S GOOOOOOOO" like I was watching a game. I was so proud of our girl by the end and I really hope for more installments in Daphne's story.


I must also confess something though. A key part of the book is the book Papillion by Henri Charriere and everytime I heard the book title, my Kpop brain rot started screaming the chorus of Jackson Wang's Papillion. It did help with an important reveal later but at a chaotic cost.


That said, I did get a little bit of fatigue from the infodumps and the academic stuff. I also felt like some points and turns of phrases were kind of ran into ground by the end. Nothing that was too distracting but I did find myself making a little game of it by the end. The romance stuff was also a little middling for me but it was nice. I appreciated that she sidestepped the issues of a cop romance plot and addressing why some people are reluctant towards law enforcement.


I would absolutely look another book in this world. Wallbrook created an interesting world and I can easily see this becoming a series, complete with a "Finally, we're on a international trip to rela- Wait, how have I found myself in another murder investigation?" book. I'd absolutely love to meet more of the Ouverture family


I also wanted to praise audiobook narrator Jazmin Walker. She gave such life to each character and played a large part of my enjoyment. She had to juggle an African and Creole accent as well as the plentiful French and more scholastic phrases. I don't speak French so I can't say whether or not Walker said them correctly but it definitely sounded pleasant to me! I did notice that Walker pronounced "Sword" as "Sward", saying the W in the word. I'm not a stickler for word pronunciation but it did stick out to me. That said, considering Daphne's diverse background, part of me wonders if that was an intention choice as some cultures might pronounce the word like that. I know I've heard it in the south.


Overall, I give this book 4 stars. I look forward to Wallbrook's future work and what more she can bring to the genre



TW: Death, misogynoir, misogyny, racism, stalking, an attempted abduction, sexual assault including discussion of child sexual assault, police brutality, brief gun violence,

I really enjoyed this debut mystery with a touch of romance and humor. I liked the female protagonist, who has interesting cultural roots and is trying to do the right thing amidst challenges. I also especially enjoyed her parents, each quirky in their own way: mom takes control and has strong opinions, dad is a cool guy and former spy. I liked the narrator's depiction of all the characters. This book was a nice change from other cozy mysteries and I hope to see another by this author soon!

Thank you to RBMedia and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.