H.N. Hirsch's mystery novel, Winter (Pisgah Press, 2025) operates as both an academic mystery and an intimate domestic drama, weaving together the public investigation of the murder of an obnoxious professor with the private crisis threatening a colleague and his long-term relationship The novel's strength lies in its authentic portrayal of academic culture, drawing on Hirsch's extensive experience in higher education to expose the toxic intersection of intellectual ambition, institutional politics, and personal vendettas.
The murder investigation serves as a catalyst for exploring deeper themes of truth, loyalty, and moral compromise. The murder victim, Charles Silver, functions as a complex antagonist whose sexual compulsions and intellectual arrogance create a web of potential suspects, each representing different aspects of academic dysfunction—from career rivalry to administrative corruption to intellectual obsession. The revelation of Silver's HIV diagnosis adds another layer of consequence to his reckless behavior.
Parallel to the mystery, an infidelity subplot provides the novel's emotional core. Hirsch handles this marital crisis with remarkable sensitivity, using grief over a parent's death and fear of aging to explain without excusing betrayal. The therapy sessions and gradual reconciliation feel authentic, avoiding both easy forgiveness and melodramatic dissolution.
The academic setting allows Hirsch to satirize university culture while maintaining respect for intellectual work. The portrayal of faculty politics, administrative bureaucracy, and the pressure for academic advancement rings true without descending into caricature.
Structurally, the novel balances multiple plotlines effectively, creating a rich family tapestry that grounds the more sensational murder plot. The resolution suggests that truth in both crime and relationships often remains partial and complicated, reflecting the novel's sophisticated understanding of human motivation and institutional corruption.
Links to purchase
Paperback http://www.amzn.com/B0F64CZK88
Kindle http://www.amzn.com/B0F92ZZ8XM
Also available for immediate shipment from Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/winter-h-n-hirsch/1147333399?ean=9781942016960
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