The Oxford Murders

Guillermo Martinez
translated by Sonia Soto

An Argentinean man recalls when he went to Oxford University on a mathematics grant. Shortly after he arrives his landlady is murdered. A note is left that says "the first of a series" with a circle on it. The note is left in the pigeon hole mail box at Oxford University of one of the greatest mathematicians and logician of the time, Arthur Seldom. Soon the student finds himself aligned with Dr. Seldom trying to prevent a series of murders.

This tale is told in first person narrative by the student. He recalls that wonderful first summer in England as he gets his work together to earn the grant, meets new people, adjusts to a foreign culture, falls in love and is pulled into the higher echelon of the mathematics world. He is awed by Seldom at first, then as they work on a series of deaths that appear to be a logic sequence problem, he learns how much he has to learn. He gets comfortable with Seldom as time goes on yet is able to keep his sense of self as well.

This is an enjoyable lazy read. If, like me, you find the mathematics hard to wade through, you can skim them enough to understand what a lay person needs to follow the mystery. It isn't deep yet has enough twists, turns, and magic to keep the reader involved. The reader is challenged to follow the logical sequence presented with the murder. There are two mysteries that were never answered for me, though. What is the name of our young man? (Ok, shades of Rebecca.) What is the next symbol in the sample sequence Seldom gives to the student at the beginning of the murders (I'm not a mathematician and that one doesn't mean anything to me)?

Publicist provided for review