The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn (Inspector Morse)

This third novel in the Morse series has the culturally acute detective enter the world of academic examinations boards, in which the author worked. A deaf exam setter is murdered and, after some hefty hints as to the morderer's identity, Morse tries to identify which of a limited set of suspects is guilty. When the board's female secretary is attacked, Morse's protective feelings are roused. THe solution of the mystery is entwined with Morse's romantic response to the secretary, and a parallel mystery about a breach of examination security. For all Morse's circumlocutions, and deductive errors, the pace is fast and the characters' conversations are rich in this satisfying mystery novel.