The murder of a college professor uncovers long-buried Cold War secrets in this "suspense-filled" mystery in the Oxford Dogwalkers' series (Booklist).

Shortly before Christmas, Professor James Lowell is found brutally attacked in his rooms at Walsingham College, where dog-lover Anna Hopkins works as an administrator. Baffled as to why anyone would wish to harm such a gentle scholar, Anna discovers that her fellow dog walker, Isadora Salzman, knew Lowell as an undergraduate in the 1960s. They were both members of the so-called Oxford Six—and it seems that Isadora has been keeping a surprising secret all these years. But someone else knows about Isadora's secret: someone who has sent her a threatening, frightening letter.

Could the attack on Professor Lowell have its roots in a fifty-year-old murder? And who is targeting Isadora and the surviving members of the Oxford Six? Anna, Isadora, and Tansy, the dog walking detectives, make it their business to find out.

This mystery series for adult readers is an intriguing new departure for award-winning YA writer Annie Dalton. Dalton is the author of more than thirty novels for children and young adults, including the Angels Unlimited series. She has twice been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

"This taut . . . nail-biter of a mystery is chock-full of surprises and will appeal to a wide range of mystery lovers." —Booklist

"Dog lovers will enjoy the canine interludes." —Publishers Weekly