This mystery features Pepper Keane, a private investigator who has been hired to examine the seemingly unrelated deaths of three mathematics professors who study fractal geometry. Pepper is an interesting character as he suffers from mild depression and major existential angst, but has a good heart (and likes to exercise). Pepper also has a wide range of friends who are willing to help his investigation by committing slightly illegal acts. I enjoyed this book, the unusual topic (fractal geometry), and I gained some insight into the academic world, at least for mathematicians.