Fiction Fridays: The Emperor of Ocean Park: An Intellectual Must-Read Mystery

I will be upfront and say that I do not gravitate towards mysteries or thrillers. However, I couldn't put this book down. I think the academia aspect kept me intrigued since one of the main characters is a law professor named Talcott Garland. I have always been fascinated by learning, education, and the university world, so getting a peek into the politics and pressures of this world really interested me.
The writing itself was also superb, and obviously Stephen L. Carter's background earning his BA at Stanford and a JD from Yale where he still teaches. This real world experiences serves this book well and truly shows the intricacies of this profession.
Besides the academic aspect, the whodunit revolves around Talcott's father's death which me believes was a murder. Even more bizarre, Talcott starts unraveling clues that his father seemed to leave just for him. The mystery keeps you going until pretty much the very last pages, and the culmination is a son accepting that he has to live up to his own expectations, not his father's.
A wonderful blend of life lessons, loss, and coming to terms with yourself all come together to create a story that will stimulate your mind and your heart. Engaging, intricate, and informative, this book has it all and is worth a read even if you are like me and don't normally read the mystery/thriller genre.