University inspires Waldron's second murder mystery in series

Could Princeton really be harboring a killer? This is the question posed once again by Ann Waldron in the recently-published "Death of a Princeton President," the second volume in her "Princeton Murders" series.

In the series, Waldron writes of a Pulitzer-prizewinning investigative reporter coming to the University to teach "Literature of Fact," a popular humanities class.

"The Princeton Murders: Big Crime on Campus," the first novel in the series, was published in January 2003 and topped the U-Store's bestseller list last year.

Though Waldron was quick to point out that "the characters [in the novel] are completely imaginary," she said she tried "to make it very accurate as far as the campus is concerned." She explained that she drew on her campus experience for descriptions.

As a former senior administrator in the University's Office of Communications, Waldron also took classes for three years through the program in continuing education: "I took exams and turned in papers," she said. "I still use the library, and I still swim at Dillon."

Indeed, Princetonians who read the novel might recognize many familiar places and names, including Nassau Hall, Prospect Garden, Cannon Green, Cottage Club and the Triangle show.

Waldron's description of Alexander Hall at the beginning of "Death of a Princeton President" even includes discussion of the rumor surrounding the building's creation — that the architect had designed the building as part his senior thesis, but had received a failing grade on the project.

Waldron has written other, unpublished mysteries before, including one set in Florida, where she was living at the time. "And I thought 'What about Princeton?'" she said.

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Waldron explained that she was interested in the contrast between a murderous atmosphere and Princeton — "basically a beautiful, lovely place."

She said it was the campus that inspired her story: "I don't stick a plot onto it," she said. "Place is the origin of it all."

Asked by her editor to write a mystery set at Harvard University, Waldron said she declined the offer. "It wouldn't have appeared as realistic," she said.

For the first novel in the Princeton series Waldron attended classes taught by writing program professor Kathryn Watterson and interviewed former director of Public Safety Jerrold Witsil.

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For "Death of a Princeton President," she said she took a tour of the chapel with Sue Ann Morrow, former associate dean of religious life, and Bernie LaFleur, sexton of the chapel.

Though Waldron had originally agreed to write three books, her contract was extended for two more. She recently turned in her third manuscript on mayhem at the Princeton Theological Seminary. The fourth volume will take place in the library, she said.

Waldron will be reading from "Death of a Princeton President" at the U-Store on Wednesday at 8 p.m.