Six-foot-tall and big-boned, Margaret Finch knows she's considered eccentric to some, and even a joke to the grad students who call her Big Bird behind her back.

Margaret can live with their scorn because she's a valued research assistant to the brilliant Dr. Jonathan Deaver, who calls her his "right-hand woman" and who is on the brink of a discovery that could revolutionize cancer treatment -- work in which she has been playing a vital role for a decade.

Thus, it's a devastating shock when Margaret discovers Dr. Deaver sprawled dead on the floor of his office.

Authorities are quick to write the death off as due to natural causes; Dr. Deaver was known to have a genetic heart condition. But there are things about the state of the professor's office that raise Margaret's suspicions -- the clutter on his normally neat desk, his favorite leather jacket crumpled on the floor, and an empty bottle of Diet Coke (something he never drank) also on the floor. A bevy of little things, none of them significant enough to change the opinion of those who matter.

Worse, the college dean warns Margaret to stop playing detective and threatens to replace Dr. Deaver with another professor whom she considers unqualified to continue Deaver's vital research. Despite the danger of losing her position, Margaret isn't deterred and continues to delve for answers and probe possible suspects. Her lone ally in the investigation is a college custodian and former journalist who knows how to find valuable information.

This is a clever, amusing and engaging mystery that I enjoyed from the first page to the satisfying conclusion. I don't know if Peggy Townsend has more adventures planned for quirky Margaret, but I, for one, hope so.