Publisher Description

Henry Spearman, the balding economics professor with a knack for solving crimes, returns in The Mystery of the Invisible Hand--a clever whodunit of campus intrigue, stolen art, and murder. Having just won the Nobel Prize, Spearman accepts an invitation to lecture at Monte Vista University. He arrives in the wake of a puzzling art heist with plans to teach a course on art and economics--only to be faced with the alleged suicide of womanizing artist-in-residence Tristan Wheeler. When it becomes clear that Wheeler had serious enemies and a murderer is in their midst, Henry Spearman is on the case. Was Wheeler killed by a jilted lover, a cuckolded husband, or a beleaguered assistant? Could there have been a connection between Wheeler's marketability and his death? From the Monte Vista campus in San Antonio to the halls of Sotheby's in New York, Spearman traces the connections between economics and the art world, finding his clues in monopolies and the Coase conjecture, auction theory, and the work of Adam Smith. What are the parallels between a firm's capital and an art museum's collection? What does the market say about art's authenticity versus its availability?And what is the mysterious "death effect" that lies at the heart of the case? Spearman must rely on his savviest economic insights to clear up this artful mystery and pin down a killer.

Back Cover

"A cerebral delight, The Mystery of the Invisible Hand is an engrossing, original, and compelling whodunit in the tradition of Amanda Cross and Joanne Dobson." --Carolyn Hart, Agatha Award-winning author of Letter from Home "Marshall Jevons is the pioneer for integrating economics and detective fiction, and The Mystery of the Invisible Hand is another fine effort in this genre." --Tyler Cowen, George Mason University "While it's been said that economics is the 'dismal science,' there's nothing dismal in Marshall Jevons's latest novel, The Mystery of the Invisible Hand . An art theft and alleged suicide lead Nobel Prize-winning economist Henry Spearman on a puzzling quest that demonstrates his talents both as a sleuth and an economist. Very much recommended!" --Brendan DuBois, two-time Shamus Award winner and author of Fatal Harbor "This is another terrific Marshall Jevons mystery! If you enjoy your economics served with a side of fun and a dash of suspense, you should definitely read this book." --John Siegfried, professor emeritus of economics, Vanderbilt University "The more than capable pen of Marshall Jevons transforms the field of economics into something far beyond what has often been referred to as 'the dismal science.' The Mystery of the Invisible Hand is an entertaining and educational treat for crime fiction fans and students of economics alike." --Andy Straka, Shamus Award-winning author of The K Street Hunting Society "A must for readers who love academic mysteries." --Frankie Y. Bailey, author of The Red Queen Dies " The Mystery of the Invisible Hand offers interesting economic insights in an entertaining detective story." --Michael Klein, Tufts University and author of Something for Nothing "Jevons is an accomplished writer who sprinkles his work with eclectic quotes and economic perception. This latest addition to the Henry Spearman murder series is well written and provides an engaging look at the art market. I enjoyed it." --Jonathan Wight, author of Saving Adam Smith

Author Biography

Marshall Jevons is the pen name of Kenneth G. Elzinga, the Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics at the University of Virginia. Elzinga, along with William Breit (19332011), has written three other Henry Spearman mysteries, The Fatal Equilibrium, Murder at the Margin (Princeton), and A Deadly Indifference (Princeton).

Table of Contents

Flash-Forward 1Spearman Meets the King 1 2A Nobel Invitation 5 3No Coase for Concern 11 4Investigation of a Theft 19 5Visiting Professor 29 6West to Texas 37 7An All-Nighter 43 8The Artist Has a Visitor 47 9The Scene of the Crime 57 10Spearman Gets the News 73 11The Academical Village 97 12Dining Protocol in the Academy 107 13A Doctor's House Call 119 14A Conference of Detectives 133 15Art and Economics 141 16It All Began with Adam... 161 17Office Hours: In Three Acts 179 18The Hiring Squad 201 19 Surprise at Sotheby's 217 20Trip to the Travis 231 21Class Action 249 22An Artist's Eulogy 259 23Lost & Found 269 24An Arresting Development 277 25The Death Effect 281 26The Bell Curve 297 27 A Late Night Visit 309 28 Doing Good by Doing Well 317 Acknowledgments 341

Review

"The twists and turns of the plat make for great fun as well as for an enjoyable way to learn economics... The Mystery of the Invisible Hand reveals clearly that, while economics can only sometimes help to piece together clues to an unsolved murder, it is utterly indispensable for making sense of the world."--Donald Boudreaux, Wall Street Journal "Jevons combines entertaining economic lessons with a crafty whodunit in his excellent fourth Henry Spearman mystery."--Publishers Weekly, starred review "[F]or anyone wanting to nail down some basic principles of economics, and have fun doing it, it's a 'rational solution.' It would make superb supplementary reading for an introductory econ course."--Brenda Jubin, Investing.com "The way that Spearman uses economics as a lens through which to view the ambitions and rivalries of academics is absolutely riveting. Like Freakonomics, this proves that the much-dreaded 'econ' can provide useful entertainment."--Booklist, starred review "[I]t's a very enjoyable romp--campus novel meets detective novel meets economics primer... As a way to bring some basic economic concepts to life for students, this is an excellent series."--Enlightened Economist "It's hard to imagine how a short, balding Nobel Prize winner from Harvard could use economic theories to help solve mysteries, but Jevons manages it, with a sense of humor and a whole lot of economics."--HowMysterious.com "This is an old-style academic mystery such as we have not seen in this country since the days of Michael Innes... [C]ompletely unlike any other crime fiction being published at present. I loved it."--Jessica Mann, Literary Review "Ingenious... For a whodunit, this is heady stuff... [I]n The Invisible Hand, Marshall Jevons comes of age not only as a crime writer, but as one of a kind. The detective fiction is top-drawer, but the combination with economics is seamless. No one else has done this, and now Jevons has done it again. Rejoice!"--Fred S. McChesney, Southern Economic Journal

Long Description

Henry Spearman, the balding economics professor with a knack for solving crimes, returns in The Mystery of the Invisible Hand--a clever whodunit of campus intrigue, stolen art, and murder. Having just won the Nobel Prize, Spearman accepts an invitation to lecture at Monte Vista University. He arrives in the wake of a puzzling art heist with plans to teach a course on art and economics--only to be faced with the alleged suicide of womanizing artist-in-residence Tristan Wheeler. When it becomes clear that Wheeler had serious enemies and a murderer is in their midst, Henry Spearman is on the case. Was Wheeler killed by a jilted lover, a cuckolded husband, or a beleaguered assistant? Could there have been a connection between Wheeler's marketability and his death? From the Monte Vista campus in San Antonio to the halls of Sotheby's in New York, Spearman traces the connections between economics and the art world, finding his clues in monopolies and the Coase conjecture, auction theory, and the work of Adam Smith. What are the parallels between a firm's capital and an art museum's collection? What does the market say about art's authenticity versus its availability?And what is the mysterious "death effect" that lies at the heart of the case? Spearman must rely on his savviest economic insights to clear up this artful mystery and pin down a killer.

Review Quote

"While it's been said that economics is the 'dismal science,' there's nothing dismal in Marshall Jevons's latest novel, The Mystery of the Invisible Hand . An art theft and alleged suicide lead Nobel Prize-winning economist Henry Spearman on a puzzling quest that demonstrates his talents both as a sleuth and an economist. Very much recommended!" 'e"Brendan DuBois, two-time Shamus Award winner and author of Fatal Harbor

Details