Marshall Jevons Bücher

Harvard professor Henry Spearman―an ingenious amateur sleuth who uses economics to size up every situation―is sent by an American entrepreneur to Cambridge, England. Spearman's mission is to scout out for purchase the most famous house in economic Balliol Croft, the former dwelling place of Professor Alfred Marshall, John Maynard Keynes’s teacher and the font of modern economic theory. A near miss for the American entrepreneur and the shocking and bizarre murder of Nigel Hart, the master of Bishop’s College, soon make it clear that the whole affair is risky business. When a second corpse turns up, Spearman is jolted into realizing that his own life is in peril as he finds himself face to face with the most diabolical killer in his experience.

Economics professor and amateur detective Henry Spearman tackles a mystery where the price of art is murder In The Mystery of the Invisible Hand, Henry Spearman, an economics professor with a knack for solving crimes, is pulled into a case that mixes campus intrigue, stolen art, and murder. Arriving at San Antonio’s Monte Vista University to teach a course on art and economics, he is confronted with a puzzling art theft and the suspicious suicide of the school’s artist-in-residence. From Texas to New York, Spearman traces the connections between economics and the art world, finding his clues in monopolies, auction theory, and Adam Smith. How is a company’s capital like an art museum’s collection? What does the market say about art’s authenticity versus its availability? What is the mysterious “death effect”—and does it lie at the heart of the case? Spearman must rely on his savviest economic thinking to answer these questions—and pin down a killer.

Cinnamon Bay Plantation on St. John seems like the perfect Caribbean getaway for Harvard economist Henry Spearman, who is in need of relaxation. However, his vacation takes an unexpected turn when a murder occurs. The victim, Gen. Hudson T. Decker (Ret.), was known for his prickly demeanor, having alienated guests and locals alike. Before the local inspector can compile a suspect list, a second murder unfolds—the drowning of a former U.S. Supreme Court justice. With a plethora of potential suspects, including a liberal divinity professor, a vengeful wife, an alleged girlfriend, and angry local activists, the investigation quickly becomes convoluted. As the island police struggle to make progress, Spearman, who enjoys exploring human behavior, begins his own inquiry. Utilizing economic principles to guide his investigation, he theorizes and hypothesizes while tracking the killer. His journey takes him from the idyllic beaches of the resort to the bustling port of Charlotte Amalie and the treacherous hiking trails leading to a desolate cay offshore. First published in 1978, this new critical edition introduces readers to Henry Spearman, a unique detective who applies economic reasoning to unravel mysteries, placing him alongside iconic fictional sleuths like Father Brown and Hercule Poirot.