Murder 101

This was a re-read of a book I'd read years ago, the first in a series that takes place on a private, catholic college campus. Our MC is a professor of English literature and the formula is fairly basic: she's an unwitting suspect in a campus murder, and the investigating detective is a tall slab of gorgeous. Peril and protection follow.

Same old, same old right? Yes, and no. When Barbieri wrote this 14 years ago, this formula wasn't yet so much a formula as it was a trend, and as such, this book doesn't feel derivative - at least not to me. This story was written before 'cozy' became synonymous with 'fluffy' and 'vapid'. So we have likeable characters we genuinely cheer on, that are going through some rather heavy duty events involving show more very real violence. When the MC sees crime-scene photos, she passes out, then vomits all over the detectives shoes - twice. But instead of being played for laughs, the author makes us feel the mc's embarrassment - and the detective's embarrassment for her.

The plotting was good; not spectacular, but this is a first book, and it was adequate enough that I didn't guess the culprit. The author did well with presenting an array of viable suspects, and when it came down to it, the solution made sense.

I'm glad I re-read this; I'd forgotten why I loved cozies so much; it's nice to see that what I fell in love with is not the derivative nonsense cozies have become today. Of course, I now want to re-read the entire series. show less

These are very quick reads - I read them all over the course of a couple of afternoons. They don't really have any depth or emotional content - but they do settle very nicely into the cozy mystery/romance niche. If you're a fan of those types of books (think Stephanie Plum) than these are definitely worth taking a look at.

I say they don't have any emotional depth - but what I mean is that the author doesn't do a very good job of making you feel the characters. She has to settle for just telling us. Throughout the first book, I read the words describing the increasing romantic feelings between the main characters, Alison and Crawford, but I never felt the chemistry vibes. As the series progressed and I got used to their characters, I show more appreciated their relationship more. The same goes for all the characters - when they're introduced in the first book they all feel a little stale or just "on the page" (if that makes sense)...but if you stick with the books you become used to them and it makes the reading much more enjoyable.

One thing the author, without a doubt, does get right is the humor. I absolutely love Alison's character and the way she interacts with everyone. She is a real piece of work. She transitions throughout the books: she is originally very nervous and weak-minded...but give her a couple of books and there isn't much she is willing to back down from. But regardless - she is always hilarious.

The mysteries are pretty engaging for the most part. The least enjoyable for me was definitely book three, Quick Study. The best part of the books, for me, is learning more about the characters. Barbieri might not be the most accomplished writer, but even though she isn't good at bringing emotions to life - she found a way to hook me in anyway! I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where life takes Alison and Crawford next!

So, even though this series doesn't, by any means, top my favorites list - I think they're worth reading if you enjoy the genre. For the most part, Barbieri does the mixed bag mystery/romance/humor genre proud! show less

Forty-something Dr. Alison Bergeron, professor at a small private university in New York, may have been framed for the murder of one of her students.

Murder 101 is a fast, entertaining read with little in the way of surprises; most cozy mystery readers will recognize the murder, the frame-up, the love interest, the wacky best friend, the impending danger, and the crisis that makes all the little things irrelevant. Because of the formula being followed so closely – there’s almost a rhythm to the events – you will experience the literary equivalent of “don’t go in the basement” more than once. And you’ll be correct. Alison should definitely NOT go into one of the many figurative basements that populate her life.

Still, this is show more a fun read – and ok, there is one surprise at the end of the book, which means that the end of the book is not quite the end of the story. show less

2.5**

Alison Bergeron is an English professor at a small, private college on the banks of the Hudson River in the Bronx. She’s recently divorced from a fellow professor, and even more recently without a car, since her aging Volvo was stolen from the campus lot where she parks. Then the police arrive at her office with good news: her car’s been found. And with bad news: there was a body in the trunk – one of her students had been murdered.

So far this is pretty typical for the cozy mystery scenario, where the heroine (or her best friend) is a suspect in a murder and, therefore, she MUST investigate to clear her name. Of course, the Detective (Bobby Crawford) is handsome and obviously interested in Alison in ways that have nothing show more to do with the investigation.

My main problem with this book is that Alison is an idiot, and one with a weak stomach (she seems to vomit under stress, which happens frequently). Her best friend Max also has little to do, other than loan her a car towards the end.

As a mystery, this was not very well plotted, and I found the reveal completely unrealistic and dissatisfying. But I did find the nascent romance between Alison and Crawford interesting. And I might read another book in the series just to see how that pans out. show less

This a light, easy read. Much of it is vastly entertaining and I'll go looking for the second book in series. That said, why do authors insist on giving a character some traits that make them weak, then keep showing and showing and showing it? As the protagonist in this book, Alison seems to both vomit and cry at the drop of hat. The first instance I understood but after that it just got annoying. Hopefully in the next book Alison will be portrayed as the intelligent and experienced person she is in every other way.

Overall, I think this was a decent mystery worthy of 3 stars. However, I have so much respect for an author that resists the happy ending that I'm giving it 4! Yes, I know there will be another book in the series, and there will probably be a happy ending eventually, but I love that the books ends with the heroine telling the hero to bug off until he gets his sh!t together. It's refreshing!

Synopsis:


Safely away from the chaos of Manhattan, St. Thomas, a small college on the banks of the Hudson River in the Bronx, is supposed to be tranquil, bucolic, and serene. Unfortunately, English professor Alison Bergeron has found it to be anything but. Recently divorced from a fellow professor and even more recently without a car---it was stolen---she has been hoofing it to school. One Friday evening, two NYPD homicide detectives drop by her office. The good news is that they found her beat-up Volvo; the bad news is that the body of one of the students in her Shakespeare seminar was in the trunk.

Not only are Alison's chances of getting the car back bleak, but suddenly she's the primary suspect on a list that includes, among others, show more the murdered student's drug-dealing boyfriend, Vince, and the girl's father's business rivals (he's head of an old Italian family . . .).

Accused of a crime that she didn't commit, Alison enlists her best friend, Max's, emotional support and services as an amateur sleuth. Their fumbling efforts to clear Alison's name could land her in even hotter water with Detective Bobby Crawford, the handsome investigating officer (and former altar boy)---not to mention the nuns at St. Thomas. . . .

Maggie Barbieri's charming professor and down-to-earth detective make an unlikely but lovable team in her delightful debut mystery.


My review:

This book was enjoyable, although it did tend to drag. The plot was clever, but the heroine was a bit of a washout ( she was not vomiting on the detective's shoes, she was crying)

I will read the second book in the series, just to see of Alison's character shows any growth. show less