Murder 101 (Alison Bergeron Mystery Series)

I've already read this book twice in the few months I've owned it. The characters are endearing, the writing is light and fun, and the humor is a great addition to a murder mystery/love story. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next...do Allison and Crawford take the next step???

This is a fun, light, and very readable novel that mixes romance and mystery. It's a cozy read, with witty dialogue, bouncy prose, and some very likeable protagonists. The mystery isn't particularly complicated and the romance is straightforward, but blended together they make for a great weekend or summer read. I hope this is only the beginning of a long series. There are some minor weaknesses worth mentioning, mainly that the main character is supposed to be a smart and accomplished English professor, but there are several instances where she comes across as missing the obvious (probably because the author needed Alison to remain clueless so she could continue the mystery). Secondly, I found the character of Max, the best friend, to be cliched and unbelievable-- the kind of stock "shallow, materialistic, but heart of gold" best friend type character that pops up a lot in chick lit and is terminally annoying. But none of this marred my overall enjoyment of this book.

This is the mystery you're looking for if you want to curl up with a book that has a wonderful main character you would befriend were she real, strong secondary characters that avoid all the usual cliches, and a plot that is fun, but still believable. Ms. Barbieri also gives us a sense of place and most importantly, keeps the story moving and leaves you wanting the next in the series!

NYPD Detectives Wyatt and Crawford enter the office of English Professor Alison Bergeron as she and her best friend Maxine Rayfield discuss killing her ex-spouse as he drives a BMW while she rides the train since her car was stolen. Crawford informs her that they found her vehicle with the body of student Kathy Miceli in the trunk of her car. Alison pukes on the shoes of the nicer cop Crawford before fainting while his partner wants to take her downtown for some intense questioning. Crawford decides to tail Alison and not just because he likes how she looks; she is his only tenuous lead. Max persuades Alison that she is the prime suspect though no motive surfaces and that they must not allow NYPD especially that hunk Wyatt to railroad her while Wyatt looks at Alison's ex-husband as the culprit because he has learned about her ex-husband's affair with the deceased. Struggling to grade the Shakespeare class papers and ignore her attraction to Crawford as she does not trust men to remain faithful, Alison prays for a police rescue when the killer abducts her. Though the dueling investigations (amateur and professional) take a back seat to the characters' reactions to the homicide, fans will enjoy this academic whodunit due to the four prime characters. Crawford is a fascinating protagonist who has two conflicting reasons to trail the professor while Alison has two solid reasons to avoid the cop. Throw in the romance between crusty Wyatt and Max on top of a delightful final relationship twist between the main pair leads the audience to a fun tale in which the coupling supersedes the mystery. Harriet Klausner

How does a college literature professor react to finding herself a suspect in a murder investigation? Dr. Alison Bergeron's response is a comic combination of neurosis and nerve. Add lots of food and drink, a smidgen of romance, and just the right amount of designer shoes, and you've got a delightful but suspenseful mystery that holds your attention to the end.