The Killing Bee

Having been a classroom teacher, a department chair, an academy lead teacher, and a gifted and talented program coordinator during my over twenty-year career in public education, I absolutely love Matt Witten's latest Jacob Burns Mystery--THE KILLING BEE. Jacob is the upstate New Yorker who has finally struck it rich as a writer by peddling an embarrassing script to Hollywood that was made into an even more embarrassing movie. He'd spent decades writing artistic works before his sudden wealth, yet now he doesn't even mind having writer's block. He keeps himself busy solving murders.Jacob, fortunately, has many homicidal friends. In this fourth series book, Jacob and some fellow parents are attempting to convince the principal of their local elementary school to establish a gifted and talented program. The principal ends up dead, and Jacob realizes he must solve the crime. He is the individual most thoroughly acquainted with this dead principal's society.Mr. Witten achieves an ideal tone in this light-hearted mystery. I enjoyed the way he handled his various suspects, especially the single-mother initially arrested for the crime. Mr. Witten has spent some time around public education, and he knows the school environment well. He skewers the education bureaucracy with expertise, and his repeated comments about America's obsession with standardized tests are perfectly accurate. Every teacher I know who has read THE KILLING BEE agrees with those views. The various teacher-types and parent-types were fun to watch, as was the odd school board member who had more than his share of hidden secrets.All in all, I believe THE KILLING BEE is Matt Witten's finest book yet. His plot is first-rate, and his recurring characters are enjoyable as Jacob juggles crime solving with family responsibilities involving a wife and two children. This book could not have been a more enjoyable read.

Witten's latest is another thoroughly enjoyable, intelligently written read. It's a seamless continuation of the series, taking us back to the familiar setting of Saratoga Springs, but with fresh characters and an ever-savvier protagonist. First rate!

Parents will do anything for their kids.This is what Jacob Burns comes to believe after he and a group of parents attempt to protest the principal's refusal to create a gifted and talented class for their bored children. Upon arriving at the principal's office Jacob finds the principal with his head bashed in by a spelling bee trophy and his wife's friend Laura standing over him. Not entirely convinced of Laura's innocence but willing to investigate, Jacob and his wife discover that more than one parent and teacher had motives to hate the principal. Risking the wrath of a police chief who hates him, overprotective parents, and a concussion or two, Jacob pursues an investigation to help his wife's friend.Witten continues his enjoyable Jacob Burns series that features a father who has to balance his investigation with his sons' playtimes. The pace of the mystery moves quickly, and the wit and humor of the story make this an entertaining read. Pick up this mystery whether or not you have kids, as it will not fail to interest and entertain you.

One of my favorite authors has done it again. The new Jacob Burns mystery is full of what I have come to expect from Matt Witten: good writing, imaginative story telling, good writing, a well thought out plot and more good writing. This book equals the excellent Breakfast at Madeline's in tone and presentation. The Killing Bee also shows not only the mastery of Matt Witten's writing, but the ability to softly layer in an undertone of humor. I cannot recommend this book more strongly.

After years of futilely trying to sell literary books to publishers and relevant screenplays to studios, author Jacob Burns sells a schlock disaster movie. The interested film company pays Jacob $3 million. Now he remains at home uninterested in writing, but occasionally dabbles in homicide investigations. One case that he finds interesting involves Laura Braithwaite, accused of killing a school principal. Jacob, Laura and several other parents battled with the principal in an effort to have their children placed in the gifted class, but the administrator refused insisting they failed to meet the strict requirements. Jacob begins making inquiries and soon realizes a lot of people had the motive to kill the unyielding principal. His efforts turn too enthusiastic so if he wants to stay out of jail he better find the culprit. Matt Witten continues his winning series with THE KILLING BEE, an excellent mystery that will be fully appreciated by anyone whoever raised a child. The gentle hero cares because he believes in justice and willingly places himself in jeopardy to make it happen. This entertaining amateur sleuth novel is a winner by anyone's standard.Harriet Klausner