OK! This is the new "Murder 101 Mystery", the third following the career of Alison Bergeron. Alison is a wisecracking English Professor at a small Catholic college in the Bronx, with a view of the Hudson. Sounds suspiciously like Mt. St. Vincent's. That in fact is where the author Maggie Barbieri, who goes to my Church, and who I commiserate with, went to college.
Coincidentally, my mother also graduated from there, probably 40+ years before Maggie.
Here are my reviews of the first two books in the series, Latest Read: "Murder 101" , and Latest Read: Extracurricular Activities, which are also posted in an edited form on the Amazon website.
The books are great fun reads and the current one is no exception. They really are "comedy murder mysteries", as we see things from the perspective of Alison's witty mind. Alison (try to imagine Lucille Ball, Nancy Drew, and Zena the Warrior Princess rolled into one) is in love with, among other things, the NY Rangers, martinis, and an NYPD detective. Her penchant for helping people out with her amateur detective work gets her into all sorts of situations.
The murder mystery part involves an illegal immigrant who Alison met while serving a community service sentence (see second book as to how she earned this court-ordered gig) in a soup kitchen. He's found floating in the Hudson, extremely deceased. Alison has great sympathy for the family and decides to involve herself. After all, with two other investigations to her credit, she now has lots of experience. In fact, she no longer faints.
So lots of fun, and highly recommended. And if you are looking for a great gift any of the "murder 101 mystery" books will do nicely.
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