“This is an entertaining debut and a series to follow for fans of gentle academic
mysteries.”
Booklist
“Sparkling debut…Romance, humor and suspense blend perfectly in this exceptional
cozy, the first of what hopefully will be a long series.”
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
MURDER 101
By Maggie Barbieri
Maggie Barbieri’s delightful debut mystery, MURDER 101, introduces us to Alison
Bergeron, a recently divorced college English professor who becomes reluctantly
entwined in a murder investigation when one of her students turns up dead – and stuffed
in the trunk of Alison’s stolen car.
Suddenly, Alison is spending a lot of time with handsome NYPD Detective Bobby
Crawford, but she worries it’s mostly because she’s at the top of his suspect list. Clearing
her name is just one of the problems plaguing her – Alison is stuck bailing her exhusband out of jail, dealing with the distraught parents of her murdered student, and
facing the likelihood that someone she knows is a killer.
MURDER 101 is a unique mystery with intelligence and heart, combining the traditional
academic mystery with a romantic twist. Alison is the antithesis of the uber-hip chick lit
protagonist – she could care less about fashion and shopping, and worries more about
controlling her nervous stomach every time someone brings up the murder. The small
Catholic college of St. Thomas where Alison teaches provides a rich and textured setting
for the mystery to unfold. This combination will appeal to chick lit fans and mystery
lovers alike.
MAGGIE BARBIERI is a freelance English textbook editor as well as a mystery
novelist. Her father was a member of the New York Police Department, and his stories
provide much of the background for her mysteries. She lives in Westchester County, New
York.
MURDER 101
A Mystery
By Maggie Barbieri
St .Martin’s Minotaur
0-312-35537-8
$23.95
November 9, 2006
Contact: Lauren Manzella
646-307-5564
Lauren.Manzella@stmartins.com