Murder as a Second Language

Claire Malloy #19

by Joan Hess

Claire Malloy—now a married woman of leisure—tries her hand at volunteering, but instead lands her right in the middle of another murder investigationLongtime bookseller and single mother, Claire Malloy has recently married her long term beau and moved out of her less than opulent apartment into a sprawling, newly remodeled house. Her daughter, Caron, is making plans for college. All of which leaves Claire with something she hasn't had in quite a spare time. When her attempts to learn French cooking start getting "mixed" reviews, she agrees to help Caron and her best friend Inez in fluffing up their college applications by volunteering as an ESL tutor with the Farberville Literacy Council. But her modest effort to give back quickly becomes a nightmare when she's railroaded onto the Board of Directors of the troubled nonprofit. Vandalism, accusations of embezzlement, epic budget problems, and a cacophony of heavily-accented English speakers are just the tip of the iceberg. Just as she decides that it might be best to extricate herself, Claire gets a frantic call from her husband, Deputy Chief Peter Rosen. One of the students, an older Russian woman named Ludmilla, famed for her unpleasantness, has been murdered in the offices of the Farberville Literary Council. For the first time ever, Peter actually asks Claire for her help, and Hess brings a new depth to this fan-favorite series, in Murder as a Second Language.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook, Humor, Mystery Thriller

301 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

Joan Hess was the author of both the Claire Malloy and the Maggody mystery series. Hess was a winner of the American Mystery Award, a member of Sisters in Crime, and a former president of the American Crime Writers League. She lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Joan Hess also wrote a mystery series under the pseudonym of Joan Hadley.

Series contributed to:
. Crosswinds
. The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories
. Malice Domestic
. Deadly Allies
. Sisters in Crime

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this 19th book in the 'Claire Malloy' series, the bookstore owner/amateur sleuth investigates the death of an ESL student. The book can be read as a standalone, but knowing the characters is advantageous.

*****

Claire Molloy, who was single for many years, recently married Deputy Chief Peter Rosen of the Farberville Police Department. They live in a lovely home with Claire's college-bound daughter Caron.



Caron and her pal Inez plan to pad their college applications by volunteering at the Farberville Literary Council (FLC), which teaches English as a second language (ESL) to immigrants. Claire, now having a manager for her bookstore, agrees to help out at the FLC as well.



There are a host of employees, volunteers, and students at the FLC - and as happens with a diverse group of people - all kinds of sparks fly. Before long the dead body of an unpleasant, bullying Polish ESL student named Ludmilla is found in the copy room of the FLC - and against the wishes of her husband Claire jumps in to investigate.



Claire's attempt to solve the crime involves questioning people involved with the FLC again and again. She talks to them on the school's premises, in restaurants, and at their homes.



Claire even breaks into one employee's house when she doesn't happen to be at home. It seems like almost everyone at the FLC has things to hide and Claire is followed and threatened as she pursues the murderer.



Unfortunately the various 'suspects' in the book are not very interesting or distinctive, the interrogations go on and on, and the story becomes tiresome. Meanwhile, who knows what the actual police are doing because they don't seem to make any progress in solving the crime.



The story is punctuated by various snarky conversations between Claire and Caron - typical mom and teen daughter stuff - which are meant to be humorous but aren't. Claire also has intermittent interactions with Peter, some romantic, some about Claire sticking her nose in police business when she shouldn't. Of course Claire eventually solves the crime but by then I didn't care much who did it. I was just glad to be finished with the book. Unless you're a hard core fan of the Claire Molloy series and want to see what the characters are up to I'd say skip this book.



You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Laura Salas · Rating 1 out of 5]

I used to really enjoy this series, but this was the first title I've read in a while. Claire seemed whiny and not all that likeable (gee, I wonder where Caron gets it from?). I made it about 1/2 of the way through and realized I just didn't care who the killer was. There was no tension and nothing at stake for Claire, who is apparently now just looking for things to fill her days since she's not needed at the bookstore. Very disappointed.

[Larraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, fast read although I wonder if the whole Claire Malloy franchise is getting a little stale. In this latest edition, Claire and her husband, the gorgeous Peter, and her wisecracking daughter, Caron, are living in Claire's dreamhouse - a lovely Victorian with a library, pool and more. Ah, life is good! She is no longer actively involved in the day to day runnings of her bookstore, so she's bored. She's decided to do her own version of Cooking With Julia. Alas, her family is less than enthused. When her daughter, Caron, discovers that colleges are looking for more than just grades and want to see community service as well, she and her friend, Inez, try to find something that will not take up their entire summer. Claire finds the Literacy Center. The girls get into the last training class. She looks into being a tutor herself but training is over. However, she is roped into being on the board. There are some issues like where's the money going? However, she didn't plan on there being a murder. This was a cute story, and apparently Claire Malloy is a popular character. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks the franchise is starting to weaken. There's no sexual or financial tensions like there were in previous books. A perfect life isn't very challenging.

[Karen Douglass · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much stock-in-trade for my taste. I finished it but the protagonist was unappealing. She has a fine life and is not much engaged in it. If a real character owned a bookstore, had a teenage daughter and a loving second husband, I think she would spend less time feeling useless.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had been wondering how things would go once Claire was a lady of leisure, married to a rich, handsome husband? Answer: boringly. I pretty much had to force myself to read the second half of the book through inertia and skimming.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all the Claire Malloy books I've read (which is most of them, except for 2 I couldn't get from the library), and it isn't even necessarily because of the murder or whatever mystery Claire is snooping around trying to solve. I seldom figure it out so it's usually a surprise at the end anyway. But my main reason for enjoying this series is the characters: Claire and Peter, Caron and Inez, regulars like Jorgeson and Miss Parchester, and Claire's science-fiction hippie customer (sadly missing from this installment).

In this novel, Claire's attempts to master French cooking are disrupted when she ends up embroiled in the goings-on at the Farberville Literacy Council. One of these goings-on happens to be a murder, and Claire is on the case! Her teenage daughter Caron is less petulant than usual and even shows flashes of maturity, while Caron's friend Inez gets a makeover and embraces the art of dating. Besides the investigating, the humour is what keeps me entertained. And I did not figure out who the killer was .... well, let's face it, I didn't try that hard because I was just enjoying the experience of reading another entry in this series. :)

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure I was liking this one at first. Claire Malloy is feeling somewhat adrift and without purpose since her sweet new husband has moved her into the house of her dreams and hired a clerk to run her small bookstore. Her sense of boredom pervades the first third of the book until, surprise, a murder that she might have an insider's advantage at solving, gives her something of interest to dive into. By the end I was having trouble following all the various plotlines (I listened to the book on CD as I knitted), and the book had risen in my appreciation from being slightly boring back up to classic Claire Malloy nuttiness.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was revisting a old friend but she is not as interesting to me and story/plot line wavered towards the end !!!

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a terrible book. I only bought it because it was on the bargain rack at Barnes & Noble and I'm an ESL teacher for adults so I thought it would be right up my alley. Wrong!! I guess this is a series but I hadn't read any of the other books so this was my first introduction to Claire Malloy. She's one of those female characters who doesn't do anything but stick her nose where it doesn't belong and get in trouble with her handsome police officer husband who can't seem to solve the very obvious crime himself. I haven't read one of these lady who dabbles in solving crimes books in a while and I realized I prefer the ones where women are police officers or detectives and don't have to clear their actions with their husband. So that was annoying and then there was the racist depictions of all the ESL students. Of course the Japanese woman calls her Miss Marroy. It seemed like the author was trying to shed light on this population but couldn't be bothered to move beyond stereotypes. Many other things bothered me about this book but the last one I'll mention is that was written only 5 years ago but Claire Malloy acts like the internet is some mysterious thing and that was super annoying. Do not read this book, it's not worth your time.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read a Claire Molloy series book for quite a few years, and that was the earliest one. Picked this up from Audible on sale and did enjoy it, even though I really didn’t know any backstory. Since Claire is in completely in uncharted waters being roped into serving on the Board of the local Literacy group, there were mostly new characters - and almost all of them suspects. The plot is convoluted, and I did have to go back to find out who some of these characters were, once they were becoming major characters, so that’s the main reason I didn’t give it a higher rating. I enjoyed some of the typical teenager/mom interactions Claire has with her daughter Caron, and can still see the genuine love between them. The ending explains everything, much to my satisfaction, because I really hadn’t figured everything out.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine entry with Claire, Peter, Caron and Inez and a host full of new characters in our favorite southern city, Faberville. Claire is happily married and apparently bored to tears, so much so that she takes up French cooking. When Caron and Inez volunteer at the literacy council, Claire sees an opportunity and ends up on the Board. When a Polish student is murdered, Claire is once again all in to try to solve this murder (to Peter's continuing chagrin).

Snappy dialog and red herrings all over the place make this a very pleasant read. I love how Caron is full of teenage angst and sarcasm and am sad that this series is coming to a close with the passing of Joan Hess.

[Stacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah this book is kind of racist. I started to write some examples but then thought, “Why bother?” It just is casually and unapologetically racist. And kind of half finished because it never explains why one character ends up in the hospital, apparently poisoned. Unless I missed that at some point when trying to get past the cringeworthy Chinese patois or the main character whining about how put upon she is even though she doesn’t work anywhere and does anything she pleases. Her daughter’s a brat too. I wonder why.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read! This is one of those where one moment, I knew "who-dun-it", the next chapter, I'd change my mind to yet a different person, next chapter, back to the 1st one...I juggled about 3 total, then when the guilty party was revealed, I thought "I knew it!" Fast read, hard to put down, and perfect for my situation. I am taking classes right now at a tech school, so I would read in between the classes. I would LOVE to read more from this author!

[Susie James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just chortlingly finished "Murder as a Second Language", a novel by Joan Hess I found on the giveaway table recently at the Winona, Miss., library. I have a number of Hess's "Arky" novels behind my belt, but this one was a find. Claire Malloy does herself and family proud! So sorry (I am a former Arkansan, having trodden the streets of the Quapaw Quarter a few years back) Hess isn't around anymore to continue her enjoyable series.

[Debi Boggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this book last night. I have read most of the Claire Malloy books and truly enjoyed them. I enjoyed the writing style and found them to be great entertainment. However, I did not get far in this book. The dialogue containing stereotypical characterization of a Japanese accent was extremely offensive. I am saddened that a writer I enjoyed displayed such bigotry.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something isn’t right at the language school where Claire’s daughter is volunteering to improve her college application.
Claire ends up getting roped in to the board of directors, as well as shifts as receptionist, until someone is found dead. Of course, Claire has to help find the killer.
All sorts of shenanigans ensue. Another fun read.

[Amanda Cox · Rating 1 out of 5]

A story about a lady who volunteers at a language school, and then takes it upon herself to investigate a murder that happens there.

I would not recommend this book or author. You can tell the age of the author by the amount of inappropriate stereotypes and racial slurs that she makes in this "multicultural book." I just really couldn't get past it.

Read as an audiobook.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

A perfect example of why I don't read amateur detective novels: they always come off as busy bodies who stick their noses where they don't belong and yet people mysteriously answer their questions. Add the constant casual racism, and this one hit a big low....

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

No one in this book is very likable, even the unofficial detective, Claire Malloy. It was hard to feel much sympathy for the victim or care very much which of the many, many suspects could have done it. I admit I was intrigued enough to finish it, but just barely.

[Cathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good Claire Malloy mystery that kept me guessing throughout. Every time I thought I knew who the killer was, something happened that eliminated that suspect. I enjoy mysteries that keep me speculating.

[Carolyn Virginia]

Protagonist is Claire Malloy, who owns a bookstore in Farberville (state?).  She’s married to detective and she gets involved helping solve murders (much to his chagrin).  I didn’t enjoy the character or the style of the conversation/writing.  Won’t pursue this author!

[Sarah Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting boring now that Claire is remarried and living in the lap of luxury. She volunteers at the local literacy council and gets caught up in solving a murder and other crimes.

[Sherry Mackay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well no I didn’t finish it. Too too boring my dears.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since I enjoyed book#18, I was expecting book#19 to be at least as good. It wasn't, because the characters were unlikeable, even the main ones.

[Lennine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed her sense of humour.

[Bibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

slightly racist

[Lester · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you for the read...

[Jackie R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Silly cozy. At least she never put herself at risk, but definitely a bore.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mallory now married to deputy police chief has time to volunteer at Literacy Council. Solving a murder of unlikable woman and revealing a marriage for citizenship scheme by one of the tutors. OK

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very well written. The book started off good but then went almost stupid. It was like a Trainwreck that you had to finish.

Not a fan at all.