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Professor Molly Mysteries #4
The Invasive Species
Professor Molly Barda is thrilled to be included in a grant to investigate attitudes toward biotechnology. But she immediately finds herself embroiled in the deadly fight between big biotech and anti-GMO activists. When Molly and her best friend Emma Nakamura stumble onto the scene of a brutal murder, they realize that everyone has something to hide--and there are some questions you don't ask.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2016
About the author
Frankie Bow
67 books316 followersLike Professor Molly, Frankie Bow works in higher education. Unlike her protagonist, she is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues, and an adequate office chair. Frankie writes the Professor Molly Mysteries and licensed novellas in Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune World.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 28, 2016
My second foray into the world of Molly Barda was as enjoyable as the first. I missed a development in her life, namely getting married to the successful, hunky and brilliant chef Donnie, which makes her now stepmom to the odious Davison, who is at least away at college. Not. He returns and makes life irritating just after she’s discovered a body, jumped to some conclusions, got herself into a technological mess with her grant-funded investigation into attitudes to bio-tech, and partied with some of the main antagonists.
The body count gets higher, Molly gets let off the hook and despite assuming she is investigating to save other ‘innocent’ suspects, she really doesn’t do much except guess. There is plenty of inter-faculty rivalry, or at least tension in the college, as usual, and the development of Molly’s personal problems gets a lot of airtime. In fact it really isn’t a cosy mystery but a well-written soap opera with occasional bodies. Well, that means it is a soap opera, judging from what I hear about the soaps on UK tv.
For anyone who has no idea what Hawaii is like, this gives insights into its less glamorous side – like high winds and damp, not to mention the odd subterranean lava flow. It’s a very entertaining series. Thank you to the author for the free review copy as part of your blog tour.
The body count gets higher, Molly gets let off the hook and despite assuming she is investigating to save other ‘innocent’ suspects, she really doesn’t do much except guess. There is plenty of inter-faculty rivalry, or at least tension in the college, as usual, and the development of Molly’s personal problems gets a lot of airtime. In fact it really isn’t a cosy mystery but a well-written soap opera with occasional bodies. Well, that means it is a soap opera, judging from what I hear about the soaps on UK tv.
For anyone who has no idea what Hawaii is like, this gives insights into its less glamorous side – like high winds and damp, not to mention the odd subterranean lava flow. It’s a very entertaining series. Thank you to the author for the free review copy as part of your blog tour.
June 17, 2018
This mystery series is pure fun. It follows the trials and tribulations of Molly Barda, assistant professor at a (fictitious) failing state university in Hawaii, as she pursues tenure and tries to solve murders at the same time. Her two friends, Pat and Emma, and their conversations are a hilarious delight.
February 18, 2017
Okay, I have to admit that I selected this book because of the title. It's a hard one to pass up on! I wasn't disappointed.
Molly is a professor of business studies at a small Hawaiian University, Mahina State. Thanks to a rigorous program of Student Retention strategies, the struggling university seems to have excellent completions and graduate employment rates, a requirement for government funding. When Molly attends a practice session of her friend and colleague's out-rigger canoe team, she is shocked to witness a bizarre accident. Kathy Banks, Student Retention Officer, collapses in the canoe, causes unknown, and is declared "dead" by local media three days later. Kathy appears to have no history prior to her arrival on the island, and more disturbingly there are no records of the 911 call relating to the accident. Molly is concerned that she has somehow caused the "voodoo death" of Kathy by wishing harm on her. She and her colleagues Emily and Pat investigate the murder and attempt to uncover the corruptions within the university.
I really enjoyed this book. It has plenty of believable characters, funny moments, and a twist in the tail. As a former employee of the University sector (including at an institution of similar size to the one described) I could totally relate to the excessive paperwork, and the need to manipulate statistics to put the institution in the best light. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Molly is a professor of business studies at a small Hawaiian University, Mahina State. Thanks to a rigorous program of Student Retention strategies, the struggling university seems to have excellent completions and graduate employment rates, a requirement for government funding. When Molly attends a practice session of her friend and colleague's out-rigger canoe team, she is shocked to witness a bizarre accident. Kathy Banks, Student Retention Officer, collapses in the canoe, causes unknown, and is declared "dead" by local media three days later. Kathy appears to have no history prior to her arrival on the island, and more disturbingly there are no records of the 911 call relating to the accident. Molly is concerned that she has somehow caused the "voodoo death" of Kathy by wishing harm on her. She and her colleagues Emily and Pat investigate the murder and attempt to uncover the corruptions within the university.
I really enjoyed this book. It has plenty of believable characters, funny moments, and a twist in the tail. As a former employee of the University sector (including at an institution of similar size to the one described) I could totally relate to the excessive paperwork, and the need to manipulate statistics to put the institution in the best light. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 25, 2016
Frankie Bow writes another great book with layers and layers.
The title means so much more than I anticipated.
Molly and Donnie are married but she still struggles to give up her independent lifestyle.
She may be spending more time with Emma and Pat than she does her husband. Of course, having Davison home on break may account for some of that. He is as irritating as ever, with the addition of special dietary restrictions and his constant advice giving. If only he would find a woman his own age to spend time with.
Be careful what one wishes for.
Molly's focus is on achieving tenure. Is she willing to do "whatever it takes" to secure her position?
Is she ignoring Donnie enough that he is looking elsewhere for more? He keeps trying to push her to spend time with her step son rather than ask for more together time as a married couple.
I think you will get more from this book if you have read one or more prior in the series but it can be read as a stand alone. There is local dialogue and situations continued from previous difficulties. Enough information is given to help the reader understand, if not feel the extent of Molly's discomfort.
Bringing together domestic complications, amateur sleuths and a journalist who feel more qualified than the local P.D., did I mention a murder (or two?) a controversial topic that affects the entire community and Molly's contentious bid for tenure. And perhaps a few more elements.
This is a mystery and more that will make you think.
I accepted a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The characters and relationships are developing with each book in the series.
The title means so much more than I anticipated.
Molly and Donnie are married but she still struggles to give up her independent lifestyle.
She may be spending more time with Emma and Pat than she does her husband. Of course, having Davison home on break may account for some of that. He is as irritating as ever, with the addition of special dietary restrictions and his constant advice giving. If only he would find a woman his own age to spend time with.
Be careful what one wishes for.
Molly's focus is on achieving tenure. Is she willing to do "whatever it takes" to secure her position?
Is she ignoring Donnie enough that he is looking elsewhere for more? He keeps trying to push her to spend time with her step son rather than ask for more together time as a married couple.
I think you will get more from this book if you have read one or more prior in the series but it can be read as a stand alone. There is local dialogue and situations continued from previous difficulties. Enough information is given to help the reader understand, if not feel the extent of Molly's discomfort.
Bringing together domestic complications, amateur sleuths and a journalist who feel more qualified than the local P.D., did I mention a murder (or two?) a controversial topic that affects the entire community and Molly's contentious bid for tenure. And perhaps a few more elements.
This is a mystery and more that will make you think.
I accepted a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The characters and relationships are developing with each book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews