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Professor Molly Mysteries #0.5
Trust Fall
It looks like it's going to be another boring faculty retreat at Mahina State University, "Where Your Future Begins Tomorrow." But then the Trust Fall exercise goes horribly wrong.
Is just a team-building exercise gone awry? Or is it murder?
Is just a team-building exercise gone awry? Or is it murder?
28 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2020
82 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Frankie Bow
63 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 13, 2021
In Trust Fall we meet Molly Short, a professor at a Hawaiian University whose boss has insisted on a team-building exercise that ends in the death of one of her colleagues.
Trust Fall is ultra-short and yet manages to convey both Molly's personality and a quick sketch of a murder investigation. We also meet Molly's coworker and best friend, Emma, in the story who appears to be central to the plot.
I would have loved more, but this account was the perfect sized amuse-bouche and I'm looking forward to more adventures with the duo!
Trust Fall is ultra-short and yet manages to convey both Molly's personality and a quick sketch of a murder investigation. We also meet Molly's coworker and best friend, Emma, in the story who appears to be central to the plot.
I would have loved more, but this account was the perfect sized amuse-bouche and I'm looking forward to more adventures with the duo!
April 10, 2018
"Trust Fall" is part of the Professor Molly mystery series. I like this series because it takes place in Hawaii, and beause it portrays the islands and the people accurately. Molly Barda and Emma Nakamura are attending a team building exercise. The Director of Faculty Developement, Jack Ahu, is using the exercise of falling off of a chair and being caught by other team members as part of the curriculum. The result of the first fall is not quite what anyone expected. While everyone else has their attention diverted by a late comer entering the back door, the team member doing the fall, Kyle "Kaila" Stockhausen, falls flat on his face and dies. Messy stuff, this!
Emma is known to not exactly like Stockhausen, and she had been goading him. Currently on the tenure track, Emma is thought by many to have perhaps pushed Stockhausen off his chair. She is being shunned on campus, and is afraid that she may have to look for work elsewhere. Molly volunteers to help Emma look into things, as the death was ruled an accident, and no autopsy was done.
With the help of Pat Flanagan, part time composition teacher and former crime reporter, the truth comes to light. Watch out for those composition papers!
Fun short read!
Emma is known to not exactly like Stockhausen, and she had been goading him. Currently on the tenure track, Emma is thought by many to have perhaps pushed Stockhausen off his chair. She is being shunned on campus, and is afraid that she may have to look for work elsewhere. Molly volunteers to help Emma look into things, as the death was ruled an accident, and no autopsy was done.
With the help of Pat Flanagan, part time composition teacher and former crime reporter, the truth comes to light. Watch out for those composition papers!
Fun short read!
September 29, 2017
Molly and Emma, good friends and professors at Mahina University, are required to go to a retreat on campus for trust building. When the leader calls for the first person to do the trust fall, no one wants to do it. Finally an unpopular professor agrees to go first, and while he is standing on a chair in preparation, he makes a snide remark and Emma make a caustic rejoinder. At this exact moment attention is diverted from the trust fall professor and everyone looks to see who just came in. A sudden thud and crash brings their attention back to the professor and his body bleeding on the floor.
When Emma is accused of causing the accident and killing him, people start avoiding her and even her tenure is likely to be in trouble. She and Molly begin investigating the professor and possible causes of his fall. It all comes down to following rules and reading homework papers. The surprising conclusion to this short book was thanks to the two friends.
I usually like a longer book with more attention to details and character development. However this short book was well written and offered interesting possibilities as to what really could have happened. There were some snarky comments and unintentionally funny moments as well. A quick read for times that you can't finish a whole book but still want something interesting. Molly and Emma fill that bill.
When Emma is accused of causing the accident and killing him, people start avoiding her and even her tenure is likely to be in trouble. She and Molly begin investigating the professor and possible causes of his fall. It all comes down to following rules and reading homework papers. The surprising conclusion to this short book was thanks to the two friends.
I usually like a longer book with more attention to details and character development. However this short book was well written and offered interesting possibilities as to what really could have happened. There were some snarky comments and unintentionally funny moments as well. A quick read for times that you can't finish a whole book but still want something interesting. Molly and Emma fill that bill.
October 6, 2017
Molly Barda and Emma Nakamura are attending a workshop where they are having a Trust Fall exorcise in a meeting to try an build better relationships with other departments in the college they both teach at. Kyle Stockhausen, a popular teacher with the students who thinks he is the best at everything he does, disliked by most of the other teachers and suspected to be a philanderer with other teachers' wives, volunteers to go first. In trust fall a person stands on a chair and falls backwards trusting the others in the group to catch him.
Another teacher comes into the room distracting everyone just as Kyle decides to fall backwards. Hitting his head on the marble floor and dying from the injuries. Molly had had a dispute with Kyle earlier, and is given the cold should by many of the students and teachers because of it, it is also being passed around she had caused Kyle to fall on purpose.
This was a very short and fast paced story that was well written and keeps your attention throughout.
Another teacher comes into the room distracting everyone just as Kyle decides to fall backwards. Hitting his head on the marble floor and dying from the injuries. Molly had had a dispute with Kyle earlier, and is given the cold should by many of the students and teachers because of it, it is also being passed around she had caused Kyle to fall on purpose.
This was a very short and fast paced story that was well written and keeps your attention throughout.
May 25, 2017
This short story was a nice introduction to Professor Molly and her fellow teacher/friend Emma. Another teacher suffers an apparent accident during a team-building day and dies but the consensus around campus is that Emma killed him. Will Molly and Emma be able to figure out what happened or will Emma indeed have to find another job?
The mystery isn't complicated and Molly and Emma just kind of stumble into figuring it out but the story makes for a fun, quick read.
Sex - it is implied that some of the characters in the story are sexually unfaithful to their spouses and that some teachers have sex with their students but no descriptions of anything sexual in the story
Language - none
Violence - a pool of blood when a person dies is the extent of any violence described
Religion - none
Note: there are a couple of references to adults consuming alcohol although no one gets drunk
The mystery isn't complicated and Molly and Emma just kind of stumble into figuring it out but the story makes for a fun, quick read.
Sex - it is implied that some of the characters in the story are sexually unfaithful to their spouses and that some teachers have sex with their students but no descriptions of anything sexual in the story
Language - none
Violence - a pool of blood when a person dies is the extent of any violence described
Religion - none
Note: there are a couple of references to adults consuming alcohol although no one gets drunk
July 1, 2017
Trust Fall - A Professor Molly Mystery by Frankie Bow
I guess I'm just not into short stories. I like something with a bit of meat, something that gives the author plenty of time to develop characters and provide atmosphere.
While this story was clear, crisp and concise, it was just, I guess, too superficial. I didn't have time to get to know the characters. I didn't understand the setting and the plot was just too empty. What I mean by that is it was a five line plot. there was no depth to it, and the leaps of faith required were just too hard to accept.
I will read more of this author just to see if my opinion makes sense.
I guess I'm just not into short stories. I like something with a bit of meat, something that gives the author plenty of time to develop characters and provide atmosphere.
While this story was clear, crisp and concise, it was just, I guess, too superficial. I didn't have time to get to know the characters. I didn't understand the setting and the plot was just too empty. What I mean by that is it was a five line plot. there was no depth to it, and the leaps of faith required were just too hard to accept.
I will read more of this author just to see if my opinion makes sense.
May 10, 2019
A very short prequel to the Professor Molly Mystery series.
We meet a lot of characters in this short story. The series is set in Hawaii and the characters are professors at the Mahina State University. In the prequel Molly Barda and her BFF Emma Nakamura are attending a team building day that involves standing on a chair and falling backwards trusting your fellow staff members will catch you. Instead Professor Kyle Stockhausen falls and he dies from landing on the marble floors. Was it an accident or was it murder? Molly figures out the truth and it almost cost her her life when the guilty party attacks Molly.
We meet a lot of characters in this short story. The series is set in Hawaii and the characters are professors at the Mahina State University. In the prequel Molly Barda and her BFF Emma Nakamura are attending a team building day that involves standing on a chair and falling backwards trusting your fellow staff members will catch you. Instead Professor Kyle Stockhausen falls and he dies from landing on the marble floors. Was it an accident or was it murder? Molly figures out the truth and it almost cost her her life when the guilty party attacks Molly.
February 22, 2022
Team building gone wrong!
Professor Molly Barda would rather be doing anything besides participating in the university’s team-building exercise. When the trust fall goes wrong and people on campus are blaming her friend, Emma, Molly is determined to unravel the truth.
I wish the book had been a little longer because it would have given more time for plot depth. This is the first book I have read in this series and I enjoyed it.
Professor Molly Barda would rather be doing anything besides participating in the university’s team-building exercise. When the trust fall goes wrong and people on campus are blaming her friend, Emma, Molly is determined to unravel the truth.
I wish the book had been a little longer because it would have given more time for plot depth. This is the first book I have read in this series and I enjoyed it.
July 13, 2017
Liked this short story a lot! It was the perfect introduction to two teacher friends. If you have ever been in education, you will relate to the snarky comments, teacher lounge talk, and department rivalry. It was a very short seven chapters, but what fun they were having solving a mystery. There are longer books by the author that I plan to read.
May 11, 2018
I really enjoyed this. It was short, humorous and the ending took me by surprise. Truth is, I hadn't even begun to guess who the killer might be, then suddenly, the story was finished. I don't know if I will ever be doing one of those trust falls again. They really can kill you if no one catches you.
February 14, 2025
Cute prequel, but I think it should be read after the first book in the series at least. I also think it should be a little bit longer. There should be more character developmemt of the victim, suspect, & their relationship. Plus, Molly should have more of an opportunity to snoop, & the ending could feel less rushed & sudden. That being said, I'd like to read more in the series.
March 13, 2018
Short intro to the Professor Molly Mystery series.
Not all that mysterious (really too short for that), but I like the characters, the setting and the writing and will be on the lookout for more stories both in this series, and by this author in general.
Not all that mysterious (really too short for that), but I like the characters, the setting and the writing and will be on the lookout for more stories both in this series, and by this author in general.
January 30, 2023
What happened to Kyle Stockhausen and why??? Then Molly read the asssignment??? As a retired university professsor, I am so glad that we never had to do this!!! i enjoyed this story and recommend the book.
June 10, 2017
Short cozy mystery story. I liked the setting and the two main characters. The rest was meh.
August 14, 2018
This book was a wonderful little short story. I enjoyed it. It was a short mystery.
January 7, 2019
Maybe I needed to have read other books in this series to understand and enjoy this book? I have definitely read better books!
January 23, 2019
It was short, free, and has achieved the author’s mission because I’m off to buy more of the Professor Molly series.
December 3, 2022
Teachers are People Too
A short mystery with well written characters that made me want more. I will be reading more of Professor Molly and her friends and colleagues.
A short mystery with well written characters that made me want more. I will be reading more of Professor Molly and her friends and colleagues.
February 12, 2023
Falling Out
This is a quick short story about a professor’s literal fall from grace. Two quirky fellow professors are on the case. A fun Read.
This is a quick short story about a professor’s literal fall from grace. Two quirky fellow professors are on the case. A fun Read.
June 24, 2024
Short stories are not my preference as there is not sufficient context built into them. This one WAS quite well written but I found it to leave me with more questions than answers.
April 4, 2025
I liked that this was a short and sweet case, and I also liked that I could finish in a day.
February 5, 2019
Normally I like these little short stories. They can be quick and fun. But this one felt academic and as if written by an academic. The friendship between the two teachers was interesting, but the rest was much too contrived. Moreover, the ending or should I say, solving of the 'mystery' didn't involve any brain work. Much too convenient. The whole thing just left me with a feeling of 'bleh'.
March 13, 2019
Who hasn’t participated in eye-rolling team building activities at work? This fun, short read had me laughing out loud with Molly and her friends as they worked to solve another mystery at Mahina State University.
April 30, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and I did not realize how many books this author has written until now! I recommend you check Frankie Bow out, too! I'm looking forward to reading about each series and adding some favorites to my library! Thank you!!
April 30, 2017
Very slow start but persevere after the first two chapters, then it gets better and is a good read..
Would recommend but be patient...
👍🇬🇧
SherleyB
Would recommend but be patient...
👍🇬🇧
SherleyB
November 29, 2017
Trust Fall by Frankie Bow
I blinked and the story was over. So, I guess I can safely say, this is a clear, crisp, concise, short, enjoyable, fast pace read.
This well written mystery is not complicated. We find snarky comments, gossip in the teachers lounge, and secrets among isolated departments with in the work place.
I enjoyed this book very much because, it was a clean (no bad language) read, no excessive bloody violence (just a little bump on the head) no excessive alcohol (drinking) and no excessive sex scenes (implied sex).
A great 15 minute read (26 pages). Yes!! I would recommend this book. Read and enjoy.😄☺😀
I blinked and the story was over. So, I guess I can safely say, this is a clear, crisp, concise, short, enjoyable, fast pace read.
This well written mystery is not complicated. We find snarky comments, gossip in the teachers lounge, and secrets among isolated departments with in the work place.
I enjoyed this book very much because, it was a clean (no bad language) read, no excessive bloody violence (just a little bump on the head) no excessive alcohol (drinking) and no excessive sex scenes (implied sex).
A great 15 minute read (26 pages). Yes!! I would recommend this book. Read and enjoy.😄☺😀
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews