Death in a Hot Flash

Bel Barrett #2

by Jane Isenberg

Professor Bel Barrett has enough on her plate teaching English at a Jersey City community college. Between hot flashes, she's worrying about her two grown kids and whether her significant other is becoming less significant. Yet somehow Bel lets a colleague, Vinny Vallone--part-time Funeral Services Education teacher, big-time undertaker--flatter her into believing that the future of feminism in the funeral business depends on her acting as a role model by teaching his class how to research and write. But before Bel actually gets into co-teaching the inner-city undertaker wannabes, Vinny the undertaker turns into Vinny the deceased. There's no doubt it's murder, and suspicion is focused on one of Bel's students, a young reformed ex-gangster. Bel doesn't believe the born-again ex-con murdered Vinny and, as always, she makes it her business to right a wrong. With no shortage of suspects, Bel sets out to catch a killer, despite the strong possibility that her nose for news may land her in a hot spot even she can't fan her way out of. Professor Bel Barrett has enough on her plate teaching English at a Jersey City community college. Between hot flashes, she's worrying about her two grown kids and whether her significant other is becoming less significant. Yet somehow Bel lets a colleague, Vinny Vallone--part-time Funeral Services Education teacher, big-time undertaker--flatter her into believing that the future of feminism in the funeral business depends on her acting as a role model by teaching his class how to research and write. But before Bel actually gets into co-teaching the inner-city undertaker wannabes, Vinny the undertaker turns into Vinny the deceased.

There's no doubt it's murder, and suspicion is focused on one of Bel's students, a young reformed ex-gangster. Bel doesn't believe the born-again ex-con murdered Vinny and, as always, she makes it her business to right a wrong. With no shortage of suspects, Bel sets out to catch a killer, despite the strong possibility that her nose for news may land her in a hot spot even she can't fan her way out of.Professor Bel Barrett has enough on her plate teaching English at a Jersey City community college. Between hot flashes, she's worrying about her two grown kids and whether her significant other is becoming less significant. Yet somehow Bel lets a colleague, Vinny Vallone--part-time Funeral Services Education teacher, big-time undertaker--flatter her into believing that the future of feminism in the funeral business depends on her acting as a role model by teaching his class how to research and write. But before Bel actually gets into co-teaching the inner-city undertaker wannabes, Vinny the undertaker turns into Vinny the deceased.

There's no doubt it's murder, and suspicion is focused on one of Bel's students, a young reformed ex-gangster. Bel doesn't believe the born-again ex-con murdered Vinny and, as always, she makes it her business to right a wrong. With no shortage of suspects, Bel sets out to catch a killer, despite the strong possibility that her nose for news may land her in a hot spot even she can't fan her way out of.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy

215 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2000

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bel Barrett is an English professor at a New Jersey community college. Her friend Wendy describes her as "a hormonally challenged postmenopausal flake". Bel is talked into helping Vinny Vallone, an undertaker and part time teacher of Funeral Education Services, co teach his class to teach students how to research. The relationship doesn't last long because Vinny is murdered. And there is no shortage of suspects, from some of the students to Vinny's brother and fellow-undertaker. Bel cannot resist getting involved.

The premise of the book was interesting, but there was so much going on in the book it was exhausting. There's a stalker, a born-again gangster, Bel's friends, her love interest (whose actions irritated me no end), and of course, Bel's children (one in Seattle and the other in a kibbutz). And her mother......and probably someone else I've forgotten. Just too much going on and sometimes it seemed like we lost track of the central theme - who killed Vinny?

This is book 2 in the series, and there are others that follow, but I won't be searching them out.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a typical cozy mystery. For a quick read, there were a lot of characters to keep track of. I love the friendship Bel has with her girlfriends, and I like Pearl and Sadie. However, I wasn't a fan of Sol (although I didn't read the first book so that may be unfair). I picked up 4 of these (2-5) for .50 a piece at a library book sale, and they are the perfect quick, easy read to bring along while I am dog-sitting.

[Mysterious · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #2 continuing with the hectic life of Bel (Sybil) Barrett. There are papers to grade, the usual murder to solve and of course she deals with her significant other Sol Hecht and her own family issues when it comes to Mom, Dad, her daughter Rebecca and her son Mark who is currently in a kibbutz in Israel with the threat of bombs each and every day near Tel Aviv.

Bel always counts on her network of friends to hold her up when everything seems to bringing her down .
Cozy amusing reads that aren't for the serious mystery solver, this makes a good take along with you- read.

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this book was a DNF for me.

I picked it up because I was drawn to the fact that it was a cozy mystery featuring a fifty-something amateur sleuth, who also happens to be a professor.

I put it down, honestly, because of the writing style. I think that it would really be something that some people would enjoy, but there is a lot (a lot) of alliteration (among other things). While I enjoy some of that, this was really over the top for my tastes. I couldn't even focus on the story because I was too distracted by how much the style wasn't appealing to me.

That being said, I'm sure that some people would really love this. I could see the style being something that appealed to some readers as much as I found it unappealing.

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

So-so start with this author -a college English professor who writes about a College English professor who has a knack for solving murders at a community college in Jersey City. A fellow professor has been murdered and Bel has a who list of students and a few staff who might be the guilty party.

[Jan Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started out a bit slow for me, probably because I had to familiarize myself with the plot around the book, but in the end, it turned out to be a very good book. I definitely will look into reading more from this author.

[Steph · Rating 1 out of 5]

Simplistic Bel Barrett mystery. It's been years since I have re4ad anything this simpering.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good light mystery. I am enjoying the characters and the writing. Looking forward to the next in the series.

[Dorothy Ormes]

This was a good, silly read over Thanksgiving especially while watching episodes of Six Feet Under. The community college teacher turned sleuth, Bel, is assisting in teaching a class of funeral director hopefuls when her colleague is murdered and she has to solve the crime.

[Ti'Ata · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad language

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I generally like theme mysteries, but it seemed so formulaic, and not interesting...everyone felt flat.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fellow teacher and funeral home owner is murdered.