Book Review: Midlife Can Be Murder

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Midlife Can Be Murder     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Jane Isenberg
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Senior Sleuths   Ethnic   Amateur Sleuth   Woman Main Character
Series: Bel Barrett # 4
Avon, Oct 2001, $6.50, 288 pp.

Hoboken, New Jersey may not be the center of the universe but there are enough activities going on to keep Bel Barrett busy twenty-four hours a day. She’s a full time English professor at the local community college and is only a semester away from getting her Ph.D. In her spare moments she works on her relationship with her significant other. If that isn’t enough, Bel decides to get in touch with her Jewish heritage by attending classes that will lead up to her Adult Bat Mitzvah.

In the Hebrew class is her former student Ashley who begs her to help find out whether her friend’s death was an accident or a murder as she rally suspects. Unable to say no, Bel enlists the help of her friends who have worked with her on previous murder investigations. Together they launch an operation that takes a lot of energy and nearly costs Bel all that she holds dear.

The fifty something-menopausal heroine is drawn very true to life and is so noble and charming she has the audience rooting for her all the way. The secondary cast is just as well drawn as the star. The characters make MIDLIFE CAN BE MURDER feels more like a multi dimensional reading experience. Jane Isenberg has crafted a well-written mystery with enough red herrings to keep the best puzzle solver stumped.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner