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SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS: An Amateur Sleuth Whodunit (A Ginger Barnes Cozy Mystery Book 3) by [Donna Huston Murray]

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Donna Huston Murray

SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS: An Amateur Sleuth Whodunit (A Ginger Barnes Cozy Mystery Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Donna Huston Murray (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 25 ratings

Book 3 of 7: A Ginger Barnes Cozy Mystery

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A daylight burglary turns to murder when Ginger Barnes’s neighborhood friend returns home at the worst possible time. Thefts and threats and wild accusations swiftly follow, tightening tensions on previously peaceful Beech Tree Lane. When elderly eccentric Letty MacNair is mugged on her doorstep, the message is clear—anyone could be next. Gin’s discreet inquiries sped investigations along in the past, but this time crime is targeting the amateur sleuth’s safe haven. Does she have something more daring in mind?
Writer's Digest Award Winning Author

Book 3 of 7

A Ginger Barnes Cozy Mystery
Print length

309 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

February 2, 2014
File size

2740 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

1. "[Readers] will surely appreciate Murray's smart, often insightful first-person narrative and her coherent characters." Publishers Weekly

Donna Murray's cozy mystery novel, SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS, will have the reader spellbound from start to finish. The plot is well developed and the characters and setting are well defined using good descriptive passages as well as effective dialogue. Barney, the dog, doesn't play a big role in this story, but he certainly adds an element of charm... Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

From the Author

An adorable, unpredictable old grump, Letty is probably my favorite character.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005XQBWZI
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ravenhill Press (February 2, 2014)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 2, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2740 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 309 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0985688068

Best Sellers Rank: #1,566,699 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,984 in Women's Crime Fiction
- #2,171 in Mystery Series
- #5,129 in Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery

Customer Reviews:
4.5 25 ratings

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Donna Huston Murray

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Donna Huston Murray’s cozy mystery series features an amateur sleuth much like herself, a DIY headmaster's wife with a troubling interest in crime. The latest Gin Barnes’ FOR BETTER OR WORSE was a Finalist for the National Indie Excellence Award for mysteries, and both novels in her new mystery/crime series won Honorable Mention in genre fiction from Writer’s Digest.

In 2022 Donna became the tenth inductee into her high school’s Lifetime Achievement Award Hall of Fame. To hint that she’s still writing, the plaque reads, “…and more,” at the bottom of her listed books.

When she isn’t plotting mayhem, Donna assumes she can fix anything until proven wrong, calls trash-picking recycling, and although she should probably know better by now, adores Irish setters.

Donna and husband, Hench, live in the greater Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

25 global ratings

5 star		64%
4 star		21%
3 star		16%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Diana M. Hockley

EXCELLENT READ

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

I am working my way through the "Ginger Barnes" mysteries and enjoying every one of them. Ginger is a delightful heroine, a woman with whom I could be friends. I love her dog and her family is pretty normal!

Mrs Murray manages to write a "cosy" mystery without it being typical of the genre. By this I mean that the plot is not "treacle sweet" and the subject matters this author tackles are found in every society. This book deals with not only an "ordinary" murder but also with the plight of the elderly and the way they can be abused and misunderstood. Certain people in Ginger's neighborhood- including Ginger at first - have no idea of the lifestyle of the old, eccentric woman who lives in a nearby house surrounded by a tangled. eyesore of a garden. For various reasons, the neighbours are outraged at the prospect of their house values going down because of this one garden and house.

I enjoyed this book, so much so, that I immediately started the next in the series, and I have to say that that one didn't disappoint either!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 31, 2021

Verified Purchase

A very good read. Interesting characters. Ginger Barnes is likeable and believable. Looking forward to reading more in this series.

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Neat Addition to a Cozy Mystery Collection

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 24, 2012

Verified Purchase

More a novel of manners than a mystery, Ms. Murray adeptly utilizes the cozy format to provide a snapshot of life on the Main Line for a neighborhood, whose middle class is secure but not wealthy. The heroine, who cannot abide what strike her as injustice, is confronted by the murder of her best friend and an attack on the impoverished owner of the neighborhood eyesore. She rebels against her fellow owners by taking up the cause of the survivor against those who would drive her out to improve property values and create a better market for home sales. Her own family is facing internal difficulties what with a husband increasingly absorbed in his work as headmaster of a private school and the kids facing typical problems of growing up.
The author writes well, her characters are economically drawn, and the plot contains sufficient mystery to justify its label. I am confident that many regular cozy readers will find this congenial reading

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

K. Lamoreaux

A fun read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 11, 2013

Verified Purchase

Ginger manages to run a household, help out at her husband's school and solve mysteries too. I enjoy this series when I am in the mood for light reading.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 22, 2021

Made a promise to the author that I would read and review one of her books. So, here goes. The story of an elderly recluse type neighbor brought me to an interesting place regarding my reads. This was quietly enjoyable, peaked my curiosity, with kind of a cul-de-sac type environment with a lot of content. I am looking forward to reading more of this genre. School of Hard Knocks was the first but definitely will not be the last read for me.

Helpful

njstitch

I read it in one night and I loved it!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 9, 2014

My rating: 4.5/5 stars! I read this lovely cozy mystery in one evening. I couldn't put it down after I started reading. I took one break to eat dinner! When I won this book, I only knew nothing about it, except that it was a mystery book. So I opened the book hoping I would like it. After reading 2 chapters, I loved this book! The book opens with the report of a woman attacked in her own home in Bryn Mawr, PA. The TV reporter is so robotic and unemotional that she could have been reading the phone book. Our main character Ginny Barnes is appalled by the news. She lives in a regular nice suburban neighborhood near Bryn Mawr. She's a typical mom of two regular teenage kids who have all the normal teenage problems. In the next few days, Gin's street develops a crime wave. Poor Gin, she just can't help herself. She can't stop trying to solve the crimes - much to the chagrin of her husband, an overworked and stressed out private school principal. The local police aren't much help either. They aren't taking this crime and Gin's observations seriously. In earlier times, the detective would be telling Gin, "Don't worry your pretty little head." But all of this changes, when something very serious happens.

I loved that the author made Gin and her neighbors just like people I've known in any suburban town. Another big plus is that I didn't know who the criminal was until the end of the book. All of the suspects were so plausible. This may be my first Ginger Barnes mystery, but it won't be my last. I heartily recommend "School of Hard Knocks" to any cozy mystery lover. Happy Reading!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

ME.....THE MOMMA

School of Hard Knocks

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 15, 2021

Fantastic read and characters. Storyline is fantastic also. She runs the household, raising two kids, helps her husband while he runs the school, also, helps solve murders. Her best friend was murdered and she helped an older lady when someone is out to kill her. Really keeps your attention with so much going on. A definite must read so you won’t miss all the fun

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 22, 2021

I read lots of books, and this book was fun to read. Gin, the main character, was a believable character who persisted in solving the mystery. I now want to read the rest of the series.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

The author brings her characters to life. Brilliant from start to finish. 5 Stars. Cannot wait to read more of her books.

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