Midlife Can Be Murder: A Bel Barrett Mystery

( Mood swings aren't the only hormonal hotspots in Bel B...)

Mood swings aren't the only hormonal hotspots in Bel Barrett's midlife -- now she's having a religious identity crisis...and a dose of Jewish guilt to boot! The fifty-something New Jersey community college professor never dreamed she'd run into former student Ashley Roberts -- a young woman she once may have wronged -- in a study group at her synagogue. So when the "accidental" death of a close colleague leaves Ashley distraught, Bel feels compelled to investigate the tragedy. But her good intentions land her in a wildworld of corporate espionage, dangerous personal and professional practices, and old-fashioned chicanery at a new internet company. When she realizes that a fatal indoor rock climbing "mishap" was really a murder, Bel's suddenly snarled in a deadly web that will take a Solomon to untangle...and a Samson to survive.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0380818868/?tag=2022091-20

Going by the Book: The Role of Popular Classroom Chronicles in the Professional Development of Teachers by Isenberg, Jane (1994) Paperback

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010TS8IWY/?tag=2022091-20

Going by the Book: The Role of Popular Classroom Chronicles in the Professional Development of Teachers

( The plight of the new teacher has changed little during...)

The plight of the new teacher has changed little during the last 30 years. Neophytes still confront the same conflicting demands--to foster students' academic development while controlling their behavior, often in crowded classrooms in ill-equipped and poorly administered schools. Thanks to five books, Isenberg (a 30-year veteran of urban classroom teaching) found solace and support. The five books are Up The Down Staircase, Teacher, How Children Fail, To Sir With Love, and 36 Children. As teaching narratives, these best-selling writings of classroom teachers are a precious legacy of wisdom, inspiration, and experience. Going By The Book is the first published account of the role of teaching narratives in the ongoing professional development of a working teacher. It also serves to illustrate the importance of shared stories in maintaining the will to endure in the teaching profession.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0897893964/?tag=2022091-20

Hot Wired: A Bel Barrett Mystery (Bel Barrett Mysteries (Avon Books))

( With a great job as a community college professor, some...)

With a great job as a community college professor, some peace and quiet now that the kids are out of the house, and a loving new husband, it would seem Bel Barrett finally has a chance to kick back and enjoy life. But just when things seem too good to be true, trouble rears its ugly head again––this time in the form of a hateful rap that's circulating on a popular college website. In the old days, the bathroom wall was the place to air grievances for a bad grade or a pop quiz. But now Bel's learning that the internet is a lot more effective at ruining a reputation––students across the country think she's a racist and a sexist, all thanks to a vengeful rap posted on pickurprofs.com. With a little sleuthing, Bel realizes that a former student, who dropped out, joined the army, and lost his arm fighting in Iraq, is taking out his frustrations at her expense. The wannabe rapper wants to make sure someone pays for his misfortune, and with the administration breathing down her neck, and her job in jeopardy, Bel may very well be the one. And while she's concentrating on keeping her job, and keeping her life in order, the rapping avenger turns up dead on the subway track, and all signs point to Bel as the most likely suspect. Now a middle–aged, law–abiding college professor has to find the evidence to prove she's innocent, before the decision to give one bad grade lands her in jail for a long, long time.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060577533/?tag=2022091-20

Mood Swings to Murder: A Bel Barrett Mystery

( Dead Ringer for a Dead Singer Fifty-something New Jers...)

Dead Ringer for a Dead Singer Fifty-something New Jersey community college professor Bel Barret has had enough "changes of life" lately to last her a lifetime. Her daughter has cheerfully announced her pregnancy and her impending marriage in a single e-mail. Her son has come back home to find himself, but all he's found so far is the TV remote. Even a romantic stroll covering the Hoboken waterfront with live-in love Sol can do nothing to stabilize Bel's menopausal mood swings--especially when they stumble across the corpse of a stranger in the night who turns out to be... Frank Sinatra? Actually, the bogus Blue Eyes was one Louie Palumbo, a sorry imitation of the late local icon. And since Louie had been dating and two-timing one of Bel's favorite students, the unfortunate co-ed is now the prime suspect in Palumbo's slaying. Bel's determined to go all the way to rout out the real killer. But that means plunging estrogen patch-first into the strange world of obsessive Sinatra worship--a move that could prove to be something stupid...maybe even fatal!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0380802821/?tag=2022091-20

Death in a Hot Flash (Bel Barrett Mysteries (Avon Books))

(Professor Bel Barrett has enough on her plate teaching En...)

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.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0380802813/?tag=2022091-20