School of Hard Knocks

A Ginger Barnes Mystery #3

by Donna Huston Murray

These days Ginger Struve Barnes, who's been known to solve a crime or two on Philadelphia's affluent Main Line, has troubles of her own. Her husband is acting very distant, and her teenaged daughter is flirting with an eating disorder. Now, Gin is nosing into the dark shadows of the community. What she finds will blow the lid of respectability from her upper-crust neighbors' lives--and bring a killer too close to home.

Genres: Mystery

292 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

About the author

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 eighth Gin Barnes, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, was awarded Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Award for mysteries, and the first two novels in the Lauren Beck mystery/crime series won Honorable Mention in genre fiction from Writer’s Digest. The series third, STRANGER DANGER, also achieved Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards.

Donna recently 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,” below 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 know better by now, got a new puppy. Check her socials and you’ll understand.

Donna and husband, Hench, live in Gwynedd, PA, USA.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 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!

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ginger (Gin) Barnes lives in a nice neighborhood with teenagers living a typical suburban lifestyle. Then there is a crime wave in her town of Beech Tree Lane. Letty MacNair an elderly neighbor is attacked. Gin tries to stop the crimes on her own but no one including the police will help. Gin’s neighbors are upset that their property values are going down because of a neighborhood mess. I really enjoyed this impressive women’s sleuth mystery novel. I received this free e-book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Elsie Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

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

[Jeanne Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant mystery. Enjoyable series.

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the Ginger Barnes mystery series. Delightful and entertaining cozy mystery.

[Judi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ran into Barnes & Noble to pick up a last minute graduation present and found myself standing in front of this writer. She was holding a book signing and asked if I liked mysteries. Ginger Barnes, her main character, is an upper middle class housewife who lives on the Main Line, Philadelphia. I was skeptical, but here was a real life writer in front of me -- who am I to snob any attempt at writing and she had written 4 novels! I decided to try this one, the third in her series.

This book is a pleasant surprise. I like the way she weaves a mystery around common everyday family events. To me, Ginger seems real or, at least, someone I want to believe could exist. She has a sense of humor, she's not without some problems that she feels that she should be handling better, and she's nice. At some point I had a good idea as to who the murderer was, not that it is the only mystery. This did not detract from the story since I wanted to fill in all the details and I just wasn't always sure I really knew "whodunit". School of Hard Knocks is a very traditional style paperback mystery in a nontraditional setting. It does not include violent scenes, foul language or sex. It does offer humorous insight, decent vocabulary and humanity. Kind of refreshing, eh?

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads/First /reads contest. It is my first book by this author & was immediately drawn to her writing style. It was a very enjoyable, fast reading book. The main character, Ginger Barnes reminded me of a younger, modern Miss Marple. Really enjoyed that the setting, the Philadelphia Main Line is as much a character as the characters themselves. Even though this is book #3 in the Ginger Barnes mysteries,it could stand on it's own; wasn't feeling like I was missing a key element as you do in some series, if they aren't read in the order they are written. Looking forward to reading more of the books in the series. Definitely recommend this book/author for others to read.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book in the Ginger Barnes Main Line series. Getting better as we go along. Really liking the characters as we get to know them. But this is the last one I have -- will have to check the online downloadable libraries for more. This book was about crime in her neighborhood and as usual Gin gets involved. Loved Letty.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Main Line mystery featuring Ginger Barnes. Her husband is a headmaster at a private school. This one doesn't really have a strong academic setting, but it's my favorite in the series.