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Professor Molly Mysteries #2
The Cursed Canoe
Professor Molly Barda investigates a mysterious paddling accident near Hawaii's Mahina State University, and realizes it isn't just business majors who cheat to get what they want. Whether it's moving up in the college rankings, getting a seat in the big canoe race, or just looking out for themselves, some people will do whatever it takes-including murder.
300 pages, Paperback
Published February 24, 2016
8 people are currently reading
830 people want to read
About the author
Frankie Bow
63 books316 followersLike Professor Molly, Frankie Bow works in higher education. Unlike her protagonist, she is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues, and an adequate office chair. Frankie writes the Professor Molly Mysteries and licensed novellas in Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune World.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 25, 2018
The Cursed Canoe by Frankie Bow had some good writing and interesting characters, but I wanted more of the mystery and what saved the story for me is that I didn’t guess the ending, which is a huge plus for me, a very good thing.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Cursed Canoe by Frankie Bow.
See more at fundinmental
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Cursed Canoe by Frankie Bow.
See more at fundinmental
May 2, 2016
Okay, I have to admit that I selected this book because of the title. It's a hard one to pass up on! I wasn't disappointed.
Molly is a professor of business studies at a small Hawaiian University, Mahina State. Thanks to a rigorous program of Student Retention strategies, the struggling university seems to have excellent completions and graduate employment rates, a requirement for government funding. When Molly attends a practice session of her friend and colleague's out-rigger canoe team, she is shocked to witness a bizarre accident. Kathy Banks, Student Retention Officer, collapses in the canoe, causes unknown, and is declared "dead" by local media three days later. Kathy appears to have no history prior to her arrival on the island, and more disturbingly there are no records of the 911 call relating to the accident. Molly is concerned that she has somehow caused the "voodoo death" of Kathy by wishing harm on her. She and her colleagues Emily and Pat investigate the murder and attempt to uncover the corruptions within the university.
I really enjoyed this book. It has plenty of believable characters, funny moments, and a twist in the tail. As a former employee of the University sector (including at an institution of similar size to the one described) I could totally relate to the excessive paperwork, and the need to manipulate statistics to put the institution in the best light. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Molly is a professor of business studies at a small Hawaiian University, Mahina State. Thanks to a rigorous program of Student Retention strategies, the struggling university seems to have excellent completions and graduate employment rates, a requirement for government funding. When Molly attends a practice session of her friend and colleague's out-rigger canoe team, she is shocked to witness a bizarre accident. Kathy Banks, Student Retention Officer, collapses in the canoe, causes unknown, and is declared "dead" by local media three days later. Kathy appears to have no history prior to her arrival on the island, and more disturbingly there are no records of the 911 call relating to the accident. Molly is concerned that she has somehow caused the "voodoo death" of Kathy by wishing harm on her. She and her colleagues Emily and Pat investigate the murder and attempt to uncover the corruptions within the university.
I really enjoyed this book. It has plenty of believable characters, funny moments, and a twist in the tail. As a former employee of the University sector (including at an institution of similar size to the one described) I could totally relate to the excessive paperwork, and the need to manipulate statistics to put the institution in the best light. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 13, 2016
This is a strange mystery, for it is not very mysterious, and if it's a cosy, there's not much in the way of detection going on. The situation seems reasonably clear, although a few more details are revealed as time goes on, but it's all very enjoyable and full of Hawaiian terms and terrain. A nice read for a train journey.
August 23, 2016
I would like to classify this as a cozy, but the mystery element really is pushed to the background. This is much more a character-driven woman's fiction novel than a mystery.
May 2, 2016
Great sequel to the Musubi Murder!
I love the characters in the Molly Barda books, and really enjoy the comedic relief throughout these murder mysteries!
I love the characters in the Molly Barda books, and really enjoy the comedic relief throughout these murder mysteries!
May 3, 2016
Another fun book from Frankie Bow. The writing is clever and very entertaining. I find the main characters (Molly, Emma, Pat) quirky and likable.
May 16, 2017
Actually 2.5 Stars.
I really wanted to like this book. I had enjoyed the first book and set out to read this book looking for more of the same, but in the end I left this book feeling immensely disappointed.
It wasn't one of those books where the plot is just horrible or the characters are unbelievable, in fact, it could have been a really good book. And maybe that made it even more disappointing. Because in the end, it was just a lot of little things that built up and built up so that by the time I was halfway through the book finishing it felt like a slog.
I actually thought about the book for a day or two after finishing it (that's how frustrated I was by it, I HAD to find all the things wrong with it) and I decided in the end that the problem was either that:
A. The author was rushed to get this book out and did not take the time on rewrites etc... that really should happen with ANY book. OR
B. There was no editor (or the editor had no idea how to be a book editor).
Looking back at all the things that frustrated me and didn't connect from that perspective it all makes a LOT of sense. This book would have been tons of fun if only they had put off publishing it for three more months and smoothed out all it's edges. I mean, the final chapter is basically just a list of explanation and solutions to plot lines (rather than having them work out in story), which honestly feels like I'm reading the author's summary notes on how to wrap each piece up... but nothing's actually been WRITTEN out. Le sigh... I really wanted to keep reading this series.
I really wanted to like this book. I had enjoyed the first book and set out to read this book looking for more of the same, but in the end I left this book feeling immensely disappointed.
It wasn't one of those books where the plot is just horrible or the characters are unbelievable, in fact, it could have been a really good book. And maybe that made it even more disappointing. Because in the end, it was just a lot of little things that built up and built up so that by the time I was halfway through the book finishing it felt like a slog.
I actually thought about the book for a day or two after finishing it (that's how frustrated I was by it, I HAD to find all the things wrong with it) and I decided in the end that the problem was either that:
A. The author was rushed to get this book out and did not take the time on rewrites etc... that really should happen with ANY book. OR
B. There was no editor (or the editor had no idea how to be a book editor).
Looking back at all the things that frustrated me and didn't connect from that perspective it all makes a LOT of sense. This book would have been tons of fun if only they had put off publishing it for three more months and smoothed out all it's edges. I mean, the final chapter is basically just a list of explanation and solutions to plot lines (rather than having them work out in story), which honestly feels like I'm reading the author's summary notes on how to wrap each piece up... but nothing's actually been WRITTEN out. Le sigh... I really wanted to keep reading this series.
December 31, 2017
Although this got off to a rather weak start , it was ultimately a delightful read, mostly because of the banter between Molly Barda and her friends, and the hilarious depiction of academic bureaucracy. The writing was good and the plot came together in a reasonably acceptable way.
February 18, 2017
I would like to classify this as a cozy, but the mystery element really is pushed to the background. This is much more a cI would like to classify this as a cozy, but the mystery element really is pushed to the background. This is much more a character-driven woman's fiction novel than a mystery.haracter-driven woman's fiction novel than a mystery.
October 29, 2016
If I didn't already like the characters and setting I might stop with this book. It felt kind of unfinished, disjointed and longer than it needed to be. And given the nature of the "mystery" it's uber-strange that people were not a lot more perturbed.
2.5 stars rounded up, because I have a soft spot for Molly and her friends.
2.5 stars rounded up, because I have a soft spot for Molly and her friends.
April 21, 2025
This one was an interesting mystery, but again, I did find it dragged on.
June 12, 2016
THE CURSED CANOE by Frankie Bow
The Second Molly Barda Mystery
Molly is back and suffering some unusual physical ailments. Is it stress? The result of dealing with the Student Retention Office? While watching her friend Emma put the paddling crew through their paces she complains about Kathy Banks, her liaison to said Retention Office. Before Molly finishes wishing Kathy ill, shouts come out to call 911. Kathy has fallen overboard. And doesn't recover. Is there really such a thing as psychogenic death? Could Molly have somehow caused Kathy's death? And how is it that recent graduates are reportedly earning high incomes? Is Donnie thinking of making Molly's relationship with his son more than that of a former college professor? There's a lot going on at Mahina State, but is is murder?
The death of paddler Kathy Banks is at the heart of THE CURSED CANOE. We get a glimpse into the world of outrigger canoe paddling and a deeper look at for profit colleges, and the fact that Mahina State appears to be transforming into one! Molly continues to find her way as an nontenured professor, trying to appease the Student Retention Office while still trying to be an effective teacher-something at odds with the current academic climate.
Frankie Bow weaves several threads through THE CURSED CANOE and while many issues are resolved, there are still questions left for further exploration. The author gives us the seedier side of Hawaii in her Molly Barda Mystery series. It's not the tropical paradise the tourists see, but rather the harsher reality of island life-high cost of living, high humidity, and the horrors of Academia.
I love the sense of humor Bow brings, that self deprecating, almost fatalistic bite, and I enjoyed the intricate storyline, but am still left with some questions. THE CURSED CANOE is made for the thinking reader, but while I appreciated the ending I feel as if I'm missing something. Still in all, it's a good read, especially for those familiar with the world of Academia.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC in the hopes I would review it.
The Second Molly Barda Mystery
Molly is back and suffering some unusual physical ailments. Is it stress? The result of dealing with the Student Retention Office? While watching her friend Emma put the paddling crew through their paces she complains about Kathy Banks, her liaison to said Retention Office. Before Molly finishes wishing Kathy ill, shouts come out to call 911. Kathy has fallen overboard. And doesn't recover. Is there really such a thing as psychogenic death? Could Molly have somehow caused Kathy's death? And how is it that recent graduates are reportedly earning high incomes? Is Donnie thinking of making Molly's relationship with his son more than that of a former college professor? There's a lot going on at Mahina State, but is is murder?
The death of paddler Kathy Banks is at the heart of THE CURSED CANOE. We get a glimpse into the world of outrigger canoe paddling and a deeper look at for profit colleges, and the fact that Mahina State appears to be transforming into one! Molly continues to find her way as an nontenured professor, trying to appease the Student Retention Office while still trying to be an effective teacher-something at odds with the current academic climate.
Frankie Bow weaves several threads through THE CURSED CANOE and while many issues are resolved, there are still questions left for further exploration. The author gives us the seedier side of Hawaii in her Molly Barda Mystery series. It's not the tropical paradise the tourists see, but rather the harsher reality of island life-high cost of living, high humidity, and the horrors of Academia.
I love the sense of humor Bow brings, that self deprecating, almost fatalistic bite, and I enjoyed the intricate storyline, but am still left with some questions. THE CURSED CANOE is made for the thinking reader, but while I appreciated the ending I feel as if I'm missing something. Still in all, it's a good read, especially for those familiar with the world of Academia.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC in the hopes I would review it.
June 9, 2016
If you have read the previous books in this series you will have an idea of how dysfunctional the administration and political climate are at the university where Molly Barda teaches.
You will also have a sense of her hesitation about spending time with her boyfriend's son.
Fortunately Molly has the support of friends and coworkers Emma and Pat, as things are going to get more tense rapidly. Emma is focused on an upcoming, highly competitive canoe race. Molly's boyfriend, Donnie, has his mind on business when he's not worried about his son's life.
Molly agrees to visit a psychiatrist when work stress disrupts her daily life, and she fears her thoughts may have contributed to an antagonist's death, but wherever she turns a former student arises. Can any secrets be safe in a college community?
Someone is keeping secrets, or maybe everyone. There are multiple plotlines twisting and being tangled together throughout the book. We learn more about each of the main characters through actions and reactions. This environment is a hotbed of backstabbing double dealing.
Molly and friends, encouraged by a class assignment, can't resist doing some snooping.
The author's writing is impeccable. Suspense mixed with humor. The dialogue flows with an island accent.
I was provided with this eBook for review purposes.
You will also have a sense of her hesitation about spending time with her boyfriend's son.
Fortunately Molly has the support of friends and coworkers Emma and Pat, as things are going to get more tense rapidly. Emma is focused on an upcoming, highly competitive canoe race. Molly's boyfriend, Donnie, has his mind on business when he's not worried about his son's life.
Molly agrees to visit a psychiatrist when work stress disrupts her daily life, and she fears her thoughts may have contributed to an antagonist's death, but wherever she turns a former student arises. Can any secrets be safe in a college community?
Someone is keeping secrets, or maybe everyone. There are multiple plotlines twisting and being tangled together throughout the book. We learn more about each of the main characters through actions and reactions. This environment is a hotbed of backstabbing double dealing.
Molly and friends, encouraged by a class assignment, can't resist doing some snooping.
The author's writing is impeccable. Suspense mixed with humor. The dialogue flows with an island accent.
I was provided with this eBook for review purposes.
April 10, 2017
Good plot but story dragged on places for me
3rd in this series I read I started with the last I one which I enjoyed. So I decided to read series from the beginning. I would read the rest of series of the kill off Donny. His character sets off to red flags of a controlling abusive person that I keep even though since reading the last book Molly will marry this jerk . She too smart to settle for him and spoiled over indulged cab do not wrong son . The p!it was good just felt this book drug its heals got bored with it and skip read parts
3rd in this series I read I started with the last I one which I enjoyed. So I decided to read series from the beginning. I would read the rest of series of the kill off Donny. His character sets off to red flags of a controlling abusive person that I keep even though since reading the last book Molly will marry this jerk . She too smart to settle for him and spoiled over indulged cab do not wrong son . The p!it was good just felt this book drug its heals got bored with it and skip read parts
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews