HOT AND BOTHERED, a Mystery by Jane Isenberg

After 9/11, Bel Barrett, a post-menopausal community college English prof, thinks things can't get any grimmer. But when a neighbor and colleague, who moonlights as a stripper, is murdered, Bel knows there's trouble on her block in Hoboken. Can this midlife mama once again prove that brains and a couple of good girlfriends can bring a killer to justice?

" This is one of my favorite authors writing in a darker vein than usual but still exhibiting the light touch that characterizes her work with some really funny laugh out loud moments, but some truly sad and poignant ones as well. There is her usual sardonic look at a community college full of non-traditional students, and a changing neighborhood being yuppified.

" Jane Isenberg is an expert at presenting believable and realistic characters both among Bel’s friends and colleagues and her students. Isenberg has a good insight into the attitude of New Yorkers towards New Jersey as well as other things, as she accurately depicts the shock and paralysis that gripped those of us in the New York region in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. "

     Eden Embler for I Love a Mystery Newsletter

" Jane Isenberg knows how to write an excellent amateur sleuth novel with so many red herrings that the reader will actually be totally shocked when the killer’s identity is revealed. "

     Harriet Klausner for AllReaders.com

" In Hot and Bothered, Jane Isenberg gives readers a chance to get even better acquainted with a very engaging sleuth. Bel Barrett, estrogen patch in place and Post-it notes in hand, will strike a chord in any woman over 45 and the men and children who love her. Jane’s good sense of story and her down to earth writing style will keep the reader engaged and guessing, right down to the final paragraph. If you haven’t met Bel barrett, it’s high time you did. "

     Stephanie Shea for Mystery Place at Baker Street

" Jane Isenberg writes wonderful mysteries. They feature Bel Barrett---not your ordinary sleuth. She lives in Hoboken, teaches and investigates all sorts of crimes while simultaneously coping with menopause. Hercule Poirot never tracked killers during a hot flash! "

     Mike Cuthbert for AARP Prime Time Radio

" ... an interesting view of strippers and strip clubs. Well written, this book is a delight to read.

     Sara Berger for Mysterious Women newsletter

" Bel is a very engaging character. She's real, logical, pragmatic, emotional, and as confused as the rest of us. The subplot concerning Sol, and the aftereffects of 9/11, is never overpowering, but very moving. There are no easy answers or quick fixes; the characters here are as affected by the attacks as the readers. The mystery is involving, the victim and her circumstances are unique, but not used for cheap sentiment. This is part of an on-going series, but first-time readers will find themselves immediately drawn into Bel's world. I'll be looking forward to more from Bel; and I'll be looking for her previous books as well. "

     Deborah Hern for The Romance Reader's Connection

Discussion Questions for HOT AND BOTHERED

1. 9/11 had an enormous impact on Bel’s community. How did it affect your community?

2. Bel’s neighborhood is a fairly close one. Is this typical of most urban communities? Small towns? How well do folks in your neighborhood know one another.

3. Sol experiences post-traumatic stress syndrome. How does his condition contribute to the overall tone of the book? What do you make of Bel’s method of dealing with it?

4. As a feminist, Bel has conflicting opinions on stripping. Explain. What do you think of women who earn a living as exotic dancers or strippers? Why?

5. Throughout the book, Bel and Sol are living with the chaos and grime caused by the renovation of their kitchen. What does this add to the story? Does the one step forward-two steps backward pace of the work sound familiar?

6. Bel is teaching the Faculty Development Seminar at RECC. In what ways do the new faculty members resemble the students they teach? What is meant by the term “nontraditional student”?

7. Eunice Goodson’s parents did not want her to attend college. How prevalent is this attitude today?

8. The experiences of Eunice’s sister Andrea are, unfortunately, typical of those of many young people who come to a big city. Explain. What advice would you give to young newcomers trying to make it in a large urban center?

9. What does The Big Apple Peel have in common with many nonfictitious strip joints? How is a Soprano Safari like a real tour? What do these two creations add to the story? What do they tell us about America’s taste in leisure time activities?

10. Were you surprised by the book’s ending? If so, why? If not, why not? How was the reader prepared for it? Does it ring true? Why or why not?

Return to Mysteries

Return to Home Page