The Blessed Event: A Professor Molly Mystery By Frankie Bow

by Cynthia Chow

Details on how to win a copy of this book at the end of the review.

For Mahina State University professor Molly Barda summer vacation is anything but a vacation. Not only does she have to submit final grades for her business classes, she also must complete the research that she never has time to complete during school year. Molly may have finally achieved tenure, but that only means that the university has to put some effort into firing her. She’s not getting much peace at home either, as the recently married bride also inherited her husband’s nephew Davison, whom she first met when he attempted to cheat his way through her class.

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Donnie Gonsalves raised Davison as his own son, but he is the only relative that Molly has ever met. In fact, she knows nothing about her husband’s family, so it’s a surprise not only when she meets his Uncle Brian, but also receives a call from Donnie’s sister Gloria. It’s been years since she visited the Hawaiian Islands, but there are reasons for her long absence. Molly, accustomed to her privacy, finds that she has suddenly gone from having no in-laws to being inundated with them. This helps to explain why she embraces the “opportunity” she forgotten she had volunteered for, conducting Diversity Training for the sexist Mahina Police Department.

Image source: Hawaiian Heritage Press

While the absurdly complex and taxing family dynamics exasperate Molly and provide comic scenarios, it is the university politics that prove to be even more entertaining. The delusional attempts by students to negotiate during “grade-grubbing season” are a delight, as are scenes of Molly sneaking into her school office and outmaneuvering her incompetent interim department chair. Molly is less successful at coping with her own state of “elderly primigravida,” as her stepson seems to be entering fatherhood despite his inability to master the mathematics of pregnancy. Although Molly seems to be too complacent in these early stages of her marriage, the real reward in the Molly Barda mystery series is seeing her finally take charge and assert her business and investigative intelligence. The tropical setting and unique Hawaiian culture enhance this extremely funny mystery that combines academic politics with hilarious family complications.

To enter to win either an e-book or print copy (winner's choice) of The Blessed Event, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “blessed,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 16, 2016. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address.

You can use this link to purchase the book:

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).