Third Degree: 5 (Murder 101 Mysteries) - Tapa dura

"The secret to a good mystery series is an appealing character. . . . Maggie Barbieri came up with a winner in her first book, and her amateur sleuth, Alison Bergeron, is still provoking laughs and sympathy in the fourth entry, Final Exam. . . . Barbieri aces this exam." --Richmond Times-Dispatch on Final Exam

"Cute and cozy . . . Barbieri, the daughter of an NYC cop, has a nice, light touch with a procedural." --New York Daily News on Final Exam

"Mystery, romance, and humor blend seamlessly. . . . Reminiscent of the Plum series, this one is not to be missed." --RT Book Reviews (Top Pick!) on Quick Study

"Bergeron's romantic trials and fashion sense are comparable to Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski. . . . Extracurricular Activities will find a home with readers of chick lit and cozy mysteries alike." --The Tampa Tribune on Extracurricular Activities

"A romantic ending and the furthering of a girlfriend bond that we hope to enjoy in murder mysteries to come." --More on Murder 101

On her way to meet her boyfriend's parents, college professor Alison Bergeron stops by a coffee shop to steel her resolve. It's a big event. Not only is it the first time she's met NYPD detective Bobby Crawford's entire family, but it's coming on the heels of a wedding proposal that she has left unanswered so far.

Then, as she steps into the shop, a brawl breaks out that ends in the death of Carter Wilmott, a merciless and loathed local blogger. The case couldn't be any simpler, and Alison witnessed the whole thing, but when Wilmott's car explodes in the aftermath, what looked to be a crime of passion becomes something far more complicated and maybe even premeditate.

With Alison and Bobby involved in the case and with each other, readers are in for a treat. Third Degree, the latest in Maggie Barbieri's charming mystery series, is one heated mystery with plenty of steamy romance and cunning villains who are about to get burned.