Extra Credit by Maggie Barbieri, a Mysterious Review.

Review: English professor Alison Bergeron, recently married to NYPD detective Bobby Crawford, agrees to host a birthday party for his 19-year-old twin daughters, only to have an unexpected guest to the party turn up unexpectedly dead just a few days later in Extra Credit, the seventh "Murder 101 Mystery" by Maggie Barbieri.

Meaghan and Erin and thrilled to see their Uncle Chick, brother of their mother (and Bobby's ex-wife Christine), who walked out on his own family ten years ago and hasn't been heard from since. And he come bearing a most generous gift: $5000 for each of the girls. Their parents, however, insist and that they return the money but Chick refuses to accept it. When Bobby visits Chick at his home later that week, he discovers him dead … and $250,000 stuffed inside his mattress. Foul play is not suspected, and the coroner rules his death a suicide. Christine can't believe her brother would take his own life, and Alison tends to agree — though even Alison would admit she's possible more intrigued with the mystery surrounding Chick's death than the manner in which he died. But when the family dog is intentionally poisoned and nearly dies, Alison is quick to change her mind: someone is targeting them and now it's personal.

Extra Credit is a well-rounded mystery with all the elements of mystery readers want: a whodunit-style murder; family squabbles; professional intrigue — just how does a new "super student", who is tutoring Meaghan, fit into all this?; humor — a middle-aged woman enrolled in Alison's class wants to write a novel concerning the murder of her husband!; and more. The entertaining banter between the characters adds to the fun. A good, solid entry in this series.

Physical Education
Minotaur Books (Hardcover), November 2011
ISBN-13: 9780312593292; ISBN-10: 0312593295

Once Upon a Lie
Minotaur Books (Hardcover), December 2013
ISBN-13: 9781250011671; ISBN-10: 1250011671

Extra Credit

An Alison Bergeron, Murder 101 Mystery by Maggie Barbieri