Murder On Campus…
The first in the Ginger Barnes series of mysteries finds Ginger trying to save her husband’s reputation and his livelihood as she investigates a murder on campus. It seems that nobody can afford nor tolerate a scandal. Enjoyable and entertaining cosy style mystery with amenable characters and an engaging plot.

A murder has occurred at a local private school, and Ginger Barnes is on the case! As she sleuths around, trying to uncover the mystery of what has occurred, she realizes even people you think you know are hiding secrets.

This book was a cute, cozy, easy read. The ending was not incredibly obvious, which I really liked, but it did make sense when Ginger finally put two and two together!

I really enjoyed this book and will look forward to reading more in this series. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A sleazy lawyer is murdered, and no one really grieves, until Ginger Barnes realizes that the resulting scandal may result in the closing of her headmaster husband's Main Line private school. While her husband struggles to save the school, Gin throws herself into an effort to find the killer, an effort that will ultimately put her, her charming family, and even her beloved dog in terrible danger.

this was a great read, i really enjoyed guessing on how did it and going on this journey with the characters. I look forward to more in the series.

I enjoyed reading "The Main Line is Murder." While I was first attracted by the title and cover art, the Main Line doesn't actually play much of a part. It is a whodunnit with lots of fun characters. The story is told in the first person by the curious and easy going wife of the head of a private school, and most of the action occurs in and around the school. The story unfolds at a good pace, and it is a rather quick read.
I did feel that the writing style at the beginning was kind of wordy or rambling. The story soon picked up into a breezy comfortable read.

this book was, generally, a lot of fun of the classic murder mystery mixed with some humor and some mild sass. Yes, the heroine(Gin)'s life role is too much of a stereotype but the author is very aware of what she's doing with that, and gives her intelligence and choices that she is actively making. I tore along happily thru it but I did not like the ending. Her family's central loss at the very end (trying not for spoilers) is dealt with as though it's no big deal, as her decision that she won't tell her husband what actually happened and who caused that loss.

with that reservation, i still recommend this as a (generally) good time. I would definitely read more of Ms. Murray's books. Note: I received this book free thru NetGalley; my opinion is my own.

I received a free ARC of this book in return for an honest review. Thanks to the author and the publisher for this.

This book is a re-release of an earlier title by the same name which was released in 1995, although I had not heard of it before reading this version. The story is the first of the ‘Ginger Barnes Cozy Mysteries’ series, and introduces Ginger (the terrible housewife cum head-of-school’s wife) as the amateur, wannabe crime sleuth. The violent murder of the school’s resident lawyer triggers Ginger into doing some investigating work when her husband’s school is at risk of being closed down.

I’ll be honest here and say this wasn’t my favorite mystery novel read. The book is pitched as a ‘cozy mystery’ and perhaps it does fulfill that brief. For me however, who became obsessed with mystery whodunnits after reading plenty of Agatha Christie, It was too delicate and pleasant to really get me hooked in. I struggled with the writing style throughout, everything felt over descriptive - people were described in very overly descriptive but strangely odd terms , and every action was overly described with similes to the point I found it difficult to read certain parts and found myself re reading a page over and over again. For example a lady’s perm was described as a ‘permanent wave’ once and even just a ‘permanent ‘ twice. Her face was described:
“Her head was swathed in a white towel with pungent fumes escaping around the edges. Between the drape and the towel her face seemed to float in midair like a Disney World hologram.“
I just struggled a bit with this constant forced comparisons and imagery. I also struggled with some of the jumping around in time without making obvious that had happened in some chapters. The plot was ok and I did have a genuine desire to find out who ‘did it’ although it was a little shallow for me and all a bit nicey nicey around coffee dates and glasses of wine, and the detectives all just clap her on the back for good work well done. There wasn’t a lot of backstory or character development on Ginger, her husband Rip, or their kids - it would have been nice to have learnt a bit more about them as a family and how they came to be at the school.

Having said all that, I have deliberately bumped up this star rating from a 2 star to a 3 star review due to the ending.. I won’t spoil it here, but the ending surprised me, and that was well welcomed. I read both endings - the original one and the alternate ending, and I have to say that although I liked the rewritten lead up to the event better in the ‘alternate’ ending...I preferred the dramatics and surprise of the original ending much better. It was a nice touch being able to choose though.

All in all, it does what it says on the tin - a cozy mystery - not one to puzzle your brain for hours with internal debating over who done it and complex plot lines - but a good and simple cozy mystery to wash over you for a few hours.

When I picked up The Main Line Is Murder, I (wrongfully) assumed this cozy mystery meant I would curl up and finish this novel quickly...It was very much a snoozer. I found myself putting the book down much more frequently than I picked it up. Main character Ginger Barnes is likable enough, but it takes nearly half the novel for this amateur sleuth to begin her investigation in earnest. I did not find myself drawn to any character or cheering for Gin to find out whodunnit. In fact, the book should've wrapped up quite a few chapters sooner. I do not think I will be revisiting Gin Barnes or the cozy mystery genre for quite some time.

I picked up this intriguing mystery because in another life I spent some time on the Main Line, so I was curious how the setting would work for a bit of a cozy mystery. I found the writing pleasant and engaging, including the way the narrative unfolded in flashbacks around the central murder, but never fully connected with characters. The police investigation wasn't really convincing, and the mystery was pretty simple, while the ending seems unnecessarily violent and contrived compared to the alternate one. However, it does mostly work as a portrait of the society surrounding a private school in a privileged bubble as well as the trials and tribulations of those who keep them going. (Thanks to the author for making it available for review.)

First in the Ginger Barnes Cozy Mystery Series, MAIN LINE IS MURDER is a Philadelphia-setting edgy Cozy. As you read you will discover why I use the term "edgy." Gin Barnes' husband is the newly appointed Head of School at a nearly-failing Main Line private academy, determined to make the school a success. Gin does her part by organizing rummage sales (which in this case requires creative thinking) but then discovers a much-disliked staff member, deceased--in the School. Before parents withdraw their children en masse, Gin determines to investigate without letting husband Rip or the police detective realize.


I found this Cozy quite enjoyable [and at times heartwrenching] and anticipate the Series.

Ginger Barnes is the greatest. This may not be the most original mystery ever written... reading it, I kept flashing back to I don't know what; another book, another school, another amateur sleuth. I still don't know what it was and, frankly, I don't care. This has replaced it in my heart, and I cannot wait for another Gin adventure.

The Main Line is Murder is a really enjoyable novel to curl up with on a rainy weekend and just lose yourself in the story. I was originally intrigued by the title and the reference to the Philadelphia geographical area of the Main Line. Huston Murray does not disappoint with the description of the settings and the characters. A fun read over all!

I remembered reading this book back in paperback book days, and remembered it fondly, but without many details. So, I was happy to receive an ARC of the new e-book edition from the publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

As I started (re-)reading the book, I remembered why I had enjoyed it the last time – the main character, Ginger (Gin) Barnes, gets stuck with a lot of odd jane-of-all-trade jobs that she hates as much as I do, but still manages to keep a sense of humor throughout. And all while figuring out who the murderer was! I enjoyed the plot, and I liked the characters, so all-in-all, I was happy to have a chance to read this again.

And, this is the first in the series, so if you like reading in order, you’re in luck!

Please keep in mind that for me, 4 stars out of 5 is a really good ranking. I reserve 5 stars for a very few absolute favorite books, ones I am going to read and reread time-and-again, probably no more than one in twenty or thirty books. So 4 stars is my normal top limit, and means I very much do recommend the book.

The Main Line is Murder is the epitome of a cozy mystery - taking place in the small affluent suburbs of Philadelphia, the fictional Bryn Derwyn, Gin Barnes, wife of a head of a private school, sets out to solve the murder of a prominent board member. Gin is a delightful character who grows naturally into her amateur detective role. There are plenty of prime suspects, light suspense, and an alternative ending!

As a native to Philadelphia, I appreciated reading about local stomping grounds.

The Main Line is Murder follows main character Ginger, whose husband Rip has just become the new head of Bryn Derwyn Academy, a private school right outside of Philadelphia. While at the school one day, Ginger discovers the body of the school’s sleazy lawyer. She begins working to track down clues and joins the investigation to find the murderer.

I was really excited to read The Main is Murder. Being from the main line area myself and going to school on the main line, I was really interested in how the author would portray the main line. The characters, and especially locations, while fictional, truly felt like they would fit right in on the main line. I found myself wondering what places were the inspiration for these fictional locations.

While I typically really enjoy cozy mysteries, this one just missed the mark for me. I found it difficult to relate to, or really care about any of the characters. In addition, the ending just didn’t make sense to me. It seemed to come out of nowhere, and didn’t wrap up the story in a way that worked for me. There was an alternate ending provided, and I can honestly say I liked that one better for this story.

When a murder occurs at Bryn Derwyn school, the wife of the Head of School takes it upon herself to solve the murder and thus save the school. That is the main plot of THE MAIN LINE IS MURDER by Donna Huston Murray.

The wife, Gin, starts her quest to prove that the person the police arrested is innocent. Along the way in her amateur investigation, she suspects almost everyone, and must eliminate each from her inquiry.

This is a pleasant, cozy quick read. The character development is good, the plot hangs together well.

The author also provided an alternate ending, which I definitely thought was superior to the original one.

The main thing I didn’t like about the book was that in my opinion, the killer’s motive wasn’t strong enough to fit the crime.

Thanks NetGalley for providing this arc.

An enjoyable cozy mystery, fun to read and engrossing.
I liked the fleshed out characters, the plot that flows, and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

. Married to Rip, the head of the Bryn Derwyn school, Ginger Barnes inserts herself into the murder investigation of the school’s attorney. It is an enjoyable read. The fully-rounded main character whose nosiness and self-confidence lead her, eventually, to solving the murder is a believable sleuth.. The setting of a small private school in Philadelphia is well-described. The adroit characterization of minor characters adds richness to the plot. And the “Alternate Ending” is an added bonus. Overall, a great way to spend a dreary Sunday during the pandemic isolation.
Review posted at http://www.kathywagenknecht.com/p/readers-corner.html
Original ending.

The Main Line is Murder is the first entry in a cozy mystery series featuring Ginger (Gin) Barnes, whose husband has just. become the new head of Bryn Derwyn Academy, a private school in Philadephia. (The title seems pretty random, as the location seems to have no relation to the mystery and while the term "Main Line," at least to me, conjures up images of affluence, only one character in the book seems to be truly wealthy.)

When a lawyer who represents the school and is on its board (and is a pretty loathsome character to boot), is murdered in the building's Community Room, Gin determines in standard cozy mystery fashion to solve the case and help keep the struggling school afloat. She immediately starts tracking down leads and interviewing suspects, and of course, cracks the case.

While I'm not a cozy mystery fan in general so maybe that should be taken into account, (I thought I'd try this one as a bit of a change in pace), I'm not particularly impressed by The Main Line is Murder. While I can't find much fault with the portrayal of the characters (apart from the fact that Gin's son Garry seemed to be more of a "sullen resentful teenager" type until I saw that he was only 9), I never really warmed up to any of them. The solution also seemed to come out of the blue to me and left me with some questions, such as how the killer was able to get into the school and out without (evidently) anyone noticing.

For what it's worth, I preferred the alternate ending.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

private-schools, amateur-sleuth, murder-investigation, cozy-mystery

The characters are very well done, the relationships to the environs and each other are clear, but I simply couldn't relate to anything but the sleuthing about the murder. I felt as if it is my fault because the author did such good work on the mystery/sleuthing. No attempt to recap the plot or indulge in spoilers here, it just wasn't my cuppa.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) via NetGalley.