People are murdered everywhere. Hannah Stein, however, had been told that Parkerville, a small town in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was an exception, a safe, peaceful place. In 2005 Hannah’s idyllic illusion was shattered when her neighbor, a teenage boy named Matthew Baker, killed his family and raped his cousin. Now, fourteen years later, Baker suddenly protests that he is innocent. Could this possibly be true? It is the summer of 2019, and Hannah, a Jewish English professor, is hunting for an unusual topic that will intrigue three apathetic students. Hannah suggests that her students join her and examine an old murder case that has haunted her for years. From their research, her students will glean material for their research papers, and Hannah hopes she will find answers to her nagging questions. But not everyone thinks this investigation is a good idea. Ethan, Hannah’s handsome neighbor, wants Hannah to stop meddling with the past and concentrate on him. However, Hannah, a widow in her forties, cannot abandon her probe just to please a man. As the inquiry into the Baker case proceeds, the violence swirling around Hannah and her students escalates, pulling them down dangerous paths. In addition, the Baker investigation resurrects dark childhood memories that cannot be ignored. When Hannah was five years old, she witnessed her mother’s murder but was unable to identify the killer. Hannah Stein never dreamed a simple class assignment would both uncover and generate so many murders. This is a very interesting premise for a mystery book and this author executed it perfectly. Lots of twists and turns and a very satisfying ending that tied all the end up nicely.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this book. I wish i had a teacher like this in school. Minus the murders surrounding her past. This book had twist and turns and kept me guessing.

Not all is as it seems in a case long thought to be solved in a sleepy little town.

Fourteen years ago, Parkerville was turned upside down by a murder spree. The man convicted is now declaring his innocence. Did they get it wrong back then?

Enter English professor, Hannah Stein, who assigns her class a truly interesting homework assignment, a research paper investigating the murders. Will her students uncover the truth?

Thanks NetGalley and Milford House Press for this ARC. I really enjoyed that the story was such an interesting concept.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sunbury Press Inc for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own


Great premise...a college professor still haunted by a crime in her neighborhood years past enlists three of her students to take another look. But there were a lot of subplots, repetition and then the second half was just weird.

Publication Date 04/10/23
Goodreads review published 08/01/24

TheClassAssignmentisMurder #NetGalley.

"The Class Assignment is Murder" by Carolyn Kleinman may come across as cozy mystery from the title and cover but I would very very barely classify it as such. Language and subject is a bit grittier than your typical cozy mystery and not for me. If you like that then you'll probably enjoy this.

The cover and the title made me think of a cozy mystery, the plot was intriguing and promise a good crime thriller.
I enjoyed it as it kept me hooked and on the edge. There were a lot of surprises and I appreciated the solution
Good character development
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Carolyn Kleinman does a great job in writing this type of story. It had a great suspenseful atmosphere and I couldn’t tell what was the truth until the end. The characters were strongly written and I was invested in what was happening to them. It had a great overall story to it and worked with what I wanted.

I found the whole premise of this story really interesting - and found the characters very likeable (barring Ethan of course)!

A real page turner with lots of twists and turns.

2.5 stars rounded up.

First ai want to thank NetGalley and Sudbury Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of “The Class Assignment is Murder”

The description reads:
“It is the summer of 2019, and Hannah Stein, an English professor at a college in Lancaster County, PA, is hunting for an unusual topic that will intrigue three apathetic students. Hannah suggests that her students join her and examine an old local murder case that has troubled her for years. Her students will glean material for their research papers, and Hannah hopes she will find answers to her nagging questions. But not everyone thinks this investigation is a good idea. Ethan, Hannah’s handsome neighbor, wants Hannah to stop meddling with the past and concentrate on him. However, Hannah, a widow in her forties, cannot abandon her probe just to please a man. Much to Hannah’s surprise, her inquiry pulls Hannah and her students down dangerous paths. In addition, this investigation resurrects dark childhood memories that cannot be ignored. When Hannah was five years old, she witnessed her mother’s murder but was unable to identify the killer. Hannah Stein never dreamed a simple class assignment would both uncover and generate so many murders.”

I was perusing books available for immediate reading on NetGalley and came across this book. The description captured my attention as it had some “How to Get Away with Murder” vibes.

The book started off wonderfully. It drew me in and kept me turning the pages. Unfortunately when it got to about the halfway point, it went off the rails a bit. Having no information about the author, it started reading like a first time writer who was very young trying to write a protagonist that was far removed from themselves insofar as age. I was surprised to find out after I finally finished the book (it became a slog to get through) that it I was right but in the opposite way as it was not a young writer at all.

I’m wondering if the intent of the author was for a more mature aged audience so the writing became simpler and over explained things? A big issue was there were way too many subplots that just bugged the story down and did not add enjoyment to it. I feel awful for saying that but I did promise to be truthful.

By the end so many different things needed to be explained that it was so unbelievably unrealistic and also childlike in its writing.

I’m going to stop there as I don’t want to bash a book. Maybe some folks will enjoy it as the main premise is a good one and some may be able to see beyond the contrived situations and wrap up.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

This was certainly an interesting blurb and a nice spin on the cold case coming back to haunt thr main character. It kept me invested but there was something about the writing style or the flow of the narration that just didn't seem natural to me. I can't even out my finger on it, at times it just felt like the characters were doing *the most* and needed to stop talking. It was a decent enough read with some good twists though all the same

Hannah and her family’s lives are in turmoil when Matthew Baker, one of their teenage neighbors. is accused and convicted of murdering his family. Fourteen years later, Hannah is a professor at a local college. When three of her students can’t seem to find a subject for their research paper, Hannah gives them the idea to investigate this closed case. As Gina, Brad, and Frank start their investigation, and when Matthew professes his innocence, someone will do what they can to thwart their research. After all, the actual murderer has no intention of ending up in jail. The danger is lurking nearby for the professor and her students. The plot twists are intriguing and keep you on your toes as you are turning the pages for more. The characters are relatable in this fast-paced, riveting novel. I received a free copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

As a true-crime fan, I found the initial concept interesting - research a horrific local crime where the convicted killer and r*pist divided a town and is now claiming their innocence. Unfortunately however, I just couldn’t get into it. I found the writing style somewhat simplistic, where characters a tendency to over-explain to further the plot. I did enjoy the characters however, with Hannah’s relationship with her students (not her other relationship…) and their trust in her being my favourite aspect.

Review - The Class Assignment is Murder by Carolyn Kleinman, Published by Sunbury Press, Inc., Milford House Press Date: 10/04/2023

The Class Assignment is Murder was written by Carolyn Kleinman and was published October 4, 2023 by Sunbury Press, Inc., Milford House Press.

In fairness, I expected very little from this book based on its title alone … class assignments … geez ….; perhaps I still harbor some deep-seated resentment from a college assignment gone wrong or forgotten. Who knows …. but after reading this little gem, I am so happy to admit I was absolutely wrong. I like to think I better understand the adage “Never Judge A Book By Its Cover.”

The book focused on Hannah Stein as she taught a summer pre-Freshman term paper writing class to a small group of local scholarship recipients. In helping 3 students come up with term paper subjects, they unwittingly opened a Pandora’s Box of sorrow, childhood trauma, vice, violence, greed and death that the small town of Parkerville, PA hoped would remain locked. The book was fast paced (I finished in two nights) and well written. The plot never let down and I enjoyed how the author developed the “realness” of Hannah and her students.

So, register soon for this class by Carolyn Kleinman – you will be glad you did!


I award this book a rating of 4 Stars.

Rating: 4 Stars

I found The Class Assignment is Murder really difficult to follow. It did have some great twists and turns but the connections to each person was all over the place. I was also unable to connect with the characters.

The past may be another country, as has famously been said, but sometimes you need to venture there again, in order to see if you really got things right in your understanding of it the first time around.

Fourteen years ago, Hannah Stein had largely believed what she was told. Namely, that Parkerville in Pennsylvania was a peaceful little town when nothing untoward ever happened.

Until her teenage neighbour went on a murderous spree, killing and raping and leaving behind a devastated town that had lost forever its reputation for peace and quiet.

Now, over a decade later, the perpetrator, Matthew Baker, is claiming innocence. Is that even possible? And if so, what is the real story?

In an attempt to inspire her laggard students to think more creatively, forty-something English professor Hannah sets them an unusual assignment: to use their research papers to seek out more information about the murders, just in case some little titbit has been missed along the way.

What Hannah does not realise is the Hornets nest her actions are about to stir - something that will resurrect the darkest memories of her own mother's murder, as well as the true story of what happened to the family next door. Unfortunately not everyone in their cosy little town wants the truth to be discovered...

This story had an interesting concept that was a welcome change from the usual "podcast investigates cold case" approach so commonly seen nowadays. I liked Hannah as an MC. And her interactions with her students - particularly Gina, Brad and Frank, as the story progresses - were interesting to observe as things developed. The plot twists were done well, and overall, this is an engaging read. I give it 3.5 stars.

It is the summer of 2019, and Hannah, a Jewish English professor, is hunting for an unusual topic that will intrigue three apathetic students. Hannah suggests that her students join her and examine an old murder case that has haunted her for years.

This was interesting. I can't say that I loved it, but it was well done.

This book was a good and fast read. Which is something you need sometimes.

This had everything I wanted in a mystery book, murder, suspense, a love interest and suspense.

I really enjoyed the writing of this book, I was a real breath of fresh air for a mystery book and I appreciate it.

The only thing I wish I had more of was more insight to Hannah and the more on her life, her family, her husband and her children.

Overall this was a really good book and I cannot wait to see what Carolyn Kleinman has in store!

Hannah and her family’s lives are in turmoil when Matthew Baker, one of their teenage neighbors. is accused and convicted of murdering his family. Fourteen years later, Hannah is a professor at a local college. When three of her students can’t seem to find a subject for their research paper, Hannah gives them the idea to investigate this closed case. As Gina, Brad, and Frank start their investigation, and when Matthew professes his innocence, someone will do what they can to thwart their research. After all, the actual murderer has no intention of ending up in jail. Danger is lurking nearby for the professor and her students. The plot twists are intriguing and keep you on your toes as you are turning the pages for more. The characters are relatable in this fast-paced, riveting novel.

This was definitely an intriguing read, full of mystery and murder! It kept me gripped and guessing throughout.