Customer Reviews

Blanche on the Lam (Crime, Penguin)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a white woman reading an African American woman's book, there are definitely moments where I am forced to confront hugely different ideas and expectations than those I've been surrounded with throughout my life. I find Blanche White's straightforward honesty refreshing, and, contrary to many other reviewers, I think that we hear "political" mental dialogue from most other mystery characters--we just aren't quite so challenged by the white woman's feminist blurb or some man's thoughts on the military.

As far as the mystery in this novel goes, it was a fun read that kept me interested. I flew through this first book and was left curious to know what would happen to Blanche in her future adventures. Any mystery that conforms to genre has the potential to be a great read for me--I'm in it for the characters and mood the author manages to convey. Having read two later installments in Neely's series, I can say that she keeps up the good work.

BarbaraNeely did an excellent job in crafting Blanche, giving her a three dimensional and believable character that might help other readers appreciate a perspective different from their own.

In, Blanche On the Lam, Barbara Neely, writes about an African-American female, Blanche White, domestic worker, who turns into a rather sly sleuth. After writing one too many bad checks, she find herself on the run from the authorities. Blanche becomes a housekeeper in an upscale community. When a murder occurs in the wealthy estate that Blanche is working in at the time, she becomes the prime suspect. I almost fell into a trance and could not keep myself from turning the pages of this book, especially when reading about how Blanche gets herself into these homes. The way Barbara Neely strategically positions Blanches strong sense of humor really helped to keep my interest in reading this novel, and the fast pace helped as well. Blanche on the Lam is a great comedy and mystery that I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a good book. You won't be disappointed.

I read this book over five years ago. I had never really been a fan of mystery books but this one kept my attention with it's humor and the excitement of wanting to know "who done it." Blanche was so life-like that you almost wanted to touch her on her shoulder and let her know that her secret was safe with you. Even then, she probably would not have told you what she knows! I appreciate Barbara Neely's narrative style and although her books are not too lenghty it definitely encourages you to pick up one of her other titles to get started right away! I definitely intend to add all of her titles to "mini mystery collection." The thing that I found most interesting about Barbara's work is that the main character is a black woman like myself and so the pictures become so much more vivid as you are engulfed in every last page! Keep up the great work, Barbara!

I recently saw Ms. Neely on a panel during the "Festival of Books" in Los Angeles and she was such an interesting and vibrant woman that I was eager to be introduced to Blanche. Unfortunately, I thought at times the book's "You White's Just Don't Understand Us Black's" sub-theme got to be a little overly strident. Other than that, I found the plot to be very well developed with a nice surprise on who really "dunnit" at the end (I suspected everyone except the person who was actually guilty) Ultimately, Blanche is a sympathetic and interesting character and I do plan on reading the next book in the series.

Note: Don't expect a lot of Sue Grafton/Patricia Cornwell paced detective action. The murder doesn't even occur until around page 120 in a 220 page book

I love the original and true to self writing that Barbara Neely puts into Blanch and her other wonderful characters. As a working class woman I can really relate to Blanche and her desire for freedom and her original take on life (not afraid to not want kids or say it is a hard job), race (Yeah Night Girl!) and stretching ones own limitations (Blanche knows she has stuff to work on too).

I was really surprised by the reviews that called her preachy or talked about bathroom scenes. I think they missed the boat.

Please Ms. Neely write us some more Blanche!

If you don't want Blanche to know you better not do it around her. This book was o.k. if your the type of person who likes everything to be described to you in great detail which is o.k. I think there were ways around all that. But overall it was a good book. I will purchase the other books in these series to see what Blanche will do next. Two thumbs up for Ms. Neely.

You don't want nobody to know, you better not do it around Blanche. Blanche is a woman of courage, strength and wit. She takes you on to a path of problem-solving mystery that's fun and adventreous. I will buy the next book in the series to see what Blanche will do next.

I really enjoyed this book. I ran out an purchased the other books immediately after finishing Blanche on the Lam. I look forward to reading anything Ms. Neely writes.

Great book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It offered a lot of humor while maintaining that one important element of a mystery; suspense.

I have read all three of the Blanche White stories to date and look forward to many more. Being an African American and having a parent who has worked as a domestic; it is refreshing to see an intelligent, caring character who just happens to be poor. Blanche is smart, self-directed, spirtual and large in size and in heart. There are a lot of women like Blanche and the story speaks to African American women and all women. May the ancestors grant Ms. Neely the will and the skill to continue to write such much needed stories.