Grime and Punishment (Jane Jeffrey Mysteries, No. 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jill Churchill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1989

It's So hard to Kill Good Help These Days. . .

With three kids to raise on her own, Jane Jeffry sometimes needs a hand with the housework. But many of her complaining neighbors believe that the Happy Helper cleaning lady they all share wouldn't know a dustball if she was choking on it. That hardly seems reason enough, however, to do the disreputable domestic in.

So when the charwoman in question is discovered strangled to death with a vacuum cleaner cord, Jane decides to dig up the real dirt--if the tenacious single mom can find any time to spare between her PTA meetings and car-pooling duties. But despite her busy schedule, Jane is determined to tidy up the whole murderous mess--even if it means provoking a killer who may live as close as next door.

--This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ramona wasn't much of a cleaning woman--some say she wouldn't know a dust bunny from a Doberman--but that's no reason to bump the old girl off, is it? Someone must think so: poor Ramona is found strangled to death with a vacuum chord. Jane Jeffry--mother of three, chairperson of more committees than you can shake a stick at, and part-time sleuth--sets out to find the killer and tie up the loose ends in this irresistible mystery. Grime and Punishment, winner of both Agatha and Macavity Awards for best first mystery book and nominated for an Anthony Award for the same honor, is the first in a series of seven books featuring Jane Jeffry. --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

Jill Churchill has won the Agatha and Macavity Mystery Readers awards and was nominated for an Anthony Award for her bestselling Jane Jeffry series. She is also the author of the highly acclaimed Grace and Favor mysteries and lives in the Midwest.

--This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Books (January 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553276468
• ISBN-13: 978-0553276466
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jill Churchill has won the Agatha and Macavity Mystery Readers Awards and was nominated for an Anthony Award for her bestselling Jane Jeffry series. She is also the author of the highly acclaimed Grace and Favor mysteries and lives in the Midwest.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Too Close For Comfort, July 15, 2002

By 

Peter Kenney (Birmingham, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grime and Punishment (Jane Jeffrey Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Jane Jeffry is a full-time mother whose life is filled with three children, two cats, a dog, PTA and carpools. Her husband Steve is killed in an auto accident on the night he leaves home for another woman. In the midst of her grieving, Jane's life is jolted by the murder next door of Happy Helper cleaning lady Ramona Thurgood. Jane's motivation to solve the crime is if a murder can be committed in another house in the neighborhood, it can also happen in her house.

Jane is helped by her friend Shelley and old family friend Uncle Jim. Together with the local police a trap is set to catch the murderer in the act.

The neighborhood and the characters are believable. The plot is easy to follow. I understand why the book got both the Agatha and Macavity Awards for Best First Mystery.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery with a humorous flair!, October 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Grime and Punishment (Jane Jeffrey Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was browsing at my local bookstore when I came upon Jill Churchill's books. Having never heard of her before but interested in mysteries, I picked up this book and now plan to read every one in the series!

"Grime and Punishment" is written with a very comical touch. Jane Jeffry is a widowed mother of three who lives in suburban Chicago (as do I, and enjoyed the familiar nuances of the area that she brought up). Between neighborhood potluck suppers, juggling her kids' schedules and trying to get over the death of her husband, Jane now adds "crime solver" to her ever-growing list of personal demands. She is determined to figure out who killed the neighborhood cleaning lady, even if it means alienating (or even suspecting!) those she knows, including her best friend! And trying to play detective gets her in hot water with the real (and single and hunky) detective working the case!

I found myself laughing out loud while reading this, and it was hard to put down. I can't wait to read all of the Jane Jeffry series!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and entertaining!, December 2, 2001

By 

Ruth A. Caldwell "Highland Princess Mum" (Walnut Creek, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grime and Punishment (Jane Jeffrey Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

The first in a series, we find Jane Jeffry, single mom with hardly a single moment to spare. She is irresistibly drawn into the investigation of the murder of the neighborhood cleaning lady and even more (eagerly) drawn into a relationship with the hunky investigative Detective VanDyne! Her neighbor and best friend Shelley attempts to keep Jane from involving herself in both aspects, and also not believing that Jane herself could be the murderer... or is she? Excellent!