Three Dirty Women and the Bitter Brew (Three Dirty Women Mysteries) [Paperback]

Julie Wray Herman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Three Dirty Women Mysteries | Publication Date: June 1, 2001

Korine McFaile and her partner, Janey Bascom, and Janey's husband, J.J., visit historic Charleston for the twelfth annual Small Landscaper's Convention. Korine is stuck rooming with Dodie Halloran, who seems determined to make Korine's life miserable. When Dodie is murdered, Korine becomes suspect.

Further complicating matters, Korine's son, Chaz, has a problem he cannot, or will not, discuss with her. In order to deal with her son's dilemma, Korine must face her own secret from the past, which in turn leads her to the reason for Dodie's violent death.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...winds among the garden squares and family secrets of Savannah in a sure-handed fashion. This Agatha nominee one to watch! -- --Maryelizabeth Hart Mysterious Galaxy bookstore, San Diego, California

The warm and compelling characters add an enjoyable layer to the mystery.This is a fun new series -- check it out! -- Linda J. Singleton, author of the REGENERATION series for young adults

From the Author

One day while Julie Wray Herman and two of her neighbors were sprucing up a flower bed, they got to talking about life in general, and people who had upset them in particular. That, combined with a chance comment about an all female landscaping company, sparked the idea for Three Dirty Women. While Julie hasn't actually buried anyone in her garden, she has always found gardening to be a good way to work off frustration, anxiety, and chocolate chip cookies.

Julie was raised in Louisville by a Southern mother and a book-loving father. She currently lives outside Houston, Texas with her husband, two children, and -- at last count -- one dog, three cats, a horse, a turtle and one fish. When Julie has time, she plans to take the "All Strays Apply Here" sign down from her front porch.

The proud owner of an overactive imagination, she puts it to good use in her premier mystery, Three Dirty Women and the Garden of Death. This series features an all-female landscaping company, Three Dirty Women, Inc. The women turn up more than they bargained for when they unearth the body of a philandering husband in a flower border.

Julie is a founding member and past-president of the Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and a member of MWA.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: Overmountain Press (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570721793
• ISBN-13: 978-1570721793
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,156,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Wray Herman lives on a small organic farm outside Houston, TX where she and her ever-patient husband ride herd on the ever shifting population of the farm. At last count they had two horses, three dogs, two cats, and the creatures which lurk in the woods. A lapsed Master Gardener, Julie has always found working in the yard and garden to be a sure-fire way to work off chocolate chip cookies. She can be found most days via her website -- MysteryGarden.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Test your wits on this mystery!, January 23, 2002

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Three Dirty Women and the Bitter Brew (Three Dirty Women Mysteries) (Paperback)

Korine McFaile was one of three women who made the company called "Three Dirty Women Landscaping, Inc." Korine and one of her partners, Janey Bascom, went to Savannah for the twelfth annual Small Landscapers Convention. Janey's husband, J.J., tagged along. Korine found her roommate for the weekend, Dodie Halloran, was rude, mean, and determined to make Korine's time in Savannah miserable. Many people witnessed them have heated words. Only Leo Gilcrest, president of the Small Landscapers League, kept Dodie from physically attacking Korine in public! When Dodie turned up dead, Korine was a major suspect.

At the same time, Korine's son, Chaz, was having a personal problem of his own. For some reason, he would not, or could not, explain it to her or ask for help.

WHEW! This story would challenge even Sherlock! No one was who they seemed and everyone had secrets, none of them good! There is no doubt in my mind that if you love a great mystery, then you will never regret getting your hands on THIS book! Recommended!

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great down home mystery, May 15, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Three Dirty Women and the Bitter Brew (Three Dirty Women Mysteries) (Paperback)

Two of the three owners of Three Dirty Women Landscaping attend the Southern Small Landscaping Conference in Savannah. While Amilou Whittier stayed home in Pine Grove due to being on probation for murdering her husband, Janey Bascom and Korine McFaile look forward to the events. Because Janey's husband is accompanied her, Korine rooms with Dodie Hallorman, selected for her by committee member Sharon Winslow.

From the start Dodie acts ugly towards Korine and even rips the latter in public. Although she looked forward to not rooming with Dodie, Korine would not want any harm to befall the disagreeable woman. Still, someone kills Dodie with Korine being the prime suspect of local Detective Sudley, not just because of the conference confrontations, but because they were business rivals.

The second "Dirty Women" novel, THREE DIRTY WOMEN AND THE BITTER BREW, is an entertaining tale that will please fans of amateur sleuth-police procedural stories. The plot is fun, as the audience understands a lot about Janey and Korine and their relationships with family members. Though Amilou takes a back seat, readers will see glimpses of her personality too. The support cast augments the tale by propelling the action forward and through their interaction with Korine. As with her fabulous THREE DIRT WOMEN AND THE GARDEN OF DEATH, Julie Wray Herman writes a wry entertaining mystery.

Harriet Klausner