Vital Lies [Mass Market Paperback]

Ellen Hart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 1993

"A well-conceived cozy. She writes about characters, some of whom happen to be gay, rather than setting out to write a lesbian story."
THE DROOD REVIEW OF MYSTERY
In this sequel to HALLOWED MURDER, an old friend invites Minneapolis restaurateur Jane Lawless to her Victorian Inn to celebrate the winter solstice--and investigate a murder from years before. Yet as soon as Jane and her theatrical pal Cordelia arrive, they face broken glass in the parking lot, dead animals in the bedrooms, a bomb scare--malicious pranks that eventually lead to a much more timely and ruthless murder...

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"A well-conceived cozy. She writes about characters, some of whom happen to be gay, rather than setting out to write a lesbian story."
THE DROOD REVIEW OF MYSTERY
In this sequel to HALLOWED MURDER, an old friend invites Minneapolis restaurateur Jane Lawless to her Victorian Inn to celebrate the winter solstice--and investigate a murder from years before. Yet as soon as Jane and her theatrical pal Cordelia arrive, they face broken glass in the parking lot, dead animals in the bedrooms, a bomb scare--malicious pranks that eventually lead to a much more timely and ruthless murder...

About the Author

Ellen Hart, multiple Lambda Award winner and two-time Minnesota Book Award winner, is the author of twelve Jane Lawless mysteries, including most recently An Intimate Ghost, and the Sophie Greenway mystery series. She lives in Minneapolis.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (December 29, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345381416
• ISBN-13: 978-0345381415
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,412,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ellen Hart is the author of twenty-five crime novels in two different series.?? She is a five-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Mystery, a three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award for Best Popular Fiction, a three-time winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award, a recipient of the Alice B Medal, and was made an official GLBT Literary Saint at the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans in 2005. ?? Entertainment Weekly??named her one of the "101 Movers and Shakers in the Gay Entertainment Industry." For the past twelve years, Ellen has taught "An Introduction to Writing the Modern Mystery" through the The Loft Literary Center, the largest independent writing community in the nation. Ellen's newest Sophie Greenway mystery is No Reservations Required, (Ballantine, June 2005). The Mirror and the Mask, the seventeenth Jane Lawless mystery, was released by St. Martin's/Minotaur in November 2009.?? Ellen lives in Minneapolis with her partner of 32 years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love at first read!, October 3, 1999

By 

V. Alannah Davis-O'Dell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vital Lies (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first book I happened to read in the Jane Lawless series; I found it at a local bookstore earlier this year and bought it because, much to my delighted surprise, the protagonist was a lesbian. My delight continued as I read the book. Jane is wonderful and believable; the mystery is believable and well-plotted.

My only problem with the book was that I would have wanted a bit more of the lesbian element brought out. On the other hand, Jane was portrayed as a regular gal; her sexual preference was not a big deal or particularly unusual in the book. Perhaps this is how it should be in real life as well. At any rate, I give high marks and many kudos to this book. All mystery lovers (especially "cozy" mystery fans) will enjoy it. I can't wait to read the rest of Ellen Hart's Jane Lawless series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Novel, March 11, 2006

By 

Venice J. Rembold "a watcher" (TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vital Lies (Jane Lawless Mysteries) (Paperback)

I have no idea where Amazon got the sub-title "Selected Writings". This is a terrific, solid novel as are all in the Jane Lawless series. It is not Ellen Hart's selected writings.