What do you think?
Rate this book
Jane Whitefield #8
A String of Beads
After two decades protecting innocent victims on the run, and a year after getting shot on a job that took a dangerous turn for the worse, Jane McKinnon, née Whitefield, has settled into the quiet life of a suburban housewife in Amherst, New York—or so she thinks.
One morning as she comes back from a long run, Jane is met by an unusual all eight clan mothers, the female leaders of the Seneca clans, parked in her driveway in two black cars. A childhood friend of Jane’s from the reservation, Jimmy, is wanted by the police for the murder of a local white man. But instead of turning himself in, he's fled, and no one knows where he is hiding out. At the clan mothers’ request, Jane retraces a walking trip she and Jimmy took together when they were fourteen in hopes that he has gone the same way again. But it soon becomes clear that the police aren’t the only ones after him. As the chase intensifies, the number of people caught up in this twisted plot multiplies, and Jane is the only one who can protect those endangered by it. A String of Beads is an addictive, fast-paced thriller about how abandoning the past can sometimes be the hardest thing to do, even when your life—and the life of those you love—depends on it.
One morning as she comes back from a long run, Jane is met by an unusual all eight clan mothers, the female leaders of the Seneca clans, parked in her driveway in two black cars. A childhood friend of Jane’s from the reservation, Jimmy, is wanted by the police for the murder of a local white man. But instead of turning himself in, he's fled, and no one knows where he is hiding out. At the clan mothers’ request, Jane retraces a walking trip she and Jimmy took together when they were fourteen in hopes that he has gone the same way again. But it soon becomes clear that the police aren’t the only ones after him. As the chase intensifies, the number of people caught up in this twisted plot multiplies, and Jane is the only one who can protect those endangered by it. A String of Beads is an addictive, fast-paced thriller about how abandoning the past can sometimes be the hardest thing to do, even when your life—and the life of those you love—depends on it.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published December 23, 2014
624 people are currently reading
2115 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Perry
97 books1,669 followersThomas Perry is the author of 25 novels. He was born in Tonawanda, New York in 1947. He received a B.A. from Cornell University in 1969 and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Rochester in 1974. He has worked as a park maintenance man, factory laborer, commercial fisherman, university administrator and teacher, and as a writer and producer of prime time network television shows.
He lives in Southern California.
His website is www.thomasperryauthor.com
He lives in Southern California.
His website is www.thomasperryauthor.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 403 reviews
October 30, 2021
In this 8th book in the 'Jane Whitefield' series, Jane - who assists people in trouble - agrees to help a man who's unjustly accused of murder. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Before she married, Seneca Indian Jane Whitefield spent a lot of time assisting people in trouble, helping them get away, hide, and - if necessary - obtain new identities.
Now, in this eighth book in the series, Jane's skills are needed once again. All eight Seneca clan mothers arrive at Jane's home in Amherst, New York to ask that she help her childhood friend, Jimmy Sanders.
Jimmy was in a bar fight with a drunk white man named Nick Bauermeister who was later shot to death. Jimmy has been accused of the murder and is being pursued by the police.
The reader soon learns that Nick was actually killed by his boss, Dan Sloan, who wants Nick's girlfriend Chelsea Schnell.
Dan framed Jimmy for the murder and - with the help of mafia associates - is arranging for jailhouse inmates to kill Jimmy once he's arrested. To the frustration of the cops and bad guys, however, Jimmy can't be found.
Jane has to track down Jimmy and hide him until she can look into, and hopefully rectify, the situation.
Jane gets to use her smarts and extensive collection of skills to find and assist Jimmy, and the reader gets a primer on how to go about hiding from the authorities and anyone else who might be in pursuit. (Good to know!! 🙂)
Meanwhile Dan creepily pursues Chelsea Schnell and the mafia thugs try to find and dispatch Jimmy.
Some characters are well-described and believable, and the reader will root for Jimmy and Jane, hate Dan, and feel sympathy for Chelsea. The mafia bad guys, however, tend to blend together and it's hard to distinguish them from each other.
Though it's interesting to read about Jane's methods, and fun to see her beat up some bad guys, the plot is thin and the story plods along. Every scene and action is described in enormous detail. This slows down the story and gets boring. In addition, some characters ignore Jane's instructions and do dumb things. 👎 This may be necessary for the plot but it's annoying.
All in all this book was just okay for me.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
April 2, 2016
This is the eighth entry in Thomas Perry's series featuring Jane Whitefield who is the daughter of a white mother and a Seneca Indian father. Jane, who thinks of herself as a Seneca and who honors the old traditions, lives in western New York and has been married for several years now to a white doctor. For a number of years before she was married, Jane specialized in helping troubled people, who were often in serious difficulty, disappear and create new lives. Jane's was a very dangerous profession and she was often at risk, but she was very good at what she did and had trouble turning down a request from someone in genuine need.
Once married, Jane basically promised her husband that she would retire and devote her life from then on to her husband, to her home and, hopefully, to the children that they might have together. But people keep showing up at her door, and Jane keeps having trouble saying no, especially since as yet she and her husband have no children and she has only her home and her husband to keep life interesting.
On her last adventure, Jane was captured by some especially bad people, tortured and shot. She barely survived, and so one can readily understand why her husband, Carey, has little patience for any more such activity. But then one day, the eight Seneca clan mothers show up at her door. A young Seneca man named Jimmy, who Jane played with as a child, has been falsely accused of murder. Jimmy has run away and is being sought by the authorities. The clan mothers want Jane to track him down and ensure his safety.
Jane agrees to do so, despite her husband's strong misgivings, and it quickly becomes apparent that in addition to the police, but some very nasty people are on Jimmy's trail. Jane must not only hope that she can find and protect him, but she'll also have to sort out a lot of confusing and malicious activity before Jimmy can be safe in the long term.
I've been a huge fan of this series ever since the first Jane Whitefield book, Vanishing Act. Jane is a very clever and capable protagonist and it's always been fun watching the tactics she uses to protect and to create new lives for the people she rescues. That said, I was not much enamored of this book at all.
For starters, I'm having trouble with Jane's continuing marriage to Carey. In fairness to Perry, he has said that he intended to end this series several books ago, but the publisher and his readers wouldn't let him do so. Perhaps if he had known that the series was going to run this long, he would have never married Jane off in the first place. But the pattern that has existed over the last few books is getting pretty tiring.
Jane basically promises Carey that she won't put herself at risk any longer. But then a "special case" turns up and she just can't refuse. She ask her husband to understand and then, whether he does or not, off she goes for weeks or months at a time, communicating with him very sparingly, if at all. It's clear that Jane's ties to her tribe and to her mission are much stronger than the ties she feels to her husband and one can't blame the poor guy for being unhappy about it. In fairness, Perry should have killed the guy off a couple of books ago, or at least had them divorce or something, because the pattern they've fallen into is simply grating on the reader, or at least on this one.
Beyond that, this book seemed to depend on one totally implausible coincidence after another and by the time I got halfway through it I had totally lost my ability to suspend disbelief and was left simply shaking my head. The second-to-the-last paragraph in the opening chapter is brilliant, but unfortunately, the rest of the book doesn't measure up to its promise. The crime that sets the book into motion isn't all that interesting or believable and the rest of the action suffers as a result.
I understand that in any series, some books will inevitably be better than others and so despite the fact that I wasn't entirely happy with this one, I'm looking forward to Jane's next outing. By that time, I'm hoping that she's ditched the husband or that he's finally had sense enough to dump her and that she gets a mission that's truly worthy of her talents.
Once married, Jane basically promised her husband that she would retire and devote her life from then on to her husband, to her home and, hopefully, to the children that they might have together. But people keep showing up at her door, and Jane keeps having trouble saying no, especially since as yet she and her husband have no children and she has only her home and her husband to keep life interesting.
On her last adventure, Jane was captured by some especially bad people, tortured and shot. She barely survived, and so one can readily understand why her husband, Carey, has little patience for any more such activity. But then one day, the eight Seneca clan mothers show up at her door. A young Seneca man named Jimmy, who Jane played with as a child, has been falsely accused of murder. Jimmy has run away and is being sought by the authorities. The clan mothers want Jane to track him down and ensure his safety.
Jane agrees to do so, despite her husband's strong misgivings, and it quickly becomes apparent that in addition to the police, but some very nasty people are on Jimmy's trail. Jane must not only hope that she can find and protect him, but she'll also have to sort out a lot of confusing and malicious activity before Jimmy can be safe in the long term.
I've been a huge fan of this series ever since the first Jane Whitefield book, Vanishing Act. Jane is a very clever and capable protagonist and it's always been fun watching the tactics she uses to protect and to create new lives for the people she rescues. That said, I was not much enamored of this book at all.
For starters, I'm having trouble with Jane's continuing marriage to Carey. In fairness to Perry, he has said that he intended to end this series several books ago, but the publisher and his readers wouldn't let him do so. Perhaps if he had known that the series was going to run this long, he would have never married Jane off in the first place. But the pattern that has existed over the last few books is getting pretty tiring.
Jane basically promises Carey that she won't put herself at risk any longer. But then a "special case" turns up and she just can't refuse. She ask her husband to understand and then, whether he does or not, off she goes for weeks or months at a time, communicating with him very sparingly, if at all. It's clear that Jane's ties to her tribe and to her mission are much stronger than the ties she feels to her husband and one can't blame the poor guy for being unhappy about it. In fairness, Perry should have killed the guy off a couple of books ago, or at least had them divorce or something, because the pattern they've fallen into is simply grating on the reader, or at least on this one.
Beyond that, this book seemed to depend on one totally implausible coincidence after another and by the time I got halfway through it I had totally lost my ability to suspend disbelief and was left simply shaking my head. The second-to-the-last paragraph in the opening chapter is brilliant, but unfortunately, the rest of the book doesn't measure up to its promise. The crime that sets the book into motion isn't all that interesting or believable and the rest of the action suffers as a result.
I understand that in any series, some books will inevitably be better than others and so despite the fact that I wasn't entirely happy with this one, I'm looking forward to Jane's next outing. By that time, I'm hoping that she's ditched the husband or that he's finally had sense enough to dump her and that she gets a mission that's truly worthy of her talents.
August 2, 2024
I had mixed feelings about this one. I haven’t read anything else in the series and I suspect that I picked it up on sale because the basic setting is an area of NYS I know well.
Jane McKinnon (Whitfield in the earlier books) helps people who are in no-win situations disappear and begin new lives. She is half Seneca and half white, and deeply enmeshed in the Seneca culture. This book takes place some years after her marriage to a surgeon. Her last case was physically and emotionally rough on her, as she was shot and tortured in hopes that she would reveal information about the person she had helped. She has recovered physically, and when clanswomen ask her to help out her childhood friend Jimmy, she feels obligated to do so despite the agreement she had reached with her husband that she would stop these dangerous activities.
What I liked: I enjoyed reading about how Jane goes about protecting and relocating people, and how she outthinks and outmaneuvers the bad guys. In this case it’s the Mafia, who want to pin a murder on Jimmy. Eventually a young woman is added to Jane’s charges through a loose plot connection.
I also enjoyed (as I always do) reading about places I’m familiar with. I have to wonder about how this phenomenon works for readers who live in locations that feature in plenty of books, like London or NYC or Los Angeles. Do they smile as they visualize the specific details of a setting?
What I didn’t like: I wasn’t crazy about all references to ancient Seneca cultural practices and mysticism. Somehow it came across as a little heavy handed and inauthentic.
And there was this thing where Perry sometimes drifted into painful detail when describing actions or locations. For instance, at one point Jane stays at a hotel outside of Niagara Falls, NY. Every time she heads back there Perry points out that the hotel is on Niagara Falls Boulevard. I think he would have mentioned it if she had changed hotels, given all her strategies for avoiding the police and the bad guys!
From what I’ve read in other GR reviews, this was not as good as earlier books in the series. Someday I may try one of those - I do like books with strong female characters.
Jane McKinnon (Whitfield in the earlier books) helps people who are in no-win situations disappear and begin new lives. She is half Seneca and half white, and deeply enmeshed in the Seneca culture. This book takes place some years after her marriage to a surgeon. Her last case was physically and emotionally rough on her, as she was shot and tortured in hopes that she would reveal information about the person she had helped. She has recovered physically, and when clanswomen ask her to help out her childhood friend Jimmy, she feels obligated to do so despite the agreement she had reached with her husband that she would stop these dangerous activities.
What I liked: I enjoyed reading about how Jane goes about protecting and relocating people, and how she outthinks and outmaneuvers the bad guys. In this case it’s the Mafia, who want to pin a murder on Jimmy. Eventually a young woman is added to Jane’s charges through a loose plot connection.
I also enjoyed (as I always do) reading about places I’m familiar with. I have to wonder about how this phenomenon works for readers who live in locations that feature in plenty of books, like London or NYC or Los Angeles. Do they smile as they visualize the specific details of a setting?
What I didn’t like: I wasn’t crazy about all references to ancient Seneca cultural practices and mysticism. Somehow it came across as a little heavy handed and inauthentic.
And there was this thing where Perry sometimes drifted into painful detail when describing actions or locations. For instance, at one point Jane stays at a hotel outside of Niagara Falls, NY. Every time she heads back there Perry points out that the hotel is on Niagara Falls Boulevard. I think he would have mentioned it if she had changed hotels, given all her strategies for avoiding the police and the bad guys!
From what I’ve read in other GR reviews, this was not as good as earlier books in the series. Someday I may try one of those - I do like books with strong female characters.
December 30, 2014
Was glad to hear that Perry had written another novel in his Jane Whitefield series. Jane is an expert in helping people disappear, but now she is married and after the last case she worked, still recovering.
I think my favorite parts of these novels are how the Seneca lore is mixed with modern day happenings. In the case she will try to find an old childhood friend from the reservation, before the police do.
Glad this series is back but I couldn't quite get into this one as I have the others. Just tend not to relate well to mob stories. Nevertheless this is still a series I will look forward to.
Arc from NetGalley.
I think my favorite parts of these novels are how the Seneca lore is mixed with modern day happenings. In the case she will try to find an old childhood friend from the reservation, before the police do.
Glad this series is back but I couldn't quite get into this one as I have the others. Just tend not to relate well to mob stories. Nevertheless this is still a series I will look forward to.
Arc from NetGalley.
July 22, 2017
This series continues to go down hill as Perry stretches it out too long. I believe he planned to end it, but gave in to pressure. He shouldn't have. The story feels forced, somewhat tired, & repetition is creeping in. He also got more into Indian mysticism & Jane's historical/blood ties, something I've never cared for, but especially not when it affects her marriage. Thinking of her husband as an outsider, after all he puts up with, is just wrong.
Jane is also getting pushed into becoming more of a bad ass, a role that doesn't really fit her. Yes, she's supposed to be tough, strong, & deadly in defense, but now she's often the hunter. It doesn't feel right & isn't helped when details are incorrect or glossed over to give her opportunities. The details, something that Perry normally shines at, were particularly disappointing.
I always struggle when a good series or author begins to decline. I've read most of Perry's books & really enjoy them. His last Butcher's Boy was fantastic. I've never cared as much for this series, always thought it was his sloppiest work, but I'm a completist & I want to see if he wraps this up. If so, how? He didn't & so a lot of little things are getting more irritating. Jane's ability to come up with money & identities book after book is explained, but is still getting more unbelievable each time.
Note to self: Don't read the next book in this series unless reviews say it's the last one.
Jane is also getting pushed into becoming more of a bad ass, a role that doesn't really fit her. Yes, she's supposed to be tough, strong, & deadly in defense, but now she's often the hunter. It doesn't feel right & isn't helped when details are incorrect or glossed over to give her opportunities. The details, something that Perry normally shines at, were particularly disappointing.
I always struggle when a good series or author begins to decline. I've read most of Perry's books & really enjoy them. His last Butcher's Boy was fantastic. I've never cared as much for this series, always thought it was his sloppiest work, but I'm a completist & I want to see if he wraps this up. If so, how? He didn't & so a lot of little things are getting more irritating. Jane's ability to come up with money & identities book after book is explained, but is still getting more unbelievable each time.
Note to self: Don't read the next book in this series unless reviews say it's the last one.
November 4, 2014
If you love a good thriller and have never had the pleasure that is a Jane Whitefield novel, I recommend that you stop whatever you are doing and get your hands on one ASAP. (Vanishing Act is the first in the series, in case you are wondering) This is one of the most enjoyable and satisfying series I have read in a long time.
Jane Whitefield is a doctor's wife and fine upstanding citizen. She is also a Seneca guide who helps people disappear. She is the best at what she does. When she receives a call for help from the Clan Mothers, she takes on a mission that seems simple enough. Find a childhood friend in hiding who has been falsely accused of murder. But nothing is ever simple in Jane's world and she soon embarks on a journey to keep her friend alive and hidden. Someone wants him dead and has the manpower and resource to see it happen. Jane's job is to keep her friend safe and learn who is trying to kill him... and why.
Excellent and highly recommended.
Jane Whitefield is a doctor's wife and fine upstanding citizen. She is also a Seneca guide who helps people disappear. She is the best at what she does. When she receives a call for help from the Clan Mothers, she takes on a mission that seems simple enough. Find a childhood friend in hiding who has been falsely accused of murder. But nothing is ever simple in Jane's world and she soon embarks on a journey to keep her friend alive and hidden. Someone wants him dead and has the manpower and resource to see it happen. Jane's job is to keep her friend safe and learn who is trying to kill him... and why.
Excellent and highly recommended.
December 23, 2014
I was disappointed with A String of Beads. I have enjoyed reading the Jane Whitefield series, and was really looking forward to reading this book, but it left me flat. Jane had to come out of retirement to help an old friend, Jimmy Sanders, but I think that she never really came back. Something about the tone, or feel of the book was off. It kind of wandered around, instead of being tightly plotted. Jane didn’t have a plan, so she had to improvise, which can make for a good story, but this time it just felt like Jane’s head wasn’t really in it.
My wife says that I shouldn’t anticipate a new book in a series quite so much. That way it wouldn’t have to meet my high expectations, but I’m a fanboy, and I can’t help it. I think that a lot of readers look forward to the newest book in their favorite series, that why series books sell so well. Every series has ups and downs, some books are great, and some aren’t. So I will go though life hoping for the next great book, and then sometimes I get the low note. Oh, well.
I rate A String of Beads 3 Stars out of 5. I hope that if Jane Whitefield returns in another volume, she has her head back in it.
I received a Digital Review Copy from the publisher.
My wife says that I shouldn’t anticipate a new book in a series quite so much. That way it wouldn’t have to meet my high expectations, but I’m a fanboy, and I can’t help it. I think that a lot of readers look forward to the newest book in their favorite series, that why series books sell so well. Every series has ups and downs, some books are great, and some aren’t. So I will go though life hoping for the next great book, and then sometimes I get the low note. Oh, well.
I rate A String of Beads 3 Stars out of 5. I hope that if Jane Whitefield returns in another volume, she has her head back in it.
I received a Digital Review Copy from the publisher.
December 29, 2014
There's one word to describe the man who writes the Butcher's Boy series and the Jane Whitefield series--brilliant. As far as I'm concerned Jane is back. She may be a little older and wiser but she's just as amazing as ever. A few books back she made a change in her life that I hated. It was not Perry's best Jane either. Perry has actually made the change work--a feat I couldn't imagine him doing. His books are so complex and designed to keep you short of breath that I don't think he can turn them out quickly. Therefore, I shall wait patiently for him to write the next Jane and jump on it immediately when it comes out. As with any great series, if you decide to read the Jane books, start with the first one.
September 1, 2019
I do love the physical acumen Jane brings to her tasks in ensuring the safety of others. She is a great character to follow.
This episode takes her back to childhood memories made with friend Jimmy from the reservation who is now in need of her kind of help. Who has targeted Jimmy? That part I didn't embrace enthusiastically as reading about "the mob" is never my first choice.
Kindle Unlimited
This episode takes her back to childhood memories made with friend Jimmy from the reservation who is now in need of her kind of help. Who has targeted Jimmy? That part I didn't embrace enthusiastically as reading about "the mob" is never my first choice.
Kindle Unlimited
January 11, 2015
Jane McKinnon is a surgeon's wife in upstate New York who leads a pleasantly upscale life full of hospital benefits. Jane Whitefield, a member of the Tonondawa reservation Seneca, is a "guide" who helps people to disappear from extremely dangerous people, and at great risk to herself. How she juggles these two identities is part of the ongoing story arc in Thomas Perry's tremendous series (eight books, so far). Jane's courage is breathtaking, as is her tradecraft, an attribute that extends back to a summer job with a skip tracer, and that she tends as expert gardeners tend their gardens. She san never relax her awareness. She can never fail to plan. There are dangerous people who seek to find her and those she has guided to new lives. It is a constant tension.
Reluctant to give up her regular life, but even more reluctant to abandon innocent people to their fates, Jane's latest task is even more fraught than usual because it involves her sense of obligation to her tribe and to a friend from her childhood. She is approached by the clan mothers of her tribe, who have been aware of her activities for years, without betraying them. She seeks to find and save her childhood friend from a trumped-up charge, and from almost certain death at the hands of those who fabricated the charges. She ends up having to save more than her friend because the actual perpetrators and abetters are very dangerous people who threaten more than her friend. More than saving people, Jane has to find out who threatens them and why.
Perry writes the best plotted chase and evasion novels that I've read, and this one is as good as his previous best ("Vanishing Act" and "Shadow Woman") Each book can be read alone, but the sum of the books can be read without wading through unnecessary repetition. (He repeats, but so skillfully and effectively that it never reads as unnecessary padding.) The tension is consistently high. It doesn't lag. The relationship between Jane, her husband, her client, her tribe, and the dead are also consistently interesting. (There are dream sequences that are both useful ways of advancing the plot and of getting into Jane's thought processes.) There is no more admirable or resourceful figure in the world of thrillers than Jane.
Reluctant to give up her regular life, but even more reluctant to abandon innocent people to their fates, Jane's latest task is even more fraught than usual because it involves her sense of obligation to her tribe and to a friend from her childhood. She is approached by the clan mothers of her tribe, who have been aware of her activities for years, without betraying them. She seeks to find and save her childhood friend from a trumped-up charge, and from almost certain death at the hands of those who fabricated the charges. She ends up having to save more than her friend because the actual perpetrators and abetters are very dangerous people who threaten more than her friend. More than saving people, Jane has to find out who threatens them and why.
Perry writes the best plotted chase and evasion novels that I've read, and this one is as good as his previous best ("Vanishing Act" and "Shadow Woman") Each book can be read alone, but the sum of the books can be read without wading through unnecessary repetition. (He repeats, but so skillfully and effectively that it never reads as unnecessary padding.) The tension is consistently high. It doesn't lag. The relationship between Jane, her husband, her client, her tribe, and the dead are also consistently interesting. (There are dream sequences that are both useful ways of advancing the plot and of getting into Jane's thought processes.) There is no more admirable or resourceful figure in the world of thrillers than Jane.
February 15, 2015
After the first half of this story, I thought I might be on my way to giving my first 1 star to Thomas Perry who is one of my favorite authors. Weak women, whiny husbands and clueless adults, a.k.a. uninspirational characters permeate the first half. Fortunately, the much better second half enabled a righteous 2 star. 4 of 10 stars
October 9, 2014
I expected good, and got great
October 31, 2024
The opportunity for Carey's out was loud and clear, but I am glad that Jane also chose not to take it.
This one was good and exciting, but there was a little bit of weirdness when the third character was added to the safe house.
I liked the journey through the Seneca tribe and Jane's childhood. The mothers were awesome, and I would love to have more of them.
The diabolical level that the antagonists were willing to go was entertaining.
4 stars
This one was good and exciting, but there was a little bit of weirdness when the third character was added to the safe house.
I liked the journey through the Seneca tribe and Jane's childhood. The mothers were awesome, and I would love to have more of them.
The diabolical level that the antagonists were willing to go was entertaining.
4 stars
January 25, 2016
Jane Whitefield comes home after a run to find the eight clan mothers from the Seneca tribe at her house asking her to help Jimmy Sanders, a childhood friend running from the police. Following a bar fight with Jimmy, his opponent is shot dead, and suspicion falls on Jimmy, but the killer had different motivations. Jane helps Jimmy disappear, and then goes back to help clear his name. As she investigates, she finds the killer is being protected by powerful people and then has to rescue the victim's girlfriend, whose life is also threatened. Good suspense, with the usual native American mysticism and wisdom.
May 15, 2018
I enjoyed this more than recent books in the series. Finally a good reason for Jane to come out of retirement....and some upgraded opponents for her. I liked the good guys this time and I loved the eight clan mothers.....respect!
August 13, 2018
Thomas Perry is keeping us entertained with Jane Whitefield and this time Jane tries to save one of her own. A native american friend since she was a toddler, Jimmy has been framed for a murder he did not commit.
As the story progressed in this 8th installment of Jane, I quickly picked up the pattern veering off once again. Jane not only helps her best friend Jimmy but seems to pick up more runners along the way as she drives all over the states to find proof that Jimmy didn't do the crime. It seems to throw me off a bit when she does that but I am still intrigued by the story itself and how she will solve this one.
The ending in Perry's latest books seem to be more abrupt and sudden, leaving us to wonder if her 'runners' are finding new names and new lives, or just going back home to resume where they left off. Kind of disappointing to me as the highlight of her character is to teach her runners to live differently. Hmmmm....not sure what we can expect in the next book, so my thoughts are wandering toward a lowering of the bar a bit since Jane seems to take in more strays and risking the life of her marriage as well as herself.
As the story progressed in this 8th installment of Jane, I quickly picked up the pattern veering off once again. Jane not only helps her best friend Jimmy but seems to pick up more runners along the way as she drives all over the states to find proof that Jimmy didn't do the crime. It seems to throw me off a bit when she does that but I am still intrigued by the story itself and how she will solve this one.
The ending in Perry's latest books seem to be more abrupt and sudden, leaving us to wonder if her 'runners' are finding new names and new lives, or just going back home to resume where they left off. Kind of disappointing to me as the highlight of her character is to teach her runners to live differently. Hmmmm....not sure what we can expect in the next book, so my thoughts are wandering toward a lowering of the bar a bit since Jane seems to take in more strays and risking the life of her marriage as well as herself.
January 19, 2015
The Jane Whitefield series by Thomas Perry is dependable and readable. The concept is great. Jane is a half Seneca rescue artist who helps innocent victims who the need to disappear. She must be secretive about her life (she is married to a physician, and otherwise leads a normal life), but when she is called to duty, she feels she must respond.
In this novel, one of her childhood friends, Jimmy, is in trouble, falsely accused of a murder, and on the run. The female leaders of eight Seneca clans gather to ask for her help finding Jimmy. Although recuperatng from a serious leg wound from her last case, Jane feels compelled to act. The case proves more difficult and complex than it appears at first, and they're off and (literally) running.
I always have a slight problem with Perry's writing style and characterizations. It is slightly dry and analytical, and all characters go through similar thought processes, as written by Perry. And in this case, the coincidences in the plotting at times seemed a bit much. But it is always an enjoyable read, and Jane is a powerful leading lady.
In this novel, one of her childhood friends, Jimmy, is in trouble, falsely accused of a murder, and on the run. The female leaders of eight Seneca clans gather to ask for her help finding Jimmy. Although recuperatng from a serious leg wound from her last case, Jane feels compelled to act. The case proves more difficult and complex than it appears at first, and they're off and (literally) running.
I always have a slight problem with Perry's writing style and characterizations. It is slightly dry and analytical, and all characters go through similar thought processes, as written by Perry. And in this case, the coincidences in the plotting at times seemed a bit much. But it is always an enjoyable read, and Jane is a powerful leading lady.
December 9, 2014
This is my first Thomas Perry, and I enjoyed it. The book has some weaknesses. The narrative voice and most of the dialogue are vanilla, and the pacing is a little slow. However, it's a really good story, and the main character is compelling. Also, the Native American lore is very interesting and presented in good context, without being tedious. For example, I learned that the earliest evidence of humans in the U.S. is in Pennsylvania and dates back about 16,000 years! I've heard it said that a good story will make up for some weaknesses in execution, and this book proves it.
December 30, 2014
I've been a fan of the Jane Whitefield series from the very beginning. Jane is a Seneca Indian with a skill for helping people disappear. She'll help them escape the Bad Guys and will set them up in a new life with a new identity.
This latest in the series finds Jane, now a suburban housewife, reluctantly drawn back into her old life to help a childhood friend, another Seneca, at the request of her tribal elders.
The book was fast-paced and thrilling, if a bit loosely plotted.
This latest in the series finds Jane, now a suburban housewife, reluctantly drawn back into her old life to help a childhood friend, another Seneca, at the request of her tribal elders.
The book was fast-paced and thrilling, if a bit loosely plotted.
December 29, 2014
Thomas Perry author of many Jane Whitefield novels. All that I have read
have given me the readers delight in the language,the understanding
of people,the motives of the bad the good and the ugly.
Jane Whitefield hides people who are running from either a misscarrage
of justice,or from dangers from those who want to harm.
This latest book is among the best.
have given me the readers delight in the language,the understanding
of people,the motives of the bad the good and the ugly.
Jane Whitefield hides people who are running from either a misscarrage
of justice,or from dangers from those who want to harm.
This latest book is among the best.
April 20, 2017
This series is very well-written and suspenseful, as well as being something of a handbook of instructions for changing your identity and disappearing. It was a mistake, however, to read them all at once, as there are bits of backstory and semi-mystical dreaming that are used in every book and that you're gonna get tired of reading about. I just sped through them (as I did with the sex scenes -- sheesh) and focused on the meat of the stories. Oh, you can skip Poison Flower -- it has the feel of something that the author left lying on his desk only partially written and his assistant mistakenly mailed to the publisher. In general, though, a quite enjoyable series!
January 10, 2015
Once upon a time, there was Jane Whitefield, a young Seneca woman who acts as a guide to help innocent people adopt new identities to escape from those who would do them harm. Think “private witness protection program”, except Jane will not take a client who is a criminal. She's the last resort for battered wives, the falsely accused, an inadvertent witness, and the innocent whistle blower.
After her marriage to Dr. Carey McKinnon, Jane goes into retirement, but 10 years later, she finds herself returning to her previous role on occasion. As A String of Beads begins, it's been a year since her last client and this time the request for her services comes from the entire group of clan mothers of her tribe—asking that she use her skills to help her childhood friend who has been framed for murder.
Having accepted a string of beads from the clan mothers as a token of the contract between them, Jane sets out to find her friend Jimmy and help him return safely home where he can surrender to the police. But, things quickly escalate when Jane discovers that it's not just the police who are seeking Jimmy. The man who framed him is determined that Jimmy not live to stand trial. In Jimmy's case, Jane isn't helping him establish a permanent identity, she's simply trying to keep him hidden long enough to smoke out the bad guys who are hunting him and make it safe for Jimmy to turn himself in.
My Thoughts
A String of Beads is the eighth book in Perry's mystery series and I enjoyed it very much. Jane is at her best as she is evading her pursuers and utilizing the alternate identities she has carefully cultivated over twenty years. As she is protecting her client, she's also instructing him on how to hide. There's lots of action with a number of close calls and a big showdown at the end. Another departure from past stories is that Jane is actively trying to solve the murder so that Jimmy doesn't have to stay hidden for the rest of his life. As usual, the book is filled with references to Seneca beliefs, customs, and history.
I strongly recommended this newest volume for fans of the series and encourage those new to Jane Whitefield to start at the very beginning with Vanishing Act. You've got quite an adventure with one of mystery's strongest female protagonists.
Thanks to the publisher Mysterious Press and NetGalley for providing an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2015
Its really hard to start reviewing a series 8 books in – but I enjoy the Jane Whitefield books so much that I have to do it. To go back to the beginning, Jane is a guide. She does not advertise what she does but if you need to disappear from your life and start a new one she is the person you find. She helps her clients flee whatever is chasing them and to become someone else entirely. Jane is a Seneca Indian and the history and practices of her people help to define how she acts and sees the world. These books completely draw me in and keep me tense while reading waiting to see if each runner will make it.
Book 8, A String of Beads was no exception. Jane is trying to help an old friend who is being pursued for a murder he did not commit. Jane learns it is sometimes harder to help someone who knows you than a stranger. Some series have the characters get stuck in ruts of behavior and relationships and this definitely hasn’t happened to Jane. She’s not the same woman she was in Vanishing Act (Book 1) and this affects how she interacts with each runner and those chasing them. While her relationships might not be changing, they continually challenge her which also keeps the books feeling fresh.
Much as I look forward to each book in this series, it is not perfect. While Jane is amazing as a guide she is not a fully rounded female character in my mind. Something about her just falls a little flat for me, as a woman reading about a woman. Though honestly this isn’t a series that you expect great personal character development in each book so that has never hindered my enjoyment. The dialog is pretty basic at times, but its the action that you’re reading for and that is always fast and challenging.
3 stars. If you’re not familiar with Jane start this series, they’re addictive!
Thank you Mysterious Press and Edelweiss for this advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion!
Review and more at wp.me/p43ecs-jX
Book 8, A String of Beads was no exception. Jane is trying to help an old friend who is being pursued for a murder he did not commit. Jane learns it is sometimes harder to help someone who knows you than a stranger. Some series have the characters get stuck in ruts of behavior and relationships and this definitely hasn’t happened to Jane. She’s not the same woman she was in Vanishing Act (Book 1) and this affects how she interacts with each runner and those chasing them. While her relationships might not be changing, they continually challenge her which also keeps the books feeling fresh.
Much as I look forward to each book in this series, it is not perfect. While Jane is amazing as a guide she is not a fully rounded female character in my mind. Something about her just falls a little flat for me, as a woman reading about a woman. Though honestly this isn’t a series that you expect great personal character development in each book so that has never hindered my enjoyment. The dialog is pretty basic at times, but its the action that you’re reading for and that is always fast and challenging.
3 stars. If you’re not familiar with Jane start this series, they’re addictive!
Thank you Mysterious Press and Edelweiss for this advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion!
Review and more at wp.me/p43ecs-jX
January 22, 2015
It turns out that Thomas Perry didn't kill off his main character at the end of Poison Flower. What with the rise of cyber-snooping, it seemed only a matter of time before the bad guys caught up with Jane Whitefield or one of the many people she'd guided out of their old lives just before kidnappers or murderers caught up with them. I was half convinced that she was going to have to drink the hemlock solution tucked in her purse. It would have been the logical thing to do and frankly more believable than the story with the highest body count to date.
A String a Beads is quieter and more deliberate, which is not to say it didn't keep me up at night when I tried to go to sleep halfway through reading it. And it keeps Jane fairly close to her Western New York home and her Indian heritage when she accepts a commission from the powerful clan mothers of her Seneca band. These ladies are both modern and mystic, sort of like Norns who've learned to text and search the web. They ask her to track down a fugitive childhood friend who's in trouble with the law so that he can turn himself in. But then Jane learns that men are deliberately going to jail on minor charges so they'll be there after Jimmy is sent to lock-up to await trial. It looks as though being framed for murder isn't the worst of Jimmy's problems.
The bad guys (the usual soulless sociopaths who populate most of Perry's non-Jane Whitefield books) get more than their usual share of ink, but their machinations are almost comic--till they're not. The good guys are worth rooting for. And Jane has got her mojo back.
A String a Beads is quieter and more deliberate, which is not to say it didn't keep me up at night when I tried to go to sleep halfway through reading it. And it keeps Jane fairly close to her Western New York home and her Indian heritage when she accepts a commission from the powerful clan mothers of her Seneca band. These ladies are both modern and mystic, sort of like Norns who've learned to text and search the web. They ask her to track down a fugitive childhood friend who's in trouble with the law so that he can turn himself in. But then Jane learns that men are deliberately going to jail on minor charges so they'll be there after Jimmy is sent to lock-up to await trial. It looks as though being framed for murder isn't the worst of Jimmy's problems.
The bad guys (the usual soulless sociopaths who populate most of Perry's non-Jane Whitefield books) get more than their usual share of ink, but their machinations are almost comic--till they're not. The good guys are worth rooting for. And Jane has got her mojo back.
June 24, 2016
Perry's characters know how to disappear, it's a thing no matter which of the several series he's writing. With Jane Whitfield, the half-Seneca protagonist of this long-running series, it's literally a profession she can't get away from. In past episodes she plies her trade by helping those being sought by the truly bad (often the Mafia, a specialty) start a new life. The thrill is in the detail of escape, the near misses, and the comprehensive, almost superhuman skills and knowledge of our heroine. Same with this one, in which the tribal leaders (all women) come to her to help save a man who had been a childhood friend, who is being wrongfully accused of murder. Complications ensue, mainly of the Mafia type, with a triple-back plot that is fun to watch ravel and unravel. About 2/3 of the way through, the audience fully clued into what's happening, the plot loses steam and all we are left with is Jane's character, and that of her antagonists, a rogue's gallery of Mafia functionaries and minor factotems (factoti?) It's good fun, in large part because of the crisp prose and propulsive storytelling style that Perry always delivers. I've loved him since the first Butcher Boy novel.
May 11, 2016
Another thrilling Jane Whitefield adventure in the eighth book from the series created by author Thomas Perry. If you've read the first seven in his Jane Whitefield series, number eight will not disappoint. With solidly built characters and an amazing plot, "A String Of Beads", hits on all cylinders as Jane is once again in her element. Along with great detail of a trek in and out of several states, the suspense rarely lets up. Once again author Thomas Perry proves to be a master story teller. With, "A String Of Beads", this is a must read for all Perry fans. His Jane Whitefield series is something special. I've never gotten tired of reading Jane's exploits. Once again Perry has crafted a tale that's very difficult to put down. Clearly this one is five stars out of a possible five stars. If Thomas Perry isn't one of your favorite authors, he should be !. I highly recommend the Jane Whitefield series to all readers who love good action thrillers. Well written, enjoyable , and packing a good punch each time out ! Do not miss out ! Thomas Perry is first rate master story teller.
February 14, 2015
I have read all the Jane Whitefield books- I am from the area and am always delighted when they move around the Buffalo area to places I know. I lived in Buffalo until 8, then moved to a rural area about 20-25 miles from Buffalo and about 5 miles from the Cattaraugus Reservation. And, I really like the character - Jane Whitefield. I usually give these books 4-5 stars but this one got a 4 then I had to subtract a star because of something that bugged me in the book. It really bothered me that the Clan mothers knew what Jane did. How in the world would they know? I felt the author was trying to say it was some spiritual knowledge or insight but that just doesn't hold water. It was a big enough issue for me that I just couldn't get past it. Also, I do think in these times it's a bit harder to get fake ids and I think that should be addressed. But given all that I sat down to read it and didn't stop until it was done and can't wait for the next one.
November 28, 2014
I received this book as part of the Goodreads’ First Reads Program for a fair review.
Overview: Jane has been honored with a visit from the Seneca Clan Mothers. Her friend, Jimmy, is being charged with murder after his barroom opponent was killed in his home. The Clan Mothers want Jimmy to be safely brought in, and cleared of the charges.
Likes: I like the way the story was written. Jane did everything that she could to protect those who needed her.
Dislikes: I didn’t care for the supernatural visitations that Jane had. Even for dreams, those where weird.
Conclusion: This is a good story. Hope you enjoy it.
Overview: Jane has been honored with a visit from the Seneca Clan Mothers. Her friend, Jimmy, is being charged with murder after his barroom opponent was killed in his home. The Clan Mothers want Jimmy to be safely brought in, and cleared of the charges.
Likes: I like the way the story was written. Jane did everything that she could to protect those who needed her.
Dislikes: I didn’t care for the supernatural visitations that Jane had. Even for dreams, those where weird.
Conclusion: This is a good story. Hope you enjoy it.
January 19, 2015
The beginning is slow but the author compensates by doing a wonderful job of explaining the Seneca way of life and of describing the area of Western New York in which they live. This book is an improvement on his last two installments of the series. The second part of the book is a page turner, reminiscent of his first book. There is a lot of action involving the police, mafia, bad people, shooting and car chases. Jane uses all her tricks of her trade to help people run. If you have read his previous books of the series you will find this one rewarding.
June 2, 2015
For years, Jane Whitefield has been taking people out of their lives, people who need to go away from where they are currently. This time, however, it is personal. The clan mothers of all eight Seneca clan houses have come to her and offered her, ote-ko-a, a string of beads that acts as a contract. They want her to find and protect Jimmy Sanders. He has been falsely accused of murder in Ohio and has gone to ground somewhere. As Jane investigates, things become more and more complicated. An intricate and brilliantly plotted book, excellent, as always.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 403 reviews