Grime and Punishment

Jane Jeffry #1

by Jill Churchill

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.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Humor, Adult

246 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

A pseudonym used by Janice Young Brooks.

Jill Churchill, winner of the Agatha and Macavity Mystery Readers Awards, and nominated for an Anthony for her best-selling Jane Jeffry series, lives as Jane does, in a midwestern suburb. On purpose! She says writing this series and the Grace and Favor series is the best treat she can have without a knife and fork.

Under her real name, Janice Young Brooks, and various pseudonyms, she's written historical novels, a gothic novel, and a history textbook as well as many articles for newspapers and magazines. When she's not writing, she's avidly doing genealogy which she says is a lot like mysteries with all the red herrings, clues, speculations, and surprises.

She gardens enthusiastically, needlepoints superbly, and plays a mean game of gin against the computer. She has a son and daughter and two granddaughters, Rose Louise and Emma. Janice is currently in a battle of supremacy with her cat Max.

Reviews

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not finishing books, no matter how terrible or clashing, is not my way. However with thousands of actual physical books, searched out and bought, for us to look forward to; patience is thin for poor writing or poor choices of focus. There is no patience for authors who abound in a style or vocabulary tendencies, that I loathe. No one should sit, grinding their teeth, through something that is unpleasant to them. That drives a decision I am sharing; not hasty boredom.

Many might dismiss the wrestling I put into this decision and say "Aw, just stop reading it". Books needn't grab us right away. I have loved many after 100 pages and was glad I persevered. No, I'm talking about seeing it is not going to be for you, content-wise, style-wise, or quality-wise. That isn't about being hasty. What a breach of taste, that this is an award-winner! A mystery should generate the tone of mysteriousness. I have occasionally converted into an audit, a book that bugged me early in. Therefore I am creating an option, as it arises, to declare a "DNS": "DECIDED NOT TO START"!

I don't want to read 17 pages portraying a Mom driving her kids to school and their gripes. After the second chapter, the height of drama was no better than not having a salad for a picky neighbour! Not only is none of this of interest and annoying to me but chapters that don't end in a puzzle or anticipation, suggest that an author doesn't understand the creation of excitement.... or the construct of the mystery genre. I say this with a large collection of Jill Churchhill novels, that I sought out with enthusiasm. Thankfully, I am creating an ongoing book sale for my neighbourhood.

Look, I have encountered others, like Marion Chesney Beaton, who thought adding a crime made it a mystery. (She has the distinction of my first "Decided not to start", after I did complete the first "Hamish Macbeth" novel, cringing and screaming). Focus, pace, tone, and style make the genre. What you dump into it is second place. I don't care how anyone categorizes something: if it doesn't feel like a mystery, or whichever genre it proposed to be, it did not succeed at being that.

What I questioned, that I know people who have no qualms about not finishing a book do too, is whether or not it was fair to rate them. I thought not but because I offer an explanation and see sparkling reviews about this novel I loathed too much to start: I think strong dislike is worth noting. I am going to adjust it so it does not count towards my book tally. However it is getting a star rating; a record of jarring my sensibilities. It might be an appreciated tip by folks who have been in harmony with my feedback. :-) Please note that I kept the few novels in Jill's other series as well as Marion's, to try later. Much later.

[Mary JL · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in the Jane Jeffry Mystery series introduces suburban mom and sleuth Jane Jeffry. They are light humorous mysteries; not a lot of violencee or gore.

The puzzles are interesting and Jane has a good knowledge of human nature, which helps her in her crime solving. There are good touches of humor; Jane's relationships with family and neighbors are well handled.

A good series to start reading when you want a quick, light easy mystery!

[Jillian Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the sarcastic comedy. I love the characters. It's a fun read.

[Monica **can't read fast enough** · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this and enjoyed it as a quick cozy mystery. It definitely reads like a cozy written in the late 80's early 90's. I know it's going to sound strange but when I finished my first thoughts were that this story felt very middle class right down to the reason for the murder. I'm not saying that the characters are shallow, but they definitely aren't complicated. At least not yet. There's a bit of humor with the main character Jane and she was actually likable and because she is far from having it all together she was relatable too.

Because this is an older series and available as mass markets I can easily find them as inexpensive second hand/thrift store books so I will continue with these quick reads. Hopefully Jane's character will continue to develop and expand through her amateur sleuthing.

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[Gale Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

New series and author for me. Great mystery. Characters were great.

[Carol]

This is the first book in the Jane Jeffry series. I have read some of the later books but never the first one. A fun, light hearted mystery that has Jane, a midwestern housewife, with the help of her neighbor, as the solver of crimes. This book points out that you never know what secrets lay behind the closed doors of your neighbors and sometimes it's better for your health if you don't know!!

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jill Churchill's Jane Jeffry mysteries and their absolutely awful pun titles. This one is the first - where Jane sets out to figure out who killed her cleaning lady. I found the series at a time when a car-pooling, PTA mom who could solve crime on the side was my idea of the perfect heroine.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good start to the series. I liked Jane and want to see what happens to her in the future. The mystery was good and kept me guessing. While this mystery was written in the late 1980's I didn't find it dated, just kind of weird not to have cell phones popping up when needed. I found this to be an enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more in the series.

[Georgene · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy-to-read book that flows effortlessly without having to think too much. Sometimes, that's just the kind of book you need to read.

[Laura Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot, a fun story. I love reading a series of books that have the same characters. Can't wait to read the next 15 books.

[Chris Meads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book and the title attracted me. I thought it would be humorous and it was.

Jane Jeffrey is a single mom (not by choice) trying to raise 3 kids on her own. She lost her husband when he was killed in an accident. But she hides a little secret.

All of the women that live on the street where she lives, are friends. They all car pool, take care of each other's kids of those that have kids. It seems like a close knit bunch. And most use the same cleaning lady--some think she's a wonderful cleaner and others think she's as lazy as they come. Until one day the cleaning lady turns up dead.

Jane and her friend, Shelley, try to figure out the who-dun-it with disastrous results. It can be comical how things happen. But when they go out on a limb to catch the person, Jane's Uncle Jim (he's really not) and the police end up helping them even though the police are dubious that the plan will work.

Will Jane figure it all out? Or will she end up like the cleaning lady for sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong.

This, I think, will be a great cozy mystery series (no cats this time). I can't wait to read the next one.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The women in the suburban Chicago neighborhood are planning an evening meal group activity. It’s likely to be a great time; everyone’s bringing something. They’ll meet at Shelley Nowack’s house. To prepare, Shelley hired a cleaning woman that everyone in the neighborhood said was good. She didn’t show, but the company sent a substitute. It’s that substitute cleaning woman that Shelley found in her guest room hours later with a vacuum cleaner cord tightly twisted around her strangled and very dead neck. Oops! There goes the night’s dinner party, and worse still, how do you track a killer who clearly lives in the neighborhood?

Jane Jeffry, a widow and mom to three young kids who still live at home, is Shelley’s friend, and it is Jane who feels the need to dig for a killer before someone else dies.

This was a super-quick cozy mystery. There’s some profanity, but not much, and there are no sexual scenes.

Jane is mildly interested in Mel Van Dyne, a cop the local department sends out to solve the killing, but it is Jane’s plan that ultimately ferrets out the killer.

I’ll read more of this series. It was light and easy, and the author included humor in just the right places.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Jane Jeffry series by Jill Churchill. I've already read one other book in the series and figured I'd start the series from the beginning.

Overall, I think this is a fun, cozy read and certainly would appeal mainly to female mystery fans. I really enjoyed the Grace & Favor series by the same author, so I'm sure I will continue reading this series as well.

interesting quote:

"The most important thing she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one." (p. 1)

[Denise Spicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suburban mom Jane Jeffry finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery right in her neighborhood – the cleaning lady! Trying to figure out why she was killed – possible blackmailer?? – leads Jane to snoop around in detective Mel Van Dynes’ case. Appealing characters and nice homey setting.

[☯Emily Ginder]

This is the first book in the series and one of Churchill's best. Hope you enjoy it.

[Karen]

super fun quick read

[Diana Petty-stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced cozy mystery with good characters.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story; I wish I hadn't waited so long to start this series.

[Chanel Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do we start. Mom along time ago found the third book in the series at our town library. She checked it out and, of course, read it, and end up liking it enough to say she would go back a keep reading the series. Sadly, our library got read of the series, and mom said the next time mystery book series she would go out an acquire would be this one. Low a behold mom finally made good on her promise, and may mom say that she is sad that our library got read of this series. (We would like to say we both understand why the series was gotten read of, not enough people checking it out. Still it is sad to see that this is one of those series that seems to have gone into obscurity when the mystery part, and in mom’s and my opinions the characters are so well written.)
Mom and I started this book by meeting Jane and her three kids. Tod, Mike, and Katie. Watching her manage to get all her kids off to school, as well as deal with two cats and a dog that is afraid of his own shadow leaves left mom and me laughing and completely love Jane. We also learn that Jane is a single mom, who was widowed when her husband dyed in an accident. We learn later on in the book that the accident was more than it appeared to be. (Which bring mom and me to our first point we love how the author slow reveals/ build up details. The author hardly ever gives us a little detail was out using it later on and when she does she weaves it so nicely into the story that one feels it belongs there and that is was not just thrown into the story.) Shelley, Jane neighbor and friend, is hosting a meeting for the school and all the moms have to bring a dish for the pot-lucky style dinner. Shelley is sadly out of the house and leaves the door unlocked because the maid is in the house and Jane is next door. When Shelley returns she instantly calls Jane to tell her the fridge is full of food and the maid is dead. As Shelley and Jane try to figured out who killed the maid, much is revealed about their neighbors and Shelley and Jane themselves.
This book is amazing, really you must read it.

[Scout Langley · Rating 3 out of 5]

♥housekeepers now detectives. I loved that these mothers noticed things that the detectives did not. Don't look down on these stay-at-homes! I also really loved that it showed just how much they do. Like these ladies might love to get chatty with each other, but they are also the glue that keeps their houses running. They have to do all this behind-the-scenes stuff while looking flawlessly or their husbands might look elsewhere.
❌logic. Main character talks about almost not getting her cleaning lady for a day because of money, but neighbor owns chair of restaurants. How is the main character who doesn't work able to afford a house right next to couple who are own a growing chain of restaurants.
❌They tell the time of the murder by the dishwasher being on prewash. Who notices that in a moment of such shock? Then go into conspiracy of what the murder did to make to start the dishwasher at a different time to make it look like murder happened at a different time. So basically, not only are we in a weird land where we notice that but also the murder is expecting them to notice that. Hmm.. The whole dishwasher thing took a good chunk of plot, but they didn't even use the dishwasher time line to rule out any suspects. 🤷‍♀️ so why even come up with time line? Also, how did they notice that and not much more obvious things?

-If you liked this I would recommend "Finlay Donovan is Killing It" if you love the mothers solving murders and murder books without drugs, sex, or extreme gore. The book also talks about divorce (especially when it comes to child custody) and also heart-warming humor and struggles.
-If you liked that aspect of group of mothers coming together to solve murder, I would recommend "The Southern's Book Club for Slaying Vampires" which is a feminist gothic horror story which eerily talks about abuse, gaslighting, divorce, and so much more!! It talks about what it means to be a woman and how society, family, and friends affect how we see ourselves.

[Doug Lewars · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** Possible Spoilers ***

Three stars is a bit low but four would have been too high. I found the book okay but nothing special. If grades were used instead of stars I'd award the author a B-. The protagonist is a mother with three kids trying to keep her family together now that her husband is deceased. When a murder occurs next door, she's determined to find the culprit - why isn't clear.

The author made a point of making Jane, her protagonist believable by making her painfully inept at organization. I think she was hoping that modern mothers, torn between careers and managing households could relate to domestic chaos. Perhaps that will happen. As for me, I found it more tedious than humorous. Whatever the case it wasn't a bad book. It's just that I've encountered quite a few that were better so I doubt I'll read further in the series.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grime and punishment
#1 in the housewife Jane Jeffry mystery series set a Chicago suburb.

Jane’s husband died in an auto accident 7 months earlier leaving her as a single mother with 3 children ages 15, 13 and 10 and dealing with an somewhat pompous mother-in-law. Jane is barely able to keep her head above water hand with the housework, mildly rebellious kids and managing the household responsibilities. In the opening, she is pretty much losing this battle. She is taking on a cleaning service one day a week that her neighbors have been using. Everything changes when a substitute shows up at her neighbor’s and then is found murdered. Despite her busy schedule, Jane is determined to clear up the whole murderous mess--even if it means provoking a killer who may live as close as next door.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially started this series at the same time I started the series by Al Guthrie--both set in Illinois suburbs, both featuring a detective who had served in the military (in the Churchill series, a friend-of-the-family who seems to exist to chastise Jane's recklessness). But the Guthrie series went only three titles, whereas this one lasted rather longer than was good for it. Widowed mother Jane and her friend/neighbor Shelley find the dead body of Shelley's new cleaning woman. They gradually realize that one of their neighbors must be the culprit. Although in most things, Shelley is the organized, efficient one, in crime solving Jane is the leader, even after she meets the handsome, though younger, police detective Mel.

[Doris Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Jill Churchill mystery. I really liked it. Jane Jeffrey is a housewife detective. When a cleaning lady in her friend's house, Audrey lives next door, gets killed, Jane is on it. First she is worried about the killing spreading to her house and involving her kids. But secondly, she just can't help herself. She has to figure out who did it and has narrowed it down to one of her neighbors. So she goes about asking them if they did it and comes up with something she doesn't want to hear. in the end she helps plot the murderer's detection. A little slow moving at times but still a good story.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just doesn't hold together for me. Why should a bunch of housewives decide to be amateur sleuths and start speculating without data? And unsurprisingly, they come to the wrong conclusions. I've not got much else to do, so I'll probably keep reading, but this isn't what I consider good quality. I want real analysis, not just someone coming up with ideas and jumping on them. I prefer professional detective books, I think, because they have to find actual evidence, not rely on a bunch of brainstorming and hair-brained plans.

[Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very quick read. the plot is tight (albeit with a bit of a loopy ending) and the characters develop organically. it's vibrantly from 30+ years ago -- from commentaries on weight and jokes that a writer probably wouldn't make today to the overall sense of living in a different world, w/o cellphones etc. even though I didn't initially relate to the character (single mother & widow whose life consists mostly of driving her children around) by the end of the book I found myself feeling fairly positive about it

[Gisela · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the “helpers” is found dead. But this was her first day cleaning that house, she was assigned to do this job at the last minute. Jane is intrigue to know the mystery behind this murder. The story is more related with the dynamic between the characters than to the mystery per se, but this is book one in a long series, which means author is introducing the characters. A fun entertaining cozy mystery. Set in the 80‘s 3⭐️

[Verity W · Rating 3 out of 5]

After picking up two later books in this series earlier this year, I've now gone back and acquired the first one. In Grime and Punishment, widowed single mum Jane is trying to solve the murder of a cleaning lady in the house next door because the suspects include a lot of her friends. Often in a first in a series there is too much set up and the book can suffer, either from just having too much going on or from the mystery not being quite good enough. This isn't one of those - it manages to introduce the group and Jane very naturally and the mystery is sufficiently twisty.

[KathyNV · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun quick read. The story line is simple but interesting and the twists and turns keep it moving. I like the main character and wish she had been developed a little more as she made some choices I did not understand. This is a good weekend read.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay cozy mystery. It was definitely written in the 1980s because I kept being surprised every time the main character, Jane, picked up a cigarette. There were some humorous moments and the mystery was interesting although it wasn't clear why Jane felt the need to solve it.