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.
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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.
"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!
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