Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #154828 in Books
• Published on: 1992-06-01
• Released on: 1992-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780380764006
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
Ramona wasn't much of a cleaning woman--some say she wouldn't know a dust bunny from a Doberman--but that's no reason to bump the old girl off, is it? Someone must think so: poor Ramona is found strangled to death with a vacuum chord. Jane Jeffry--mother of three, chairperson of more committees than you can shake a stick at, and part-time sleuth--sets out to find the killer and tie up the loose ends in this irresistible mystery. Grime and Punishment, winner of both Agatha and Macavity Awards for best first mystery book and nominated for an Anthony Award for the same honor, is the first in a series of seven books featuring Jane Jeffry.

About the Author

Jill Churchill is the author of twelve Jane Jeffry mysteries and two Grace and Favor novels. She lives in the Midwest -- on purpose.

Customer Reviews

Too Close For Comfort
Jane Jeffry is a full-time mother whose life is filled with three children, two cats, a dog, PTA and carpools. Her husband Steve is killed in an auto accident on the night he leaves home for another woman. In the midst of her grieving, Jane's life is jolted by the murder next door of Happy Helper cleaning lady Ramona Thurgood. Jane's motivation to solve the crime is if a murder can be committed in another house in the neighborhood, it can also happen in her house.

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.

Mystery with a humorous flair!
I was browsing at my local bookstore when I came upon Jill Churchill's books. Having never heard of her before but interested in mysteries, I picked up this book and now plan to read every one in the series!

"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!

Excellent and entertaining!
The first in a series, we find Jane Jeffry, single mom with hardly a single moment to spare. She is irresistibly drawn into the investigation of the murder of the neighborhood cleaning lady and even more (eagerly) drawn into a relationship with the hunky investigative Detective VanDyne! Her neighbor and best friend Shelley attempts to keep Jane from involving herself in both aspects, and also not believing that Jane herself could be the murderer... or is she? Excellent!