Reviewed by Jeanne
Lois Meade is a cleaner in the English village of Long Farden,
doing for several families. It’s a bit
of a step up from Lois’ own Tresham neighborhood where she lives with her
electrician husband, Derek, two school-age sons, and daughter Josie, who is
going through the teen rebellion stage at the ripe old age of 14. It’s almost a relief to go and clean for
other people, though Lois has a strict set of boundaries and a strong sense of
her own worth. She’s not about to let
anyone take advantage of her.
Still, she’s feels she might have more to offer so on impulse
she looks into joining the police as a volunteer only to find that the police
aren’t quite as enthusiastic. Miffed, Lois resolves to have nothing to do with
them. Besides, it turns out that part of
the problem with Josie is that she’s been seeing a bit of a much older (and to
Derek’s mind, quite unsuitable) boy named Melvyn.
Then a shocking murder takes place in Long Farden and it seems
that some of Lois’ clients might be suspects and suddenly the police are very interested in what Lois might be
able to learn as she cleans. On the one hand, Lois is miffed; on the other, it
is very exciting to be part of an investigation, and she can’t help but wonder
if maybe one of her clients might actually be involved: surely not Dr. and Mrs. Rix, who are so kind,
but maybe the too-full of himself professor?
Or the lady art gallery owner and her husband who have a very odd
relationship? What about the vicar, who doesn’t seem to be very effective at
his job? It couldn’t be the compassionate village nurse… could it?
While Lois is somewhat agreeable to working with Inspector
Cowgill, she knows he isn’t telling her everything he know…which is why Lois
isn’t telling him everything either.
This is the first in the Lois
Meade series, a cozy from a bit of a different angle. Lois isn’t an upper class lady who attends
teas on a weekly basis, but a scrappy working class mother with rambunctious children
and bills to pay. It’s definitely a different
sort of vibe for a British mystery and one which I found refreshing. Lois has
her problems and isn’t best buds with her clients; she’s always had to make her
own way. Derek is much the same. Lois is intelligent but also can be prickly,
making her a more realistic heroine than some I’ve encountered. I also liked that the police are competent
and on the job, even though Lois sometimes has her doubts.
I enjoyed the book and will be visiting with Lois again.
