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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Liked this one a lot. Need to read #2. It lagged a bit in the middle, but more than made up for that by the end! Blanche is all that!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
4.5 stars. This was a required reading for a women’s literature class I am taking. I really enjoyed this book, the mystery and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
My dad once said that when it comes to mystery series, you’re likely to stay for the characters more than the plot. The mystery itself is predictable for anyone who reads mysteries on the regular, but the main character Blanche White is an engaging figure. Looking forward to other books in this series.
The protagonist of this mystery is not what one would typically expect: a maid on the lam from the law for writing bad cheques. The woman at the centre of this mystery is Blanche White, and she's been stiffed by her employer of her wages; Blanche is arrested when her cheques bounce and is sentenced. Blanche escapes the courthouse during a moment of confusion, and decides to hide from the law by taking on a new position as a temporary cook and housekeeper for a family.
Blanche quickly sees things are off kilter in the house. The elderly aunt, Emmeline, is an alcoholic, the husband, Everett, and wife, Grace, have problems, and the nephew Mumsfield has a developmental disability, for which he's underestimated and mistreated. As Blanche quickly sees,Mumsfield is actually quite aware of some of the feelings directed at him, and Blanche also sees that he’s much more capable than everyone thinks.
Things, of course go wrong in the house, and Blanche begins sleuthing, and uses her smarts and her personal connections (mother and friend and the family's gardener Nate) to get her the family's gossipto keep herself aware and safe from the increasingly unpleasant feelings bubbling around her.
Blanche’s resolution to the situation had me smiling. Her dry assessment of her situation within the household, as well as how she immediately understands and plays to the racist assumptions Grace and Everett have about her shows someone long used to being talked down to and concerned for her personal safety. Barbara Neely's analyses of the relations of Blacks and Whites are well woven into the story, and Blanche's exhaustion with the limitations and constant dangers she and other Blacks live with were conveyed well.
I figured out who the culprit was, and as previously stated, liked how Blanche dealt with the immediate situation, and her and her adoptive childrens' well-being had me glad, and looking forward to what Blanche would encounter next.
Blanche quickly sees things are off kilter in the house. The elderly aunt, Emmeline, is an alcoholic, the husband, Everett, and wife, Grace, have problems, and the nephew Mumsfield has a developmental disability, for which he's underestimated and mistreated. As Blanche quickly sees,Mumsfield is actually quite aware of some of the feelings directed at him, and Blanche also sees that he’s much more capable than everyone thinks.
Things, of course go wrong in the house, and Blanche begins sleuthing, and uses her smarts and her personal connections (mother and friend and the family's gardener Nate) to get her the family's gossipto keep herself aware and safe from the increasingly unpleasant feelings bubbling around her.
Blanche’s resolution to the situation had me smiling. Her dry assessment of her situation within the household, as well as how she immediately understands and plays to the racist assumptions Grace and Everett have about her shows someone long used to being talked down to and concerned for her personal safety. Barbara Neely's analyses of the relations of Blacks and Whites are well woven into the story, and Blanche's exhaustion with the limitations and constant dangers she and other Blacks live with were conveyed well.
I figured out who the culprit was, and as previously stated, liked how Blanche dealt with the immediate situation, and her and her adoptive childrens' well-being had me glad, and looking forward to what Blanche would encounter next.
This was my first read from this author and I enjoyed it. I got the series on Blanche but this book felt like there was a book before it that I must not have read. I'll have to check the author's releases for it. Anyway...on to the next book.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No