Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely

3.71 AVERAGE

weslaybookclub's profile picture

weslaybookclub's review against another edition

3.5
funny tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
Debra: 4.5 stars
Quandra: 4.25 stars
Jessica & Kelly: 3.5 stars
Tracey: 2.25 stars
juniperd's profile picture

juniperd's review

3.0
blanche is a great character, and i enjoyed this book! though the novel came out in 1992, the social and racial issues touched on are still important and relevant today. i look forward to continuing this series.
trayslays's profile picture

trayslays's review against another edition

2.25
mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
jlyn7's profile picture

jlyn7's review against another edition

4.5
mysterious medium-paced
dk_d1337d's profile picture

dk_d1337d's review against another edition

5.0
I'm about to go on a rant about the publishing industry so if your just interested in a book review here it is: this is a good book and an excellent cozy mystery. It felt real and relatable in a way that many cozies try for but fail to do. Great if you thought the Goldie Schultz series or Mary Kay Andrew's Garrity books were missing something.

Now for the rant.

How is it the year of our lord 2020 and I am just now finding out about this book originally published in 1992? I have quite possibly read hundreds of cozy mysteries over the last ten or so years and this book was never promoted, recommended, or even mentioned. I have read at least 3 series printed around the same time that were less well written, executed, and less interesting - and those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Let's be real for a moment. We all know why this book wasn't pushed as hard as other similar series from the same time and genre. Its because of racism. Even actively looking for books by BIPOC authors, it took me randomly coming across it on my libraries digital shelf to find it. I get it. This book is unapologetically black. It will make a certain reader uncomfortable. Not me though. It made me happy.
leasummer's profile picture

leasummer's review against another edition

3.0
I’m not sure what I was expecting but this was a surprised. In the “post racial” South, Blanche discovers the family she’s working for while hiding out from the police is up to no good. Lots of things are “off”, but slowly it comes together. There is a lot of set up during this story and it took me awhile to get into it and find the rhythm of the storytelling but overall very entertaining.
rants_n_reads's profile picture

rants_n_reads's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
raymond_murphy's profile picture

raymond_murphy's review against another edition

3.0
This was really good. Subversive.

amkozy23's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous 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
When this book started off, I was not sure I would like it. I did not like the idea that Blanche was going to be a fugitive for a check-cashing case. As the story unfolded, I fell more into the plot and it was a quick read for me. The plot was twisty and engaging and the characters were fun and unique. I will have to check out the second book in the series as I found Blanche to be funny and smart. 

dlk77's review

1.0
Feisty crude (repeated references to Blanche's crotch) brawny black heroines are as much a stereotype as anything else. The era seemed all wrong for the story.