Vital Lies

Jane Lawless #2

by Ellen Hart

"A well-conceived cozy. She writes about characters, some of whom happen to be gay, rather than setting out to write a lesbian story."
THE DROOD REVIEW OF MYSTERY
In this sequel to HALLOWED MURDER, an old friend invites Minneapolis restaurateur Jane Lawless to her Victorian Inn to celebrate the winter solstice--and investigate a murder from years before. Yet as soon as Jane and her theatrical pal Cordelia arrive, they face broken glass in the parking lot, dead animals in the bedrooms, a bomb scare--malicious pranks that eventually lead to a much more timely and ruthless murder...

Genres: Mystery, LGBT, Fiction, Crime, Lesbian, Cozy Mystery, Queer

260 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Ellen Hart is the author of twenty-eight crime novels in two different series. She is a five-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Mystery, a three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award for Best Popular Fiction, a three-time winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award in several categories, a recipient of the Alice B Medal, and was made an official GLBT Literary Saint at the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans in 2005. In 2010, Ellen received the GCLS Trailblazer Award for lifetime achievement in the field of lesbian literature. For the past fourteen years, Ellen has taught "An Introduction to Writing the Modern Mystery" through the The Loft Literary Center, the largest independent writing community in the nation. Ellen's latest Sophie Greenway mystery is No Reservations Required (Ballantine). Rest for the Wicked, the twentieth Jane Lawless mystery, will be released by St. Martin's/Minotaur in October 2012. Bella Books has recently revived the out-of-print books by publishing them in both trade paperback and E-book. Ellen lives in the Minneapolis area with her partner of over 35 years.

Reviews

[Jhosy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume was better than the previous one.
However, I realized that strangely when Jane asks something to any character they get talking and talking normally as if she were their best friend.
... It's just bothered me in some way, because this makes the story harder to believe. Even if the characters lie to her, they just open their mouths when she asks something ... '-'
And in the end the story, on the 96% of the book, when the mystery was solved ... Jane telling the whole story to Cordelia, it was kind of annoying.
But anyway ... 3.8 stars

[Shan( Shans_Shelves) 💜 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

So the Jane Lawless series is basically a lesbian middle aged miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher who solves crimes with her (also lesbian) best friend and this is ALL I’ve ever needed.

Very fun. 3.5 stars because I didn’t really care for the mystery but loved the characters!

[MsKrusetoyou · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This was my 2nd Jane Lawless book and I really liked it, it was like time travel back to the 80s including a lesbian witches covenant doing rituals. It was an easy to follow mystery with interesting characters. It's made me want to read more of them. I did feel that there were way too many characters but luckily there is a list of them at the beginning of the book. I'm really enjoying that these books are entertaining mysteries with a lot of gay characters in them but they are not like lesbian fiction with a ton of super hot slightly unrealistic sex in them.

[Lisa R Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mystery read! Expecting a quiet Christmas holiday, Jane Lawless goes to a friends B&B on the island where Jane visited as a kid. Her friend, Leigh Elstad, owner of the B&B failed to tell Jane about the unusual and extraordinary events that keep happening at the Inn. Someone was trying to scare Leigh away from her business. Jane, along with her actress friend, Cordelia, works to get to the bottom things. But when a staff member is murdered events turn even more sinister. Fast moving, with some humorous characters. Very entertaining!

[Louie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very intersting and complicated mystery. I did not guess who the culprit was as I was so caught up in Ellen Hart's well crafted red herrings.
Though, it have whatever it is that makes rate a book four or more stars, I still liked it and will read the next one in the series.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set at Christmas time, Jane and Cordelia head to their friend’s inn. But all is far from peaceful

[Davenport Public Library Iowa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen Hart has skillfully combined the atmosphere of a Golden Era whodunit with real LGBTQ culture, including multi-dimensional queer characters, chosen family vs. biological family, and having to educate those who believe identity is a choice or a failure of parenting. The motley cast of characters at the inn gives lots of suspects to consider and the escalating acts of sabotage add suspense.

A worthy and inclusive addition to the cozy mystery genre, this is recommended for LGBTQ readers and those who love discovering vintage hidden gems.

[Megan]

The second book in the Jane Lawless series continues the good work that Hart did in Hallowed Murder, better if you prefer your murderers not to be religious psychopaths but not so good in other respects. This time Jane and her intrepid friend Cordelia are invited to Fothergill Inn, a resort owned by a former college classmate of the two. It is Xmas time, but rather than good cheer, a number of disquieting things have been happening around the inn. Jane, with Cordelia’s unwilling help, will of course look into things.

As in the first book, although most of the chapters are from Jane’s point of view, Hart also doesn't mind getting the reader into the heads of several other characters—especially when her logistics do not allow Jane to be present at an important scene. Purists (like me) might frown on this, but Vital Lies is not meant to be seriously literary; it is a murder mystery pure and simple and if the author lets her point of view roam around from one grisly happening to another for the benefit of the reader, so be it.

I still like Jane and Cordelia is well-drawn. Jane is always trying to track down clues to her mysteries while Cordelia is always eating or playing hypochondriac. Yet despite the seeking, this is one of those mysteries that seems to solve itself, with an unexpected character confessing near the end of the book. The truth is, anyone reading this book will know who does the crimes (because there are more than one) almost from the beginning—and will be furious at Jane for not realizing it at the same time they do. But the obvious answer turns out to be wrong, and the surprise solutions are well hidden and believable.

At this point, Jane seems to be a lesbian in name only, having lost her lover several years before and seems disinclined to pair up with anyone else. Ergo, there are no sex scenes in this or the previous book. If you like cozy mysteries with pretty complicated solutions and multiple storylines, you should like this one. I would give it an average n umber of stars.

Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 1250 other lesbian mysteries by over 400 authors.

[Cloak88 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Lawless second adventure.

Jane is asked by a friend of hers to aid in another strange matter, as it seem someone is tormenting right around the winter solstice. Cordelia and Jane remain fun characters, but the story was a bit lackluster. The fun part of a cozy-mystery is that you can think along with the characters and solve the mystery alongside them. But unfortunately the clues were a bit thin this time, and the mystery itself not al that interesting.

Perhaps it is that the story doesn't translate all that wel 25 years after publication, or because I wasn't into the mystery all that much, but this novel didn't click with me.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Other than the editing, which, as other reviewers have commented, leaves much to be desired, this book was just about everything I could have wanted in a cozy mystery, set in a snowy hotel, featuring a lesbian protagonist and her good friend. I'm really enjoying this series immensely...am so glad I took a chance and downloaded the sample of the first book...in 4 days, I've whipped through the first two entries in the series, and I plan to start #3 tonight.
For all that this book has a rather unimpressive cover, the author herself has won the Lambda five times, as well as several other honors. And, believe it or not, the typos aren't bothering me as much as I thought they would. I think, the quality of the writing is good, and the typos are mainly the same few words over and over, so for example...I've come to expect that "barn" is spelled "bam", and I just keep reading. That said, I am hoping that this issue gets corrected in future books.

[Alton Motobu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not find this to be a cozy Christmas mystery at all. Although it takes place during the Christmas holidays there were many creepy, strange, and unexplained occurrences that left a bad taste, especially the death of the infant. There were too many subplots and resurrected incidents from the past that muddled the story line.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ala Agatha Christie a selection of characters are spending Christmas at an Inn in Minnesota. Someone wants the Inn to be sold to prevent the discovery of an old murder. When there is a new death, there are a limited number of suspects at the Inn. Fun read. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Tink · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 down.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little Christmas story set in Minnesota. Decently written, not too deep. Interesting premise but characters are not very captivating.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the setting at the inn and the small town secrets.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on vacation...it is just ok. I like Jane, I like the writing.

[Kathleen Hagen]

Vital Lies, by Ellen Hart, a-minus, Narrated by Aimee Jolson, Produced by Audible Inc. downloaded from audible.com.

This, the second book in the Jane Lawless series finds us at Christmas time again apparently a year later. An old friend of Jane’s wants to open a small hotel/guest house with a restaurant. But there are various things going on that would scare guests away and which seem to be aimed at the hotel failing so it can be sold. Jane is asked to come to the hotel for a week to try to sort out what is going on and who is doing it. She talks Cordelia into going with her, and we again have another wonderful book with Jane and Cordelia up in northern Minnesota sorting out a problem. Very good. Aimee Jolson does a great job of narrating.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just started reading her Jane Lawless series of which Vital Lies is the second. Ellen Hart has what it takes to be a good mystery writer. She incorporates important the elements, leading the reader gradually toward the truth tossing in some good red herrings along the way. Though this was a thoroughly readable mystery, I only give it 3 stars as I think it's clunky in the beginning when she is introducing her cast of characters and potential suspects. I will keep reading Hart because I love a mystery and I think her writing shows lots of potential.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the Jane Lawless mystery series. The stories take place in Minnesota with delightful characters who happen to be mostly gay or lesbain. The author provides nice depth to the main character Jane and her friend Cordelia. Some good humor, playful friendships and relationships and a decent mystery. Enjoying the seties and looking forward to #3.

[LVLMLeah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Jane Lawless as a character so I'll probably keep buying these books. And the narration is pretty good, so easy to listen to.

This one was a good mystery, interesting gaggle of characters and in an atmospheric setting of an old house with a cryptic past and a family with secrets.

Rather typical but I eat this stuff up.

[Brenda Faucon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen Hart is an AWESOME author, and the Jane Lawless mysteries are fabulous reads, one by one. I hate that in the bookstores these are pigeonholed under GLBT, they really need to be in the mystery section so more mystery booklovers can discover these stories. Jane Lawless is a pretty awesome protagonist, and the dramatic Cordelia, the funniest and most formidable sidekick EVER. Highly recommend!

[Gail]

The second in the series featuring Jane Lawless and her friend, the flamboyant Cordelia. Good mystery about hidden family secrets, stories untold and lies, all lies! Well written.

[Eileen Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I enjoy "cozy mysteries" like this one.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was different but a good read.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd work by Ms. Hart that I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. It does take a weir twist or two, and I really didn’t buy “who did it.” Still, it was a fun read and kept one guessing.