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Jane Lawless #6
Faint Praise
"INTELLIGENT AND ENGROSSING . . . A VERY COMPLEX PUZZLE."
--Publishers Weekly
Everyone knows Arno Heywood. He's been a Minneapolis TV personality for years. So when he jumps to his death from a downtown high-rise, it's a shocker--especially since he dies wearing women's clothes, a suicide in drag.
In chic Linden Lofts, where Arno lived, the other tenants are spooked, and smart investigator Jane Lawless soon finds out why. They, like Arno, have secrets to conceal, and the shadowy someone with a full set of keys who's scouting out their apartments may soon make that impossible. Can one of Linden Loft's upscale professionals really be an aspiring blackmailer? Before Jane and her pal Cordelia can make sure, a brutal murder ups the ante. . . .
"The plot resonates with fascinating details, a good bit of action, several keen twists, and a soupçon of romance for the protagonist."
--Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
quot;The characters are diverse and well rounded, the plot is intriguing, and the style lively and literate."
--The Armchair Detective
--Publishers Weekly
Everyone knows Arno Heywood. He's been a Minneapolis TV personality for years. So when he jumps to his death from a downtown high-rise, it's a shocker--especially since he dies wearing women's clothes, a suicide in drag.
In chic Linden Lofts, where Arno lived, the other tenants are spooked, and smart investigator Jane Lawless soon finds out why. They, like Arno, have secrets to conceal, and the shadowy someone with a full set of keys who's scouting out their apartments may soon make that impossible. Can one of Linden Loft's upscale professionals really be an aspiring blackmailer? Before Jane and her pal Cordelia can make sure, a brutal murder ups the ante. . . .
"The plot resonates with fascinating details, a good bit of action, several keen twists, and a soupçon of romance for the protagonist."
--Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
quot;The characters are diverse and well rounded, the plot is intriguing, and the style lively and literate."
--The Armchair Detective
321 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 29, 1995
11 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Hart
72 books221 followersEllen 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.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 13, 2019
Very obvious that I will not finish this, by Madoka! (pray)
This volume wasn't as interesting as the others, even with the incredible Cordelia and her funny phrases.
The mystery didn't catch my attention and didn't really make me want to find out what was going on. And to further end my enthusiasm for the book, I was very disappointed when a romance happened to the main character.
Nothing makes me more bored and annoyed than suddenly born romances. Is there anything more boring than seeing a character describe her feelings so strongly for someone she has known less than a week? Or act possessively toward the other as if there really was a relationship?
* Sighs * That's why romances in suspense books (in lesbian literature) make me very cautious. Either the romance is going to be great in these books or it will overturn all my interest in the story.
Anyway ... 2.5 because Cordelia, even though she was not very funny, is wonderful.
This volume wasn't as interesting as the others, even with the incredible Cordelia and her funny phrases.
The mystery didn't catch my attention and didn't really make me want to find out what was going on. And to further end my enthusiasm for the book, I was very disappointed when a romance happened to the main character.
Nothing makes me more bored and annoyed than suddenly born romances. Is there anything more boring than seeing a character describe her feelings so strongly for someone she has known less than a week? Or act possessively toward the other as if there really was a relationship?
* Sighs * That's why romances in suspense books (in lesbian literature) make me very cautious. Either the romance is going to be great in these books or it will overturn all my interest in the story.
Anyway ... 2.5 because Cordelia, even though she was not very funny, is wonderful.
September 17, 2015
Solid mystery with a likeable lesbian main character.
September 26, 2017
Great book
I really enjoyed the series. The relationship between Jane and Cordelia just cannot be beat . Their interactions make every single book.
I really enjoyed the series. The relationship between Jane and Cordelia just cannot be beat . Their interactions make every single book.
January 5, 2025
3.5 stars, really. Started off really great and drew you in quickly. I love the insight into the other characters, and the writing is nicely-paced and attentive to detail. We don’t get too much into Jane’s restaurant life here but that’s okay. It was a little slow when we were in the Aunt Beryl story line but overall this was a great read! Ive been meaning to get back to this series that I started in the 90s and am glad to see it’s as good as I remembered.
August 31, 2020
Lots of good twists, turns, and red herrings.
October 27, 2021
Delightful!! Well okay not the murder.. but the rest was wonderful. I love this series so much!
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October 9, 2023I'm two books on in the series and there has been no more Amy McGee. Which is a shame. She was terrible and I loved her.
May 31, 2025
1 A sapphic story with a thin plot. Perhaps not a good idea to read this book out of sequence. It has not aged well though. A thin plot remains a thin plot.
June 29, 2024
Fine for what it was.
April 23, 2011
#6 Jane Lawless mystery set in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. Jane is asked by her friend Roz to move into a vacant loft in her building, Linden Lofts, to see if she can figure out what is going on there. The previous renter, Arno Heywood (a well-known local television personality) recently committed suicide by jumping out a window on the Foshay Tower--in drag, no less--and since then, a number of apartments in the historic building have been broken into with strange goings-on.
Jane, ever curious--not only about the goings on, but about what it would be like to live in an expensive historic building--agrees, despite the Christmas season and things being very busy at Jane's restaurant, Lyme House. Then her aunt Beryl falls ill and is hospitalized and Jane finds she has her hands more than full. But when she herself witnesses some of the strange events at Linden Lofts, she is determined to find who is behind them and even possibly who drove Arno Heywood to his death. Of course she ends up in trouble herself a few times along the way, but also meets a possible love interest, the daughter of one of the other tenants.
I really enjoyed this entry in the series--some of the others have been just so-so, but this one felt to me like it was clicking on all cylinders. I was relieved especially to have Jane back as the focus of the book--the last one with Cordelia, her theatre-producer friend at the helm and as the focus, I didn't much like at all. The local flavor in this series is especially wonderful for those who live in the area.
Jane, ever curious--not only about the goings on, but about what it would be like to live in an expensive historic building--agrees, despite the Christmas season and things being very busy at Jane's restaurant, Lyme House. Then her aunt Beryl falls ill and is hospitalized and Jane finds she has her hands more than full. But when she herself witnesses some of the strange events at Linden Lofts, she is determined to find who is behind them and even possibly who drove Arno Heywood to his death. Of course she ends up in trouble herself a few times along the way, but also meets a possible love interest, the daughter of one of the other tenants.
I really enjoyed this entry in the series--some of the others have been just so-so, but this one felt to me like it was clicking on all cylinders. I was relieved especially to have Jane back as the focus of the book--the last one with Cordelia, her theatre-producer friend at the helm and as the focus, I didn't much like at all. The local flavor in this series is especially wonderful for those who live in the area.
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May 10, 2014Faint Praise, by Ellen Hart, a-minus, Narrated by Aimee Jolson, Produced by Audible Inc., downloaded from audible.com.
Everyone knows Arno Heywood. He's been a Minneapolis TV personality for years. So when he jumps to his death from one of the town’s tallest office buildings, it's a shocker—especially since he dies wearing women's clothes. In chic Linden Lofts, where Arno lived, the other tenants are spooked. One of those tenants is Jane’s college roommate, and she asks Jane to move into Arno’s loft for a month to find out what is going on. Jane soon becomes convinced that one of the tenants has somehow gotten a master key and is going into the lofts scouting out everyone’s secrets. And all the tenants do have secrets. Can one of Linden Loft's upscale professionals really be an aspiring blackmailer? Before Jane and her pal Cordelia can make
sure, a brutal murder takes place. Now, there are three suspicious deaths connected with people who lived in Linden Lofts for Jane to investigate. Very good.
Everyone knows Arno Heywood. He's been a Minneapolis TV personality for years. So when he jumps to his death from one of the town’s tallest office buildings, it's a shocker—especially since he dies wearing women's clothes. In chic Linden Lofts, where Arno lived, the other tenants are spooked. One of those tenants is Jane’s college roommate, and she asks Jane to move into Arno’s loft for a month to find out what is going on. Jane soon becomes convinced that one of the tenants has somehow gotten a master key and is going into the lofts scouting out everyone’s secrets. And all the tenants do have secrets. Can one of Linden Loft's upscale professionals really be an aspiring blackmailer? Before Jane and her pal Cordelia can make
sure, a brutal murder takes place. Now, there are three suspicious deaths connected with people who lived in Linden Lofts for Jane to investigate. Very good.
January 21, 2009
This is my first time reading a book by Ellen Hart. I found it very easy to follow along even though I obviously was not starting with the first novel. Jane is a very likable sleuth and she doesn't fall into the same category as some other characters do where you are thinking "you dummy don't go in there!"
Jane is very intelligent and her family & friends are all well suited to the story and to Jane. This mystery was not one where I knew who the murderer was all along. There were sufficient red herrings that I wasn't sure about the identity of the murderer until close to the actual reveal.
The only complaint that I have about the plot was the story involving Amy as Jane's admirer. The character felt out of place and the development felt sloppy and weak. But disregarding Amy, the story was great and I can't wait to read another novel in this series.
Jane is very intelligent and her family & friends are all well suited to the story and to Jane. This mystery was not one where I knew who the murderer was all along. There were sufficient red herrings that I wasn't sure about the identity of the murderer until close to the actual reveal.
The only complaint that I have about the plot was the story involving Amy as Jane's admirer. The character felt out of place and the development felt sloppy and weak. But disregarding Amy, the story was great and I can't wait to read another novel in this series.
January 11, 2014
This series just gets better and better. In this one, Jane gets beat up, finds some "lawlessness" in the City, gets cranky, has a couple of women walk into her life and solves a mystery. What more could a reader want? I enjoyed the Minneapolis sites and sounds and there was far less angst in this novel then in the past ones. Looking forward to the next in the series.
May 19, 2016
Ellen Hart is the author of the Jane Lawless mysteries. The PI is a lesbian and the backdrop is always the Twin Cities. There certainly are charming aspects and good characters here. But this is one of the early books in the series, and I think Ellen Hart hadn't really become fully comfortable with her writing style. The later books are better.
January 24, 2010
Endearing characters and Cordelia is real funny
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews