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Plain Jane Mystery #1
Good, Clean, Murder
Living on her own for the first time, Bible school student Jane cleans houses to make ends meet. But being independent brings big trials, like falling for a handsome professor, dealing with an obnoxious roommate, and then there's the dead bodies...
Who knew being housekeeper to wealthy owners of a Roly Burger franchise would mean sweeping up clues to their death, while ministering to the needs of their heirs?
This is one big mess that Jane is intent on cleaning up before things get even worse.
Who knew being housekeeper to wealthy owners of a Roly Burger franchise would mean sweeping up clues to their death, while ministering to the needs of their heirs?
This is one big mess that Jane is intent on cleaning up before things get even worse.
381 pages, ebook
First published March 11, 2013
1048 people are currently reading
2256 people want to read
About the author
Traci Tyne Hilton
33 books137 followersTraci Tyne Hilton is the author of The Plain Jane Mysteries, The Mitzy Neuhaus Mysteries and the Tillgiven Romantic Mysteries. When not writing she has been known to knit socks, play the spoons, and teach Sunday School, though these days she is most often seen in her role as taxi-driver to busy children.
She has been indie publishing since 2010, and though she's had offers from small and large presses, she hasn't gone hybrid yet. She was the Mystery/Suspense Category winner for the 2012 Christian Writers of the West Phoenix Rattler Contest, a finalist for Speculative Fiction in the same contest, and has a Drammy from the Portland Civic Theatre Guild. She blogs at TheWriteConversation.blogspot.com.
Traci is an active member of the ACFW, who was lucky enough to teach a continuing ed class on indie publishing at the 2015 conference in Dallas. She also serves on the board of her local chapter.
Traci attended Fackelbararnas Bibelskola in Holsby Brunn, Sweden, and earned a degree in History from Portland State University. She lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with her husband the mandolin playing funeral director, two busy teens, and their dogs, Dr. Watson and Archie Goodwin. (Her family just admonished her not to forget the cat!)
You can join the Good Clean Book club at http://www.tracihilton.com and be the first to find out when her next book releases.
She has been indie publishing since 2010, and though she's had offers from small and large presses, she hasn't gone hybrid yet. She was the Mystery/Suspense Category winner for the 2012 Christian Writers of the West Phoenix Rattler Contest, a finalist for Speculative Fiction in the same contest, and has a Drammy from the Portland Civic Theatre Guild. She blogs at TheWriteConversation.blogspot.com.
Traci is an active member of the ACFW, who was lucky enough to teach a continuing ed class on indie publishing at the 2015 conference in Dallas. She also serves on the board of her local chapter.
Traci attended Fackelbararnas Bibelskola in Holsby Brunn, Sweden, and earned a degree in History from Portland State University. She lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with her husband the mandolin playing funeral director, two busy teens, and their dogs, Dr. Watson and Archie Goodwin. (Her family just admonished her not to forget the cat!)
You can join the Good Clean Book club at http://www.tracihilton.com and be the first to find out when her next book releases.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 321 reviews
March 14, 2013
What can I say about Traci Tyne Hilton. She has a wonderful writing style. Her stories are exciting and breath taking. I love this story because it shows there are people in the world that don't need sex, violence, strong language to tell a good story. I am one of those people who is just like Jane. I felt as if I were Jane, except the cleaning part. I love the fact that she brought Christianity into Jane's life, as it really is, a struggle.
This story was extraordinary. It reminded me of when I was in my 20's, but I won't say when that was... Traci, I salute you. Gotta go... clean
This story was extraordinary. It reminded me of when I was in my 20's, but I won't say when that was... Traci, I salute you. Gotta go... clean
March 20, 2017
This novel is about a young Bible College student who works as a housemaid and discovers her employers dead and thinks there's more to the story than simple heart attacks. Good premise, but not a great execution. The big "who done it" reveal is lackluster and disappointing. The main character, Jane, isn't someone you immediately like and root for. Her prideful doormat personality makes you want to root for the bad guy because she's just so annoying; yet she seems to have all the male characters in the novel fawning over her. I like cozy mysteries; Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson series, Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation novels, and Robin Paige's Victorian-Edwardian series are all favorites. Unfortunately, this one just does not rank up there with them. I gave it two stars because I like that it's a clean, well-written novel but unfortunately an unlikable main character and ho-hum mystery reveal left it lacking.
May 18, 2015
I thought this was a sweet short story. The mystery was mediocre. It was a little dull and I dont think I would read the rest of the series.
August 28, 2017
I got this book for Kindle for free because I thought that the name was funny. I'd hoped that this would be some light-hearted murder mystery.
Instead, I got a whole lot of painfully stupid with a massive side order of Jesus.
Okay, don't get me wrong. I have nothing against Jesus or Christianity. I do have opinions about Jane's decision to go to some bible school rather than an actual school, but, quite frankly, I feel like that's a massive can of worms that I'd rather not open. Ever.
Instead, how about if I just talk about the brain-breaking stupidity of the murder mystery?
Everything kicks off when Jane, a house keeper, stumbles across the dead bodies of two of her clients one morning. Fine fine, I've seen enough Law & Order to know the drill by now.
But the problem is, that Jane MADE the deaths of Bob and Pamela 100% her problem. When she probably should have just focused on comforting a grieving family. And it just sort of... I don't know? Broke my brain a little. Trying to figure out why she cared so much.
I mean, sure. She knew the family. She'd gone to school with their kids, and obviously cleaned the house for them. It was personal.
But it went beyond a regular “oh shit man, these people were dead” to jumping to conclusion to conclusion without any sort of solid evidence that anything was wrong.
In the end, everything worked out. ...Sort of. The daughter of the murdered couple just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and Jane happened to come across them at the right time, too. And the next thing I know, the entire book was over? Just like that?
I get that this is part of a bigger series, but at the same time... It was just lame. Even the reveal of the murderer (sort of) was so lame.
All in all, this wasn't a horrible book, but I won't be going out of my way to look for any more in the series, or anything else by this author.
Instead, I got a whole lot of painfully stupid with a massive side order of Jesus.
Okay, don't get me wrong. I have nothing against Jesus or Christianity. I do have opinions about Jane's decision to go to some bible school rather than an actual school, but, quite frankly, I feel like that's a massive can of worms that I'd rather not open. Ever.
Instead, how about if I just talk about the brain-breaking stupidity of the murder mystery?
Everything kicks off when Jane, a house keeper, stumbles across the dead bodies of two of her clients one morning. Fine fine, I've seen enough Law & Order to know the drill by now.
But the problem is, that Jane MADE the deaths of Bob and Pamela 100% her problem. When she probably should have just focused on comforting a grieving family. And it just sort of... I don't know? Broke my brain a little. Trying to figure out why she cared so much.
I mean, sure. She knew the family. She'd gone to school with their kids, and obviously cleaned the house for them. It was personal.
But it went beyond a regular “oh shit man, these people were dead” to jumping to conclusion to conclusion without any sort of solid evidence that anything was wrong.
In the end, everything worked out. ...Sort of. The daughter of the murdered couple just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and Jane happened to come across them at the right time, too. And the next thing I know, the entire book was over? Just like that?
I get that this is part of a bigger series, but at the same time... It was just lame. Even the reveal of the murderer (sort of) was so lame.
All in all, this wasn't a horrible book, but I won't be going out of my way to look for any more in the series, or anything else by this author.
May 6, 2017
I was desperate for a modern day mystery and found this book on my Kindle. I got it free on Amazon a while ago. I have mixed feelings about it. I liked Jane, but I felt like there was a lot of focus on missionary work and not a lot of mystery. I also had to google some things. The book mentions a 10/40 window several times and I had no idea what that was. It also mentioned something about the L in TULIP that had something to do with Calvinism. I'm still not sure why that was even mentioned. It wasn't explained very well and didn't have anything to do with the story. The other thing I had to google was Mdiv. I think these things either need to be explained in the book or taken out. Otherwise, it was a pleasant read and I didn't expect the ending.
August 15, 2022
Acquired when free on Amazon.
How many covers does this book have???
A 6000 sq ft house and 2 hours to clean? 'T would take miracle.
All tell, no show, sorry, not for me.
How many covers does this book have???
A 6000 sq ft house and 2 hours to clean? 'T would take miracle.
All tell, no show, sorry, not for me.
April 25, 2013
Good, Clean, Murder by Traci Tyne Hilton is an enjoyable book with murder, romance, and a young lady who seems to attract trouble like bees to honey. Jane is twenty, living on her own, and cleaning houses to pay for all her expenses. Her well to do parents would be happy to pay for her education but they would require her to attend a big university and she only wants to attend Bible College to prepare to be a missionary. At the beginning of the book she goes to her first house cleaning job for the day and when she goes into the master bedroom to get the sheets for the laundry she uncovers the owner of the house dead in bed. When the paramedics arrive, they find the wife in the bathroom and she is also dead. Were they murdered or did they both just happen to have heart attacks at the same time?
Jane attends college at night and on the first night of her last semester she learns that the class was canceled. A handsome, young, professor is teaching the class that is offered to take the place of the canceled class. Immediately there is an attraction between Jane and the professor but students are not allowed to date faculty and this lead to lots of problems for the pair. The solution to the problem is quite interesting and even funny.
Jane’s roommate has not been paying the rent and has left town with Jane’s half of the rent money after they were evicted. With no where to live and no money, Jane moves into the home of the murder victims to be a live-in maid for the son, daughter, and sister-in-law of the dead couple. Jane is determined to solve the mystery of the deaths and to minister to the son and daughter of the dead couple.
The author did a good job developing the plot and characters. The dialogue many times had me laughing out loud. Other times I could feel Jane’s frustration and pain. The mystery of the murders kept me guessing as to who murdered the couple and why, if they were murdered and did not die of natural causes. The romance in the book was handled in such a way that kept me cheering for Jane and the professor and many times their actions had me shaking my head or laughing at them. I really liked the way that the author kept Jane centered in her belief in God. With all the craziness that happened to Jane, she still took time each day for her quiet time with God and she truly believed that God would make a way. There were some surprises in the ending but it was a good ending.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, clean, Christian story that involves suspense, a good bit of humor, and enough romance to keep things interesting.
Thank you to the author, Traci Tyne Hilton, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Jane attends college at night and on the first night of her last semester she learns that the class was canceled. A handsome, young, professor is teaching the class that is offered to take the place of the canceled class. Immediately there is an attraction between Jane and the professor but students are not allowed to date faculty and this lead to lots of problems for the pair. The solution to the problem is quite interesting and even funny.
Jane’s roommate has not been paying the rent and has left town with Jane’s half of the rent money after they were evicted. With no where to live and no money, Jane moves into the home of the murder victims to be a live-in maid for the son, daughter, and sister-in-law of the dead couple. Jane is determined to solve the mystery of the deaths and to minister to the son and daughter of the dead couple.
The author did a good job developing the plot and characters. The dialogue many times had me laughing out loud. Other times I could feel Jane’s frustration and pain. The mystery of the murders kept me guessing as to who murdered the couple and why, if they were murdered and did not die of natural causes. The romance in the book was handled in such a way that kept me cheering for Jane and the professor and many times their actions had me shaking my head or laughing at them. I really liked the way that the author kept Jane centered in her belief in God. With all the craziness that happened to Jane, she still took time each day for her quiet time with God and she truly believed that God would make a way. There were some surprises in the ending but it was a good ending.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, clean, Christian story that involves suspense, a good bit of humor, and enough romance to keep things interesting.
Thank you to the author, Traci Tyne Hilton, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
August 14, 2022
In simple terms, I would state this as a “Cinderella-like” book whose story was far less appealing; the writer even alludes to this this theme as a character’s thought.
The book’s description that I read stated “…quirky characters,…witty…delightful…cozy mystery,…” with a Christian moral base. I found the story to be very heavily based upon the primary character’s desire to become a missionary. This to the point it distracted completely from the fact that the storyline was to be a mystery. “Quirky” characters brings to my mind, odd yet fun people. They were mean & criminal, or superior and wavering on abusive. “Witty & delightful” requires intelligent twists within moments of lightheartedness/comedy. The story was too town trodden for that.
Perhaps I was raised in a different view of Christianity. I also worked part-time when I was in school; however, my parents would never have left me in the style this character’s nearly abandoned her. Disagreeing on choices is one thing. Not having a clue about the living conditions and the working hardships your young adult is experiencing is another.
The book’s description that I read stated “…quirky characters,…witty…delightful…cozy mystery,…” with a Christian moral base. I found the story to be very heavily based upon the primary character’s desire to become a missionary. This to the point it distracted completely from the fact that the storyline was to be a mystery. “Quirky” characters brings to my mind, odd yet fun people. They were mean & criminal, or superior and wavering on abusive. “Witty & delightful” requires intelligent twists within moments of lightheartedness/comedy. The story was too town trodden for that.
Perhaps I was raised in a different view of Christianity. I also worked part-time when I was in school; however, my parents would never have left me in the style this character’s nearly abandoned her. Disagreeing on choices is one thing. Not having a clue about the living conditions and the working hardships your young adult is experiencing is another.
March 10, 2023
I unearthed this cracker on my Kindle, having downloaded it in January 2014! Life gets in the way sometimes and this should definitely have been read much sooner. I like the occasional cosy mystery as well as the gritty ones and this ranks up with some of my fave cosy series. Even if you are not interested in religion or Christianity, this is still an excellent story and the writing keeps you totally engrossed. Our protagonist, Jane, is completing religious instruction before hoping to go into long-term missionary work abroad. What she gets is a lesson in life and we get an interesting character to follow. And follow her, I will!
June 20, 2021
Good read
It started slow but sped up before I had a chance to set it aside for more life. The mystery is good but the character study is better. I often recognized myself -as I was when I was young -in the young girl trying to follow the Lord's leading and finding "self righteousness " getting in the way and tripping her on the path.
It started slow but sped up before I had a chance to set it aside for more life. The mystery is good but the character study is better. I often recognized myself -as I was when I was young -in the young girl trying to follow the Lord's leading and finding "self righteousness " getting in the way and tripping her on the path.
July 21, 2018
Good book. The main character is endearing and makes u want all the woes of life to play out her way and to find love along the way. An easy read but the ending left a little to be desired and seemed anti climatic for a murder mystery but all in all a good read.
March 2, 2013
I picked this book up this morning and didn't put it down again except to fix some breakfast until I'd read the whole thing. Jane was gorgeous in every way and I totally adored her from the first moment.
The mystery was great and I was left guessing until the big reveal at the end. I also felt every moment of Jane's confusion in what to do with her life. Trying to follow God's calling is never easy and combine that with crime solving and you've got quite a recipe for a headache.
Just like the other books I've read by this author, this keeps the lighthearted feel to it with the moments of humour and general awkwardness, while still feeling tense enough to keep you page turning.
On top of all that I really liked the snapshot of US living. For someone not from the UK instead I still felt like I could picture the book and what things were like from how everything was described. Sometimes I read books by US authors and they take for granted that the reader knows certain things that are actually locational. I didn't find that was the case with this book and it made it so much easier to get into it.
The mystery was great and I was left guessing until the big reveal at the end. I also felt every moment of Jane's confusion in what to do with her life. Trying to follow God's calling is never easy and combine that with crime solving and you've got quite a recipe for a headache.
Just like the other books I've read by this author, this keeps the lighthearted feel to it with the moments of humour and general awkwardness, while still feeling tense enough to keep you page turning.
On top of all that I really liked the snapshot of US living. For someone not from the UK instead I still felt like I could picture the book and what things were like from how everything was described. Sometimes I read books by US authors and they take for granted that the reader knows certain things that are actually locational. I didn't find that was the case with this book and it made it so much easier to get into it.
April 17, 2018
Good, clean writing
I picked this book up on a whim when it was free for Kindle. I'm not sorry I did. The book was longer than I anticipated, and didn't focus on the mystery as much as I expected. It was more an introduction to Jane and her busy life, which was still quite pleasant.
Jane is an interesting, mature character, often times feeling much older than her 20/21 years of age. Especially when contrasted with her college classmates.
The other surrounding characters didn't feel as fully fleshed out as Jane. I could never fully understand Jake, and his age, and Issac, who becomes the love interest, seemed kind of shady. He was a bit controlling. The romance overall was very lukewarm, so it seemed strange that Jane was making huge life decisions that included Issac.
This may all seem negative, but it was still a good book. Definitely the beginning of a series. I'm going to invest in book number two and see if the characters develop further, or if we get more mystery!
I picked this book up on a whim when it was free for Kindle. I'm not sorry I did. The book was longer than I anticipated, and didn't focus on the mystery as much as I expected. It was more an introduction to Jane and her busy life, which was still quite pleasant.
Jane is an interesting, mature character, often times feeling much older than her 20/21 years of age. Especially when contrasted with her college classmates.
The other surrounding characters didn't feel as fully fleshed out as Jane. I could never fully understand Jake, and his age, and Issac, who becomes the love interest, seemed kind of shady. He was a bit controlling. The romance overall was very lukewarm, so it seemed strange that Jane was making huge life decisions that included Issac.
This may all seem negative, but it was still a good book. Definitely the beginning of a series. I'm going to invest in book number two and see if the characters develop further, or if we get more mystery!
April 18, 2018
Ms. Hilton's book has so many threads (not unlike life).
Jane's goal is to be a long-term missionary but she resists all efforts to go out for a short term trips. Plus, she has just found out that her Bible School certificate is "worthless" even though her credits are transferable.
She has defied her parents to attend and feels convicted of the sin of pride and disobedience.
She's crushing on one of her teachers and acting on it violates her college's rules.
She cleans houses for a living and got permission to live off campus. Thus, she feels slightly alienated from her classmates. Then, her roommate doesn't pay the rent and Jane is suddenly homeless.
Can things get worse? Well, this is a murder mystery. She also discovers the bodies of a couple she works for. It appears that they simultaneously died of heart attacks. Jane thinks differently.
I think that this book would have been better had Ms. Hilton not hit poor Jane with so many problems. The romance and mystery alone would have sufficed.
Jane's goal is to be a long-term missionary but she resists all efforts to go out for a short term trips. Plus, she has just found out that her Bible School certificate is "worthless" even though her credits are transferable.
She has defied her parents to attend and feels convicted of the sin of pride and disobedience.
She's crushing on one of her teachers and acting on it violates her college's rules.
She cleans houses for a living and got permission to live off campus. Thus, she feels slightly alienated from her classmates. Then, her roommate doesn't pay the rent and Jane is suddenly homeless.
Can things get worse? Well, this is a murder mystery. She also discovers the bodies of a couple she works for. It appears that they simultaneously died of heart attacks. Jane thinks differently.
I think that this book would have been better had Ms. Hilton not hit poor Jane with so many problems. The romance and mystery alone would have sufficed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2014
Good, Clean Murder was a fun bit of chick lit. It was a fast read which allowed me to escape for a while.
I would probably read this author again when I have time to kill. It was very refreshing to read clean adult lit.
Jane is a young adult, very young. As for the mystery, I would say this is not a true whodunnit. There are victims. There are suspects. There are motives. But the story focuses on plain Jane, her future, and her love life.
There was a moment near the end when Jane comes to a conclusion / decision. It felt watery and forced. This was not a decision the character grew into, but one she succumbed to. In my opinion, the way the decision was handled weakened the character, the opposite of the author's intention, I think.
Sorry to say there were spelling errors. I hate to be petty, but that bugs me.
This book would make a good suitcase-stuffer for your next weekend getaway.
I would probably read this author again when I have time to kill. It was very refreshing to read clean adult lit.
Jane is a young adult, very young. As for the mystery, I would say this is not a true whodunnit. There are victims. There are suspects. There are motives. But the story focuses on plain Jane, her future, and her love life.
There was a moment near the end when Jane comes to a conclusion / decision. It felt watery and forced. This was not a decision the character grew into, but one she succumbed to. In my opinion, the way the decision was handled weakened the character, the opposite of the author's intention, I think.
Sorry to say there were spelling errors. I hate to be petty, but that bugs me.
This book would make a good suitcase-stuffer for your next weekend getaway.
January 28, 2016
Less then impressed...
While an easy, quick read, the story in depressing. The main character, Jane, is pathetic and a doormat, not a tool for god's will. She allows herself to be manipulated, and is wishy-washy at best. There is next to no character development and the conclusion is anti-climatic. Don't even get me started about the grammatical and editorial errors. I would not recommend wasting your time and will pass on the sequel.
While an easy, quick read, the story in depressing. The main character, Jane, is pathetic and a doormat, not a tool for god's will. She allows herself to be manipulated, and is wishy-washy at best. There is next to no character development and the conclusion is anti-climatic. Don't even get me started about the grammatical and editorial errors. I would not recommend wasting your time and will pass on the sequel.
April 16, 2014
I enjoyed this book. I didn't want to put it down. It was a quick, easy read. It definitely wasn't one of those mystery books that had you on the edge of your seat though. I found it to be more of a romance, with a little mystery thrown in. I would read it again. Looking forward to getting the next one in the series.
November 24, 2017
The author pushed way to hard to put in the religious point of view instead of letting it flow naturally. However, the worst part of this mystery was the lack of mystery. I kept waiting for the book to get better and it never did.
November 29, 2017
Enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. A lot of religion in it because Jane is into missionary school and prays a lot but had some nicely written anecdotes in it relating to her cleaning business and school commitments.
March 2, 2013
Great, cozy mystery. I really came to care about Jane, the main character. Traci did a great job of building the characters and the story. Great book for a weekend at home snuggled up on the couch.
August 27, 2013
Great story! This is my first book by this author, and I was pleasantly surprised. A Christian murder mystery, I had low expectations! The book really sucked me in, and I truly enjoyed it!
August 21, 2020
Convoluted tale
I had really mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to like the main character, Jane, but she seemed a to be at the same time both too pliable and too independent. She wants to be a missionary, but she seems to be going about it all wrong. She acts all prim and proper, yet she’s breaking the rules at her Bible school and breaks the law to get back her stuff after she’s evicted.
Jane is supposed to be smart, but she makes a lot of stupid, naive mistakes. And, while she’s right that her employer’s death was suspicious, her theories about who could’ve committed the crime and why are so weird and random. She really doesn’t have good instincts or a good judge of character when it comes to her amateur investigation of the deaths of the corporate heads of Portland’s most controversial burger chain. It’s amazing she makes it out alive and unmolested! So much happens in the course of almost two dozen chapters, yet it all takes place in a few weeks.
While I found no typos in this book, I really don’t feel it was that well written. The characters were very cliche and over the top. Most of the men were jerks, while the women were self-absorbed brats. There was very little difference between the Christians and non-Christians, either.
This is the second book I have read by this author, and I think it will be my last. When I read Christian fiction, I prefer to find more depth in both the characters and the plot. This novel was about as satisfying as a fast food burger and greasy French fries! No more for me, even though it’s cheap and convenient.
I had really mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to like the main character, Jane, but she seemed a to be at the same time both too pliable and too independent. She wants to be a missionary, but she seems to be going about it all wrong. She acts all prim and proper, yet she’s breaking the rules at her Bible school and breaks the law to get back her stuff after she’s evicted.
Jane is supposed to be smart, but she makes a lot of stupid, naive mistakes. And, while she’s right that her employer’s death was suspicious, her theories about who could’ve committed the crime and why are so weird and random. She really doesn’t have good instincts or a good judge of character when it comes to her amateur investigation of the deaths of the corporate heads of Portland’s most controversial burger chain. It’s amazing she makes it out alive and unmolested! So much happens in the course of almost two dozen chapters, yet it all takes place in a few weeks.
While I found no typos in this book, I really don’t feel it was that well written. The characters were very cliche and over the top. Most of the men were jerks, while the women were self-absorbed brats. There was very little difference between the Christians and non-Christians, either.
This is the second book I have read by this author, and I think it will be my last. When I read Christian fiction, I prefer to find more depth in both the characters and the plot. This novel was about as satisfying as a fast food burger and greasy French fries! No more for me, even though it’s cheap and convenient.
November 13, 2018
Good, Clean Murder was an interesting book. As someone who comes from a religious tradition quite foreign to the one incorporated in this novel, I was fascinated more by the (fictional) anthropological study it presented than the actual mystery. The idea of being so servile that you cut in to your own biological needs for sleep and consistent shelter and food, and yet so happy about it, boggles my mind.
On the one hand, this book is clean. You won't find a bad word said about anyone, nor crude language, or vulgar sexuality. That isn't to say you won't find misbehavior or sexual attraction, though, just people capable of executive function rather than rutting like animals. I quite liked that. I'm rather over the use of sexuality to disguise otherwise poor storytelling. The character development was top notch and the multifacets inherent in some of the characters (you'll see who I mean) was refreshing. I think this skill is one of Hilton's best.
That said, the murder mystery was missable. I would much have preferred it as litfic of Jane's life as is with the cleaning. I know there needs to be tension to make any story work, but the tension over the restaurant chain's new direction would have done handily. The problem with the murder mystery was that it seemed too tangential to the tale and there weren't enough clues breadcrumbed throughout the novel.
On the one hand, this book is clean. You won't find a bad word said about anyone, nor crude language, or vulgar sexuality. That isn't to say you won't find misbehavior or sexual attraction, though, just people capable of executive function rather than rutting like animals. I quite liked that. I'm rather over the use of sexuality to disguise otherwise poor storytelling. The character development was top notch and the multifacets inherent in some of the characters (you'll see who I mean) was refreshing. I think this skill is one of Hilton's best.
That said, the murder mystery was missable. I would much have preferred it as litfic of Jane's life as is with the cleaning. I know there needs to be tension to make any story work, but the tension over the restaurant chain's new direction would have done handily. The problem with the murder mystery was that it seemed too tangential to the tale and there weren't enough clues breadcrumbed throughout the novel.
May 22, 2019
Jane is a goody-goody, God-lovin’ Christian housecleaner. A nice and naïve girl, she thinks that God can make everything perfect. Oh, Puhleeze!
Going to college for a ministry certificate was definitely wasteful. Seriously, who does that? Who believes in God that much? As you may have guessed it, I don’t. But that’s okay. I don’t have to believe in God to enjoy a good story, which this fell short of.
Jane’s struggle to make ends meet and pay her tuition is relatable. She’s a good girl, albeit annoying, with a compassionate heart.
The plot was slow to the point and there was too much talk on the bible. When Jane got evicted, I wondered if that was God’s “plan.” But when a successful burger mogul and his wife are found dead, she deems it her fate to help the grieving family and moves into their mansion. It was a heart attack that killed them, right? But what Jane hears behind closed doors may speak otherwise. Jane meekly listens and, in her introverted and prudent manner, follows the clues. She was no detective; she’s just a silly girl. Plus, the mystery was complicated and boring.
Going to college for a ministry certificate was definitely wasteful. Seriously, who does that? Who believes in God that much? As you may have guessed it, I don’t. But that’s okay. I don’t have to believe in God to enjoy a good story, which this fell short of.
Jane’s struggle to make ends meet and pay her tuition is relatable. She’s a good girl, albeit annoying, with a compassionate heart.
The plot was slow to the point and there was too much talk on the bible. When Jane got evicted, I wondered if that was God’s “plan.” But when a successful burger mogul and his wife are found dead, she deems it her fate to help the grieving family and moves into their mansion. It was a heart attack that killed them, right? But what Jane hears behind closed doors may speak otherwise. Jane meekly listens and, in her introverted and prudent manner, follows the clues. She was no detective; she’s just a silly girl. Plus, the mystery was complicated and boring.
August 26, 2017
Well... I'm torn. This novel, for what I needed at present, was delightful. It was, indeed, an engaging mystery. It was the type that kept me thinking while reading, but didn't keep me awake at nights, with disturbing images. It was truly fun. It was certainly a cozy mystery. So.. what's the problem?
it is book 1 of 8 in the series. Yes, 8! When I got to the end, I thought that even though I was distressed that every single issue of importance was left unresolved, I wouldn't be offended in buying 1 or 2 more so I could finally find out whodunit. This was before I found out I would need to purchase 7 more to know final and complete resolution to all, AND that each book was going to be double in price to what I usually spend on ebooks.
Sadness and sorrow! O, woe is me! I am completely undone! (I certainly hope the reader could hear the sighs of resignation that I shall never know the ending of the saga... Poor, Poor me!)
it is book 1 of 8 in the series. Yes, 8! When I got to the end, I thought that even though I was distressed that every single issue of importance was left unresolved, I wouldn't be offended in buying 1 or 2 more so I could finally find out whodunit. This was before I found out I would need to purchase 7 more to know final and complete resolution to all, AND that each book was going to be double in price to what I usually spend on ebooks.
Sadness and sorrow! O, woe is me! I am completely undone! (I certainly hope the reader could hear the sighs of resignation that I shall never know the ending of the saga... Poor, Poor me!)
September 15, 2022
A "laundry mat" is a mat or piece of fabric used for a purpose in a laundry room. The place one goes to launder clothes is a laundry room or a laundromat. A good proofreader would have helped avoid this and the many punctuation errors.
I found the main character's motivation to be inconsistent, but that is perhaps because I have great difficulty putting myself in the shoes of someone who wants to go proselytize. Normally, I prefer to learn through context, but I had to go look up what a 10/40 mission might be. It may be my natural resistance to an evangelical message, but a character who has no time to do anything because she is working all the time, but then has time to do everything, doesn't seem realistic to me. And getting all the way to the last class in a curriculum before learning that curriculum isn't the right one for one's goals seems off.
So, the story was okay - I certainly wouldn't recommend *against* it - but it didn't do anything for me.
I found the main character's motivation to be inconsistent, but that is perhaps because I have great difficulty putting myself in the shoes of someone who wants to go proselytize. Normally, I prefer to learn through context, but I had to go look up what a 10/40 mission might be. It may be my natural resistance to an evangelical message, but a character who has no time to do anything because she is working all the time, but then has time to do everything, doesn't seem realistic to me. And getting all the way to the last class in a curriculum before learning that curriculum isn't the right one for one's goals seems off.
So, the story was okay - I certainly wouldn't recommend *against* it - but it didn't do anything for me.
October 1, 2018
*meh* This is my 2nd book by Traci Hilton. I listened to the first Mitzy Neuhaus book, and didn't love that one, but I already had this one, so I figured I'd give it a try. I liked the Mitzy Neuhaus book better...
I like Christian fiction. I like that it's clean and this one was that. It did have that going for it. However, this one was far more of Jane going to Bible school; Jane cleaning; Jane asking a litany of questions and not being able to make up her mind about ANYTHING than it was mystery. There just wasn't enough about the murder to justify the title.
I didn't find Jane particularly likeable. She was an insipid doormat and only seemed to think someone could be the killer if he annoyed her. When it came to the romance part, she acted more like a 15 year old than a 20 year old.
It was just not my cup of tea. I'm thinking I'm done with Traci Hilton.
I like Christian fiction. I like that it's clean and this one was that. It did have that going for it. However, this one was far more of Jane going to Bible school; Jane cleaning; Jane asking a litany of questions and not being able to make up her mind about ANYTHING than it was mystery. There just wasn't enough about the murder to justify the title.
I didn't find Jane particularly likeable. She was an insipid doormat and only seemed to think someone could be the killer if he annoyed her. When it came to the romance part, she acted more like a 15 year old than a 20 year old.
It was just not my cup of tea. I'm thinking I'm done with Traci Hilton.
March 31, 2019
Good storyline but ................
Good storyline but frankly the bible pushing was a bit much. I believe in God and living the right way but I don't believe in pushing it down people's throats. Beliefs are personal issues - they are between you and whatever you believe in.
The characters really just seemed either too jaded or too innocent. There seemed to be nothing in between.
The storyline however was great. A dead couple found by their cleaner who stays on to clean even though she hasn't been paid (Really?!). She needs the money for school, food and rent - and she doesn't ask for it? Her flatmate hasn't paid the rent so the two girls get evicted which she is blamed for. Watch as she tries to find out how the couple died. Will she
Good storyline but frankly the bible pushing was a bit much. I believe in God and living the right way but I don't believe in pushing it down people's throats. Beliefs are personal issues - they are between you and whatever you believe in.
The characters really just seemed either too jaded or too innocent. There seemed to be nothing in between.
The storyline however was great. A dead couple found by their cleaner who stays on to clean even though she hasn't been paid (Really?!). She needs the money for school, food and rent - and she doesn't ask for it? Her flatmate hasn't paid the rent so the two girls get evicted which she is blamed for. Watch as she tries to find out how the couple died. Will she
August 30, 2023
The book synopsis sounded so cute and good. The book itself - boring & definitely not believable. Jane's a Christian school student who cleans houses to support herself. When she goes to strip the bed of her highest paying client, she discovers the husband is deceased & calls the police. When the police arrive, they find his wife also dead. The coroner rules heart attack as COD but, oh, for Jane, Jane knows immediately it was murder instead. Even more unbelievable, every person she lays eyes on, she sees them as the potential murderer, (excluding her classmates & the teacher she's interested in romantically. I won't be wasting any more time or money on any more Tracy Tyne Hilton books, which says a LOT as this book was free!
May 17, 2017
I hadn't heard of this author or series before. It showed up on a recommendation list at amazon, so I decided to give it a try.
It is a first book in a series, so there is a little of the early awkwardness. I liked the main character though, and enjoyed understanding her thinking. I liked that the relationship wasn't over-the-top swoony. I felt that the mystery and conflicts left a little to be desired. I would like to have had a little more resolution on some of the clues and rationale.
Overall, I would recommend it, and will probably read the next in the series.
There is a christian missionary theme, with some terms that I did not know.
It is a first book in a series, so there is a little of the early awkwardness. I liked the main character though, and enjoyed understanding her thinking. I liked that the relationship wasn't over-the-top swoony. I felt that the mystery and conflicts left a little to be desired. I would like to have had a little more resolution on some of the clues and rationale.
Overall, I would recommend it, and will probably read the next in the series.
There is a christian missionary theme, with some terms that I did not know.
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