The Last Housewife

Suburban Detective #3

by Jon Katz

Defending a stay-at-home mother of three who is accused of murdering a feminist school principal, Kit Deleeuw finds the community, his wife, and the chief of police in an uproar about his participation in what becomes a controversial case

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

296 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Jon Katz is an author, photographer, and children's book writer. He lives on Bedlam Farm with his wife, the artist Maria Wulf, his four dogs, Rose, Izzy, Lenore and Frieda, two donkeys, Lulu and Fanny, and two barn cats. His next book, "Rose In A Storm" will be published by Random House on October 5.
He is working on a collection of short stories and a book on animal grieving.

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars because the plot was pretty good. But the main character was completely unlikeable, preachy, and opinionated. There was so much extraneous social commentary, descriptions of malls, and negative stereotyping of men. Which was kind of ironic since the male author seemed to be trying extra hard to appear supportive of women. Stripped of all the extra crap, it could have been a good book. But I’ll never read anything else from this author.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my to-be-read shelf for, literally, decades. It's an advance copy that I got when I was working at Murder Ink and never got to back then. I wish I had -- the book has a down-to-earth quality that's missing from a lot of mysteries. And, unlike most series set in suburbia, Katz's Suburban Detective books star a male protagonist.

Kit Deleeuw is still getting his balance in a new career after being blackballed on Wall Street because he refused to testify against co-workers involved in insider trading. Unemployed and with no prospects in his prior career, Deleeuw reaches back to his time as a criminal investigator in the Army and begins a new career as a private investigator. By the time the events in this book -- the third in the series -- occur, Kit's developed some relationships with local law enforcement and a reputation as "The Suburban Detective."

I enjoyed this book on several levels. First, I enjoyed Kit's self-effacing manner, recognizing that he's nothing like the PI in a detective novel. I love that he's the parent-on-call for his kids since his wife is now going back to school and working full time; reading about a man who fits his career around his kids is a refreshing change. And I love Katz's depiction of suburbia. I haven't lived in NJ in almost a decade but his descriptions bring me right back there.

The plot is interesting as well, and the issues raised in it are still very real today. I'm going to head over to my library's website right now to hunt down his 2 prior books and the 2 that followed. Sadly Katz stopped writing about The Suburban Detective in 1998, but he's been busy writing other things since. I'm glad for that.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read Jon Katz previously, and I think I've read this book before too, but didn't remember all the details. I find Katz an engaging author, covering a wide range of thinking. In this, one of The Suburban Detective Mystery Series, he's a private investigator having been offed on Wall Street for tangled reasons, and a Mr Mom too. With a 1995 copyright, cell phones are rare, and it's a window to the recent past in suburban New Jersey, where it is not quite the tranquil ideal place we'd hoped for!
I enjoyed it!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

good mystery - with some family values thrown in.

[Georgene · Rating 3 out of 5]

While a detective/mystery novel, "The Last Housewife", deals with sexual harassment in a upper class middle school. Oh, how I WISH I had read this book when my daughters were in middle school and dealing with this issue! It got so bad and the school "authorities" were so unconcerned that I eventually put both daughters into private schools. I should have SUED the school district. The BASTARDS! Not that I'm "angry" or anything....

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LAST HOUSEWIFE - Ex
Katz, Jon - 3rd in series

He keeps the refrigerator stocked. He carpools the kids. He's Kit Deleeuw--suburban detective. In this third of the series, Jon Katz continues to reveal the depth of intrigue and behind closed-doors passion in the seemingly placid neighborhoods of suburbia.

This is a great series. Unique, interesting characters, well-written.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read although not a sit-on-the-edge of the seat read. I found I didn't like all the references made to the previous cases (books). It was not done in a seamless way where it just becomes part of the story and at times felt like an advertisement.

[Holly Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first mystery I believe I have read in my adult life - I loved it. This guy makes sure he appeals to everyone. I started reading it & couldn't put it down.

[Karen Fiandaca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit outdated but interesting ideas about working moms vs. stay at home, and good for moms with teenage children - and teachers

[Will Zeilinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff - you have to read it!

[Lester · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read.