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Clean Sweep Cozy Mystery #16
Whispers After Dark
Jane Barrow thought she'd left the mysteries behind. She was wrong.
Between planning her wedding to Mike, running her cleaning business, and keeping up with her two kids, Jane has her hands full. The last thing she needs is another cold case pulling her back into the shadows of Alma's forgotten past. But when a stranger named Hazel calls late one night, desperate for answers about her brother who vanished forty years ago, Jane can't turn away.
The trail leads back to the Wheeler house—the same eerie Victorian where Jane discovered disturbing Polaroids of missing children hidden behind the walls. Now, new evidence a box of forgotten toys in the basement, a well-worn Bible belonging to the mysterious Pearl Wheeler, and mounting questions about what really happened during that terrible summer of 1978.
Multiple children disappeared without a trace. The town moved on. But someone remembers.
As Jane digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets the town of Alma has kept buried for decades. Pearl Wheeler, the reclusive woman who once lived in that house, may hold the key—but she's long gone, and those who knew her refuse to talk. Library workers dodge her questions. Former residents hang up the phone. And the few who will speak only do so in whispers, as if afraid the past might hear them.
With the help of contractor Brent and her own relentless curiosity, Jane pieces together fragments of a disturbing vanished children, hushed-up scandals, and a community that chose silence over truth. But the closer she gets to the answers, the more she realizes that some people will do anything to keep the past buried.
Because what if those children were never really lost?
What if they were taken?
And what if someone in town knew all along?
As Jane races to uncover the truth before Hazel leaves town—possibly forever—she must balance her investigation with the life she's building. Wedding preparations. Kids' school activities. A future with Mike. But Jane has never been good at leaving mysteries unsolved, even when solving them means confronting the darkest corners of her small town's history.
Between planning her wedding to Mike, running her cleaning business, and keeping up with her two kids, Jane has her hands full. The last thing she needs is another cold case pulling her back into the shadows of Alma's forgotten past. But when a stranger named Hazel calls late one night, desperate for answers about her brother who vanished forty years ago, Jane can't turn away.
The trail leads back to the Wheeler house—the same eerie Victorian where Jane discovered disturbing Polaroids of missing children hidden behind the walls. Now, new evidence a box of forgotten toys in the basement, a well-worn Bible belonging to the mysterious Pearl Wheeler, and mounting questions about what really happened during that terrible summer of 1978.
Multiple children disappeared without a trace. The town moved on. But someone remembers.
As Jane digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets the town of Alma has kept buried for decades. Pearl Wheeler, the reclusive woman who once lived in that house, may hold the key—but she's long gone, and those who knew her refuse to talk. Library workers dodge her questions. Former residents hang up the phone. And the few who will speak only do so in whispers, as if afraid the past might hear them.
With the help of contractor Brent and her own relentless curiosity, Jane pieces together fragments of a disturbing vanished children, hushed-up scandals, and a community that chose silence over truth. But the closer she gets to the answers, the more she realizes that some people will do anything to keep the past buried.
Because what if those children were never really lost?
What if they were taken?
And what if someone in town knew all along?
As Jane races to uncover the truth before Hazel leaves town—possibly forever—she must balance her investigation with the life she's building. Wedding preparations. Kids' school activities. A future with Mike. But Jane has never been good at leaving mysteries unsolved, even when solving them means confronting the darkest corners of her small town's history.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2026
27 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 24, 2026
Enjoyable And Entertaining!
Jane is knee-deep in bridal magazines, happily planning her wedding to the man of her dreams. Life is good; her business is thriving, and the children are happy and settled. But then more questions and uneasy qualms about the missing children surface. Jane can't help but become involved. Searching for answers and refusing to give up, she slowly starts to piece together a very disturbing pattern. I enjoyed this wrap-up of a story that started a few books back when cleaning an old house for the new owners led to a startling discovery. Revelations, tears, and truth finally coming to light after 40 years of secrets. And a very happy ending. I'm not sure if this is the last book in the series, but Mrs. Harman has a new book coming soon that sounds like the beginning of another great series. Highly recommend any book written by this very talented author. You won't be disappointed!
Jane is knee-deep in bridal magazines, happily planning her wedding to the man of her dreams. Life is good; her business is thriving, and the children are happy and settled. But then more questions and uneasy qualms about the missing children surface. Jane can't help but become involved. Searching for answers and refusing to give up, she slowly starts to piece together a very disturbing pattern. I enjoyed this wrap-up of a story that started a few books back when cleaning an old house for the new owners led to a startling discovery. Revelations, tears, and truth finally coming to light after 40 years of secrets. And a very happy ending. I'm not sure if this is the last book in the series, but Mrs. Harman has a new book coming soon that sounds like the beginning of another great series. Highly recommend any book written by this very talented author. You won't be disappointed!
January 18, 2026
Good book
I love Clean Sweep Cozy Mystery series. They are a fun, easy read. Jane, the main character has a cleaning business, but always seems to get wrapped up in a mystery. Jane has a knack for solving these mysterious problems while taking care of her children, Tyson and Libby and planning her wedding to Mike Calloway the sexy highway patrolman. This book was a continuation of the mystery of the children that were disappearing in the 60's from Jane's hometown. Jane has finally figured out how and why the children were disappearing and the next book will be about identifying them. If you like cozy mysteries, you will enjoy this series,
I love Clean Sweep Cozy Mystery series. They are a fun, easy read. Jane, the main character has a cleaning business, but always seems to get wrapped up in a mystery. Jane has a knack for solving these mysterious problems while taking care of her children, Tyson and Libby and planning her wedding to Mike Calloway the sexy highway patrolman. This book was a continuation of the mystery of the children that were disappearing in the 60's from Jane's hometown. Jane has finally figured out how and why the children were disappearing and the next book will be about identifying them. If you like cozy mysteries, you will enjoy this series,
January 17, 2026
I would give this book a strong 6 star rating.
I always put the release dates of your books on my calendar. It’s like a Christmas gift when the date arrives. I love this series about Jane and her family. This story held my attention. I am probably one of the first to write a review for these creative and stories. It’s been a long time since a new book about the traveling chef Rosetti has been released. Get on it Dianne. Haha
Robert Ericksen
I always put the release dates of your books on my calendar. It’s like a Christmas gift when the date arrives. I love this series about Jane and her family. This story held my attention. I am probably one of the first to write a review for these creative and stories. It’s been a long time since a new book about the traveling chef Rosetti has been released. Get on it Dianne. Haha
Robert Ericksen
January 20, 2026
Whisper
Jane always seems to get involved in the strangest of situations. This book didn’t disappoint. It is filled with family life’s in a small town setting that is full of whispers after dark. The mysterious disappearance of several children many years prior unfolds in the walls of an old house. Truly intriguing.
Jane always seems to get involved in the strangest of situations. This book didn’t disappoint. It is filled with family life’s in a small town setting that is full of whispers after dark. The mysterious disappearance of several children many years prior unfolds in the walls of an old house. Truly intriguing.
February 2, 2026
Well done!
This book was so riveting that I didn't want to put it down! I have to admit this is the first book of this series I have read, and now I want to start at the beginning to see what I have missed! Equally I want to rush to the next book to continue, seeing what my new friends are up to next.
This book was so riveting that I didn't want to put it down! I have to admit this is the first book of this series I have read, and now I want to start at the beginning to see what I have missed! Equally I want to rush to the next book to continue, seeing what my new friends are up to next.
January 22, 2026
Amazing Story!
The twists and turns this story has taken over the last couple of books are nothing compared to this final reveal of the truth behind the disappearing children. Jane life and business are expanding. Life is good!
The twists and turns this story has taken over the last couple of books are nothing compared to this final reveal of the truth behind the disappearing children. Jane life and business are expanding. Life is good!
January 20, 2026
So good
I love this series. I hope this wasn’t the last one. I want to learn about Jane ‘s life with Mike and the kids. There are so many more adventures for Jane.
I love this series. I hope this wasn’t the last one. I want to learn about Jane ‘s life with Mike and the kids. There are so many more adventures for Jane.
January 23, 2026
Love it
Love this series and if it's done I will be sad but happy with the the way you ended it. Of course I will still be happy to read more of Jane's adventures if you choose.
Love this series and if it's done I will be sad but happy with the the way you ended it. Of course I will still be happy to read more of Jane's adventures if you choose.
January 26, 2026
These stories are an excellent read, best read in sequence as you get to know and enjoy the characters and plot development much more that way
March 18, 2026
clean sweep cozy mysteries
Great books , I read them all and loved every one of them just finished book 18, I hope that’s not the end.
Great books , I read them all and loved every one of them just finished book 18, I hope that’s not the end.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews