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Blanche: All Four Novels
All four ground-breaking Blanche White novels by Mystery Writers of America grandmaster Barbara Neely, Winner of the Agatha and Macavity Awards.... in one volume.“One is tempted to describe Blanche White as a combination of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins…but it would be a crime to suggest she is anything less than a truly original creation,” Los Angeles Times
BLANCHE ON THE LAMBlanche White is a plump, feisty, middle-aged African-American housekeeper working for the genteel rich in North Carolina. But when an employer stiffs her, and her checks bounce, she goes on the lam, hiding out as a maid for a wealthy family at their summer home. That plan goes awry when there’s a murder and Blanche becomes the prime suspect. So she’s forced to use her savvy, her sharp wit, and her old-girl network of domestic workers to discover the truth.
“Blanche not only solves the crime, but exhibits familiar foibles and strengths, believes in kitchen-table wisdom, and possesses a wicked sense of humor,” Ms. Magazine
"Endlessly entertaining," Publishers Weekly
BLANCHE AMONG THE TALENTED TENTHWhen Blanche White moved north to Boston, she believed it would be a better place to raise her kids, especially after she got them into an elite private school. But now her children are becoming elitist and judgmental, acquiring more attitude than education. So when she and her kids are invited to Amber Cove, an exclusive resort in Maine for wealthy blacks, Blanche jumps at the chance to see how the other half lives and maybe stop her kids turning into people she doesn’t want to know. When one of the guests kills himself, and another is electrocuted in her bathtub, Blanche becomes an accidental detective once again.
“The uproarious Blanche White, the southern housekeeper who knows her own mind, opened doors to the nuances of black life for readers and writers alike. Barbara Neely is a trailblazer,” Naomi Hirahara
BLANCHE CLEANS UPBlanche White is working as a temporary cook and housekeeper for a right-wing, Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Alistair Brindle when someone tries to blackmail him. It’s an ugly mess that Brindle’s political team is eager to sweep under the carpet and that Blanche can’t resist cleaning up herself…especially after a young black man is killed who knew too much about Brindle’s dirty laundry. Her investigation raises dark secrets involving sex, environmental contamination, and political corruption, difficult stains on the white, conservative Brindle family that someone is trying to remove with murder.
“It’s a case that plays beautifully to the strengths Blanche showed in her first two poking around, getting underfoot, and displaying maximum attitude as she solves the tiny mystery en route to sticking it to the Man. The title says it all,” Kirkus Reviews
BLANCHE PASSES GOBlanche White returns to Farleigh, North Carolina for the summer to help her best friend with her catering business. It’s a homecoming rich with the potential for new romance and fraught with the pain of facing the man who raped her at knife-point years ago but was never prosecuted for the crime. Shortly after Blanche arrives, a young woman is murdered and the clues point to the rapist. Blanche investigates, determined not to let him get away with another crime… nor is she willing to let his money-hungry sister marry a sweet, mentally-challenged man for his wealth.
BLANCHE ON THE LAMBlanche White is a plump, feisty, middle-aged African-American housekeeper working for the genteel rich in North Carolina. But when an employer stiffs her, and her checks bounce, she goes on the lam, hiding out as a maid for a wealthy family at their summer home. That plan goes awry when there’s a murder and Blanche becomes the prime suspect. So she’s forced to use her savvy, her sharp wit, and her old-girl network of domestic workers to discover the truth.
“Blanche not only solves the crime, but exhibits familiar foibles and strengths, believes in kitchen-table wisdom, and possesses a wicked sense of humor,” Ms. Magazine
"Endlessly entertaining," Publishers Weekly
BLANCHE AMONG THE TALENTED TENTHWhen Blanche White moved north to Boston, she believed it would be a better place to raise her kids, especially after she got them into an elite private school. But now her children are becoming elitist and judgmental, acquiring more attitude than education. So when she and her kids are invited to Amber Cove, an exclusive resort in Maine for wealthy blacks, Blanche jumps at the chance to see how the other half lives and maybe stop her kids turning into people she doesn’t want to know. When one of the guests kills himself, and another is electrocuted in her bathtub, Blanche becomes an accidental detective once again.
“The uproarious Blanche White, the southern housekeeper who knows her own mind, opened doors to the nuances of black life for readers and writers alike. Barbara Neely is a trailblazer,” Naomi Hirahara
BLANCHE CLEANS UPBlanche White is working as a temporary cook and housekeeper for a right-wing, Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Alistair Brindle when someone tries to blackmail him. It’s an ugly mess that Brindle’s political team is eager to sweep under the carpet and that Blanche can’t resist cleaning up herself…especially after a young black man is killed who knew too much about Brindle’s dirty laundry. Her investigation raises dark secrets involving sex, environmental contamination, and political corruption, difficult stains on the white, conservative Brindle family that someone is trying to remove with murder.
“It’s a case that plays beautifully to the strengths Blanche showed in her first two poking around, getting underfoot, and displaying maximum attitude as she solves the tiny mystery en route to sticking it to the Man. The title says it all,” Kirkus Reviews
BLANCHE PASSES GOBlanche White returns to Farleigh, North Carolina for the summer to help her best friend with her catering business. It’s a homecoming rich with the potential for new romance and fraught with the pain of facing the man who raped her at knife-point years ago but was never prosecuted for the crime. Shortly after Blanche arrives, a young woman is murdered and the clues point to the rapist. Blanche investigates, determined not to let him get away with another crime… nor is she willing to let his money-hungry sister marry a sweet, mentally-challenged man for his wealth.
770 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2020
197 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Neely
9 books294 followersBarbara Neely was a novelist, short story writer, and author of the popular Blanche White mystery novels. The first book in this series, BLANCHE ON THE LAM, won the Agatha, the Macavity, and the Anthony -- three of the four major mystery awards for best first novel -- as well as the Go On Girl! Book Club award for a debut novel. The subsequent books in the series, BLANCHE AMONG THE TALENTED TENTH, BLANCHE CLEANS UP and BLANCHE PASSES GO have also received critical acclaim from both fans and literary critics. Books in the Blanche White series have been taught in courses at universities as varied as Howard University, Northwestern, Bryn Mawr, Old Dominion, Boston College, Appalachian State University, Washington State University and Guttenberg University in Mainz, Germany. Books in the series have been translated into French, German and Japanese.
Neely’s short stories have appeared in anthologies, magazines, university texts, and journals including: Things that divide us, Speaking for Ourselves, Constellations, Literature: Reading and Writing the Human Experience, Breaking Ice, Essence, and Obsidian II.
Ms. Neely has also had an extensive public sector career. She designed and directed the first community-based corrections facility for women in Pennsylvania, directed a branch of the YWCA, and headed a consultant firm for non-profits. She was part of an evaluative research team at the Institute for Social Research, the Executive Director of Women for Economic Justice, and a radio producer for Africa News Service. For her activism Neely has received the Community Works Social Action Award for Leadership and Activism for Women's Rights and Economic Justice, and the Fighting for Women's Voices Award from the Coalition for Basic Human Needs.
Series:
* Blanche White
Neely’s short stories have appeared in anthologies, magazines, university texts, and journals including: Things that divide us, Speaking for Ourselves, Constellations, Literature: Reading and Writing the Human Experience, Breaking Ice, Essence, and Obsidian II.
Ms. Neely has also had an extensive public sector career. She designed and directed the first community-based corrections facility for women in Pennsylvania, directed a branch of the YWCA, and headed a consultant firm for non-profits. She was part of an evaluative research team at the Institute for Social Research, the Executive Director of Women for Economic Justice, and a radio producer for Africa News Service. For her activism Neely has received the Community Works Social Action Award for Leadership and Activism for Women's Rights and Economic Justice, and the Fighting for Women's Voices Award from the Coalition for Basic Human Needs.
Series:
* Blanche White
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 19, 2021
All four Blanche White novels are gems, and together in this collection are a price steal as well. Long may Barbara Neely live in our memories, because sadly she isn’t around to write any more of these books.
Keeping with the tone and style of the first Blanche novel, all four are equal parts cozy mystery and social commentary.
Book one, Blanche on the Lam, finds our protagonist at a temp placement in her small North Carolina hometown. She’s everything but the gardener at a wealthy, white family’s summer house. A new will has people close to the family dying in “accidents,” an elderly Auntie ready to run, and Blanche fearing for her life. Notable for its intellectually disabled character, Mumsfield, this book’s social commentary covers men/relationships, how the intellectually disabled are perceived/treated, undue deference by blacks to whites (Darkie’s Disease), color bias in the criminal justice system, and more.
Book two, Blanche Among the Talented Tenth, puts Blanche and her sister’s children (who she’s raising) on vacation at an exclusive, all-black resort in Maine. The accidental (?) death of the resort’s gossip monger is followed by the suicide of another member and the gyrations of cover up. Blanche is drawn into layers of expectations, secret-keeping, and domestic tragedies among a high-dollar set so interwoven over generations as to be almost incestuous. Book two’s social commentary covers biases about skin color/race markers which pervade even the black community (color struckness), biases against those in service (customer or domestic), owning your place in the world, and how easily attitudes rub off on children.
Book three, Blanche Cleans Up, finds Blanche living in Boston and working another temp job for white folks – a man with political ambitions and his wife, who seems to have other plans, including locating their incommunicado adult son. The hired help range from almost family through wary to hired for shock value. When one (or more) incriminating items are taken from the house, Blanche gets the blame. The politician’s choice of fixer is an oily, black Reverend and his pair of bodyguard thugs. To get them off her tail and protect the kids she’s raising and a niece who’s visiting, Blanche has to figure out what’s missing and find it before anyone else does. This book is notable for featuring multiple LGBTQ+ characters and exquisitely – if briefly – drawn sex workers. Social commentary in this book runs the gamut from trophy wives through sexual kink to outright abuse, abortions (including Blanche’s own), and bias against young black men in America. It also covers the perils of being black and gay, black and fighting environmental injustice, and a black ex-con.
Book four, Blanche Passes Go, takes place ten years after the start of the series. Blanche is menopausal and test driving a catering partnership in her hometown. She encounters middle-aged versions of childhood friends and former lovers, her partner’s naked business ambitions, and a white former employer who raped her (David Palmer). Mumsfield is back also, and engaged to David’s sister. When Mumsfield’s family lawyer offers Blanche money to dig up dirt on the Palmers, Blanche jumps in with both feet. She gets answers and some measure of justice, but the book overall is bittersweet. Blanche is forced to drastically rethink a friendship, her perception of her mother, and her views of marriage (even as she finds a new beau). Book four’s social commentary covers sexual assault, domestic violence, the New South, and more.
Woven through all four books are Blanche’s takes on religion, extended and found family, and single motherhood with an eye toward making a life after kids, even while struggling to have a life with kids.
Are the novels perfect? No. Book two has more characters than the reader can easily keep track of, even with good tagging. The white male characters and the Rev in book three are drawn without redeeming qualities, making them barely two-dimensional. And book four is the flip side of YA, with the now-teen children Blanche agonized about in previous books shuffled off stage to remote summer jobs even before page 1.
These books were written before COVID, before President Obama, even before 9/11. In that span, everything has changed and yet nothing has changed. At one point, Blanche observes that forty years is the blink of an eye in race time. Read this collection and appreciate how (unfortunately) very true that is.
Keeping with the tone and style of the first Blanche novel, all four are equal parts cozy mystery and social commentary.
Book one, Blanche on the Lam, finds our protagonist at a temp placement in her small North Carolina hometown. She’s everything but the gardener at a wealthy, white family’s summer house. A new will has people close to the family dying in “accidents,” an elderly Auntie ready to run, and Blanche fearing for her life. Notable for its intellectually disabled character, Mumsfield, this book’s social commentary covers men/relationships, how the intellectually disabled are perceived/treated, undue deference by blacks to whites (Darkie’s Disease), color bias in the criminal justice system, and more.
Book two, Blanche Among the Talented Tenth, puts Blanche and her sister’s children (who she’s raising) on vacation at an exclusive, all-black resort in Maine. The accidental (?) death of the resort’s gossip monger is followed by the suicide of another member and the gyrations of cover up. Blanche is drawn into layers of expectations, secret-keeping, and domestic tragedies among a high-dollar set so interwoven over generations as to be almost incestuous. Book two’s social commentary covers biases about skin color/race markers which pervade even the black community (color struckness), biases against those in service (customer or domestic), owning your place in the world, and how easily attitudes rub off on children.
Book three, Blanche Cleans Up, finds Blanche living in Boston and working another temp job for white folks – a man with political ambitions and his wife, who seems to have other plans, including locating their incommunicado adult son. The hired help range from almost family through wary to hired for shock value. When one (or more) incriminating items are taken from the house, Blanche gets the blame. The politician’s choice of fixer is an oily, black Reverend and his pair of bodyguard thugs. To get them off her tail and protect the kids she’s raising and a niece who’s visiting, Blanche has to figure out what’s missing and find it before anyone else does. This book is notable for featuring multiple LGBTQ+ characters and exquisitely – if briefly – drawn sex workers. Social commentary in this book runs the gamut from trophy wives through sexual kink to outright abuse, abortions (including Blanche’s own), and bias against young black men in America. It also covers the perils of being black and gay, black and fighting environmental injustice, and a black ex-con.
Book four, Blanche Passes Go, takes place ten years after the start of the series. Blanche is menopausal and test driving a catering partnership in her hometown. She encounters middle-aged versions of childhood friends and former lovers, her partner’s naked business ambitions, and a white former employer who raped her (David Palmer). Mumsfield is back also, and engaged to David’s sister. When Mumsfield’s family lawyer offers Blanche money to dig up dirt on the Palmers, Blanche jumps in with both feet. She gets answers and some measure of justice, but the book overall is bittersweet. Blanche is forced to drastically rethink a friendship, her perception of her mother, and her views of marriage (even as she finds a new beau). Book four’s social commentary covers sexual assault, domestic violence, the New South, and more.
Woven through all four books are Blanche’s takes on religion, extended and found family, and single motherhood with an eye toward making a life after kids, even while struggling to have a life with kids.
Are the novels perfect? No. Book two has more characters than the reader can easily keep track of, even with good tagging. The white male characters and the Rev in book three are drawn without redeeming qualities, making them barely two-dimensional. And book four is the flip side of YA, with the now-teen children Blanche agonized about in previous books shuffled off stage to remote summer jobs even before page 1.
These books were written before COVID, before President Obama, even before 9/11. In that span, everything has changed and yet nothing has changed. At one point, Blanche observes that forty years is the blink of an eye in race time. Read this collection and appreciate how (unfortunately) very true that is.
November 16, 2022
Fun mysteries told with a great voice and smart social commentary. barbaraneely, as she often wrote her name, influenced a generation of writers of color, but her Blanche White novels are for all of us. I wish there had been more and treasure those we have.
June 18, 2021
Blanche
Lots of suspense. The characters are very true to life. The stories weave an intricate web of the mysteries and bonds of the service worker. But more importantly how those situations affect Blanche's family and friendships.
Lots of suspense. The characters are very true to life. The stories weave an intricate web of the mysteries and bonds of the service worker. But more importantly how those situations affect Blanche's family and friendships.
August 1, 2021
Blanche!
Blanche, Blanche,Blanche. That’s all I can say Blanche White , self employed domestic worker/cook ,turned unintentional Detective
Was truly mind blowing. I enjoyed all of the stories in the series of four. Because each one was unique in the sense that even those Blanche,her Niece and nephew, mama Claira , and her best friend Arielle were reoccurring characters . Each plot could stand independently from the other However starting from the first story and reading the stories in order helped you to understand
Many of Blanche’s inward struggles.
Each story is well written and could be considered by some extremely wordy. I gave it four stars mainly because the last book in the series left me with some questions that will never be answered
Blanche, Blanche,Blanche. That’s all I can say Blanche White , self employed domestic worker/cook ,turned unintentional Detective
Was truly mind blowing. I enjoyed all of the stories in the series of four. Because each one was unique in the sense that even those Blanche,her Niece and nephew, mama Claira , and her best friend Arielle were reoccurring characters . Each plot could stand independently from the other However starting from the first story and reading the stories in order helped you to understand
Many of Blanche’s inward struggles.
Each story is well written and could be considered by some extremely wordy. I gave it four stars mainly because the last book in the series left me with some questions that will never be answered
September 10, 2021
Blanche is smart, savvy, and gutsy—the kind of character I love to read about. In the course of these four books she uses her smarts and her cooking skills (she makes it sound so easy) to learn about the people around her and to notice things that others have overlooked. I don’t always enjoy stories about amateur detectives, but Blanche is an exception. The books should be read in order.
October 23, 2021
Blanche: All Four Novels
I want More, More, More; of Blanche; she is truly one of my heroin's and one of the best characters I have read in a long time. Bravo, Barbara Neely, you nailed this book; hilarious, witty and breathtaking all in one. Please give us more of Blanche and thank you.
I want More, More, More; of Blanche; she is truly one of my heroin's and one of the best characters I have read in a long time. Bravo, Barbara Neely, you nailed this book; hilarious, witty and breathtaking all in one. Please give us more of Blanche and thank you.
August 13, 2021
DNF.
When the book began, I was certain it was written to be during the 1960s. Then, suddenly, I realized its sometime in the 1990s.
There are no flashbacks, it just is constantly jarring trying to figure out which decade the story is set in.
When the book began, I was certain it was written to be during the 1960s. Then, suddenly, I realized its sometime in the 1990s.
There are no flashbacks, it just is constantly jarring trying to figure out which decade the story is set in.
September 12, 2021
Remarkable experience
All four stories helped me to read about the strength of women. Although I liked Blanche's independence I wanted her to settle down with Thelven. The author has great imagination which also helped with her creativity. I enjoyed reading each story.
All four stories helped me to read about the strength of women. Although I liked Blanche's independence I wanted her to settle down with Thelven. The author has great imagination which also helped with her creativity. I enjoyed reading each story.
April 18, 2022
Love this series
Blanch is a character who solves mysteries by getting in folks business and enjoying her own way of living along the way. She is Chaka Khan and Viola Davis with a bit of Patti LaBelle thrown in for measure. She is a character unafraid to live her truth.
Blanch is a character who solves mysteries by getting in folks business and enjoying her own way of living along the way. She is Chaka Khan and Viola Davis with a bit of Patti LaBelle thrown in for measure. She is a character unafraid to live her truth.
November 16, 2021
very good series
November 17, 2021
I thought these where good stories. The writing excellent. Memorable characters.
May 2, 2022
I loved all four of these books. Blanche White is not your usual heroine. I loved her no nonsense attitude. Loved the matter of fact way she stated up for herself. It was unexpectedly humorous and fun, despite the setting.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews