A Groom with a View

Jane Jeffry #11

by Jill Churchill

Caterers Jane and Shelly are pleased as punch to host a lavish wedding in the old monastery, but when a sudden thunderstorm knocks out the electricity, murder breaks the guests' nuptial spell, and Jane steps in to investigate. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Adult, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

A pseudonym used by Janice Young Brooks.

Jill Churchill, winner of the Agatha and Macavity Mystery Readers Awards, and nominated for an Anthony for her best-selling Jane Jeffry series, lives as Jane does, in a midwestern suburb. On purpose! She says writing this series and the Grace and Favor series is the best treat she can have without a knife and fork.

Under her real name, Janice Young Brooks, and various pseudonyms, she's written historical novels, a gothic novel, and a history textbook as well as many articles for newspapers and magazines. When she's not writing, she's avidly doing genealogy which she says is a lot like mysteries with all the red herrings, clues, speculations, and surprises.

She gardens enthusiastically, needlepoints superbly, and plays a mean game of gin against the computer. She has a son and daughter and two granddaughters, Rose Louise and Emma. Janice is currently in a battle of supremacy with her cat Max.

Reviews

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Jeffry once again teams up with her next door neighbor and best friend Shelly Nowack, this time to plan a wedding for the daughter of a prominent , wealthy businessman. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at a former Monastery-turned hunting club. As Jane rushes to finalize the nuptial details, a violent storm knocks out all the lights and someone has slipped down the stairs to her death. Perhaps the fall was an accident, but Jane suspects someone helped the victim in her fatal slippery slide and everyone in the wedding party is a suspect

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

very mediocre novel.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 11th book in the Jane Jeffry mystery series.

I really enjoyed this book - but I admit I tend to mix up the plot line of this one with the 4th book in the series The Class Menagerie. Three books in this series have taken place in a lodge or cabin - and the settings are all kind of similar.

My other thought about this series is that in real life - If a person were near (not to mention snooping around) this many murders - the police would call them a serial killer - not a cute little slueth.

Snotty attitude set aside - I liked this book. This series as a whole has been a solid 3 - 3.5 stars - and I will continue to read them.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The weakest part of this book was the plot. Who in their right mind would agree to plan the society wedding of a virtual stranger at a hunting lodge? The story was better than expected though and I did enjoy the characters.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was truly enjoying this series. I listen to the audiobook version.

Jane Jeffry is a relatable character in so many ways, her motherhood struggles, her search for independence, etc. Aside from tripping over dead bodies at every turn, she could be your best friend.


Unfortunately, as the series has progressed I have felt a tone shift, specifically with this book and the next in judgement of women’s body’s. That a seemingly “unattractive” female could never become a wife. If she is overweight she doesn’t have a chance, especially if she doesn’t have a sparkling personality to balance the ugliness.

On top of that, although Jane constantly interferes in every other persons life in all of the other books to help them she says there is nothing she can do and hopes She gets paid in regards to the Bride and wedding.

It is so disappointing that Jill Churchill took this approach.

[Lisa Dresdner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a book while on vacation in VT and found this one in the "Housekeeping" room, where all the leftover books apparently go. Oh my....not all books published in the 1990s (this was 1999) would necessarily come across as so dated, but this one certainly did. The characters were primarily stock characters, and their comments -- and that of the narrator -- were gendered and misogynistic. I don't think I've read a book that focused so much on what a woman LOOKS like, whether it be "thick" or "curvy" or "chunky" or ..... yuk. I know that the "Jane Jeffry" mystery series won several mystery awards, but I honestly think that Nancy Drew had more spunk and sleuthing abilities than Jane Jeffrey does!

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable light cozy mystery read, but not an author I will be returning to, I think. The characters didn't come alive for me. The mystery was okay, but not extremely interesting. I did like some of the action, especially the two old ladies who wanted to be in charge of wedding plans even though there was a wedding planner. The bride was quite wishy-washy and her overbearing father seemed like a caricature. Not bad, but not too challenging.

[Crafty Cristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading through the Jane Jeffry series and enjoying them very much. I liked this one and Class Menagerie the best of the ones I have read so far.

I really like that these books are set in a "simpler time"--the mid nineties. Jane and her friend, Shelley,are enjoyable characters, and I really like Mel, the police offer Jane is dating.

One thing I really liked about this one is that is not set in her neighborhood.

[Cathie Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Characters were good. I'm just not really into stories about weddings and babies. Think it's kind of boring, so the plot and the storyline did nothing to make the book interesting. I just didn't find this book engaging and Jane is more over the edge in this book. It was sort of hard to take. Okay read.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had been awhile since I read this series and I'm glad I picked it up again. A fun cozy mystery with interesting characters. I enjoyed the story moving along for quite awhile before any murder mystery came along and then continued well through the book before the resolution came together.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading this series in order, so this is number 11 for me. I continue to find the books enjoyable. The on-going characters are always fun to visit. The mystery was original and cozy. A generally nice read.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading this series in order, so this is number 11 for me. I continue to find the books enjoyable. The on-going characters are always fun to visit. The mystery was original and cozy. A generally nice read.

[Bonnie Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane has talked herelf into being the wedding planner for a wedding being held in a hunting lodge of all places. Many weird things going on. Is there really a treasure? When the seamstress is murdered, ther are just too many suspects. Can Jane and her friend Shelley figure it out?

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this is the first Jane Jeffry novel I read. It looked like a cute and quick read. I was distracted by Jane's superficial judgement of the characters/suspects and general unhappiness. I never really got on her and her best friend Shelley's side.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great whodunnit! I figured out who, right near the end, but not the why.

[Jill Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only got halfway. I love this series, but this book was very weak. I felt it also lacked the usual Jill Churchill humor. It was also very slow for me. Usually I read her within a couple of days.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book enjoyed characters and story. Will have to check out others in the series.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun light mystery read.

[Sharon Bezrutczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good series.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novice wedding planner, a reluctant bride and a gigolo groom. Put them all together in a monastery turned into a hunting lodge and no wonder there's a murder or two!

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a very good mystery. The reason behind one of the murders seems totally illogical to me. Setting and characters were kind of depressing.

[Mindy Cossins · Rating 3 out of 5]

entertaining and easy read

[Denice Newbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cosies. This one takes place in a hunting lodge. A wedding!!!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Vivian Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This surprised me. I didn’t think I’d like it as much as I did but I was hooked without even realizing it! A very cozy, stress reducing mystery indeed.

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a wedding themed cozy and A Groom with a View has everything from the initial planning to the reception. Unfortunately, it is also hugely predictable. The killer was obvious when first introduced, well before anyone was murdered. You didn't know who was going to die or why, but it was certain that one specific person was going to be behind it.

A Groom with a View focuses on Jane, Shelley and the wedding. Mel shows up later, but none of the kids were present. There was no domesticity like most of the other books, which I didn't mind but may disappoint fans who enjoy watching Jane juggle single motherhood and murder investigations.

The concept of the mystery was solid and the reasons behind the murder were creative, yet convincing. Nothing could save this book from mediocrity because we could never get in Jane's shoes and try to sleuth out the killer. Knowing how things would turn out throughout the book with the only surprise being the reasons behind the murder makes A Groom with a View less than thrilling.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Jane Jeffry mystery. Jane has been asked to plan a wedding but right from the start things are off. The dressmaker is well behind in making the bridesmaids' dresses so Jane installs her in the old monastery-turned hunt club wedding venue to keep an eye on her. Whilst there Jane and friend Shelley have to work out how to make the rooms presentable for the wedding. When a storm knocks out the power things start getting spooky and the dressmaker's body is found at the bottom of the staircase. This is not the only mystery. The bride seems to be marrying for all the wrong reasons; to provide an heir for her rich daddy. She is certainly not a happy bride. Throw in a couple of strange Aunts, an Uncle who nobody acknowledges and hidden treasure and you have a good read even before the second body turns up.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Sarah A · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty fun cozy mystery. My first by the author and I won't be rushing to get more but ok for a book sale cheap pickup. I found it very slow going - hence why I kept not picking it up to carry on reading! It just didn't keep my attention very long and so much irritated me - the ladies having to call in their hero, him being over protective and not letting them know about the night time events until morning, the weirdness of the main character suddenly becoming a wedding planner despite never having done it before - it's a lot of hard work even without murders and nutty random family members!