What do you think?
Rate this book
Jane Lawless #5
A Small Sacrifice
When Cordelia Thorn ventures to Summer Green, Wisconsin, for a reunion with some old college friends, she finds trouble in paradise. Twenty-plus years have definitely changed things. Soap opera star Diana has become an alcoholic. Curt and Annie's marriage is falling apart. Orson is hostile and surly. And Theo, the most passionate of them all, suddenly dies -- of an apparent heart attack.
Alarmed, Cordelia sends for her old friend Jane Lawless to do some quiet snooping. Together they follow their hunches -- into the not-so-carefree past and back to the troubled present, where they find a single match could blow up all their lives....
Alarmed, Cordelia sends for her old friend Jane Lawless to do some quiet snooping. Together they follow their hunches -- into the not-so-carefree past and back to the troubled present, where they find a single match could blow up all their lives....
254 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
13 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Hart
72 books221 followersEllen Hart is the author of twenty-eight crime novels in two different series. She is a five-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Mystery, a three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award for Best Popular Fiction, a three-time winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award in several categories, a recipient of the Alice B Medal, and was made an official GLBT Literary Saint at the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans in 2005. In 2010, Ellen received the GCLS Trailblazer Award for lifetime achievement in the field of lesbian literature. For the past fourteen years, Ellen has taught "An Introduction to Writing the Modern Mystery" through the The Loft Literary Center, the largest independent writing community in the nation. Ellen's latest Sophie Greenway mystery is No Reservations Required (Ballantine). Rest for the Wicked, the twentieth Jane Lawless mystery, will be released by St. Martin's/Minotaur in October 2012. Bella Books has recently revived the out-of-print books by publishing them in both trade paperback and E-book. Ellen lives in the Minneapolis area with her partner of over 35 years.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 28, 2019
This volume was focused on Cordelia and her former college friends.
I found the change of POV interesting.
The mystery was okay, the resolution of the suspense better than the other volumes but ... Anyway
4 stars
I found the change of POV interesting.
The mystery was okay, the resolution of the suspense better than the other volumes but ... Anyway
4 stars
October 15, 2021
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed my fave Cordelia having so many POV chapters but I must say- I wasn’t a big fan of the mystery in this one. The ending just felt so OTT but then again, it was based on theatre adults so I guess I should have expected that.
Once again I ADORE how full of queer characters these books always are and both Cordelia and Jane call themselves lesbians on page throughout every book!
Delightful!!
I enjoyed my fave Cordelia having so many POV chapters but I must say- I wasn’t a big fan of the mystery in this one. The ending just felt so OTT but then again, it was based on theatre adults so I guess I should have expected that.
Once again I ADORE how full of queer characters these books always are and both Cordelia and Jane call themselves lesbians on page throughout every book!
Delightful!!
September 4, 2020
Small Sacrifice is my first Ellen Hart book, and I fully expect I'll try another. I didn't know what to expect from either the author or the book. A "Jane Lawless Mystery" seemed to be a good start. I've been reading a lot of short mysteries by female authors with female protagonists lately, and quite like them. Nothing that I scanned before reading prepared me for what I found.
I'm not going to include anything in this review about the story apart from the fact that a group of college theater friends get together to do an intervention for one of their group who is very addicted to alcohol. The intervention finds its way into the background of the plot.
I liked the characters, especially Jane Lawless, who is not one of the college group, and Cordelia, who is. I was a bit worried about the book when I saw that Ms. Hart included a character list at the beginning of the book, never a good sign for me who has a difficult time with names. I did read the character list, but I didn't see that it gave me much insight or help remember who's whom.
I found it hard to keep my mind from wandering throughout the first two thirds, or more, of the book. It became more enticing when Jane and Cornelia were together investigating, or just walking around having conversation. As it happens, Jane is only at the meeting at Cordelia's late invitation.
The mystery is very complicated and was based on events in the characters past and the complex impacts on the characters lives. Not to worry, Ms. Hart doesn't leave any loose ends that I recall.
I believe all the main characters in the book were gay, lesbian, or bisexual. I initially thought that might have been done to illuminate the impact of sexuality in the population, in and out of print. I expect that it would not have been necessary, but I very much approved of that touch of the story. I have no idea, nor do I care very much, if Ellen Hart is also a member of that community, but she does offer so glimpses that I would not have had the chance to see.
Apart from a potential red herring, Ms. Hart also takes a well deserved swipe at a bigoted, self righteous, holier than thou church lady. Well done Ms. Hart. She deserved it!
I read this for a book club that is meeting soon. Sometimes, my star rating changes after the meeting. It may this time, but don't hold your breath.
I'm not going to include anything in this review about the story apart from the fact that a group of college theater friends get together to do an intervention for one of their group who is very addicted to alcohol. The intervention finds its way into the background of the plot.
I liked the characters, especially Jane Lawless, who is not one of the college group, and Cordelia, who is. I was a bit worried about the book when I saw that Ms. Hart included a character list at the beginning of the book, never a good sign for me who has a difficult time with names. I did read the character list, but I didn't see that it gave me much insight or help remember who's whom.
I found it hard to keep my mind from wandering throughout the first two thirds, or more, of the book. It became more enticing when Jane and Cornelia were together investigating, or just walking around having conversation. As it happens, Jane is only at the meeting at Cordelia's late invitation.
The mystery is very complicated and was based on events in the characters past and the complex impacts on the characters lives. Not to worry, Ms. Hart doesn't leave any loose ends that I recall.
I believe all the main characters in the book were gay, lesbian, or bisexual. I initially thought that might have been done to illuminate the impact of sexuality in the population, in and out of print. I expect that it would not have been necessary, but I very much approved of that touch of the story. I have no idea, nor do I care very much, if Ellen Hart is also a member of that community, but she does offer so glimpses that I would not have had the chance to see.
Apart from a potential red herring, Ms. Hart also takes a well deserved swipe at a bigoted, self righteous, holier than thou church lady. Well done Ms. Hart. She deserved it!
I read this for a book club that is meeting soon. Sometimes, my star rating changes after the meeting. It may this time, but don't hold your breath.
September 18, 2022
One of my usual reasons for loving the Jane Lawless series, the setting of the books in Minneapols, is missing this this book. Cordelia calls on Jane to come to Wisconsin to help her understand the circumstances surrounding the death of an old friend. Heart attack or murder? Still an excellent series. Kristi & Abby Tabby
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2025
Read this for a book club selection. Not my choice.
Mysteries are hit or miss for me. This took me quite a while to read because it was slow to get my attention.
Being a Minnesotan myself, ( the author is) I kept hopeful that it would make this a great read.
But yeah, not so much in my humble opinion.
Mysteries are hit or miss for me. This took me quite a while to read because it was slow to get my attention.
Being a Minnesotan myself, ( the author is) I kept hopeful that it would make this a great read.
But yeah, not so much in my humble opinion.
October 20, 2017
To be honest - disappointment.
Plot was slow and boring, characters were flat and unrealistic, the ending was just... stupid and foolish.
Plot was slow and boring, characters were flat and unrealistic, the ending was just... stupid and foolish.
Read
August 21, 20195 down.
February 12, 2021
Language is to be desired
June 16, 2022
Nicely convoluted and interesting twist at the end.
November 7, 2022
I thought this was amazing, my favorite of the series so far. More later
March 22, 2023
A very cleverly worked mystery
June 22, 2023
Sometimes reading a book of short stories satisfies the need
to read. These stories were all different and did an excellent
job of getting into the reader to continue onto the next.
to read. These stories were all different and did an excellent
job of getting into the reader to continue onto the next.
Read
September 27, 2023More of a Cordelia story. Jane's life is never in danger in this one which is a little disappointing and goes against the rest of the series.
July 15, 2023
I enjoy Ellen Hart. Read this series in my teenage years when the idea of a main character that was a lesbian seemed so risqué. The plot was very Agatha Christie however Jane Lawless’ friend Cordelia is not my favorite so when the plot dwells on her too much it’s not as enjoyable. I never made it through the whole series so hoping to try to read them all.
June 6, 2010
#5 Jane Lawless mystery, featuring the lesbian restaurateur from Minneapolis. In this book, Jane's friend Cordelia figures more heavily as it involves a group of theatre friends Cordelia has known since college days. The first part of the book takes place in 1972 to provide the backstory, and then moves to 1994 (when the book was written) at a reunion of the group.
Diana, the member who made it the biggest, has bought an old church in a small town in Wisconsin and rehabilitated it into a theatre. The problem is, Diana needs a bit of rehab herself--her lifelong love of alcohol has fried her liver and her physician has given her only a year to live if she doesn't reform. Orson, another of the group, contacts all the former members and proposes that they do an "intervention" with the help of a trained psychiatrist and get her into a rehab program.
Cordelia agrees somewhat reluctantly to participate, putting her own rehearsal schedule in her assistant's hands for a few days to attend the grand opening of the theatre, after which the intervention is to occur. When another of the group, Theo, ends up dead before that can happen, Cordelia calls Jane (who knows most of the group members, if only slightly) and given her past sleuthing history, asks her to come up and poke her nose in--it's being called a heart attack, but seems very suspicious.
I was a little puzzled by the relationship between these group members--they are touted as the best of friends, but almost all of the relationships within them as well as the group dynamic itself was very negative and stormy with a lot more prickliness and aggravation than friendship displayed. I can't imagine wanting to willingly be part of such a group. Of course a group that made nice and was happy and without conflict wouldn't have made much of a story and there wouldn't be a reason for murder I guess, but all that tension got hard to read about after awhile. The mystery itself couldn't really be figured out until later in the book when the clues started dropping, although I did make some fairly reasonable guesses early on. I like these characters, but this wasn't my favorite in the series--hope that Jane is back at the forefront in the next book. B-
Diana, the member who made it the biggest, has bought an old church in a small town in Wisconsin and rehabilitated it into a theatre. The problem is, Diana needs a bit of rehab herself--her lifelong love of alcohol has fried her liver and her physician has given her only a year to live if she doesn't reform. Orson, another of the group, contacts all the former members and proposes that they do an "intervention" with the help of a trained psychiatrist and get her into a rehab program.
Cordelia agrees somewhat reluctantly to participate, putting her own rehearsal schedule in her assistant's hands for a few days to attend the grand opening of the theatre, after which the intervention is to occur. When another of the group, Theo, ends up dead before that can happen, Cordelia calls Jane (who knows most of the group members, if only slightly) and given her past sleuthing history, asks her to come up and poke her nose in--it's being called a heart attack, but seems very suspicious.
I was a little puzzled by the relationship between these group members--they are touted as the best of friends, but almost all of the relationships within them as well as the group dynamic itself was very negative and stormy with a lot more prickliness and aggravation than friendship displayed. I can't imagine wanting to willingly be part of such a group. Of course a group that made nice and was happy and without conflict wouldn't have made much of a story and there wouldn't be a reason for murder I guess, but all that tension got hard to read about after awhile. The mystery itself couldn't really be figured out until later in the book when the clues started dropping, although I did make some fairly reasonable guesses early on. I like these characters, but this wasn't my favorite in the series--hope that Jane is back at the forefront in the next book. B-
Read
April 15, 2014A Small Sacrifice, by Ellen Hart, a-minus, Narrated by Aimee Jolson, Produced by audible inc., downloaded from audible.com.
In this, the fifth in the Jane Lawless series, Cordelia is going to a small town in Wisconsin where one of her oldest friends, from college theater days, is producing plays in a refurbished church turned into a theater. She is invited by another close friend of theirs from those days who insists that she must come that very weekend. It turns out that the close friends of this particular theater director, Dianna, have arranged an intervention for her. Dianna’s partner is dead and she has no other family besides those old dear and loyal friends. They have found out that her doctor gives her liver less than a year, thus bringing about her death, if she continues her alcohol consumption. Cordelia is a little worried about this because, while the friends were close, there were distinct differences and conflicts between them as well. She fears that spending an entire weekend together, to see Dianna’s play and to reunite with each other, and then to have this intervention, may be more than they can all tolerate. And it seems that she may be right when one of their number clutches his chest at the table and appears to die shortly after a fist fight with another of the members. Cordelia immediately calls Jane in the middle of the night and asks her to comedown and help determine whether he died of a heart attack or was murdered. This is a thrilling book action-packed, and the solution will involve one or more of the people staying there to help Dianna in an intervention. It’s a very touching display of friendship and intervention to save someone’s life.
In this, the fifth in the Jane Lawless series, Cordelia is going to a small town in Wisconsin where one of her oldest friends, from college theater days, is producing plays in a refurbished church turned into a theater. She is invited by another close friend of theirs from those days who insists that she must come that very weekend. It turns out that the close friends of this particular theater director, Dianna, have arranged an intervention for her. Dianna’s partner is dead and she has no other family besides those old dear and loyal friends. They have found out that her doctor gives her liver less than a year, thus bringing about her death, if she continues her alcohol consumption. Cordelia is a little worried about this because, while the friends were close, there were distinct differences and conflicts between them as well. She fears that spending an entire weekend together, to see Dianna’s play and to reunite with each other, and then to have this intervention, may be more than they can all tolerate. And it seems that she may be right when one of their number clutches his chest at the table and appears to die shortly after a fist fight with another of the members. Cordelia immediately calls Jane in the middle of the night and asks her to comedown and help determine whether he died of a heart attack or was murdered. This is a thrilling book action-packed, and the solution will involve one or more of the people staying there to help Dianna in an intervention. It’s a very touching display of friendship and intervention to save someone’s life.
October 31, 2008
Cordelia, Jane Lawless' flamboyant and confident friend and former lover goes to a reunion of friends from college. Twenty years ago they were all young, talented and ready for the future. That is until one of them was arrested. Now twenty years later, they meet again to find that they are successful or not, sober or not, and looking to the future with trepidation and hope. That is until one of them is murdered.
Cordelia snoops around, calling Jane for help. Jane appears for the funeral and ties the mystery up in an interesting conclusion. The strength of this series are the characters. The mysteries are based in relationship and are often full of sadness and then, ultimately, hope.
Cordelia snoops around, calling Jane for help. Jane appears for the funeral and ties the mystery up in an interesting conclusion. The strength of this series are the characters. The mysteries are based in relationship and are often full of sadness and then, ultimately, hope.
January 16, 2015
This series just keeps on getting better and better. The mystery was very good and the there was a deepening of the characters. While this was written in the 90's it is in some ways a precursor of the winds of change now in the 20-teens. It is fun reading stories with gay and lesbian characters, the world around them. This story, one of long standing friends and the lengths they go to save/help one another resonates with many of us bay boomers and mirrors experiences we all had. Looking forward to more in the Jane Lawless series,
November 5, 2017
Ellen Hart is an AWESOME author, and the Jane Lawless mysteries are fabulous reads, one by one. I hate that in the bookstores these are pigeonholed under GLBT, they really need to be in the mystery section so more mystery booklovers can discover these stories. Jane Lawless is a pretty awesome protagonist, and the dramatic Cordelia, the funniest and most formidable sidekick EVER. Highly recommend!
January 2, 2011
I gave this book three stars on the plot alone. Other than disclosing the sexual preferences of each of the players, there wasn't much character development. I wish it had been better because the plot was rally fun.
July 27, 2015
I like this series, and as usual the book is well-written. It didn't really work for me, though, as the resolution of the mystery strained credulity. On the bright side, I already know #6 is better!
February 27, 2009
OK I love the setting for these stories
July 28, 2015
Not my cup of tea.
November 10, 2011
She the review for "the Iron Girl".
July 27, 2015
Cordelia Thorn is my she-ro! I especially loved this book because it had alot to do with Cordelia!!
Read
August 3, 2011An easy read, made a bit of a change
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews