Green Grow The Victims

Hilda Johansson #3

by Jeanne M. Dams

Hilda Johansson's relationship with Patrick Malloy satisfies the two of them, but it's creating tensions for the families: She's Swedish and certainly not Catholic; he's Irish and the twain should never twine, at least as far as others are concerned. Even in the servants' quarters of the Studebaker household, questions are raised. Of course, Hilda's propensity for getting involved in things like murder that shouldn't be her business also raises more than a few eyebrows and makes people forget her love life and worry about whether she'll live long enough to have a relationship with Patrick at all.This is one of those times: The coal mine strikes of 1902 seem to be spilling into places that would consider themselves immune to such strife. Now a South Bend politician has been murdered, and Patrick's uncle Dan -- the dead man's main opponent -- has gone missing and become the chief suspect. Feeling that the police are doing little to find another suspect, the Malloys take the outrageous step of asking Hilda to put her talents to use for them...and offering to pay her for her services.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Fiction

216 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2001

About the author

Jeanne M. Dams lives in South Bend, Indiana. The Body in the Transept, which introduced Dorothy Martin, won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Dams is also the author of Green Grow the Victims and other Hilda Johansson mysteries published by Walker & Company.

Reviews

[Donna Herrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some authors can tell a really enchanting story, but some can take you to another culture or time or place and make you believe that you understand it. Jeanne Dams does that in her Hilda Johansson series. For me, growing up in a middle-class, professional family I had no recognition of the politics of class. Downton Abbey was a benign look at a culture that I found infuriating, but we have had that type of cultural politics in the United States for a long time - with slavery and racism, with the bigotry towards immigrants and with sexlism, sexual harrassment and rape culture. I thank Jeanne Dams for helping me to understand the roots of these behaviours.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was reminiscent of Agatha Christie Hercule Perot mysteries. I was shocked to find this written in modern times, as I was immersed in the early 1900’s. Jeanne Dams didn’t skip a beat. I found this book at a library sale. Though there were minor holes in the story due to not reading the preceding Hilda Johansson mysteries, I was able to thoroughly enjoy it.

Hilda, the feisty, young, immigrant maid with a keen mind. She is pulled into a web of mystery, lies and deception in her small community after the murder of a politician. Fun, easy read. I will definitely go back to the beginning of the series and get a complete story.

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the references to South Bend, Indiana and the history of the city. Hilda is a woman before her time and doesn't always seem to care for her given roll. Enjoy reading of her adventures.

[Elizabeth Eiler · Rating 2 out of 5]

By page 42, when fireman Patrick (the romantic hero) "aimed a kick" at the firehouse dog - whose only mistake was being a faithful companion - I soured on the book. I was so horrified when he vented frustration through animal cruelty (or at least a semblance of kicking in the dog's direction), I actually gasped out loud and didn't want to read anymore. The scene was written flippantly, casually, as though such behavior was not inconsistent with being a great guy and an object of romance. It made me furious; this is how societies become numb to violence and sadism.

But I was reading it for my book club, so I finished it. One has to suspend disbelief that a housemaid would be taken seriously in 1902 trotting about town solving murders. The characters are thin and the dialogue banal, and I'd pretty much stopped caring about solving the mystery by the time all the clues were suddenly unfurled in the last chapter.

However, some might find this to be good light escapist reading, the sort of thing you might bring to the beach. The Johannsson family, newly-arrived Swedish immigrants, are interesting, and a more serious literary novel exploring their experiences would be worthwhile. This wasn't an awful book, but it wasn't my taste.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 1902 and the place is South Bend, Indiana. Hilda works as a maid one of the most prestigious mansions in the city, for the Studebakers. As a Swedish immigrant, she is lucky to have such a good job, even though she must work long, hard hours. She keeps company with Patrick, a fireman she is fond of. But even as they are become even closer, they realize that a major obstacle in a lasting relationship is their difference in nationality was well as religion. Hilda is a Swedish Lutheran and Patrick, an Irish Catholic, and their families are against their growing friendship, lest it develop into something more. But when Patrick’s uncle disappears and is a suspect in a murder, Patrick’s aunt wants Hilda to investigate the situation. This third installment in this delightful series continues the story Hilda and her family, working class immigrants in the early twentieth century. Author Jeanne M. Dams has done an excellent job of recreating that time period, with the struggles and prejudices encountered by people new to this country. Be sure to start with the first books in the series – you don’t want to miss the growth and development of the characters as the series progresses.

[Bonnie]

This is the third book in the new series by Jeanne Dams about the Swedish maid for the wealthy Studebaker family. It is 1902 and the coal mines of South Bend, Indiana are on strike and a politician has been murdered. Hilda's relationship with Peter Cavanaugh satisfies the two of them, but it is creating tension for the families since he is Irish Catholic and she is Swedish and certainly not Catholic. The dead man was a politician and his chief opponent is Peter's uncle who has gone missing. Suspension has fallen on the uncle and the family take the outrageous step of hiring Hilda to put her sleuthing talent to find the uncle. They pay her, so she takes time off from her job as maid for the Studebakers

Dams is an expert in interweaving the actual history of South Bend with her fictional characters. She has captured the essence of America as a place for immigrants coming in from other countries to make new lives for themselves. The descriptions of customs, clothing, prejudices, business, and politics are spot on.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slow start - doesn't seem to get moving until chapter 3. However that could be because I was expecting the mystery to be the main plot as opposed to the romance developing between Hilda and Patrick. The mystery does become more of the main plot in chapter 3 and the romance twists and turns becomes a good sub plot to the story. I do like the historical setting and the fact that Ms. Dams lets the readers know what she has taken liberty with in regards to the historical setting she is using.

[Mary Newcomb]

This time Hilda Johansson is dealing with murder, disappearance, immigrant issues and mixed relationship questions in 1902 South Bend. She solves the first two questions, progress is made in the two other arenas.

[LuAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Hilda Johannson series. I think that it is the best story so far. I liked the mystery and how Hilda went about solving it. I also liked the relationship part of the story. Reading about South Bend at the turn of the 20th century is an extra bonus.

[Madelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good series by Jeanne M. Dams. Hilda Johansson is an endearing character. She is a Swedish immigrant "stepping out" with an Irish firefighter. She is asked by Patrick's aunt to investigate a murder and the adventure begins.

[Pithee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read by Kate Reading

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilda #3

[Jeanne Streff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts out slow but it's interesting to have a period piece with a woman as the "detective"! I almost put it down but I still find it interesting.

[Addie Martinez]

did'nt much liked this series of dorothy martin

[Bobbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was entertaining enough - in a lightweight way.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too twee for me!

[Mary Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio book