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Jane Jeffry #8
War and Peas
Wealthy old Auguste Caspar Snellen, the legendary Pea King, is long gone, but his greatest legacy lives the Snellen Museum, an institution dedicated to the glorification of local lore and legumes. But at this years annual Pea Festival, the museum sustains a terrible loss when its able, innovative director, Regina Price Palmer, is shot to death during a noisy reenactment of a Civil War battle. Suburban single mom Jane Jeffrey was a costumed participant in the deadly pageant. Now her part-time work at the museum has put Jane and best friend Shelley Nowack in the midst of a veritable podful of murder suspects. And its up to Jane and Shelley to determine who fatally beaned poor Regina--before another victim is planted six feet under.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 31, 1996
5 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Jill Churchill
42 books199 followersA 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 7, 2015
Anyone who has read a book by Jill Churchill will recognize that she is a very talented author who provides mystery with a wonderful sense of humor.
This book is exactly that, a mystery filled with terrific humor.
As the story opens, Jane and Shelley are in the hot sun, crossing a field during a Civil War re-enactment. The conditions for both women are very uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as it is for the woman who is dead.
This re-enactment is part of the celebration sponsored by the Snellen museum. The Snellen museum is dedicated to peas, farming and local lore.
The dead woman was the director of the Snellen museum. And the suspect list is filled with people connected to the museum. Although Regina Parker was generally well liked, it is apparent that there may have been people who were not so fond of her.
The story is well plotted and things move along in an interesting manner. Each new event gives the reader more information about the people and events of the story. Ms Churchill has provided humor along with the plot. There are situations which provide the reader with laugh out loud moments.
Jane and Shelley are terrific women. They are smart women who devote time to good causes and that is what has brought them to the museum. While at the museum helping catalog items, they also spend time doing some detecting. Both of them want to find out who would murder a good woman like Regina Parker.
The secondary characters are fun and interesting people who add depth the story. Since each of them is a possible suspect, their personalities and actions add interest for the reader.
I must admit there were parts of the solution I had figured out before I got to the end.
This is another fun book by Jill Churchill and as always, I had a terrific time.
This book is exactly that, a mystery filled with terrific humor.
As the story opens, Jane and Shelley are in the hot sun, crossing a field during a Civil War re-enactment. The conditions for both women are very uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as it is for the woman who is dead.
This re-enactment is part of the celebration sponsored by the Snellen museum. The Snellen museum is dedicated to peas, farming and local lore.
The dead woman was the director of the Snellen museum. And the suspect list is filled with people connected to the museum. Although Regina Parker was generally well liked, it is apparent that there may have been people who were not so fond of her.
The story is well plotted and things move along in an interesting manner. Each new event gives the reader more information about the people and events of the story. Ms Churchill has provided humor along with the plot. There are situations which provide the reader with laugh out loud moments.
Jane and Shelley are terrific women. They are smart women who devote time to good causes and that is what has brought them to the museum. While at the museum helping catalog items, they also spend time doing some detecting. Both of them want to find out who would murder a good woman like Regina Parker.
The secondary characters are fun and interesting people who add depth the story. Since each of them is a possible suspect, their personalities and actions add interest for the reader.
I must admit there were parts of the solution I had figured out before I got to the end.
This is another fun book by Jill Churchill and as always, I had a terrific time.
November 10, 2018
Well written. I didn't figure out whodunnit until the moment of reveal.
January 17, 2019
Fun fluff. Like a Hallmark movie mystery.
Read
June 25, 2019Love it . I keep forgetting to read just what I like not because I happen to have it. This book took me less that a week to read.
January 1, 2023
I am definitely a Jane Jeffry fan! Not only is there wonderful humor--laugh out loud at times-- but Jane is a great character. The plots are well done, some interesting information imparted (such as agriculture), and the author avoids all the cozy mystery cliches I grit my teeth through. Jane does NOT do stupid things like confront a murderer or break numerous laws in the belief that only she can solve a crime. Nope, Jane and her bestie Shelly (who is also a wonderful creation) are busy moms who notice things and are whip smart without being annoying. I'm ready to finish the next one!
February 27, 2024
Spoilers ahead:
I was recommended this book mainly because a museum director is murdered, which is a little concerning considering my career profession. A very quick read at just over 200 pages, though the ending definitely felt rushed. I have not read the other books in this series, so I can't compare. I was impressed with the knowledge the author displayed regarding moving a museum from one building to another. I think the ending dates itself a bit, with a bit out of the blue love triangle. Otherwise an entertaining quick read.
I was recommended this book mainly because a museum director is murdered, which is a little concerning considering my career profession. A very quick read at just over 200 pages, though the ending definitely felt rushed. I have not read the other books in this series, so I can't compare. I was impressed with the knowledge the author displayed regarding moving a museum from one building to another. I think the ending dates itself a bit, with a bit out of the blue love triangle. Otherwise an entertaining quick read.
May 15, 2023
When a war re-enactment is done you expect shots to be fired, but no someone really killed. Jane and Shelley were volunteers in the re-enactment and of course are curious as to who would have set this killing up. As they stumble across other curious things they have trouble figuring out who was responsible.
May 27, 2019
This was a fun, quirky, light mystery. This novel had fun female characters and humor in just the right places. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel and I definitely will be reading more of her novels. To think it all came down to a stuffed cat named Heidi.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2024
Starts very slow and a bit confusingly. It would probably make more sense if you’ve read other books in universe. Really picks up about half way through. Peas in the cat! I will be trying the baked beans. Secret gay love triangle gone wrong!! Secret museum lesbians!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2017
I haven't read a Jane Jeffry mystery for several years. This one is not as good as I remember the others were.
November 4, 2019
I sure didn’t know Peas could be interesting much less used for murder. I really enjoy this series and will be sad when I’ve read them all.
August 10, 2020
سلام به دوستان فارسی زبان . عزیزان اگه دنبال نسخه فارسی زبان این کتاب هستید متونید از طریق لینک زیر تهیه کنید این کتاب فوق العاده رو
http://ketabbartar.com/novel/war-and-...
http://ketabbartar.com/novel/war-and-...
November 23, 2020
A great book for a plane ride with layover ... kept me interested in various places. :-)
Would love to find more of this series.
Would love to find more of this series.
September 17, 2023
Love this Jane Jeffrey series
January 1, 2025
Really fun book to read. I enjoy the plot and the storyline. Characters were good. This book took some surprising twists and turns. A little more depth than normally. Highly recommend.
July 1, 2025
Great Read
May 23, 2013
It is the annual Pea Festival in Jane Jeffrey's hometown and Jane and her friend Shelley Nowack are participating in a number of activities including sorting through items at the Snellin Museum and taking part in a Civil War reenactment. Jane thought the reenactment would be interesting, but she wasn't expecting museum director Regina Price Palmer to be murdered during the battle. Jane's boyfriend, police detective Mel Van Dyne, is investigating the case, but Jane's work inside the museum gives her a good way of also investigating the murder since most of the suspects are involved in the museum. When there is a second murder, Jane is even more eager to solve the case before there is yet another victim.
"War and Peas" is an enjoyable, yet somewhat light cozy mystery. The book gets off to an interesting start with the Civil War reenactment and having the murder take place during the battle is a great touch since it provides plenty of suspects. Having the novel set around a pea festival and a pea museum is a very funny touch and not meant to be taken seriously by readers although the characters in the book are serious about it. There is a nice gentle sense of humor throughout the book with a few laugh out loud moments - one involving notes Jane's children leave her and when Jane cleans out her car. At this point in the series (this is the eighth book in the series) Jane is a fully developed and rich character as are the supporting characters in the book. The mystery is well written and well plotted and readers will have fun trying to figure out who the murderer is.
"War and Peas" is another nice cozy mystery by Jill Churchill.
"War and Peas" is an enjoyable, yet somewhat light cozy mystery. The book gets off to an interesting start with the Civil War reenactment and having the murder take place during the battle is a great touch since it provides plenty of suspects. Having the novel set around a pea festival and a pea museum is a very funny touch and not meant to be taken seriously by readers although the characters in the book are serious about it. There is a nice gentle sense of humor throughout the book with a few laugh out loud moments - one involving notes Jane's children leave her and when Jane cleans out her car. At this point in the series (this is the eighth book in the series) Jane is a fully developed and rich character as are the supporting characters in the book. The mystery is well written and well plotted and readers will have fun trying to figure out who the murderer is.
"War and Peas" is another nice cozy mystery by Jill Churchill.
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January 16, 2017A Jane Jeffry Mystery
In the Burbs outside Chicago next door neighbors Jane Jeffry and Shelley Novak Who's (whose?) quirky community seems full of murderous intent, the two friends always seem to end up stumbling (or is it bumbling?) over corpses. They sift through the scandalous mystery of motives, agendas and gossip. It's not all serious but it is definitely not as funny as the Stephanie Plum series.
This story there's a Pea festival put on by the Pea museum. (really?) This year it even has some sort of war re-enactment as part of the entertainment (What does that have to do with peas? are they using pea shooters?) during which one of the museum's employ is killed.
Why? Was it for the directors position of a small museum? Over some peas that are by name one's inheritance or for some nasty words?
ooh it was who I thought it was, and they were my ONLY suspect. I didn't fall for any of the Red Herrings. The writing has good a good flow definitely an enjoyable mystery. With most of the characters being likable except for a few bad apples and one really sour lemon! One of the characters, a lawyer has a very eccentric fashion sense.
I just hate that when I get off to a good start reading a book that it seems like getting the last 50 pages seems to take longer than it should, a page or 2 one day or a few more another when I should be able to read the last 50 throughout the day. But so goes life!
In the Burbs outside Chicago next door neighbors Jane Jeffry and Shelley Novak Who's (whose?) quirky community seems full of murderous intent, the two friends always seem to end up stumbling (or is it bumbling?) over corpses. They sift through the scandalous mystery of motives, agendas and gossip. It's not all serious but it is definitely not as funny as the Stephanie Plum series.
This story there's a Pea festival put on by the Pea museum. (really?) This year it even has some sort of war re-enactment as part of the entertainment (What does that have to do with peas? are they using pea shooters?) during which one of the museum's employ is killed.
Why? Was it for the directors position of a small museum? Over some peas that are by name one's inheritance or for some nasty words?
ooh it was who I thought it was, and they were my ONLY suspect. I didn't fall for any of the Red Herrings. The writing has good a good flow definitely an enjoyable mystery. With most of the characters being likable except for a few bad apples and one really sour lemon! One of the characters, a lawyer has a very eccentric fashion sense.
I just hate that when I get off to a good start reading a book that it seems like getting the last 50 pages seems to take longer than it should, a page or 2 one day or a few more another when I should be able to read the last 50 throughout the day. But so goes life!
August 25, 2010
Cozy mystery series usually have a general theme. Jane's a stay at home mom who participates in the PTA and has preformed volunteer work numerous times during the series. Therefore, this specific series doesn't have much that holds it together and the theme varies as to what Jane is involved with in each specific book. Because of this, it's difficult to go into the books knowing what to expect. One book may have everything you love in a mystery and the next could easily bore you.
In War and Peas, Jane volunteers to participate in a war reenactment and at a pea museum. Neither of these things hold any interest for me. While Jane herself could have carried the story, the focus was less on Jane and Shelley's investigation and more on the museum. No matter how much I love a character, watching that character participate in something I consider boring can ruin a book for me.
Luckily, I had no idea who the killer was in War and Peas. It was another case where I suspected everyone and no one. The book offers up a rather unexpected ending which is what saved the book in my mind. Not the best in the series by far and most won't miss it if skipped.
In War and Peas, Jane volunteers to participate in a war reenactment and at a pea museum. Neither of these things hold any interest for me. While Jane herself could have carried the story, the focus was less on Jane and Shelley's investigation and more on the museum. No matter how much I love a character, watching that character participate in something I consider boring can ruin a book for me.
Luckily, I had no idea who the killer was in War and Peas. It was another case where I suspected everyone and no one. The book offers up a rather unexpected ending which is what saved the book in my mind. Not the best in the series by far and most won't miss it if skipped.
November 12, 2016
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.
October 24, 2008
Another in the Jane Jeffry mystery series. In this one, Jane and her friend Natalie become involved in two murders at a museum they are volunteering at. Jane and Natalie work through the various clues and piece things together as they work their way through the various secondary issues in the story.
April 7, 2009
The legendary "Pea King" is dead. Jane Jeffry & friend Shelley Nowack have part-time jobs at the Snellen Museum, an institution dedicated to legumes & local lore. As always there, Jane & Shelley have to do their detective work trying to find out who murdered the museum's director. This author is a slow read but the books always end up with which one done it to the very end.
February 8, 2012
I love the Jane Jeffry series and this one did not disappoint! Set in a museum dedicated to peas, yes peas, and filled with petty and not so petty jealousies it's a fast read and even has a little humoe in it. It would be fun to be Jane or Shelley and have adventures in my neighborhood like they do!
July 20, 2011
These cozies are harmless and entertaining, especially if you are a homemaker and mother who can relate to the protagonist's stresses (although she sure finds time to eat with her friend at nice restaurants A LOT). The plots are ok, but not overly complex. Fun light reading.
Read
September 10, 2011The local museum director is killed during a Civil War re-enactment. Jane and Shelley learn about that and much more while volunteering there. My local museum does not offer that level of intrigue to its volunteers. Hmm!
April 9, 2009
The last of my currently reading books...I think lol. This mystery is a bit slow for me but who knows it could pick up.
June 10, 2008
A patron recommended this book to me but I did not like it. Did not even get through the 2nd chapter.
June 11, 2008
I like the way this author writes her mystery books. I also like to read books in a series.
July 5, 2010
Jane and Shelley worked at the "Pea Museum" and tried to solve a recent murder. This was and funny but entertaining, amusing and mysterious!
August 4, 2010
To me this book and characters were boring. Had trouble picking it up to finish it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews