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Lois Meade Mystery #1
Murder on Monday
A devoted wife and mother of three, Lois Meade cleans houses in the quaint village of Long Farnden. When a local spinster is murdered, Lois finds herself poking around her clients' houses for clues. But her quest for the killer will uncover some surprising secrets about this seemingly peaceful village-and put her family in mortal danger.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
42 people are currently reading
1164 people want to read
About the author
Ann Purser
37 books141 followersAnn Purser lives in the East Midlands, in a small and attractive village which still has a village shop, a garage, pub and church. Here she finds her inspiration for her novels about country life. She has only to do her daily shopping down the High Street to listen to the real life of the village going on around her.
Before turning to fiction, she had a number of different careers, including journalism – she was for six years a columnist in SHE magazine – and art gallery proprietor. Running her own gallery in a 400-year-old barn behind the house, she gained fascinating insights into the characters and relationships of customers wandering around. She had no compunction about eavesdropping, and sharpened up her writer’s skills in weaving plots around strangers who spent sometimes more than an hour in her gallery.
Working in a village school added more grist to the mill, as does singing in the church choir and membership of the Women’s Guild. She reminds herself humbly that Virginia Woolf was President of her local WI…
Six years hard study won her an Open University degree, and when she faltered and threatened to fall by the wayside, writer husband Philip Purser reminded her that he was paying good money for the course. During this period, she wrote two non-fiction books, one for parents of handicapped children (she has a daughter with cerebral palsy) and the other a lighthearted book for schools, on the explosion of popular entertainment in the first forty years of the twentieth century.
Ten years of running the gallery proved to be enough, and while it was very successful she decided to sell. The business moved down the street to another barn and owner, and Pursers stayed on in their house next to the village school – another rich source of material for the stories. Time to start writing novels.
Round Ringford became Ann’s village in a series of six novels, each with a separate story, but featuring the same cast of characters with a few newcomers each time. The list of books gives details of each story, and each features an issue common to all villages in our rural countryside. “Just like our village!” is a frequent comment from Ann’s readers.
Next: the Lois Meade Mysteries, each title reflecting a day of the week. Ann has always loved detective fiction, and determined to make it her next series. So Murder on Monday was born, followed by Terror on Tuesday, and Weeping on Wednesday. The rest of the week follows!
Mornings are set aside for writing, and the rest of the day Ann spends walking the dog, retrieving bantams’ eggs from around the garden, gossiping and taking part in the life of the village. She is never bored!
Before turning to fiction, she had a number of different careers, including journalism – she was for six years a columnist in SHE magazine – and art gallery proprietor. Running her own gallery in a 400-year-old barn behind the house, she gained fascinating insights into the characters and relationships of customers wandering around. She had no compunction about eavesdropping, and sharpened up her writer’s skills in weaving plots around strangers who spent sometimes more than an hour in her gallery.
Working in a village school added more grist to the mill, as does singing in the church choir and membership of the Women’s Guild. She reminds herself humbly that Virginia Woolf was President of her local WI…
Six years hard study won her an Open University degree, and when she faltered and threatened to fall by the wayside, writer husband Philip Purser reminded her that he was paying good money for the course. During this period, she wrote two non-fiction books, one for parents of handicapped children (she has a daughter with cerebral palsy) and the other a lighthearted book for schools, on the explosion of popular entertainment in the first forty years of the twentieth century.
Ten years of running the gallery proved to be enough, and while it was very successful she decided to sell. The business moved down the street to another barn and owner, and Pursers stayed on in their house next to the village school – another rich source of material for the stories. Time to start writing novels.
Round Ringford became Ann’s village in a series of six novels, each with a separate story, but featuring the same cast of characters with a few newcomers each time. The list of books gives details of each story, and each features an issue common to all villages in our rural countryside. “Just like our village!” is a frequent comment from Ann’s readers.
Next: the Lois Meade Mysteries, each title reflecting a day of the week. Ann has always loved detective fiction, and determined to make it her next series. So Murder on Monday was born, followed by Terror on Tuesday, and Weeping on Wednesday. The rest of the week follows!
Mornings are set aside for writing, and the rest of the day Ann spends walking the dog, retrieving bantams’ eggs from around the garden, gossiping and taking part in the life of the village. She is never bored!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
June 19, 2018
Wow! That plot twist at the end!! I was shocked and I read a lot of mysteries lol. Loved how it ended.
March 26, 2010
Although the murder happened on page two, this cozy-mystery took a while to get going. But I liked the setting of a small English village with ordinary people, some of them hiding not-so-ordinary secrets. And Lois Meade is in the perfect position, as the person who cleans their houses, to find out some unsavory secrets as she helps the local constabulary. I really liked that the author made the Inspector a caring and intelligent person, and not the usual incompetent who needs the amateur sleuth to figure things out for him.
March 30, 2012
What makes a mystery only a 1 star book? Hmmmmm Perhaps its because you very much dislike the main character . . . and her husband and kids were completely annoying. Maybe because the police were totally bland and the many suspects all completely dull! Of course, the fact no one could add 2 and 2 and come up with 4 might have had something to do with it. And last but not least, the conclusion was completely ridiculous!
December 16, 2009
Is this a cozy mystery? By the definition of a cozy:
"The crime-solver in a cozy mystery is usually a woman who is an amateur sleuth. Almost always, she has a college degree, whether she is using it or not. Her education and life’s experiences have provided her with certain skills that she will utilize in order to solve all the crimes that are “thrown her way.” The cozy mystery heroine is usually a very intuitive, bright woman. The occupations of the amateur sleuths are very diverse: caterer, bed and breakfast owner, quilter, cat fancier/owner, nun, gardener, librarian, book store owner, herbalist, florist, dog trainer, homemaker, teacher, needlepoint store owner, etc. These are just a few examples of what the amateur sleuth does…. When she’s not solving crimes, that is!
The cozy mystery usually takes place in a small town or village (click here to read more on the village setting). The small size of the setting makes it believable that all the suspects know each other.
Although the cozy mystery sleuth is usually not a medical examiner, detective, or police officer, a lot of times her best friend, husband, or significant other is. This makes a very convenient way for her to find out things that she would otherwise not have access to… Do you know any caterers or dog trainers who have access to autopsy reports? I don’t!
At the same time, it is probably safe to say that the local police force doesn’t take the amateur sleuth very seriously. They dismiss her presence, almost as if she doesn’t exist. This of course, makes it convenient for her to “casually overhear” things at the scene of a crime.
Cozy mysteries are considered “gentle” books… no graphic violence, no profanity, and no explicit sex. Most often, the crime takes place “off stage” and death is usually very quick. Prolonged torture is not a staple in cozy mysteries! The victim is usually a character who had terrible vices or who treated others very badly. Dare I say…. the victim “deserved to die?” And, there are usually connections between the victims (if indeed there are multiple victims… which usually, in a cozy mystery, there are!), even though the reader is not aware of the obvious connections until the amateur sleuth solves the crimes.
Sex (if there is any) is always behind closed doors. It is implied…. at most! Two characters may go from having a late-night, romantic dinner to----fast forward----one person taking a cup of coffee up to their partner, who is enjoying the delicious luxury of sleeping in. Enough said!
Cozy mysteries tend to be fast-paced, with several twists and turns throughout each book. There are usually several red herrings to provide distracting clues to the reader. The amateur sleuth is able to sift through the clues, tossing the useless information out while analyzing the good clues. There is a lot of puzzle solving involved in a cozy mystery.
The cozy mystery puts an emphasis on plots and character development. You definitely could not convert a cozy mystery novel into an “action movie” with a lot of car chases and young, gratuitously topless actresses! An expression comes to mind that could easily differentiate the cozy mystery from other types of mysteries…………. “Brains over Brawn” every time."
This series meets all those requirements. And yet ... the main character is brusque, doesn't tend to form close personal relationships with anyone outside her immediate family, and has become an amateur detective out of necessity rather than by inclination. Most of the other cozies I've read and loved have given me that "cozy feeling". This one doesn't. It's well written, interesting, good character development, etc. But it doesn't give me that "hot chocolate by the fire in the cottage in the Cotswold village" that so many other cozies do. And that's why I read cozies -- I like that feeling. That being said, I intend to read the rest of the series (there are only 7, one for every day of the week).
"The crime-solver in a cozy mystery is usually a woman who is an amateur sleuth. Almost always, she has a college degree, whether she is using it or not. Her education and life’s experiences have provided her with certain skills that she will utilize in order to solve all the crimes that are “thrown her way.” The cozy mystery heroine is usually a very intuitive, bright woman. The occupations of the amateur sleuths are very diverse: caterer, bed and breakfast owner, quilter, cat fancier/owner, nun, gardener, librarian, book store owner, herbalist, florist, dog trainer, homemaker, teacher, needlepoint store owner, etc. These are just a few examples of what the amateur sleuth does…. When she’s not solving crimes, that is!
The cozy mystery usually takes place in a small town or village (click here to read more on the village setting). The small size of the setting makes it believable that all the suspects know each other.
Although the cozy mystery sleuth is usually not a medical examiner, detective, or police officer, a lot of times her best friend, husband, or significant other is. This makes a very convenient way for her to find out things that she would otherwise not have access to… Do you know any caterers or dog trainers who have access to autopsy reports? I don’t!
At the same time, it is probably safe to say that the local police force doesn’t take the amateur sleuth very seriously. They dismiss her presence, almost as if she doesn’t exist. This of course, makes it convenient for her to “casually overhear” things at the scene of a crime.
Cozy mysteries are considered “gentle” books… no graphic violence, no profanity, and no explicit sex. Most often, the crime takes place “off stage” and death is usually very quick. Prolonged torture is not a staple in cozy mysteries! The victim is usually a character who had terrible vices or who treated others very badly. Dare I say…. the victim “deserved to die?” And, there are usually connections between the victims (if indeed there are multiple victims… which usually, in a cozy mystery, there are!), even though the reader is not aware of the obvious connections until the amateur sleuth solves the crimes.
Sex (if there is any) is always behind closed doors. It is implied…. at most! Two characters may go from having a late-night, romantic dinner to----fast forward----one person taking a cup of coffee up to their partner, who is enjoying the delicious luxury of sleeping in. Enough said!
Cozy mysteries tend to be fast-paced, with several twists and turns throughout each book. There are usually several red herrings to provide distracting clues to the reader. The amateur sleuth is able to sift through the clues, tossing the useless information out while analyzing the good clues. There is a lot of puzzle solving involved in a cozy mystery.
The cozy mystery puts an emphasis on plots and character development. You definitely could not convert a cozy mystery novel into an “action movie” with a lot of car chases and young, gratuitously topless actresses! An expression comes to mind that could easily differentiate the cozy mystery from other types of mysteries…………. “Brains over Brawn” every time."
This series meets all those requirements. And yet ... the main character is brusque, doesn't tend to form close personal relationships with anyone outside her immediate family, and has become an amateur detective out of necessity rather than by inclination. Most of the other cozies I've read and loved have given me that "cozy feeling". This one doesn't. It's well written, interesting, good character development, etc. But it doesn't give me that "hot chocolate by the fire in the cottage in the Cotswold village" that so many other cozies do. And that's why I read cozies -- I like that feeling. That being said, I intend to read the rest of the series (there are only 7, one for every day of the week).
June 13, 2012
Not the type of book I usually read (or even think about) a "cozy"--a mystery set in an English village populated by odd but lovable people who fill time and space while the protagonist--generally a woman, almost never a police officer or private detective--solves a murder while going about her normal live in the village.
In Purser's series Lois Meade is cut from a different cloth than typical cozy heroine. She is a working class woman--the class divisions in semi-rural England are part of the narrative--with a family that she helps to support by working as a cleaning woman--although not in her village since her children would just die of embarrassment if their mom cleaned the house of one of their schoolmates. Her husband is a self-employed electrician who has to hustle for work from contractors and homeowners. They enjoy each other a lot although there have been complications, for example when Lois lost interest in sex for months after the birth of their third child. They have the usual difficulties and joys of raising a family, especially their daughter the oldest of the three and aching to grow up, or at least be able to drink, experiment with drugs and have sex like the other fourteen year-olds that are her friends.
It is the English village mystery redone from a working class, harried parent, difficult spouse perspective. In keeping with the most basic structure of the genre Lois finds out information that the police can't get or don't see the value of and winds up pinpointing the killer.
In Purser's series Lois Meade is cut from a different cloth than typical cozy heroine. She is a working class woman--the class divisions in semi-rural England are part of the narrative--with a family that she helps to support by working as a cleaning woman--although not in her village since her children would just die of embarrassment if their mom cleaned the house of one of their schoolmates. Her husband is a self-employed electrician who has to hustle for work from contractors and homeowners. They enjoy each other a lot although there have been complications, for example when Lois lost interest in sex for months after the birth of their third child. They have the usual difficulties and joys of raising a family, especially their daughter the oldest of the three and aching to grow up, or at least be able to drink, experiment with drugs and have sex like the other fourteen year-olds that are her friends.
It is the English village mystery redone from a working class, harried parent, difficult spouse perspective. In keeping with the most basic structure of the genre Lois finds out information that the police can't get or don't see the value of and winds up pinpointing the killer.
March 2, 2014
Lois Meade has taken on some cleaning jobs in a neighboring village to help her family financially. But when a murder disrupts the village, her clients become suspects. Will she pick up clues to help find the killer? Despite (or because of) some flaws, I liked Lois. However, the plot started slowly and never really gained speed. I was glad to be finished with this one.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
November 11, 2020
Lois Meade house cleaner, has 5 clients; one each morning in Long Farnden, a neighboring village from her family home. When a woman on the same street as her clients is murdered Lois is in a particular position to be of assistance to the police. As she gathers tidbits and discusses the case with her contacts, her uneasy relationship with them brings out secrets in her own family. An eerie friend of her 14 year old daughter is stirring up more anxiety. The murderer was a bit of a surprise but I'm a little ambivalent with the main characters. I think I will need to read another to decide if I'm going to pursue the whole series.
June 15, 2022
"Murder on Monday" is a traditional English cozy in a contemporary setting. As a reader, I'm torn: the story was good but it was the author's choice to highlight the protagonist's family life that made me really appreciate this book.
On the one hand I find this kind of character development in a sub-genre known more for plot than character development refreshing. While Purser certainly isn't the only cozy author to stretch the boundaries of character development (Carolyn Hart, Alan Bradley, Charlaine Harris, etc.) it is particularly well done.
One the other hand, protagonist Lois Meade and her brood are presented so realistically and sympathetically that they nearly overshadow the plot. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series, but I find myself hoping that Purser found a way to balance character development and plot in the subsequent installments.
On the one hand I find this kind of character development in a sub-genre known more for plot than character development refreshing. While Purser certainly isn't the only cozy author to stretch the boundaries of character development (Carolyn Hart, Alan Bradley, Charlaine Harris, etc.) it is particularly well done.
One the other hand, protagonist Lois Meade and her brood are presented so realistically and sympathetically that they nearly overshadow the plot. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series, but I find myself hoping that Purser found a way to balance character development and plot in the subsequent installments.
August 22, 2020
Finished 30th March 2009
Another book in the style of Miss Marple, Agatha Raisin. When a lady of the village of Long Farnden Lois Mead, Cleaning company owner and part-time detective decides to do her own investigating into local crime, getting herself into various scrapes. An enjoyable light read.
Another book in the style of Miss Marple, Agatha Raisin. When a lady of the village of Long Farnden Lois Mead, Cleaning company owner and part-time detective decides to do her own investigating into local crime, getting herself into various scrapes. An enjoyable light read.
December 13, 2011
This one was kind of different for a cozy.
September 9, 2025
I just couldn’t connect with or enjoy any of the characters. Derek pokes at his wife to deliberately rile her up then grins and takes off, Lois keeps threatening to quit her cleaning jobs knowing her employers would struggle to replace her, not to mention all the suspects. They’re all horrid. I’m also still not clear as to why a woman who needs her mother to help with the kids daily because she is unable to manage the morning cleaning jobs and getting the kids to school and mentions how much they need the money would apply for a volunteer special constantly position. It’s often mentioned that Lois is busy and needs the paying jobs but still thinks she’ll have time? Honestly only finished because of a reading challenge.
October 30, 2024
I enjoyed this book enough to label it a great and unexpected find. Truly liked the characters and settings and the fact that the 'mystery' (cozy or not) takes a back seat did not bother me in the slightest. This was instead, to me, reminiscent of The Casual Vacancy and that is not small praise! I will definitely be reading more.
December 1, 2021
Most of the characters are really unlikable. Lois is rude and obnoxious. The one thing I did like was that I did not figure out who the murderer was or why until it was revealed. A lot of it was so unreal as to not be believable.
January 4, 2021
Not bad for the first book. The writing itself was good but the book overall seemed very slow moving to me, except the end and then it got exciting.
July 30, 2013
You don't need to go out of your way to read this. As far as mysteries go, it got off to a slow start. About half-way through it picked up a bit and ended on a higher note. I was hoping to find another mystery series I like. I will probably read Murder on Tuesday before I make that determination.
Lois Meade, house cleaner and sleuth wannabe, is the main character. I found her to be pretty bland, along with her husband, her children and her clients. As I said, it got better as it went, and hopefully the characters will develop some spunk in subsequent books.
Lois Meade, house cleaner and sleuth wannabe, is the main character. I found her to be pretty bland, along with her husband, her children and her clients. As I said, it got better as it went, and hopefully the characters will develop some spunk in subsequent books.
July 21, 2021
I'm surprised this isn't a British series on television. The cast of characters are interwoven in classic British style but their connections are so interesting as the story moves forward. My favorite part is on page 106 "Nothing on the face of it, but there was something very funny going on there. Possible trouble between doctor and wife? Old secrets, still festering? Lois smiled. That was a good word. Things rotting under the surface. Villages were like that, in Lois's considerable experience. All thatched cottages and roses round the door on the surface, but like a muck heap underneath."
December 1, 2008
This book was a real disappointment. The motivation of the characters, the cohesiveness of the plot were at best weak and often senseless or non-existent. The police looked like amateurs and the main character seemed a lost and a bit of a fool.
Of course the author is to blame. I do not expect I will be reading the Tuesday installment of this series.
Of course the author is to blame. I do not expect I will be reading the Tuesday installment of this series.
January 22, 2014
The story rambled a bit, but I liked Lois for the most part. WTH was up with Derek though?
January 13, 2009
This works well as a modern day Miss Marple sort of thing and I liked the main character, but I found her relationship with her husband (he forbids her to take a job that interests her? he threatens her?) and the general, accepted sexism hard to take.
February 16, 2011
Takes a minute to get into the narrative of this book. The first person narrative is British - so some words are different as are the meanings of some words. Fun read who -dun-it. The first in a series
April 25, 2012
I was hoping this would be my next go-to English mystery series, but was not overly impressed. The mystery was easily solved well before the end and none of the characters were very likeable, including the main one. I will give the rest of the series a miss.
June 2, 2024
Needed something to read while on a trip and only had this available. Not very good. Main character a snoop if course. Worst was the sexist attitude of "husbands will wander, what you gonna do?" acceptance of infidelity. Nope. Not acceptable. Certainly not so easily forgiven.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2020
It is interesting to read the first in a series of books after having read a half dozen out of order. How it all began.
April 27, 2024
#BernardReads | BOOK REVIEW 📚
Murder on Monday by #AnnPurser 🏘️
I first read this book, which I actually borrowed from my college friends (shout out to Erica, I'll give it back after hahahah), more than a decade ago. I remember not finishing it because I got busy with my thesis.
But now, as an adult, I can understand more this #cozymystery novel about a clean-up lady who decided to get involved with a murder case with her position knowing all the gossip in the neighborhood, which sounds to me is a compelling premise.
I actually thought, since we're used to "Marites" here in the Philippines, what if they decided to help in crime investigations?
Right and right there at the beginning, we are introduced to the adult and parenting life of the protagonist, Lois Meade. There are already a lot of responsibilities she manages.
As an adult, I can now understand a lot of subtle things that went passed me when I was young reading it. The adult humor. Even family members are hilarious, like the kids of Lois, our clean-helper protagonist.
Good thing is that she is also an interesting character. She's not Mary Sue. She has quips for things she wants to get and I like it. For example, being curious and subtle and asking for gossip. Haha.
The introduction, though, of different families and characters wasn't easy as I had to juggle them 'cause I knew that it would matter for the mystery plot, of who's who.
The mystery behind neighbors, and their quirky characteristics, were as entertaining as Lois' Parenting 101. All of the characters have flaws and that was a great ingredient for drama.
I laugh at Lois' quips too many times. Loved that she has flaws but also strengths as a character, delving into the mystery petal by petal, while managing her family as well, while drinking a cup of tea. By the third act, everything got more interesting and juicier as the plot now involved our protagonist's family. Yet the author still tackles different familial issues as mature as possible. I felt bad for some of the characters even though they also have flaws. That's the point then.
With the turning of events then, I'm not comfortable yet with how they handle marital affairs as one of the topics here.
If I was Lois, the main character of the story, I don't know how I could handle all the information, intrigue, and emotions, related to other people's lives as well as her family's.
Many times I said to myself that I wanted to finish this book already because I wanted to know how it would all tie up in the end. Such an effective cozy mystery though.
One main concern for me would be the long time the police had to investigate who the killer was. Maybe that's how it was back then in a small village.
The final twist, although it crossed my mind once or twice in the earlier part of the story, was still effective. Even though, I'm not fully satisfied with the climax and how they handle some of the issues.
Overall, it was cozily entertaining. I felt the danger and the intrigue. I would want to read the continuation of how #LoisMeade, a cleaner, a wife, and a mother, would snoop—I mean help other businesses and potentially crimes. Haha.
#murderonmonday #bookreview #bookrecommendations #BookWorm
Murder on Monday by #AnnPurser 🏘️
I first read this book, which I actually borrowed from my college friends (shout out to Erica, I'll give it back after hahahah), more than a decade ago. I remember not finishing it because I got busy with my thesis.
But now, as an adult, I can understand more this #cozymystery novel about a clean-up lady who decided to get involved with a murder case with her position knowing all the gossip in the neighborhood, which sounds to me is a compelling premise.
I actually thought, since we're used to "Marites" here in the Philippines, what if they decided to help in crime investigations?
Right and right there at the beginning, we are introduced to the adult and parenting life of the protagonist, Lois Meade. There are already a lot of responsibilities she manages.
As an adult, I can now understand a lot of subtle things that went passed me when I was young reading it. The adult humor. Even family members are hilarious, like the kids of Lois, our clean-helper protagonist.
Good thing is that she is also an interesting character. She's not Mary Sue. She has quips for things she wants to get and I like it. For example, being curious and subtle and asking for gossip. Haha.
The introduction, though, of different families and characters wasn't easy as I had to juggle them 'cause I knew that it would matter for the mystery plot, of who's who.
The mystery behind neighbors, and their quirky characteristics, were as entertaining as Lois' Parenting 101. All of the characters have flaws and that was a great ingredient for drama.
I laugh at Lois' quips too many times. Loved that she has flaws but also strengths as a character, delving into the mystery petal by petal, while managing her family as well, while drinking a cup of tea. By the third act, everything got more interesting and juicier as the plot now involved our protagonist's family. Yet the author still tackles different familial issues as mature as possible. I felt bad for some of the characters even though they also have flaws. That's the point then.
With the turning of events then, I'm not comfortable yet with how they handle marital affairs as one of the topics here.
If I was Lois, the main character of the story, I don't know how I could handle all the information, intrigue, and emotions, related to other people's lives as well as her family's.
Many times I said to myself that I wanted to finish this book already because I wanted to know how it would all tie up in the end. Such an effective cozy mystery though.
One main concern for me would be the long time the police had to investigate who the killer was. Maybe that's how it was back then in a small village.
The final twist, although it crossed my mind once or twice in the earlier part of the story, was still effective. Even though, I'm not fully satisfied with the climax and how they handle some of the issues.
Overall, it was cozily entertaining. I felt the danger and the intrigue. I would want to read the continuation of how #LoisMeade, a cleaner, a wife, and a mother, would snoop—I mean help other businesses and potentially crimes. Haha.
#murderonmonday #bookreview #bookrecommendations #BookWorm
July 7, 2020
“Murder on Monday” (#1 in the Lois Meade Mysteries) by Ann Purser ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Cozy mystery. Location: rural England. Time: present.-
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Lois Meade cleans houses for 5 clients in Long Farnden, a village near her town. Her husband is a local electrician. They have 2 young boys and a 14-year-old girl who thinks she’s grown. Now her Long Farnden clients are involved in a murder and Lois thinks she has a unique opportunity to figure out what happened. This leads to suspicions and secrets among all the clients.-
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Meanwhile, Lois’ 14-yr-old is increasingly enamored of an older boy who seems polite and respectful; but Lois’ instinct tells her something is not right there. As she tries to talk reason into her child (which is hardly possible with a 14-year-old in the throes of first love), the murder case and the boyfriend problem both become dangerous and possibly deadly.-
-
This cozy mystery is somewhat unique because the protagonist is not wealthy, upper-class, connected to society, or the owner of a quaint shop like so many in this genre. That’s actually somewhat refreshing. She’s also not particularly likable-alert and clever and no-nonsense, but not sweet and likable. That’s also refreshing.-
-
The book starts out quite slow, and I debated continuing it. But I persevered, and it got livelier about half way through. At first I thought I would just read this book (there are 14 in the series), but now I think I’ll read at least the second because I want to know what happens to the Meade family next.🌵📚👩🏼🦳”
-
Lois Meade cleans houses for 5 clients in Long Farnden, a village near her town. Her husband is a local electrician. They have 2 young boys and a 14-year-old girl who thinks she’s grown. Now her Long Farnden clients are involved in a murder and Lois thinks she has a unique opportunity to figure out what happened. This leads to suspicions and secrets among all the clients.-
-
Meanwhile, Lois’ 14-yr-old is increasingly enamored of an older boy who seems polite and respectful; but Lois’ instinct tells her something is not right there. As she tries to talk reason into her child (which is hardly possible with a 14-year-old in the throes of first love), the murder case and the boyfriend problem both become dangerous and possibly deadly.-
-
This cozy mystery is somewhat unique because the protagonist is not wealthy, upper-class, connected to society, or the owner of a quaint shop like so many in this genre. That’s actually somewhat refreshing. She’s also not particularly likable-alert and clever and no-nonsense, but not sweet and likable. That’s also refreshing.-
-
The book starts out quite slow, and I debated continuing it. But I persevered, and it got livelier about half way through. At first I thought I would just read this book (there are 14 in the series), but now I think I’ll read at least the second because I want to know what happens to the Meade family next.🌵📚👩🏼🦳”
November 18, 2018
This is an author that I had not previously noticed . I saw her name in a Goodreads Friend's list and looked up her work. I found this series about a quintessentially English village and being a quintessentially English village sort of guy, this appealed to me. If anyone reading this has lived in any English village then I am sure that they will recognise some of the characters.
This is an interesting way to tell the story, ie through the eyes of someone who cleans for several of the main characters. Several clues are revealed to the reader quite early on in the book but they are left in a quzndry as to whether our Lois has realised their significance or not, or are they rather obvious red herrings put in just for the readers benefit.
As the story progresses many other motives are suggrsted and there is certainly no shortage of suspects. I admit to not guessing the neat ending which tied up all of the loose ends.
An easy enough read but there seemed to be something missing in the telling of the story. I am not inclined to continue the series.
This is an interesting way to tell the story, ie through the eyes of someone who cleans for several of the main characters. Several clues are revealed to the reader quite early on in the book but they are left in a quzndry as to whether our Lois has realised their significance or not, or are they rather obvious red herrings put in just for the readers benefit.
As the story progresses many other motives are suggrsted and there is certainly no shortage of suspects. I admit to not guessing the neat ending which tied up all of the loose ends.
An easy enough read but there seemed to be something missing in the telling of the story. I am not inclined to continue the series.
January 2, 2026
Lois Meade, wife and mother of three, has taken on some part-time cleaning jobs for some folks in the nearby village of Long Farden: the local vicar, the community nurse, the local GP and his wife, a shop-owner and her husband, a lecherous professor and his long-suffering spouse... When a Long Farden spinster with ties to many of these people is strangled in the village hall, Lois finds herself in a perfect position to ferret out the murderer. The police recruit her to assist them in their investigations, a position not without danger to Lois and her family. Meanwhile, she and her husband Derek must deal with their 14-year-old daughter Josie's involvement with a slightly-older boy with unsavory companions. -- This book is lacking some intangible something. The setting is well-rendered and most of the characters (Lois in particular) are well-drawn. The mystery itself is intriguing and resolved in a satisfactory manner. There are bits of humor. But the novel as a whole does not gel, at least for this reader. The book is first of a series; I'm not sure I will continue with it.
November 25, 2017
I bought this on impulse at a used book store. I'm not a huge reader of cozy mysteries, but I was in the mood for something less dark. The author is not a bad writer, and I like her conceit: the village sleuth is the part-time housekeeper from the council estate. I also like how this allows the author to explore things from a working class perspective. Unfortunately, I found the protagonist unlikeable and even somewhat unknowable. I could not get a handle on her personality. Sometimes prickly and confrontational, sometimes empathetic and warm. Oddly, I found the author's handling of some of the other characters in the story quite deft, especially the lonely, insecure vicar and the doctor's wife who is haunted by a stillbirth. The other flaw, I think, is that the protagonist doesn't really solve the crime. She stumbles upon a few clues, that are pulled together when the murderer is revealed by other means.
April 26, 2021
Rich in detail which made it to be very slow-paced, but I’m glad I was patient enough to continue. I liked the second half of the book better because the chapters were leaving me on a cliffhanger, and made me finish the rest in one day. I liked that the book was not only revolving around the crime, it rather gives insight on each character. I just wish their emotions were more focused on. All the unfaithful and disgusting men in the book was for certain very frustrating, but more frustrating to me was their wives not knowing their own values. I can say the personalities of the characters barely developed as the book continued. Overall, I am glad I picked this book since it made me feel many different emotions, and the plot twist was for sure shocking!
May 8, 2022
This series was one of those books things that happen to biblioholics. I read the first two or three books in the series, and kept buying them as they came out, but was reading other things for years now. I'd forgotten all but the most cursory of plots points, mainly what was on the back of the book. I've moved away from cozies, after getting hooked on British mysteries. But, I was pleasantly surprised with this the first book in the series.
It bore little resemblance to a cozy, it was much more Midsomer Murders. The tight knit community with secrets abounding, in the most genteel way of course. It moved fast and was extremely scary at the end. I'm looking forward to the next one.
It bore little resemblance to a cozy, it was much more Midsomer Murders. The tight knit community with secrets abounding, in the most genteel way of course. It moved fast and was extremely scary at the end. I'm looking forward to the next one.
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