Jane Jeffrey's oldest son is growing up. He is graduating from high school and working part time at a local deli to earn some money. Jane thinks the only thing she needs to worry about Mike is that he be careful while driving the truck she gave him as a graduation present. But when obnoxious attorney Robert Stonecipher is murdered at the opening party for the deli, she's not sure she wants Mike working there. But he insists he'll be okay and Jane relents. When there is a second murder, Jane can't help investigating the deaths even if her boyfriend, homicide detective Mel VanDyne, doesn't like it. "Silence of the Hams" is yet another great cozy mystery by Jill Churchill. As always, what makes the Jane Jeffry series so enjoyable is not necessarily the mystery but the details about Jane's family life. Jane's kids are growing up as the series progresses and Mike especially has grown. With his father's death he considers himself the man of the house and Jane is learning to treat him as an adult. Some of the best scenes in the book involve Mike, either directly or indirectly. One of those scenes is when Jane buys the truck for Mike. Her friend, Shelley Nowack, is great at wearing down the salesman and it is a very funny part of the book (wish I could take her with me next time I buy a car!) Equally well done is Mike's graduation party which sounds like a lot of fun. Jane's other children, Katie and Todd, are also well written, Katie especially so as she is going through the growing pains that come with being a teenager. Churchill does an excellent job of capturing the little things that make up life in the suburbs. The mystery itself is okay. Parts of it were a bit unbelievable and it's pretty clear from the beginning who the murderer is. But it's still a fun mystery to read. Cozy mystery fans will enjoy "Silence of the Hams".
Arrogant, presumptuous, pretentious and infuriating are just a few adjectives that come to mind while trying to describe lawyer Robert Stonecipher. Is it any wonder that no one is upset or surprised when his dead body is discovered under an overturned rack of hams at the grand opening of a neighborhood deli…. an establishment whose opening he had done his best to prevent. Within a day, another death occurs. Following in Stonecipher’s footsteps in death as she had in life is his assistant, Emma Weyrich, victim number two.Investigating police detective Mel VanDyne has his hands full. Not only does he have two dead bodies and enough suspects to sink the proverbial battleship, he also has a girlfriend named Jane, who along with her neighbor and gal pal Shelley, is bent on following the clues and solving the case. Readers will be amused by the harried homemakers as they add detective work to their varied array of domestic duties. Not big on plot, this diverting story is a quick and entertaining read. To quote Forrest Gump, Jane and Shelley go together like “peas and carrots”………….or maybe like ham on rye.
What do You think about Silence Of The Hams (1996)?
I got this at a book sale and it was the first book I'd read by this author. I had a difficult time beginning the book and keeping the various characters straight. I could see this is called a Jane Jeffry book, but Jane and her best friend are equally used throughout the book and almost either could be the main character. I know sometimes a series can feel repetitive by re-introducing the main characters, but in this case the book wasn't written very well to be the first book a reader picks in the series. I wasn't given an immediate reason to like or connect with Jane.Also, I didn't get a sense of time or setting from the first chapter. It would have helped to know it was set in the midwest - various words and phrases used aren't common on the East Coast. And I'm only guessing that it's set in the midwest because that's where it says the author is from - I'm not sure anything in the book specifies. It might not seem like it matters, but there are definitely some things that appeared "strange" to me that giving a setting would have explained (and then I wouldn't have given it a second thought).For a "murder mystery" it definitely tries to be pleasant about it - no blood, no mess. And it seemed a little forced at times why Jane is bothering to investigate - various reasons are given but none are that compelling. I never felt like she had any investment in finding the killer, and there was never any sense that she was in danger.I did like the "mom" aspect to it and it seemed realistic - although most of it was done by "telling" instead of "showing." Only one of her children in this story seems to have any personality - her youngest seems to only be mentioned by name and is completely flat - I don't recall much if any dialogue with him. But maybe in other books more focus is given to the other children.
—Linda Famous
