Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody

by Barbara Ross

Shortly after I reviewed the second book in the Jane Darrowfield Mystery Series as an ARC, the first book became available in my local library. Since I was reading a very intense, nonfiction book at that time, I decided to make Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody my nighttime reading. I find cozy mysteries help me unwind.

I stand by my recommendation that the second book in the series makes a good standalone. Although I enjoyed reading about Jane’s adventures in this book, I did not learn anything critical to my understanding of the second book. It was amusing, however, to learn how Jane met Harry, her love interest in this series. I was disappointed that there was not more information on her estrangement from her son whom she raised as a single mom. I’m hoping there will be a third book in the series that will address that issue which is quite painful for Jane.

In Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody, Jane is hired to find out what is going on at Walden Spring, a senior living community where some of the residents’ antics are more appropriate to high school cliques. At the request of the manager, she is temporarily living on the property when a murder occurs. She may even have witnessed the murderer walking across the golf course in the darkness of night. What could have motivated the murder? What is the real identity of the murder victim and who is his supposed wife who is living in the Alzheimer’s floor of the longterm care unit? There are lots of characters and entanglements along with suspicions and motives. Even Detective Alvarez from her hometown of Cambridge is on the scene acting in a limited capacity. So many puzzles and surprises! Just when the case seems solved, Jane brings up continuing suspicions and the action ramps back up.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery for a relaxing read. It won’t change your life, but it can provide a great escape.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #1 in the Jane Darrowfield Mystery Series

Publication: 2019—Kensington

Memorable Lines:

Marge took another hit of the Ben & Jerry’s…Jane left her on the couch in an eighty-four percent butterfat haze. That afternoon she’d seen three stages of grief—anger, denial, and ice cream.

The silver tea service and tiered china dishes were elaborate; they obviously hadn’t come from the Walden Spring corporate catering service….Why did we keep these things, Jane wondered. So appropriate to our Victorian grandmothers’ grandmothers, so out of place in a room that looked like a teachers’ lounge in an upscale high school.

Jane had observed this phenomenon before. If one called out “Mary!” or “Joseph!” in certain neighborhoods around Boston—in doctors’ offices, diners, grocery stores—half the people would turn their heads.