So, moving right along with the identification of authors/book titles:
Anita asked us if we could identify this mystery series:
I’m trying to find the name of a mystery series about a single mom that cleans the houses of her rich friends, but she’s in disguise. I keep thinking she drives a VW Beetle and meets a widower with a daughter and then she realizes they dated in high school.
Thanks!
I’m hoping that one of you knows who Anita is searching for. I’ve read several mysteries with cleaning ladies as the sleuths, but this one does not sound familiar to me.
Thank you for your help!
Linda C says
Danna, I too hope someone knows who writes this series that Anita is asking about. This sounds like it could be a very good series.
Chris the Librarian says
Could it be Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neeley? I don’t remember much about it, except that the title character is on the run from the law for a minor offense (I don’t recall if there’s a diguise involved) and becomes a domestic worker.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Here’s hoping, Linda C…
Susan says
I don’t think it’s one of the Blanche books. But I do recognize that I’ve read in the last couple of years. However, I have absolutely no idea who the author is or what the title is. I remember liking it a lot because the central character grows a lot during the time covered by the novel. She becomes more thoughtful and wiser. She discovered important truths.
Gail W says
Is it the Dead End jobs by Elaine Viets? It doesn’t quite fit the bill come to think of it, but they are very funny. One of them, she’s a cleaner in a hotel. Helen is on the run from the law so she can only take dead end jobs.
Gail W says
There’s two others: Lily Bard series by Charlaine Harris and maybe more likely: Kathy Trocheck’s Callahan Garrity series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Gail, I’m pretty sure it’s not Charlaine Harris’ Lily Bard or Kathy Hogan Trocheck’s Callahan Garrity.
Here’s the theme for house cleaners: Cozy Mystery House Keepers, Cleaners, Maid Services, Laundromats…)
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
I agree, Danna. I love the Lily Bard series, but it doesn’t quite fit the description and the series did not go on very long at all. Charlaine moved off to paranormal and became quite famous for her Sookie Stackhouse books, which were made into a HBO series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
And, Maria, I believe that since Harris became so popular with her paranormal series, they have reissued her Aurora Teagarden and Lily Bard series. (Anyway, that’s what I sort of remember…)
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
We must find this series! It sounds wonderful!
Susie says
I love these questions! Is it Charlaine Harris’ Lily Bard (Shakespeare) series? She’s a cleaning lady by day? Or maybe Callahan Garrity?
Mel says
I’m just checking to see if anyone figured it out.I too vaguely remember the series.I thought it might have been Jill Churchill’s Jane Jeffries series, but I don’t think so….
I’ll check back tomorrow .
Penny says
Barbara Colley? With her character Charlotte LaRue? Her first book was Maid for Murder and it seems she does use disguises a lot. Once she tried disguising herself to get into a hospital ICU, but … no spoilers!
Here’s some of her LaRue books:
Polished Off
Death Tidies Up
Maid for Murder
Married to the Mop
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Penny, Barbara Colley may be the author for whom Anita is looking.