Silence of the Hams (Jane Jeffry Mysteries, No. 7)

by Jill Churchill

Book Overview

Pompous, pig-headed attorney Robert Stonecipher is a major pain in the ham hocks. So no one is terribly upset when he's fatally mashed by a falling rock of hams at the new deli where suburban single... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380777169
• Release Date: July 1996
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.7" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Murder's Up at the Deli. Political Agenda Line Dance; Choreography of Fancy Footwork.

Jane Jeffry is one of my favorite mystery series characters; I return to her "world" when I need a reading treat I know I can count on. As many reviewers have noted about this series, the novels feel like visiting a couple friends in their homes. Opening a Jane & Shelley book and beginning to read is as easy and welcoming as opening a kitchen door from a neighbor's back porch and walking right in without needing to knock. You know these two friends will always have at least one shenanigan in contemplation or neighborhood issue to bat around over coffee and snacks or lunch, dinner, whatever. In SILENCE OF THE HAMS, neighborhood political economics are brewing from the base of a few haughty residents attempting to control the direction of life-and-livelihood of everyone in the area, and the plot pacing is especially natural and seamless as Jane and Shelley's involvement (along with the reader's) in the brew percolates and is intensified by a quickly dispatched murder of the most appropriate character to kill. As usual, I enjoyed the easy way Jane relates with her kids, friends, and significant other. Loved the entertaining sensitivity in which Jane & Shelley went about getting a new black pickup truck for Jane's son, Mike, and the way he responded to the gift. The plot in this one has a few unexpected twists midstream, reversing direction, in a sense, then beginning again at an unexpected point. With Jill's seamless scene maneuvering, the twists and abrupt new deals flow like, "Oh. Didn't expect that. Interesting." There's more deductive-reasoning-detecting dancing through this plot than previous ones; a lot of brain wracking for Jane, Shelley, & Mel stretches through easy-going, daily routine machinations. It feels almost as if this solving crimes deal has now become old hat, yet it's no less entertaining as a perk-along read. The surge in detecting in this offering intrigued me, especially as it was brought to a peak of fun with Jane & Shelly slithering into a delightfully silly tangent of suspects and motives, using formula letters (X, Y, Z, Q, P, S, K). You have to have been there (which you have the option to be, of course, by reading this one). At the culmination of the Gordian Knot of Alphabet bits, Shelly concludes: >> "I like it, Jane. Mel, we've solved it. You can probably still make your arrest this evening if you hurry." << <br /> <br />You can probably guess Mel's response, but you might want to read his exact words in reply to this Alphabet/Algebraic Formula discussion after Shelly capped it with the above statements. <br /> <br />I have my own guess guess for what may have brought on this major increase of detecting discussions in this particular novel in the Jeffry series. But, I'm not saying; wouldn't want to spoil your brain racking fun. <br /> <br />I enjoyed this surge of "who done it" conversations in HAM, driven by the intriguingly increased complexity of the mystery machinations; and I enjoyed as w

Fluffy, but fun

Jill Churchill never disappoints. Silence of the Hams continues the enjoyable Jane Jeffries series with Jane and Shelly investigating yet another murder in the wilds of suburbia. If you are looking for enduring literature, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a fun read, this is the right place.

Funny, entertaining, absorbing, well written!

Jane Jeffry, much beloved single mom and solver murder cases, takes time off from domestic chores and car pool duties, to probe yet another puzzling murder case. A much disliked neighborhood political figure is found dead under a pile of hams in the storeroom of a newly opened restaurant. And found by none other than our beloved Jane Jeffry! Clever yet endearingly klutzy, pretty yet never chic, Jane is never boring. Churchill has another winner here!

A must-read

As always, a delightfully, funny and entertaining book that will make you want to make a cup of hot tea, curl up with soft music and read from beginning to end in one sitting

Homemaker solves more than what's for dinner!

Jill Churchill's newest novel, starring the wonderful Jane Jeffry, is a wonderful way to take your mind off the humdrum and mundane happenings of everyday life. In this installment in the series, Jane and her best friend Shelley, solve the murder of a more-than-normally hated attorney at the opening of the town's newest business. A wonderful whodunnit, the mystery tends to take a backseat to the happenings of two friends who thoroughly enjoy each other's company. The happenings in Jane's and Shelley's life, and those around them, make for some outstanding reading and a lot of laughs. This book is well written, easy to fly through and a perfect addition to any collection. Mike Morris