A review by siria
Blanche on the Lam: A Blanche White Mystery by Barbara Neely

3.0

As a murder mystery, Blanche on the Lam is only so-so: a housekeeper in late 80s/early 90s rural North Carolina figures out that there's murder afoot in the household of her rich employers. The whodunnit is so obvious that the fact that there was no twist or subversion is what's really surprising. But for me the redeeming feature of this book is the voice that Barbara Neely gives to the main character, Blanche. A fat, dark-skinned, working-class Black woman, Blanche leaps off the page. She's observant, smart, and really clear-eyed about the world around her—she's less a detective in the traditional mystery mold than she is a woman who's trying to survive the circumstances she's found herself in. I'd definitely read more of this series, particularly if Neely managed to get a better grip on plotting as she went.

One caveat: where this book is really dated is in its treatment of one of the main characters, who has Down Syndrome. His portrayal, while intended to be positive, is rather cringe-inducing 30 years on.