Rating: 
Summary: A Reasonably Good Cozy
Review: As seems the case with many mystery writers who focus on one or two repeating characters, Ellen Hart is focusing too much these days on the soap opera drama of Jane and Company, rather than a good yarn. Muddying the mystery of the building remodeling and it's connection to a murder, readers are faced with several frustrating conversations between Jane and the enigmatic Julia, who's secret we still don't know until the end of this book (and it's anticlimactic when all is said and done). I just don't believe it when Jane whines about not knowing what's going on and then decides to "put off" talking to Julia. It seems a flimsy device to drive the plot.Cornelia, as usual, is effervescent and a needed comic break, but even she cannot spare the agony in the middle of the book as Jane faces a binge into drunkeness, complete with accompanying depression and overdramatization. Perhaps Ms. Hart needs to write another Sophie book and get away from the horrendous troubles of Jane's life. At least Jane made the right decision in the end . . . .
Rating: 
Summary: Hunting the Witch
Review: Author Ellen Hart has been writing for several years and her work shows steady improvement. Her effortless use of language and structure make this a strong entry in the genre. This story is another in her Jane Lawless series. Lawless, a successful Twin Cities restauranteer, is the lesbian daughter of a prominent Saint Paul criminal attorney. These associations offer Hart a variable platform from which to plausibly launch Lawless's sometimes reluctant involvement in the investigation of murder and other crimes. The series also allows author Hart to explore the many similarities of the human condition, regardless of sexual orientation. In Hunting The Witch, several familiar themes crop up; greed, kickbacks, towering anger, blunt insensibility, and murder. The story opens as Jane is recovering from injuries received in a vicious attack on her person in her own home. She is staying with a close friend, physician Julia Martinson, in a cabin near Grand Rapids. Martinson is competing for Jane's emotional attention with a Minneapolis entrepreneur named Patricia Kastner. When Julia's private telephone line constantly intrudes on Jane's solitude and Julia is evasive about the frequent calls, Jane begins to have questions about the long-term possibilities of a relationship. In Minneapolis, Patricia Kastner is trying to raise money to rehab an important downtown building. Her plans are disrupted when the financial officer of a local investment syndicate is murdered. Two seemingly disparate and unconnected events, apparently linked to Jane Lawless in a casual way, gradually intertwine and weave together until Lawless and her stalwart if charmingly ditzy sidekick, Cordelia Thorn are stretched to the limits of their endurance and ability to solve the crimes and save their own lives. The book is well-paced and has a vibrant sense of place. Hunting The Witch is a worthy addition to the genre.
Rating: 
Summary: Another great one
Review: Ellen Hart writes one of the best series around. Her characters are rich and real, the plots full of lots of twists. I was waiting for her latest, and I certainly wasn't disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Lyme House Meets Gay Scream
Review: I did enjoy Ellen Hart's recent offering. However, I was dissapointed. I see this novel as an attempt to mix campy drama with slasher movie action. I found the whole, "he's gay, is he gay? do they think I am gay? I was never gay before?" dialog tirering. Too much dialog switching back and forth from beleiveable suspence to childish horror. This novel does not know what it wants to be when it grows up. People in Jane's arms dieing and everyday folks shooting guys with guns? There also seems to be a lot of (gender) stereo typing going on. For a more beliveable read I would recommend, "The intersection of law and desire" by Redmann minus the wacky ending. I hope Ms Hart will continue the series with more intelligence and depth.
Rating:
Summary: Lyme House Meets Gay Scream
Review: I did enjoy Ellen Hart's recent offering. However, I was dissapointed. I see this novel as an attempt to mix campy drama with slasher movie action. I found the whole, "he's gay, is he gay? do they think I am gay? I was never gay before?" dialog tirering. Too much dialog switching back and forth from beleiveable suspence to childish horror. This novel does not know what it wants to be when it grows up. People in Jane's arms dieing and everyday folks shooting guys with guns? There also seems to be a lot of (gender) stereo typing going on. For a more beliveable read I would recommend, "The intersection of law and desire" by Redmann minus the wacky ending. I hope Ms Hart will continue the series with more intelligence and depth.
Rating:
Summary: Lyme House Meets Gay Scream
Review: I did enjoy Ellen Hart's recent offering. However, I was dissapointed. I see this novel as an attempt to mix campy drama with slasher movie action. I found the whole, "he's gay, is he gay? do they think I am gay? I was never gay before?" dialog tirering. Too much dialog switching back and forth from beleiveable suspence to childish horror. This novel does not know what it wants to be when it grows up. People in Jane's arms dieing and everyday folks shooting guys with guns? There also seems to be a lot of (gender) stereo typing going on. For a more beliveable read I would recommend, "The intersection of law and desire" by Redmann minus the wacky ending. I hope Ms Hart will continue the series with more intelligence and depth.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER WINNER FOR HART.
Review: I HAVE FOLLOWED THE ADVENTURS OF JANE LAWLESS FROM BOOK ONE AND REALLY ENJOY HER AND CORDELIA. THIS BOOK STAYS TRUE TO THAT RELATIONSHIP.THE STORY IS AS USUAL COMPELLING. I AM HOWEVER FRUSTRATED BY JANE AND JULIA'S RELATIONSHIP. HART SHOULD READ J.M. REDMANN ON HOW TO KEEP A RELATIONSHIP GROWING. JANE SUFFERED A HEAD TRAUMA NOT AMNESIA. I DO HOWEVER ANTICIPATE THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF THIS SERIES.
Rating:
Summary: Hunting Which Witch?
Review: I love the Jane Lawless mysteries that Ellen Hart has been turning out for the last several years and can heartliy recommend this latest addition to the series. Thank God we finally find out what Julia's secret is because it was beginning to wear thin dragging this from book to book. While "Hunting the Witch" is an enjoyable read and well written (as Hart's books always are) it was simply too easy to figure out. I would like to see more focus on the mystery and less on the dysfunctional personal relationships in Jane's life. Also...did anyone understand the title? Really...? Not to be too negative...do read it and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. I guess I just needed to get a few of these thoughts out there as I just put the book down a couple of days ago! -Stacy Gibbs
Rating:
Summary: More Complex and Satisfying than any other Lawless mystery!
Review: I love the Jane Lawless series, I was hooked till the end, I had to stop myself from jumping ahead to figure it out. This book definitly had my emotions jumping I am so so so so upset about the ending!!!!!! I still can't believe it!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book definitly leaves you waiting for the next one
Review: I love the Jane Lawless series, I was hooked till the end, I had to stop myself from jumping ahead to figure it out. This book definitly had my emotions jumping I am so so so so upset about the ending!!!!!! I still can't believe it!!!!!
| 
