Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: In the past Jill Churchill has written humorous, cozy mysteries, starring Jane Jeffry and Shelley Nowack. Shelley accompanies Jane to a mystery writers conference, where potentially interesting characters are introduced. There is a poisoning, a head bashing, and a mysterious person who writes gossip. Jane, with the help of her lover Detective Mel, tries to solve the various "mysteries." This just doesn't work. When 100 pages were read and there still hadn't been a murder, and never was one, I should have put the book aside. I'm glad I got this one from the public library rather than purchasing it. Pass it by and hope for a better Jane Jeffry mystery next time.
Rating: 
Summary: Mystery lite
Review: Jane Jeffry and her friend Shelley decide to attend a writers' conference, since Jane has just finished her first novel and hopes to pick up some writing pointers and perhaps an agent or editor along the way. They become acquainted with one of their favorite authors, but also meet some less pleasant members of the writing fraternity. Among them are the chauvinistic critic Zac Zebra, and the obnoxiously aggressive Vernetta Strausmann who is pushing her self-published and poorly-written mystery. Also there is a woman who calls herself Ms. Mystery who listens in on people's conversations and then puts the gossip she gathers onto her website. When Zac is attacked and editor Sophie Smith becomes violently ill, Jane and Shelley's radar goes up and they begin to investigate. This book remarkably has no bloodshed or dead bodies, but the mysteries it does contain are not exactly riveting. Also this book lacks the laugh-out-loud humor which was so endearing in the earlier entries in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Much is missing
Review: One of the things I have enjoyed most in the earlier Jane Jeffry mysteries is the never ending supply of Mom-things that Jane attends to - the car pools, cleaning, cooking, shopping for necessities (as opposed to her purchase of a new wardrobe and a new vehicle in the same week in this book, for goodness sake). While taking care of her family and pets and inviting her honorary Uncle Jim to dinner, with frequent mention of her parents' role as diplomats, our heroine used to catch the culprit. That was all missing this time around, and did you note the incongruence of Katie cleaning Todd's room? Please - this is just not the Katie we've come to know as a typical teen. Who wrote this book?
Rating: 
Summary: Ackroyd & Almost Angst
Review: Sometimes we're given rare gifts with the effect of a cool drink of water to a soul in a desert.
Recently read a story about a Writer's Conference which came closer to where I live and fuel than eating does, especially when the story's a mystery written in the fun style of BELL, BOOK & SCANDAL
As my first dip into Jill Churchill's work, BELL, BOOK & SCANDAL shined forth immediately in a straight-forward, easy style, which gatewayed me into accompanying a couple friends to a mystery convention. Living vicariously with Jane and Shelley, I relished the luxury of their hotel suite, enjoyed sharing Jane's purchase of a new vehicle.
Tripping along contentedly in the "moments," I noticed in passing that the dark severity of most mysteries seemed to be "missing." Checking a few reader reviews on AMAZON.COM, I gathered that other Jane Jeffrey books are probably more complex or full-bodied than BB&S.
I agree with the reviews which appreciate this book for what it is:
It's a relaxing treasure of a light, fun, vicarious read gifting interesting info on the publishing industry, brilliantly highlighting its variety of stereotypes, exposing many of them as buffoons acting like cartoon caricatures. The book also gracefully develops a few adult professionals (author/Felicity, editor/Melody) set subtly within a sometimes false-fronted, puffed-up, ego-driven industry. A few hot shots in the entertainment world seem to forget how to step out of the ACT and into life. Maybe they don't know who they are under the skin, and don't want to. In an artful collection of deft strokes, Churchill exposed this gestalt, with ambience.
BB&S is a winner.
Agatha had her MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD, which broke the rules of detective fiction.
Jill has her BB&S, which relinquishes some of the typical strictures, relieving the intensity of murder and its investigation.
What's pursued well here, and lifted from its serious self-importance, is the publishing industry caricature which play-acts real-life while believing it is handing out The Answers to mere myrtles (mortals who happily ride ozone bubbles, giggling at those who elegantly embrace ennui).
Of course I also lapped up this plot because, in one sense, I'm in the position of Jane, though I've not attended a writer's conference. I feel socially and professionally inept in groups like that, and prefer hype at a distance. I'm also a black hole away from being financially flush.
After reading BB&S, however, and feeling confident to use Jane's genuine graciousness as a guiding example, for the first time, I'd consider taking my collection of finished mss to a writer's conference (it might even be great fun). I've been writing fiction mss full time since 1985, and was a high school English teacher prior to that. BB&S has surged my dream that I might make it with my career as a novelist one day.
My other favorite book about the industry is James Michener's THE NOVEL.
I thank Jill for infusing BB&S with delightful effervescence, hoping she hasn't let any criticism get to her. I believe BB&S was written exactly as it was meant to be.
While keeping this bright yellow paperback at the top of my collection, I'll probably purchase a hard copy after my own breakthrough (if, as the world turns, we haven't all fallen off by then).
I'm left pleasantly with the feeling of a breath of fresh air from BB&S's slight diversion from the mystery norm, having been entertained by more than the fascinating ironies within its tangent..
Speaking of tangents, I'm not ready to sign off this review yet. An emerging, subtle depth and complexity in BB&S has snuck up on me with a few residual DUH's in hand.
In early pages, and throughout the story Jill has developed various concepts of mystery, widening the scope of the word's multifaceted essence beyond the typical case of murder.
Jill made a brilliant leap out of the box to dramatize a perfect "whew"; to expose a "who-(almost)-done-it" with the sneakily implied question: How many of us have too closely escaped committing a catastrophe, in an unfortunate flash of anger, frustration, ignorance, or accident?
And, in the case of murder escapees: How many of us have come nightmarishly close to the path of a pathological killer, yet escaped unharmed?
Jill twists this perfect irony even further, bringing to life the dual characters of an almost-murderer and an almost-murdered who don't fully realize, nor even seem to care, to what extent they've been saved. It could be called genius to write a murder mystery focused on the situation of an "almost" crime from various viewpoints, while setting the scene at a mystery writer's conference.
And, of course the plotted convolutions in publishing games were interesting, especially the southern exposure of how easily a really awful book could get published, while an extraordinary mss could be shunned indefinitely.
As a writer having lived this plot with intense vicarious interest, I have a few questions:
Has Jill written a novel taking off from this one, developing the if/how, etc., of Jane getting her manuscript published? Was BB&S based on the story of how Janice Brooks (Jill Churchill's real name) got her first mystery accepted?
Having researched this industry somewhat, I believe that the situations and characters in BB&S reflect reality. I'm wondering, though, if the reflection is from a mirror, or a journal, wondering if much of this plot occurred as it was described, to someone, somewhere, sometime.
Speaking of truth coming to light in fiction, come to find out, the vast majority of Jill's fans loved the lighter (brighter?) style of BB&S. Discovering that fact renewed my faith in the intelligence and healthy entertainment capacity of the reading public.
BB&S is a fantastic accomplishment, Jill (or Janice)!
I'm off to AMAZON.COM as soon as possible, to post as much of the above rave as their review space limitations will allow. I wonder if I could post it as a series of small bites, in a dim-sum banquet?
Thank you, Jill, more than you'll ever know,
Linda G. Shelnutt
Rating:
Summary: a light read although not vintage Churchill
Review: Strangely enough I wasn't too terribly disappointed with Jill Churchill's "Bell, Book, and Scandal." Perhaps it's because after having suffered through "Mulch Ado About Nothing" and "The House of the Seven Mabels" my expectations were not too high. True enough, while this latest Jill Jeffry mystery novel is nothing compared to the earlier ones ("Grime and Punishment," "Farewell to Yarns," etc), it was not a terrible read either (and it was definitely on a higher level than anything on TV right now). Light and breezy, "Bell, Book and Scandal" kept me happily entertained until the last page. However, enjoyable though the book was, there were certain points about the book that did irk. For example, I really did think that the first few chapters that dealt with Jane's buying a new car was totally out of place in this novel. It really didn't contribute to the plot at all. And then there was the fact that as a mystery novel it really wasn't much of one -- there was no suspense or tension. And unlike Ms Churchill's earlier works where she more or less invites the reader to sleuth along with Jane and Shelley, the clues and suspects were in short supply so that any sleuthing was truly impossible. (It was also easy to figure out where one particular subplot was heading.) On the other hand, I did enjoy the bits about what goes on at a mystery conference, and what to expect if you're trying to get your book published. All in all, an entertaining 3 star read.
Rating:
Summary: Death by Dullness
Review: The early sparkle that was part of the Jane Jeffery's series has been missing in the last few of Jill Churchill's books. No longer is there the spark between the good friends that was evident in the first books of the series. It has now become "let's go shopping " in this book. And what of the tension between Jane and her detective heart throb? That has been relagated to conflict over faxing her a single page of a book. Oh my, how life dulls as you get comfortable with each other! If you are interested in becoming a writer, you can read this book. If you are interested in a mystery plot, give it a pass.
Rating:
Summary: A waste of time
Review: Tissue-thin plot, no character development, smarmy dialogue, sloppy writing, improbable circumstances. Is it significant that I fell asleep while reading this book? My only explanation for this book is that Churchill had a contractual obligation to fill and dashed the book off to fill it. Do not waste time or money on this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Spending time with Jane and Shelley
Review: Unlike most of the other reviewers of this book who gave it a low rating, I liked it very much and give it a high rating. I think it is refreshing to find a mystery book that does not involve a murder. I enjoyed spending time with Jane and Shelley in what I consider more normal circumstances. How many of us encounter a murder every few months? This book was about two women friends attending a mystery writers conference, the characters they meet, and two non-murder mysterious events. It did not have me on the edge of my seat or give me nightmares - thank goodness. It was an enjoyable, light read - no vulgar language, no vicious murder, no creepiness. I felt like I was reading about the activities of my own kind of friends - nice people who get involved, are curious, and like most women in this world, constantly change their minds! Jill Churchill took a chance writing this non-murder mystery and according to the majority of reviews, folks were not pleased. However, this happy reader enjoyed the breezy writing and the two every-day type of mysteries - and spending time with Jane and Shelley.
Rating:
Summary: lighthearted fun for fans of cozies and amateur sleuths
Review: When aspiring novelist Jane Jeffry gets a brochure in the mail about a writing conference coming to her town, her best friend and neighbor Shelley Novacks persuades her to go. Shelley also decides to attend. She and Jane register for the plush free suite that is available to the Novacks at all times. Jane is so motivated that she finally completes the mystery she has been working on for years.On the opening day of the conference, Jane meets one of her favorite writers who turns out to be a very sweet and friendly person. At the opening ceremony the speaker editor Sophie Smith falls ill and is rushed to the hospital where she has her stomach pumped. A little while later, Zac Zebra, writer turned reviewer, is found unconscious in the hotel parking lot. In between agent and editor conferences and seminars, and costume parties, Jane tries to figure out the link between the two incidents and who is responsible. It is always fun to read a new Jane Jeffry mystery and BELL, BOOK AND SCANDAL is strong evidence of why. The author captures the ambiance of a writers' convention to perfection, using it as the back drop for an enjoyable mystery. Fans of cozies and amateur sleuth who-done-its in which nobody is killed and no blood is shed will find this work charming and entertaining. The story line is lighthearted filled with humor and does not take itself too seriously. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Not up to Jill Churchill's usually charming standard.
Review: With a few exceptions, I agree heartily with everyone that has reviewed Bell, Book & Scandal. I was so shocked at the difference in writing style, lack of character development, and simple dialogue that I logged on to Jill Churchill's website to make sure she actually wrote this book. Well, she did, but you would never know in comparing it with her other books. Jill Churchill normally writes a well developed character-driven mystery with an emphasis on charm. How many authors could make suburban life and car pooling interesting? Don't bother with this one, but pick up Grime & Punishment or another of her earlier mysteries. I look forward to the old Jane.
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