Jane Darrowfield Released and a #giveaway!

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The triple release launch party continues! To celebrate, I’m giving away a Snowden Family Clambake tote bag, a Kensington notebook, and a copy of Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody to one lucky commenter below.

Jane Darrowfield is my homage to Jane Marple. In bringing Jane into the twenty-first century and moving her to America I made a series of decisions.

  • Jane would be divorced, not never married.
  • Jane would have learned everything she needs to know about life in the bowels of Corporate America, and not in the village where she resides.
  • Jane would get paid for her efforts. She’s making a valuable contribution, improving people’s lives, and that deserves to be recognized by the way we keep score in our culture.
  • Old wouldn’t be so old. Though Jane has taken (a slightly early) retirement, she does not think of herself as old and nor do her friends. Of course, sometimes she does take advantage of the invisibility that late middle-age can confer on a woman, but usually she’s pretty confident and straight ahead. Her knees may hurt when she gardens and she’s trying to get used to the trifocals her optometrist has talked her into, but she’s still out there pitching.

I hope you enjoy Jane as a character and want to follow her adventures. I’ve just signed a contract for book 2 in the series, so Jane will go on.

Bonus reading:

Readers: How do you react to my description of Jane? Intrigued or wary? Leave a comment below for a chance to win.

Update: The winner has been chosen and notified.

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Published by Barbara Ross

Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com

141 Thoughts

  2. So excited another Jane Darrowfield book is coming! I love your description of how you’ve adapted Miss Marple for our time.

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  3. I am very intrigued by the description.. Defiantly makes me want to read more. Congratulations on the release.

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  5. Interesting description of Jane. Curious to read and see how she stands up against other sleuths.

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  8. I’ve been waiting very patiently for this release, Barbara, congratulations!!! 🙂 p.s. So glad to hear that book 2 is already in the works!

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    1. I was so excited to post that I forgot to answer the question, lol. I applaud your take on her – I think your version of Jane is absolutely what the much beloved Miss Marple would be in a modern, American world. My question is does she have children, or your version of Raymond West? 🙂

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  9. This sounds fun! I am not sure that Miss Marple ever called herself a busybody though 😀

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  14. I am intrigued and can’t wait to get to know Jane better. I’ll read anything Barbara Ross writes!

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  15. I think she sounds like a real slice of how America and how many middle-aged women are now. It’s nice to see someone that is just a little older and much wiser not being taken for granted and finding success in what she loves to do. Congratulations on the new series.

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  19. I think intrigued is the right word. I love the “old” Miss Marple, so it might be better for me to try not to compare them, but just to enjoy each as an individual. Looking forward to get a chance to do so.

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  20. Miss Marple was my intro to all things Agatha Christie! I can still see the yellowed copy of Sleeping Murder from the school library! Of course, my dad quickly explained I was starting at the end! Looking forward to meeting your Jane, thanks for the chance to win!

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    1. Miss Marple was a gateway for me to a love of mysteries as well. I’ve reread several of them recently as a part of this process and they hold up amazingly well.

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  23. Excited to read your new venture! Maybe Jane will give me the inspiration that I need to retire (sometimes I think working makes me feel like I’m more a part of society, weird…right?). Thanks for the chance to enter the contest!

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  25. As I’ve confessed before, I haven’t read much Christie, and my knowledge of Miss Marple is especially limited. However, your comparison makes perfect sense to me.

    Loved this book! So glad you are working on book 2.

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  26. I’ve been intrigued by her description since the first time I read it. You have given her some “chops” (whatever that really means 😉 ). She’s not just some confused old lady butting in. Excited to read this and congrats!

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  28. Oh my gosh, I would love to win! I always enjoyed Agatha Christie, so this series sounds like fun. I’m about to start your Clambake Mysteries – I’m looking forward to reading all your books!

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  29. I can easily relate to Jane. I have retired from two occupations, learned many things in corporate American and the military. Never have I lived for an extended period (over 3 years) in the same community until recently. Would love to win & read this story.

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  36. Have not read these books yet but am very intrigued by Jane. Really would like to read them! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  37. I love this series by Barbara Ross and look forward to each new one that comes out. Your Jane character is my type of main character. She takes care of her family and their family business. This is what is wrong with people today – it’s all them or nothing. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.

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  38. Actually she reminds me of more then half the old ladies in my family that I grew up with. Nosey as all get out just waiting to catch one of us misbehaving.

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  39. Barbara, Jane is a welcome addition to the genre and I am eager to read more about her. It’s great to have more diversity of characters across all identifiers- age, race, gender, etc. As a “Baby Boomer,” I applaud her creation. As a woman whose husband has dubbed her “The American Snooper” I look forward to picking up some tips! 🙂

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  41. looking foward to reading your books i LOVE finding new authors to follow thank you

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  42. I love Miss Marple and am happy she is your inspiration. I’m even happier that Jane is her own person. Miss Marple is so English and set in her own time.

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    1. True. Miss Marple is of a time (or several times, between the wars, during the war and post-war) and a place. I wanted to capture her spirit but not exactly her circumstances.

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  43. Most definitely intrigued! Love it that Miss Marple was your inspiration! This Jane sounds like someone I’d love to have as a next door neighbor. I love the Clambake series, and am so glad you’re already on to book 2 of Jane. Can’t wait to read this first installment!

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  45. Well since I am of and beyond that certain age, the Jane Darrowfield books sound delightful. I love the idea of middle aged and not too old or too young and even though Miss Marple was way older, she was cool too. It is more relatable to me at this point in my life. I will get online and order the first one now. I absolutely love your Maine Clambake books and have gotten two friends to read them also. We can’t wait for the new one to come out.

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  47. I am intrigued by Jane’s description. I love Barbara Ross’ books and would be ecstatic to win one of her books. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  48. I am really looking forward to this series – I love cozies, but the main characters are always young – thanks for the chance to win a book – it’s too new to be in my library yet

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    1. Older sleuths seem to have come back into fashion. Julia Henry writes one in her Garden Squad mysteries and Kaitlyn Dunnett writes one in her Deadly Edits series. As a new trend it is welcome!

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