S&S Book Club: Barbara Neely’s Blanche on the Lam
Carol, Tina & Lida chat about Jen’s pick: Barbara Neely’s Blanche on the Lam
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Why Jen Picked It
Barbara Neely is a celebrated African American mystery writer, and when her name came up at a recent Sisters in Crime Chicagoland meeting, I realized it was time for me to finally pick up one of her books, and I’m so glad that I did.
Neely’s first novel, Blanche on the Lam, follows Blanche, an African American domestic in the 1990s South who goes on the run after bouncing a check, and gets wrapped up in the sinister doings of a wealthy white family.
I’d read that Blanche was a funny, sassy heroine who spoke her mind, and she delivered. But what I really loved was being in Blanche’s head as she navigated a life where she’s expected to accept injustice and be invisible to her “betters.”
As a writer, I was in awe of Neely’s ability to get me invested in Blanche in just a few pages. By the end of the first chapter we learn Blanche is in court because an employer stiffed her. Blanche has the cash to make up for the check and a fine, but the white judge doesn’t let her speak. Claustrophobic Blanche is sentenced to prison, never mind that she has two children at home waiting for her. How could she do anything but run when she gets the chance?
As a reader, I knew Blanche was heading into disaster, but I was rooting for her every step of the way and laughing as I went. That takes a lot of skill for an author to pull off, and Neely achieves it.
Preparing for this article, I read more about Neely and learned that she didn’t set out to write mysteries. She was an activist who wanted to draw attention to issues of race, class, and gender, and to her surprise she found that the mystery genre was a great place to do it, as she could tackle tough subjects with humor and levity. She does it skillfully in my opinion, and I’m eager to know what others thought.
What Carol Thought
I got a kick out of the title when Jen first suggested Blanche on the Lam, and I’m so glad she did. I love this wonderful character. Blanche is smart, feisty, and brave. She knows who she is and is confident in the actions she takes. I rooted for her from the very beginning, and especially enjoyed being in her head.
I liked hearing the way she thinks, the way she approaches people, and how she navigates the challenging situations she finds herself in. Blanche has to be cleverer than the white “folks” she works for. It’s a sad observation of our society, but a realistic one.
The author, Barbara Neely, did a beautiful job making an impact with the social commentary without overwhelming the story. Blanche’s reality is there for the caring reader to experience and think about if they choose to do so. I plan on reading more of this series. Kudos to Barbara Neely for an enjoyable and thought-provoking mystery.
What Lida Thought
When Jen suggested Blanche on the Lam, like it was for Carol, the title was enough to entice me to read it. And like Jen, once I started reading, I was invested the whole way.
Blanche is resourceful, smart, and quick at seizing whatever opportunity crosses her path. She’s also an excellent judge of character, which comes from being regarded as an unintelligent outsider by her employers (little do they know). She’s got courage, spunk, and a streak of independence a mile long. All of which make Blanche the perfect amateur sleuth. I loved her interactions with “Mumsfield honey,” and the understanding she reaches at the end about their relationship.
Blanche is not your average heroine, which made this read a notch above most whodunits.
What Tina Thought
Blanche on the Lam has been a wonderful reading experience. It was a fun puzzle while also being a reminder of the inequities in our society.
What I enjoyed most was how clever and capable a sleuth Blanche is. The reason she is able to acquire information is the unfortunate reality that her class, her skin color, her gender and her servitude make her invisible as well as irrelevant to her employers and other white elites. She is underestimated repeatedly and that allows her more latitude and makes the story more fun for us. Her activism clearly shines through without dragging the story down to a lecture.
It is no wonder that Barbara Neely’s book struck a chord when it was released. I will continue to read this series as well.
