So, the 2nd book is better than the 1st, and I enjoyed them both. Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door is the latest installment from Barbara Ross, and by finishing this one, I'm fully current on both of the author's series. I am now ready for her new releases in 2022.

I chose this book because I enjoyed the author's initial series, Maine Clambake Mysteries, and I read the first in this collection earlier in the week. I received this book from NetGalley last month, and I devoured both within a few days.

Massachusetts. A retired woman who is estranged from her son and divorced from a lousy husband. She's organized and direct. And she plays cards. Of course, I'd love the setup. When a neighbor begs for help, I'm all in. Let's solve this together. A panic room, a lost cat, and a string of confusing stories. When it all comes together, it makes sense and I am thrilled with the progress of the tale.

I have a few niggles, as a friend would say. We find out what happened to the neighbor, but we don't get much time post crime resolution to reflect. The house seems not to fit with the neighborhood. The woman's family is distant yet excruciatingly focused on finding her. I think the book needed some massaging, and then it would be a 5-star for me.

I am thirsty for more from the author, and I will definitely be first in line to read the next one.

Jane Darrowfield advertises herself as a Professional Busybody with the “No Job Too Small” tagline. Barbara Ross applies considerable storytelling skill to the creation of an unabashed sleuth whose “practice involves fixing small problems that require discreet handling.” In the case of the Madwoman Next Door, Ms. Ross uses a neighbor’s problem to challenge Jane’s abilities.

Megan Larson approaches Jane for help when she cites unusual experiences: flashing lights waking her in the middle of the night and then finding herself in a pool of sweat; hearing voices; losing time; having blackouts and forgetting things. Bottom line, Megan asks Jane to “figure out if I’m crazy.”

Jane begins her research and conducts a few interviews. Finally, she concludes that Megan’s issue may be one of two things involving her house: an environmental problem caused by the extensive renovation OR someone may have hacked into the home security system. After discussing the options with Megan, police surprise Jane the next day when they search for the reported missing Megan.

Ms. Ross writes a stunningly brilliant cozy that keeps the reader eagerly turning pages to the very end. This series started strong, and if this second entry sets the standard for future adventures, Jane Darrowfield is a force to keep on your reading radar.

Barbara Ross’s newest book, Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door is a definite must read. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through the book. I couldn’t put it down and kept me guessing who the villain was or in this case the possibility of two villains. I also enjoyed her first book in this series, which made me want to read this book. Her curiosity and persistence leads her on a scavenger of clues, which leads to the information she needs to solve her case.👏🤗🥰📚Bravo Barbara and I would definitely recommend this book as a great read.👍👍👍

Jane Darrowfield has turned her natural snooping skills toward -- not being a detective, but a professional busybody. She's surprised when her new neighbor comes to hire her services. Megan is a high-powered lawyer, but she's wondering whether she's losing her mind.

Jane makes good progress on the case and it seems as though the problem is about to be solved. Then Megan disappears.

Jane has plenty of adventures as she digs into Megan's disappearance. The book is well written, and Jane's friends and family are always a pleasure to read about.

I would give 'Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door' 10 stars if I could. Barbara Ross has perfectly honed her skills as a great mystery writer. I would consider this a cozy mystery, but it has such a sharp and current edge that it excels in that category. I learned so much about Cyber Gaslighting, and the power of second chances. I just can't enthuse enough about this book, and highly recommend the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I was sooo disappointed to discover this is the second book in the series, and I missed the first! I loved the main character, Jane, and appreciated the fact that she was older than most of the female sleuths in books. The characterization was top notch; Jane and her group of friends are people I'd like to meet in real life.

The mystery was well played out with several people who could be considered persons of interest . My opinion of the responsible person changed as new facts came to life, but I was a bit surprised by the ending.

I can't wait for the next book in this series.

This is the 2nd book in the series, somehow I missed the 1st but I’m going to remedy that. Jane is known to neighbors and friends by her new moniker “Professional Busybody”! She looks into problem situations and comes up with solutions. So, when her new neighbor comes to see her about strange happenings in her house versus the fact that she might be going crazy, Jane is intrigued. Megan’s house was completely renovated and upscaled before she bought it, including a very sophisticated alarm system. Her doctors have declared her healthy, but she’s having night sweats, seeing flashing lights, hearing voices and noises. Next thing she knows Megan disappears! Jane is a thoroughly delightful character and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily.

Jane Darrowfield is a professional busybody in her West Cambridge neighborhood. Jane’s new neighbor, Megan, hires Jane to find out if she is going crazy, or if someone is making her think she is crazy. As Jane is doing her investigating, Megan vanishes without a trace. There is no trace on the elaborate security system or anywhere in the house. And, where is Megan’s cat, Wembly? Will Jane be able to solve the mystery and save Megan before harm comes to her? Jane is sure going to do everything in her power to find her.

After reading the delightful second book in the series, I'm a huge fan of Jane Darrowfield.

Having recently retired, Jane has decided to offer her services as a "professional busybody" to help others fix small problems that require discreet handling. With her business thriving (modestly), Jane is approached by her next-door neighbor, Megan, a wealthy young attorney. Megan has an unusual request--"figure out if I'm crazy"! She's been hearing voices, finding things moved around in her house, and losing chunks of time. But before Jane can make any progress, Megan mysteriously disappears, and her cat does as well.

What I especially appreciate about the author is that she portrays Jane, a "woman of a certain age," as intelligent, active, and able to apply common sense to solve problems. Some of her cases are quite easy to resolve, while a few--such as Megan's--require collaboration with a local detective. Anything but doddering or silly, Jane is a real person with a few close friends, a romantic relationship with an equally down-to-earth man, and a deep longing to reconnect with her son, who's been out of her life for a decade and is not interested in returning. I hope there will be more well-plotted books in this series from the prolific Barbara Ross.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for allowing me to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this book, second in the Jane Darrowfield series, even more than the first one. Jane is a senior who is in business to help people with small problems. Her new neighbour, Megan, comes to her for advice as she feels she may be losing her mind. She's a lawyer in her mid-30s, successful, polished and very attractive, but she's been experiencing some strange things in her house - heat turned up very high, lights flashing on and off, garage door open when she knows she's closed it. Since her mother had experienced similar things in Megan's childhood she feels she inherited her mother's mental illness. But Jane looks into Megan's life and her surroundings and gets a different idea. Megan's house is a smart home, controlled by key pads, with internal cameras. What is someone was manipulating Megan by meddling with her home system?

The idea that one's house could cause problems for the homeowner was a new one for me. Jane is a wise woman and I hope there's another book where she finds out why her son Jonathan has cut his mother out of her life for the past ten years.

There is something about a mature professional busybody which drew me in from the first pages. No silly bouncing curls, detective boyfriend, or a quaint business that seems to run on its own without the owner's insight.

When it came down to the plotting in this book, it was like playing a game of throwing everyone into the pot and then taking them out and then adding them back in until there were only two left. Little did I know there would be more to it than a simple guessing game
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For anyone looking for a soft-boiled mystery, which is a little more than cozy and a little less than hard-boiled, I would highly recommend the Darrowfield series.

Jane is retired. Her observation skills allow her to offer help as a Professional Busybody to her friends and neighbors. She is quite a likeable character.

Jane's next door neighbor, Megan Larsen, is on track to become a partner in her law firm when she asks Jane to investigate. Megan isn't sure if she's having mental health issues like her mother or if someone is messing with her head.

Jane learns a lot about security systems and digital monitoring in Megan's house when Megan disappears. Pressing Det. Alvarez is what Jane is good at and he trusts Jane's instincts.

The plot is steady and leads are thoroughly investigated. The final answers are obvious in retrospect.

On a personal note, Jane makes closet space for Harry's things in her room which gives them hope for the future of their relationship.

Looking forward to book 3!

Jane Darrowfield is a Professional Busybody. Her new neighbor, Megan, is a young attorney and she seeks out Jane's help. Megan has started having strange occurrences in her new home and she is not sure if she's nuts or what. When Megan disappears Jane is certain that Megan didn't leave of her own free will. I love a good mystery and this is an easy read.

Meet Jane Darrowfield, a professional busybody with the business cards to prove it.After retiring, her innate commonsense and skill at negociating obstacles led her to this second career resolving problems too small for the police. Her neighbor hires her to see if she is going mad or if she may have a stalker. From the outset this unusual story captured my interest. Fast paced and intriguing, it also kept me guessing. Highly recommended.

Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door is the second installment in the Jane Darrowfield series set in West Cambridge, Massachusetts and featuring professional busybody, Jane Darrowfield. Working in her garden, Jane is surprised when her young neighbor, Megan Larsen appears asking for help. Despite having lived next door for almost a year, Jane had never met the busy lawyer but she's intrigued by Meagan's story.

It seems as though something is going on inside Meagan's house. Strange noises, flashing lights, voices and Meagan seems to be losing track of time and having unexplained blackouts. She's been to a doctor and there doesn't appear to be any medical reason for what is happening, but up for partner in her law firm she can't take a chance on seeing a psychiatrist and having the firm find out that she might not be completely stable.

After a tour through the house, Jane doesn't see anything that may be the cause of Meagan's distress, but she agrees to look into the strange happenings. Is Meagan being stalked by an ex, another lawyer, or perhaps it's something as simple as mold hidden behind the walls. Before Jane really has an opportunity to begin her investigation, Meagan goes missing.

A creepy plot that makes you question how much the tech devices in your house really know about you. Fast paced, an excellent cast of characters and a friendly, but efficient busybody.

I received an advanced copy of Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Jane Darrowfield is using her retirement years to work as a professional busybody in her West Cambridge, Massachusetts community--but this time her client is a woman next door who thinks someone is following her...
Megan, who’s purchased the house next to Jane’s, needs some help from her snooping neighbor. Megan’s been having blackouts, hearing voices—and feeling like someone’s following her. Are these symptoms of an illness—or signs that she’s in danger?
This is the second adventure for Jane. Mystery is good. I found some of the story drag on. Overall a fun mystery.
#JaneDarrowfieldandtheMadwomanNextDoor #NetGalley

A Joyous Mystery…
The second outing for, professional busybody, Jane Darrowfield finds our intrepid heroine with an intriguing mystery on her own doorstep, the house next door in fact. Jane is ever ready to assist her neighbour Megan with some bizarre problems but when Megan herself disappears things take an even more sinister turn. A joyous cosy mystery with an utterly delightful protagonist in Jane and a breath of fresh air.

What a great and fun book to read. I really enjoyed "Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door."

In this book, we find Megan, who’s purchased the house next to Jane’s, needs some help from her snooping neighbor.

Megan’s been having blackouts, hearing voices—and feeling like someone’s following her. Are these symptoms of an illness—or signs that she’s in danger?

Definitely recommend!!

Massachusetts, amateur-sleuth, disappearance, law-enforcement, lawyers, family, family-dynamics, friendship, security-systems, investigation*****

Unusual and very interesting. Jane is widowed and retired yet has carved out an interesting business for herself as a professional busybody. As the publishers blub tells it, an assignment for her neighbor turns harrowing when the woman disappears. Jane investigates and cooperates with the local police detective until things become clear again. Great characters and world building with some very fine sleuthing. Learned quite a bit about security systems along the way! A good read.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you.

Excellent! I love this series, I hope there will be many more books. The main female character is in her late 50's (I believe). She is smart and interesting. The mystery (the Madwoman Next Door) was fantastic! I couldn't put the book down, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. And I don't say that often. The writing is superb. The mystery was fresh. Meaning, not a typical plot in cozy mysteries. I recommend this series to everyone. It is really good!