Helpful Score: 4
I really like this series. Jane Wheel is the ultimate garage sale-rummage sale-estate sale queen! She dithers about what to part with from her huge collections when the STUFF begins to overwhelm her home and her husband. Of course there is always a bit of mystery thrown in to challenge her "hunting" talents. The stories take place west of Chicago and up and down Route 55 which is so familiar to me as I recognize many of the towns, streets, and locations from living in that area for nearly 20 years. Even if you aren't from that area, you will enjoy these books if you have ever suffered as Jane does in throwing anything away.
Helpful Score: 2
Buried Stuff: Jane Wheel holds her very first garage sale in effort to get less desirable things out of her house, but it ends almost before it begins when she gets a phone call - Fuzzy Nelson has discovered bones on his property so Jane and her husband Charlie, a geologist, decide to go to Kankakee, Illinois, to see if they can solve this bones mystery. Poor Fuzzy has been descended upon by all kinds of various government officials and needs help. While in Kankakee Jane helps best friend Tim plan the world's largest garage sale, an effort intended to revitalize Kankakee. But then a man turns up murdered on Fuzzy's property and reader is taken back to the mystery there. Interesting family relationships and characters, antique lore, and the history of Kankakee are all here. Jane Wheel's a quirky character. Good read.
Helpful Score: 2
Jabe returns home to Kankakee, Illinois, to help with a citywide garage sale organized by Tim, her friend and partner in the antiques business. But she also stumbles onto murder. More character development in this installment in the series.