The charming novel “Wherefore Art Thou, Jane?” by Jean and Mary James is about a rather unusual heroine, Jane, who catches snakes, lizards and toads to sell them, take photos of them and write about them. She is afraid of spiders though. After she had sent her book idea to many publishers, she finally found someone who was interested in publishing her book: Mr Reginald Faircloth, who is used to clean women who listen to what he wants them to do. Jane is none of that. However, he accompanies her on one of her trips which leads them to two plots Faircloth owns. What they find there is the start of quite an adventure that puts them both into danger.

I did not expect what I got when I read “Wherefore Art Thou, Jane?” by Jean and Mary James. I somehow had the idea that it was a novel set in the past – maybe the 18th or 19th century. It might be that the title led me to believe that it is not a contemporary novel at all. It did not make much of a difference because I enjoyed reading the book so much that I only needed two sessions of reading to finish it (two long sessions though which led to really short nights). The characters are lovable and well-described. Often you have to laugh about what the characters say or do (or it might just be me because I can identify with Jane and her different approach to life). The story is very interesting and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series because it will be very interesting to see how those two characters will move on or whether they will move on at all when it comes to their strange friendship/relationship.

"Wherefore Art Thou, Jane?" is the story of Jane Pate, a Zoology dropout who becomes a professional snake and reptile collector, and her publisher, Reginald Faircloth. Jane meets him when she goes to his office to collect her advance for a book on Florida's reptiles. Somehow she agrees to take him on a snake and reptile-hunting expedition the following day. The trip goes so well that they decide to explore Faircloth's two properties that back onto a river. While they do find some interesting specimens in the unspoiled acreage, they also find a grove of marijuana plants being watched over by Jose, a young Hispanic man. Jose explains that he, his brother and a man named Lubin are growing the marijuana for a man named Faircloth, who pays them by check. Jane and Reginald must find out who is setting him up before he ends up in jail for running a full-scale marijuana growing operation.

This book is a delight! Jane is a strong female lead who is sometimes rather headstrong but always fun to follow as she sets out to solve the mystery. Though I have never been a reptile collector in the field, I have owned and handled many snakes and reptiles and was fascinated with and impressed by the descriptions of how Jane catches the coach-whip, the water snakes and the rattlesnakes. I was not at all surprised to read that one of the authors of "Wherefore Art Thou, Jane?" was a professional in that field. The investigation that Jane and Reginald pursue is original and intriguing. They work well alongside each other as both characters are strong-minded and independent and love a bit of adventure. I'll be looking for more books from Jean James and Mary James.

Jane Pate uses her skills and love for animals to make a name for herself in this world and is independent enough to do whatever it takes in order to succeed in life, without help from anyone. Jane is one of the most unique, spunky and loveable characters I have ever come across in a novel and feel the authors have done an excellent job in creating her and bringing her along. The story itself gains strength and momentum with each page as you find yourself not wanting to put down this book until you are finished. Jane and Reginald find themselves wrapped up in a mystery that neither could have seen coming or realized the dangers that surrounded them. The authors' descriptions of the backwoods and swamps of Northwest Florida are spot on. Simply put, "Wherefore Art Thou, Jane" is an enjoyable read that you will be purely satisfied with.