I recently read a book while overseas (where I left the book) about a
Boston PI who has his office in an unused bell tower of the local
Chaolic church.  He has a female partner who married the PI's boyhood
friend who is a real jerk and beats her up regularly.  They solve a
mystery involving a document stolen by the cleaning woman at the
statehouse that ties the leadership in the Statehouse to a crooked
local mayor of a small town who is really a crime boss.

Hi bonner62,

I believe the book you are looking for is called "A Drink Before the
War" by Dennis Lehane.

From a Review in Amazon UK:

"To find a great mystery writer is akin to a great bottle of wine for
me. Dennis Lehane is one of the best mystery writers around. His
stories center around Boston and South Boston is the neighborhood. In
"A Drink Before the War" we meet Patrick Kenzie and Anglea Gennaro- a
private detective team. Both are locked into their own mysteries- that
of abvuse- Patick abuse from his father, a powerful man in his own
right. And Angela abuse from her husband. The hint of a relationship
is there, but it is subtle and nothing is out in the open.
This mystery opens with a cleaning woman who has stolen papers from an
important Boston politico. She asks for assistance and as the
storyline deepens- race relations between black and white come to the
fore. The streets of Boston are explored and explained..."

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Drink-Before-War-Dennis-Lehane/dp/0553503855


At the link below you can find other books written by Dennis Lehane:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/002-6825176-5802413?url=node%3D1000%2C18&field-keywords=%22Dennis+Lehane+%22


"A Drink Before the War" is available for purchase at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Drink-Before-War-Dennis-Lehane/dp/0156029022


Search criteria:
site:.amazon.com book boston detective "cleaning woman"


I hope this is helpful. If you have any questions regarding my answer,
or believe this is not the book you remember, please don?t hesitate to
ask for further assistance before rating.

Best regards,
Rainbow