October 13, 2008
Ozzie Campbell disappears just before he's about to go on trial for murdering Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree's mother in front of the then three-year-old Jake in Graves's engrossing 12th mystery to feature the handywoman
and former Manhattan financial manager who's resettled in Eastport, Maine (after 2007's The Book of Old Houses
). Jake's instincts go on high alert after a pair of obvious out-of-towners show up in Eastport, asking questions about her. Then someone abducts Leonora, the little girl Jake has been caring for while her mother is on vacation in Europe, and Leonora's teenage babysitter, Helen Nevelson. The narrative twists around Helen's desperate escape and survival story, and Jake's own tale of capture and rescue as they both battle heartless kidnappers, the harsh terrain and puppet master Campbell's efforts to force Jake to recant her witness statement. Relentless pacing, an appealing heroine and perfectly loathsome antagonists will more than satisfy series fans.
Starred review from December 15, 2008
In the 12th outing of Graves's popular Maine home repair series (after "The Book of Old Houses"), Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree's past bubbles up when she hears that Ozzie Campbell, the man who murdered her mother, is about to stand trial after 20 years of escaping prosecution. Jake is shocked further when the three-year-old daughter of her best friend and the child's babysitter are kidnappedby Campbell, who threatens to kill the pair if Jake does not do what he wants. This first-rate thriller features nail-biting suspense that ensnares the reader to the final page. Graves has written one of her best mysteries, full of courageous women and compelling action. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Mystery, "LJ" 9/1/08.]
Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2008
Jacobia (Jake) Tiptree was a high-powered money manager in Manhattan before she moved with her son to Eastport, Maine, where she purchased a nineteenth-century house and began a long series of home repairs mixed with amateur sleuthing. By this twelfth book in the series, Jake has remarried and has a well-established group of friendsbut the home repairs continue (each chapter is headed by one of Tiptrees tips for keeping the house shipshape). Graves continues to explore Jakes backstory in this installment. Three decades ago, Ozzie Campbell murdered Jakes mother, and now he is finally about to stand trial. When Ozzie disappears before his trial, all of Jakes friends and relatives are out of town, and she is feeling especially jumpy at being alone in her multiwindowed home. Things escalate rapidly as Ozzies intentions become clear. Graves almost moves beyond the bounds of a typical cozy this time, with relentless dramatic action and steadily building suspense. Still, the comforts of home survive in the end.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)