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A Face at the Window (Home Repair is Homicide Mystery #12)
by
Sarah Graves
Back in the day, Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree turned profits managing the fortunes of Manhattan’s most fortunate. Then she fled the rat race for a stately old fixer-upper in easygoing Eastport, Maine. But now a rat from an even darker corner of Jake’s past has turned up…a killer with a blueprint for demolishing her new life.
As a home repair enthusiast, Jake knows that nothing la...more
As a home repair enthusiast, Jake knows that nothing la...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
December 30th 2008
by Bantam
(first published December 24th 2008)
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light reading........fun little tidbits about home repair, etc. would read more
Back in the day, Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree turned profits managing the fortunes of Manhattan’s most fortunate. Then she fled the rat race for a stately old fixer-upper in easygoing Eastport, Maine. But now a rat from an even darker corner of Jake’s past has turned up…a killer with a blueprint for demolishing her new life.
As a home repair enthusiast, Jake knows that nothing lasts forever—not wind...more
Back in the day, Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree turned profits managing the fortunes of Manhattan’s most fortunate. Then she fled the rat race for a stately old fixer-upper in easygoing Eastport, Maine. But now a rat from an even darker corner of Jake’s past has turned up…a killer with a blueprint for demolishing her new life.
As a home repair enthusiast, Jake knows that nothing lasts forever—not wind...more
While I was aware of exactly what I was getting myself into with this book, I still have a great many objections to the "child in jeopardy" plotline. The lengths the author goes to in imperiling the child in question just to demonstrate the madness and evil of the villain are much too far over the top.
In addition, I am not fond of the switch from first person narration in the first ten books of the series to the third person limited Graves is now using. Ideally, as a se...more
In addition, I am not fond of the switch from first person narration in the first ten books of the series to the third person limited Graves is now using. Ideally, as a se...more
Jake Tiptree is babysitting best friend Ellie's young daughter Lee in Eastport, ME when the child is kidnapped, along with Helen, the woman who provides her with day care, under instructions from the man who will soon be on trial for killing Jake's mother decades ago. Obviously, he wants something from her, but what? To make things worse, all of Jake's family and friends seem to be out of town, except for the local policeman, who thinks that the crime is local and doesn't involve Jake. Since...more
I'm not being totally fair in giving this book only three stars. It certainly held my interest, and the change from Graves' previous practice of telling the story in the first person, which she experimented with in the last book, was refreshing. A Face at the Window was more of a thriller than a whodunnit, another departure for Graves. But...(if you are really allergic to any possibility of a spoiler, stop here!)
I had two problems with the story, one minor and one (for me) major. The...more
I had two problems with the story, one minor and one (for me) major. The...more
I've read several of the Home Repair is Homicide series and this is the latest. Most are very enjoyable, easy-to-read cozies with interesting plots. This one was very jarring for several reasons. The most obvious is the switch to the third person point of view. All the other books in the series are first person and it gave us a lot insight into Jake and how she relates to her family and friends. We lost that in this book. Not only is it third person, but it's shifting from chapter to chapt...more
I was attracted to this book because 1) it takes place in Maine, 2) it involves and old house, and 3) it is a murder mystery.
Odd #1. What does the title have to do with the story? Ehm, I'm not sure. Odd #2 "A Home Repair is Homicide Mystery". Each chapter starts with a home repair tip. How that ties in to murder is a mystery.
Makes for a disjointed plot. So the main character (Jake, a woman, Odd #3) is supposedly taking care of a 3 year old whilst her parents are on va...more
Odd #1. What does the title have to do with the story? Ehm, I'm not sure. Odd #2 "A Home Repair is Homicide Mystery". Each chapter starts with a home repair tip. How that ties in to murder is a mystery.
Makes for a disjointed plot. So the main character (Jake, a woman, Odd #3) is supposedly taking care of a 3 year old whilst her parents are on va...more
I found this one a page turner.
It was slightly different from her usual. Usually Jake is the narrator. But in a story like this, where the author has multiple story threads going where there is no one witness, she kind of has to use the third person. And, at least, she has stopped with the snide hints like "oh, boy, if only I hadn't done this then such and such wouldn't have happene" and that was beginning to bug me.
It was pretty adventurous although I can unde...more
It was slightly different from her usual. Usually Jake is the narrator. But in a story like this, where the author has multiple story threads going where there is no one witness, she kind of has to use the third person. And, at least, she has stopped with the snide hints like "oh, boy, if only I hadn't done this then such and such wouldn't have happene" and that was beginning to bug me.
It was pretty adventurous although I can unde...more
I am SO disappointed in the direction this author seems to be going with her cozy mystery series. I became a fan of her quirky, home repair-themed mystery books fairly recently, and read them one after the other because they were fun and captivating. Unfortunately, when I got to this one, I came to a dead stop. I didn't even read it--I skimmed it, and had no desire to go back and read it in detail. Ms Graves seems to be moving into the "thriller" genre. I had noticed a dark trend ...more
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This 12th book in A Home Repair Is Homicide Mystery series is a real nail biter! I've been a big fan of Ms. Graves since the beginning with Jacobia "Jake" and her adventures in Eastport, Maine. Although I was anticipating another entertaining mystery, I wasn't quite prepared to be so thoroughly sucked in from the very beginning with this suspenseful thriller. A fast-paced read that has left me eagerly awaiting the 13th episode!
I found it difficult to understand why the main character, with the man who killed her mother sending threatening calls and messages to her, chooses not to have protection for her and the little one she was taking care of. Then she charges off into dangerous situations without letting anyone know - surprise!!! she gets trapped in a car, lured out onto a cliff, etc. For such, usually, smart main character, she really was dumb in this book.
I struggled on this rating. I love the characters but in this instance the behavior was pretty far fetched. I do think I'd search ou the experts if a child was stolen especially when I know what they are after. That being said the book is well written and the action well down with great descriptions of the Maine wilds and waters.
Painful. The last third of the book alternated between Jake’s trying to escape the kidnappers and free Ellie, and Helen trying to get back to civilization. Every time they started to succeed, wham! something happened and it took ten pages or so to surmount the new obstacle and try again. Graves milked it for about 50 pages too long.
I really enjoy reading Sarah Graves mystery novels, mostly for their character portraits of the people in a small town in Maine. Because it is a mystery series, there are often unbelievable turns of tragedy and violence, particularly for such a small place. But her descriptions are gripping and the plot moves quickly.
Setting: Eastport, Maine Main character a home repair enthusiest in a series. Gimick:Each chapter begins with a Hanywoman's tip. Some actually pretty good. Suspenseful. Female character typically invites danger beyond common sense. Police portrayed as dense.
Really only a 1.5 star book.
Sub-par mystery, lackluster characters and plain dull reading. Not sure how much of this is due to just a one-off by the author, or if this is her regular writing style, but I'm not invested enough see if others in the series are any better.
Sub-par mystery, lackluster characters and plain dull reading. Not sure how much of this is due to just a one-off by the author, or if this is her regular writing style, but I'm not invested enough see if others in the series are any better.
As usual, very well done. I still like all these people and think the characterizations make them all into separate people. I was a little disconcerted to find out that the heroine Jake is only 5'4" -- she "feels" bigger.
I always enjoy books from this series, but this one kept me on the edge of my seat at times by pushing many of my personal buttons. I even had to stop listening a couple of times.
Has some good tension, is more of a thriller than a mystery. A little contrived. I like this series (Home Repair mysteries); this is the 10th I think.
I think you'll like it, Sharon. I didn't get it finished before Em went back so I'll give it to you next time I see you. Maybe this coming Saturday.
This was a page turner from the beginning. I stayed up WAY past my bedtime devouring this book! Lots of twists and turns.
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Wow! This was a departure. Not so cozy at all, no Ellie and Jake snooping around, but a suspenseful dance with a madman from beginning to end.
This was emotionally exhausting to read b/c of all the emotional and physical pain endured by three of the characters.
This was a pretty good read - a little bit different angle than I remember from her previous books. I enjoyed it.
Spednic
added it
My favorite Downeast mystery writer has done it again with a riveting page turner. I love her books, and this one was no exception.
More in the thriller genre than the other books in her "Home Repair is Homicide" series.
I like this series, usually - this is not one of the better installments.
A good read by a Maine author. I plan to read more of her books in this series.
Another book in one of my favorite series . . . it did not disappoint
a good quick read....suspensful
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Sarah Graves lives with her husband John, a musician and luthier, and their black Labrador Retriever in a house very much like the one Jacobia Tiptree is remodeling in Eastport, Maine. When she's not writing Jake's adventures, Sarah works with her husband on the house and she plays the 5-string banjo.
Series:
* Home Repair is Homicide
More about Sarah Graves...
Series:
* Home Repair is Homicide
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