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Grace Tolliver Cape Cod mystery series #1
Shedding Light on Murder: A Grace Tolliver Cape Cod Mystery Series
When Grace Tolliver, ex-probation officer, purchases Pearl's, a run down antique lamp stop in Barnstable Village, Cape Cod, she hasn't a clue that she'll soon be investigating the murder of a prominent local citizen who has been clobbered over the head with a heavy bronze lamp. Between learning the craft of constructing and hand painting lampshades, readying the shop for the annual Village Stroll, and trying to keep any eye on the antics of her eighty-four year old father, Grace sets out to solve the murder by shedding light on the victim's complicated past. Her quest is hampered by the attractive detective who doesn't appear to be seriously pursuing fresh leads, but is keeping close tabs on Grace. With a town full of likely suspects, a second murder and a sucession of bitter storms battering Cape Cod, Grace has little time to uncover the shady and unrepentant killer.
- GenresMystery
276 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2012
12 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 21, 2012
Grace Oliver, the likeable protagonist in Patricia Driscoll’s debut mystery, “Shedding Light on Murder” is a former probation officer and the new owner of Pearl’s, an antique lamp shop in Barnstable Village, a small town on Cape Cod, MA. Barnstable Village is a real town, and Driscoll spices up her story with references to actual places there.
In Grace’s former career, she was involved with people on the wrong side of the law. She’s particularly sympathetic to former felons, who are trying to make a fresh start, so she hires Duane Kerbey, whose career choices thus far have been, shall we say…questionable, as an employee over the Christmas holidays. It’s just Duane’s bad luck that, on one of his first lamp deliveries, he discovers the body of a prominent local citizen. Suspected of doing her in, he’s clapped back in jail faster than turning on a light switch.
But Grace believes in her employee’s innocence, and between learning the craft of constructing and hand-painting lampshades, getting the store ready for the annual Village Stroll, and keeping an eye on her irascible eighty-four-year-old father, she’s determined to prove his innocence.
“Shedding Light on Murder” is a peek at Cape Cod during the off-season, when the tourists are gone and the beaches are snow-covered. Lots of fun!
Reviewed by Susan Santangelo, author of “Moving Can Be Murder” for Suspense Magazine
In Grace’s former career, she was involved with people on the wrong side of the law. She’s particularly sympathetic to former felons, who are trying to make a fresh start, so she hires Duane Kerbey, whose career choices thus far have been, shall we say…questionable, as an employee over the Christmas holidays. It’s just Duane’s bad luck that, on one of his first lamp deliveries, he discovers the body of a prominent local citizen. Suspected of doing her in, he’s clapped back in jail faster than turning on a light switch.
But Grace believes in her employee’s innocence, and between learning the craft of constructing and hand-painting lampshades, getting the store ready for the annual Village Stroll, and keeping an eye on her irascible eighty-four-year-old father, she’s determined to prove his innocence.
“Shedding Light on Murder” is a peek at Cape Cod during the off-season, when the tourists are gone and the beaches are snow-covered. Lots of fun!
Reviewed by Susan Santangelo, author of “Moving Can Be Murder” for Suspense Magazine
October 13, 2015
Grace Tolliver has moved back to her hometown located on Cape Cod. She is working to put her life back together after the death of her husband. In her previous career, Grace worked as a probation officer. Upon returning to Cape Cod, Grace retires from her job as probation officer and buys a small, charming business, Pearl's Lamps & Shades, where she can continue with her love of art, by designing and creating beautiful lamps and shades. Working with her are Bella and Michael, two very enthusiastic employees who love the Cape as much as Grace does. Grace believes in second chances, that's why she employed Duane, a local man who is on probation, but is working hard to keep his life on the right track.
Snow storms aren't always a huge threat on Cape cod, but unfortunately there have been a few back to back storms that make things a bit difficult for residents. When a valued but demanding customer calls the shop, Grace is quick to send Duane out to the residence to pick up a lamp she needs to have repaired. Unfortunately for Duane, this simple task is not so simple and sends his life into a crazy downward spiral. Everyone blames Grace for the tragic events and it's all she can do to keep her business afloat.
This is a 5 star book and I have recommended it to my reading group!
Snow storms aren't always a huge threat on Cape cod, but unfortunately there have been a few back to back storms that make things a bit difficult for residents. When a valued but demanding customer calls the shop, Grace is quick to send Duane out to the residence to pick up a lamp she needs to have repaired. Unfortunately for Duane, this simple task is not so simple and sends his life into a crazy downward spiral. Everyone blames Grace for the tragic events and it's all she can do to keep her business afloat.
This is a 5 star book and I have recommended it to my reading group!
March 20, 2012
Widowed Grace Tolliver has quit her job as a probation officer and bought a lamp store--repairs, shades, antiques--on Cape Cod. She and her small staff are preparing for Christmas, when her odd-jobs man, really little more than a boy that she's hired from a rehab center--finds the dead body of one of the customers. Naturally he's the main suspect, and Grace sets out to clear his name, despite being warned off by the handsome detective in charge of the case. Grace is a charming, intelligent heroine, and the people in her life are quirky and interesting. I really look forward to this being a series.
May 12, 2013
Initially I thought this book was just ok. But as I read more, I liked it more. And then after I finished it I discovered the author grew up in Westport!
April 14, 2014
Enjoyed the Cape Cod locale, interesting insights into lamp making, and a decent enough plot.
September 2, 2016
Kept you guessing about what was going on, who the murderer was. I'm ready to start reading the next in the series.
May 3, 2019
Grace Toliver a former Parole Officer bought the Pearl's Antique Lamps and Shades store in Barnstaff Village, Cape cod. Bella and Michael stayed working for her when the original owner sold the place and left town. Grace hired Duane Karley a young man that was a probationer from Pinewood the half way house to give him a chance at changing his life around. Duane was sent to deliver a lamp to Danielle who he found dead. Duane was accused of killing her and arrested but Grace insisted he was innocent. She started to investigate everyone that had a motive and gets into a lot of trouble with the Cape Cod residents. A great story that keeps you wanting more and ends with a twist.
October 7, 2021
Great characters and plot
I am looking forward to reading more of these Cape Cod mysteries! The characters are well fleshed out and the plot had me to the end!
I am looking forward to reading more of these Cape Cod mysteries! The characters are well fleshed out and the plot had me to the end!
March 14, 2013
After reading reviews for this book, I really wanted to like it. It started off well enough. Grace Tolliver, a young widow, buys a lamp shop in Cape Cod. She has an employee, Duane, who is in rehab for theft and drug use, and Grace, who herself is an ex-probation officer, hires him.
She sends him to pick up a lamp for repair, and he comes back telling her the client is dead. Because he was the one who discovered the body, and has a record (not for anything NEAR murder), the police figure he did it and arrest and charge him for the crime. Grace, of course, doesn't believe he's guilty and sets about finding the real killer.
Now the spoilers:
She has a lamp shop that restores and makes antique lamps (yes, I know I said makes). Anyway, someone brings in an antique silver teapot and wants it made into a lamp. What? You'd take a teapot worth at least hundreds and turn it into a lamp? What's it worth now? $50? Unbelievable. She 'glues' lampshades and feathers. Wouldn't the heat from lightbulbs have an adverse reaction on glue? I wouldn't want one, because at the least, I would think the glue would show (I could be wrong, however). And she even paints a client's home on a shade. Tacky, tacky. Some people might like this, but I don't know any of them (or feathers). That's a few of the nutso ideas about lamps.
She also has a house full of white slip covers on her furniture. And a Maine Coon cat. You do the math.
Then, as I said earlier, she hires Duane, and when he's accused of murder, the deceased's brother tells her he's "going to sue her for everything she has". Huh? Since when can you sue an employer for something their employee may or may not have done? If that were the case, no one would EVER hire an ex-con, even if they were in jail for a DUI. They'd be terrified to do so, thinking that if the person got another DUI and accidentally killed someone, they'd be sued, too.
Then, she sees a priest about the murder who makes a snide remark about Duane being guilty. A priest?? Really? I can't imagine any priest making accusatory remarks about someone who hasn't been found guilty.
A real estate agent is angry at Grace, comes in and breaks (accidentally, I hope) a group of lightbulbs, but no one says anything about her having to pay for them. I can't see anyone letting this pass. Not to mention half the people in town blame her for the murder, because she hired Duane.
She's also stupid. Right after accidentally seeing a drug house, she is told by the dealers to 'forget what she saw'. So what does she do? SHE CALLS THE POLICE. And then thinks that maybe the drug dealers won't connect the phone call to her. Really? Five minutes after you leave you think they'll forget you were there?
Plus, and this is the big one - the novel leaves you hanging. NO ONE, not the brother, the real estate agent, the priest, etc., ever tells her they were sorry for the way they treated her, their threats, etc. NO ONE. What kind of town is this where you're supposed to ignore bad treatment by others? And what is happening with Cruz? We never find out what his relationship with Emma (his partner) really is. Just. Left. Hanging.
Three stars for the mystery only.
She sends him to pick up a lamp for repair, and he comes back telling her the client is dead. Because he was the one who discovered the body, and has a record (not for anything NEAR murder), the police figure he did it and arrest and charge him for the crime. Grace, of course, doesn't believe he's guilty and sets about finding the real killer.
Now the spoilers:
She has a lamp shop that restores and makes antique lamps (yes, I know I said makes). Anyway, someone brings in an antique silver teapot and wants it made into a lamp. What? You'd take a teapot worth at least hundreds and turn it into a lamp? What's it worth now? $50? Unbelievable. She 'glues' lampshades and feathers. Wouldn't the heat from lightbulbs have an adverse reaction on glue? I wouldn't want one, because at the least, I would think the glue would show (I could be wrong, however). And she even paints a client's home on a shade. Tacky, tacky. Some people might like this, but I don't know any of them (or feathers). That's a few of the nutso ideas about lamps.
She also has a house full of white slip covers on her furniture. And a Maine Coon cat. You do the math.
Then, as I said earlier, she hires Duane, and when he's accused of murder, the deceased's brother tells her he's "going to sue her for everything she has". Huh? Since when can you sue an employer for something their employee may or may not have done? If that were the case, no one would EVER hire an ex-con, even if they were in jail for a DUI. They'd be terrified to do so, thinking that if the person got another DUI and accidentally killed someone, they'd be sued, too.
Then, she sees a priest about the murder who makes a snide remark about Duane being guilty. A priest?? Really? I can't imagine any priest making accusatory remarks about someone who hasn't been found guilty.
A real estate agent is angry at Grace, comes in and breaks (accidentally, I hope) a group of lightbulbs, but no one says anything about her having to pay for them. I can't see anyone letting this pass. Not to mention half the people in town blame her for the murder, because she hired Duane.
She's also stupid. Right after accidentally seeing a drug house, she is told by the dealers to 'forget what she saw'. So what does she do? SHE CALLS THE POLICE. And then thinks that maybe the drug dealers won't connect the phone call to her. Really? Five minutes after you leave you think they'll forget you were there?
Plus, and this is the big one - the novel leaves you hanging. NO ONE, not the brother, the real estate agent, the priest, etc., ever tells her they were sorry for the way they treated her, their threats, etc. NO ONE. What kind of town is this where you're supposed to ignore bad treatment by others? And what is happening with Cruz? We never find out what his relationship with Emma (his partner) really is. Just. Left. Hanging.
Three stars for the mystery only.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2016
Nice Cape Cod setting, but the mystery part is a yawn.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews