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Home Repair Is Homicide #2
Triple Witch
Jacobia Tiptree saved her sanity—and her son, Sam—the day she abandoned Wall Street for the seacoast village of Eastport, Maine. In her new home, a charmingly dialpidated fixer-upper, she looks forward to repairing old radiators and restoring antique shutter for years to come. But Jake's hopes of serenity are dashed when tiny Eastport erupts in a crime wave.
Hometown bad boy Kenny Mumford—old flame of Jake's best friend and fellow sleuth, Ellie White—is the first victim. When his corpse washes up on the beach at Prince's Cove, all evidence points to a drowning...except the bullet hole in his forehead.
When bodies begin littering the Maine scenery, Jake and Ellie learn that the ante on Kenny's small-town antics has been upped. Add a pair of unwelcome arrivlas—Jake's ex-husband, and an unscrupulous New York ex-money mogul—and you've got a blueprint for more deadly danger than one house can hold.
Hometown bad boy Kenny Mumford—old flame of Jake's best friend and fellow sleuth, Ellie White—is the first victim. When his corpse washes up on the beach at Prince's Cove, all evidence points to a drowning...except the bullet hole in his forehead.
When bodies begin littering the Maine scenery, Jake and Ellie learn that the ante on Kenny's small-town antics has been upped. Add a pair of unwelcome arrivlas—Jake's ex-husband, and an unscrupulous New York ex-money mogul—and you've got a blueprint for more deadly danger than one house can hold.
291 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1999
116 people are currently reading
797 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Graves
34 books794 followersSarah 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.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
June 17, 2021
3 Stars for Triple Witch: Home Repair is Homicide Mystery Series, Book 2 (audiobook) by Sarah Graves read by Lindsay Ellis.
There isn’t enough home repair for me and what there is seems a little odd to me. Maybe it’s just the old east coast houses. Most houses that I work on are newer. I also can’t get into the characters and story. It’s falling kind of flat for me. I think I’m done with the series.
There isn’t enough home repair for me and what there is seems a little odd to me. Maybe it’s just the old east coast houses. Most houses that I work on are newer. I also can’t get into the characters and story. It’s falling kind of flat for me. I think I’m done with the series.
December 15, 2021
Why do cozy mystery authors keep writing about abusive ex-husbands? These aren't domestic thrillers, or family dramas. They are mass-market murder mysteries with a catchy theme. Jacobia is a divorced mother, who moved her son all the way up to Maine specifically to get away from her ex-husband. He shows up in this book, plops himself in Jacobia's house and mentally and emotionally abuses her in almost every chapter. Her boyfriend of two years says and does nothing to prevent it. This is disheartening, extremely frustrating, and truly detracts from the main story. The murder mystery, as it stands, is interesting enough, involving three deaths, a boat with a strange name, a love triangle, llamas, heroine dealing and money laundering. The plot moved quickly enough that there was always something happening, either with Jacobia's housework or the murder investigation.
There was another item that ground my gears a bit here- Jacobia (or really the author's) insertion of her feelings about modern gun violence, and her blaming it squarely on television. It felt odd, out of place, preachy, and ridiculous.
The only good points here were Jacobia's best friend Ellie, who made the whole book lighter for her just being there- and a sheriff who actually solved the murder before the main character did. That was refreshing, even if the rest really wasn't.
I won't be continuing in this series, especially since Jacobia's ex has moved into her small town and set up shop, so we can expect more abuse and mind games and him using her child as the game piece. There are so many other cozy mysteries out there. Final score, 1.5, rounding down to a 1.
There was another item that ground my gears a bit here- Jacobia (or really the author's) insertion of her feelings about modern gun violence, and her blaming it squarely on television. It felt odd, out of place, preachy, and ridiculous.
The only good points here were Jacobia's best friend Ellie, who made the whole book lighter for her just being there- and a sheriff who actually solved the murder before the main character did. That was refreshing, even if the rest really wasn't.
I won't be continuing in this series, especially since Jacobia's ex has moved into her small town and set up shop, so we can expect more abuse and mind games and him using her child as the game piece. There are so many other cozy mysteries out there. Final score, 1.5, rounding down to a 1.
June 8, 2019
Jacobi Tiptree( nicknamed Jake) was a former
stock trader. She now lives in a small coastal
town of Eastport, Maine with her son. She is
divorced from her husband who was a
manipulative surgeon and difficult to live with.
She is renovating her fixer-upper home. Now
while she is working on restoring antique
shutters, her radiators need repairing.
The quiet town of Eastport is about to
experience disruption in the way of two murders,
robberies of home and the appearance of a man
Jake researched before he went to jail for
skimming pension funds. What is he doing in
Eastport area raising Lamas??
Then there is the appearance of the mysterious
Triple Witch ship in port.
Jake gets involved in the investigation as her best
friend Ellie decides to determine who kill two of
her good friends.
There is tension, drama, suspense plenty of thrill,
chills, twists and turns. The story is well written you
making you feel as if right there in the midst of
the action.
stock trader. She now lives in a small coastal
town of Eastport, Maine with her son. She is
divorced from her husband who was a
manipulative surgeon and difficult to live with.
She is renovating her fixer-upper home. Now
while she is working on restoring antique
shutters, her radiators need repairing.
The quiet town of Eastport is about to
experience disruption in the way of two murders,
robberies of home and the appearance of a man
Jake researched before he went to jail for
skimming pension funds. What is he doing in
Eastport area raising Lamas??
Then there is the appearance of the mysterious
Triple Witch ship in port.
Jake gets involved in the investigation as her best
friend Ellie decides to determine who kill two of
her good friends.
There is tension, drama, suspense plenty of thrill,
chills, twists and turns. The story is well written you
making you feel as if right there in the midst of
the action.
July 9, 2017
I'd listened on CD (with some difficulty) to #1 in this series while on vacation and got this one (in print) upon return. Jacobia deals with the same interesting characters, problems with her aged house, son, and ex-husband, and suspicious deaths in a small town.
A bit heavy on the HIBK* but basically a tongue-in-cheek cozy despite 3 murders. You know that everything mentioned from llamas to wax bullets filled with ketchup to evil 6-y-o Sadie will play key parts in the plot, but it's still engaging. I'll request #3 in a couple weeks.
Always fun to find a new author you like. I realize I have read one with her other heroine which was more serious and true-crime style and I've put another in that series on hold.
*had I but known
A bit heavy on the HIBK* but basically a tongue-in-cheek cozy despite 3 murders. You know that everything mentioned from llamas to wax bullets filled with ketchup to evil 6-y-o Sadie will play key parts in the plot, but it's still engaging. I'll request #3 in a couple weeks.
Always fun to find a new author you like. I realize I have read one with her other heroine which was more serious and true-crime style and I've put another in that series on hold.
*had I but known
August 29, 2013
I have one main complaint. Why, oh why, did she name to book, "Triple Witch?" It's no fun, having a neon sign that says, "This boat will be important!!!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2024
Good story, well crafted, 3.5 stars. I would have ranked it higher were it not for an INCREDIBLY annoying habit of this writer.
“What-,” you ask, “-ever might that be?”
“She talks,” I explain, “in interrupted sentences. It is very,” I go on, “annoying.”
“I do hope,” I go on, hopefully expressing, “that this is a habit she will lose,” I continue, “as the series continues. I do enjoy,” I conclude”, “the series in most other ways.”
I am not exaggerating. This is honestly how she writes, and uses this style to a highly distracting degree during the climactic scenes. I read a later book of hers, one that takes place after Jake and Ellie open the chocolate shop, and I don’t recall this being part of her writing style. Here’s hoping she drops it soon, or I will be dropping her series.
“What-,” you ask, “-ever might that be?”
“She talks,” I explain, “in interrupted sentences. It is very,” I go on, “annoying.”
“I do hope,” I go on, hopefully expressing, “that this is a habit she will lose,” I continue, “as the series continues. I do enjoy,” I conclude”, “the series in most other ways.”
I am not exaggerating. This is honestly how she writes, and uses this style to a highly distracting degree during the climactic scenes. I read a later book of hers, one that takes place after Jake and Ellie open the chocolate shop, and I don’t recall this being part of her writing style. Here’s hoping she drops it soon, or I will be dropping her series.
July 13, 2015
A beach read at best. I got tired of the main character talking to herself all the time while her ex-husband who she should talk with just keeps running over her. I like women with a purpose not just there.
March 3, 2020
I’m on a little vacation and decided to bring a nice light read from an author I’ve only read a little (Sarah Graves and her Home Repair is Homicide series). I’ll be honest and say I read the first years ago and started this one but put it aside because a book from one of my favorite authors came out (I’m sorry Ms. Graves, really).
Anyway while I’m not a huge murder mystery person I do enjoy a good one and have to say Ms. Graves writes an exciting one. The main character (Jacobia Tiptree) is a very lively person with lots of character and spunk. For a person who was from New York City and now living in Eastport Maine she’s the life of the town and seems to be known by all the down East Maine types (personal note, as a former brat [military dependent] I’ve seen that type and the wood work type; depends on person and environment). Any way her and the other characters are very alive and provide much insight to a story that could easily lost. If there’s any problem there it that sometimes the characters move to fast from one thing to another and it’s easy to drop a moment and wonder if you missed something in the storyline.
As for the murder mystery/ suspense factor/storytelling itself it’s all good and nicely done. I’ll admit I was kind of wishing Hallmark would pick this series up (hint Hallmark, hint Ms. Graves!). There’s nothing super complex (I knew the main bad guy and was sure the trigger man fairly early) but the environment Ms. Graves describes is great. Living in the environment she brings it to the reader so well and captures small town USA so well. A very solid 4 star book.
Anyway while I’m not a huge murder mystery person I do enjoy a good one and have to say Ms. Graves writes an exciting one. The main character (Jacobia Tiptree) is a very lively person with lots of character and spunk. For a person who was from New York City and now living in Eastport Maine she’s the life of the town and seems to be known by all the down East Maine types (personal note, as a former brat [military dependent] I’ve seen that type and the wood work type; depends on person and environment). Any way her and the other characters are very alive and provide much insight to a story that could easily lost. If there’s any problem there it that sometimes the characters move to fast from one thing to another and it’s easy to drop a moment and wonder if you missed something in the storyline.
As for the murder mystery/ suspense factor/storytelling itself it’s all good and nicely done. I’ll admit I was kind of wishing Hallmark would pick this series up (hint Hallmark, hint Ms. Graves!). There’s nothing super complex (I knew the main bad guy and was sure the trigger man fairly early) but the environment Ms. Graves describes is great. Living in the environment she brings it to the reader so well and captures small town USA so well. A very solid 4 star book.
October 26, 2024
Enjoyable light mystery set in Downeast Maine. A lot of the towns were familiar to me.
May 14, 2009
I enjoy this series. It's nothing really serious, but kind of the light side and a quick read. I usually describe it as Miss Marple meets This Old House. The main character is rehabbing her "new" old house in Eastport, Maine. She was formerly a financial wizard from Wall Street who apparently sometimes worked with mobsters and the SEC.
So you can pick up tips on both investing and rehabbing in these books. But I don't know if any of them are true or not. For instance, she indicates that if you paint a radiator silver or gold, it will heat cool. But if you paint it white (I just noticed mine are all white) it will heat hot. No wonder it has been 90 degrees in here in the winter! And, when investing do not follow your natural instincts but do your research, plan, use discipline and be patient. It's no fun but it might be more profitable in the long run.
This was the second book. I had already read the third in this instance, violating my own rule of reading books in order. It was okay.
So you can pick up tips on both investing and rehabbing in these books. But I don't know if any of them are true or not. For instance, she indicates that if you paint a radiator silver or gold, it will heat cool. But if you paint it white (I just noticed mine are all white) it will heat hot. No wonder it has been 90 degrees in here in the winter! And, when investing do not follow your natural instincts but do your research, plan, use discipline and be patient. It's no fun but it might be more profitable in the long run.
This was the second book. I had already read the third in this instance, violating my own rule of reading books in order. It was okay.
January 2, 2016
Jacobia Tiptree was a Wall Street wizard who abandoned it all for a fixer-upper in Maine with her son Sam. Among the things she abandoned was an ex-husband, a brilliant surgeon, a truly lousy husband. When Jacobia and her friend Ellie uncover the dead body of the local bad-boy-stayed-bad, she couldn't have known it would tie into her old life, but not only does it tie in, that one dead body starts a cascade of events that almost gets both women killed. Eastport, Maine is exactly what you would expect of an Downeast Maine town, laconic and close-knit, Jacobia may not have been born there but she is slowly becoming as much one of their own as anyone ever does who wasn't born and raised there. It wasn't as fast a read as I expected, the middle was a little slow, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
June 17, 2011
This book is #2 in this series. It was just okay to me. The only other one that I have read in this series is #4 Repair to Her Grave and it was a whole lot better. It's set in Maine which is where I would love to live and retire to.There is a woman named Jake (Jacobia) and her son Sam that moved to Maine from the city. She bought an old house and is doing her own home repairs as well as solving murders with her best friend Ellie. The first book had a lot of funny parts in it. This one didn't. I'm going to try a few more to see if maybe she was just off on this one.
May 27, 2016
I have been re-reading this series after a few years. I have also been remembering how much I enjoy these books. This episode, the second of the series, contains a satisfying mystery with some exciting plot points.
I really like the protagonist, Jacobia (Jake) Tiptree. This book continues the development of Jake and the relationships she has with her friends and family and ex-husband. In her character, Jake Tiptree, the author, Sarah Graves, portrays a very real-seeming woman recovering from an abusive marriage. Jake is a fierce, loving mother and good friend, who is also learning how to be a fierce and loving supporter for herself too. I am looking forward to re-reading the next book in the series.
I really like the protagonist, Jacobia (Jake) Tiptree. This book continues the development of Jake and the relationships she has with her friends and family and ex-husband. In her character, Jake Tiptree, the author, Sarah Graves, portrays a very real-seeming woman recovering from an abusive marriage. Jake is a fierce, loving mother and good friend, who is also learning how to be a fierce and loving supporter for herself too. I am looking forward to re-reading the next book in the series.
April 21, 2014
Interesting mystery. Some anti-Christian reference (sad). No bad language or sex, some violence - it's a mystery, afterall. Narrated well and, unlike some female narrators, clearly by Lindsey Ellison.
August 25, 2015
These books are cute. Not alot of substance, kinda entertaining.
June 6, 2016
Interesting mystery but there was so much going on that wasn't part of the crime it seemed to bog down. will try another if I come across one.
December 8, 2017
Note: I may or may not come back and write more of a review, but I wanted to get some notes down.
I started this series, Home Repair is Homicide, with this second book instead of the first, mainly because this is the one that was available at my library. Honestly, I love stories about old and maybe haunted houses, and that's what drew me to it. I've continued to read them, depending on availability at the library, and they are growing on me.
First things first, it's a good cozy series. I like the setting, the characters, the house repair and descriptions of this house, and the mysteries are good. I don't care if I can figure them out or not because I'm an "enjoy the journey" kind of reader.
However (and there's always a however), I can't decide if I like Jacobia or Jake, the main character. I think it's because of the narration style. She (not sure if I mean the writer or the character) uses sarcasm and asides that break the 4th wall. I almost didn't read any other in the series, but I decided to try a couple more because I liked her with the other characters, especially Ellie, who is her fellow detective. And if I like all the characters who all like Jake, then it's worth giving it another chance.
In this book, I saw how much Jake loves her son and understand how much Sam has overcome. Jake and Ellie are a great mystery-solving pair, and through Ellie, I, like Jake, learn about living in a new town with a different lifestyle than I've experienced.
Many reviews talk about the narration style of splitting up dialogue with direction. This isn't as annoying with a good reader on the audiobook. Lindsay Ellison reads the books I've read, and she does an excellent job.
I started this series, Home Repair is Homicide, with this second book instead of the first, mainly because this is the one that was available at my library. Honestly, I love stories about old and maybe haunted houses, and that's what drew me to it. I've continued to read them, depending on availability at the library, and they are growing on me.
First things first, it's a good cozy series. I like the setting, the characters, the house repair and descriptions of this house, and the mysteries are good. I don't care if I can figure them out or not because I'm an "enjoy the journey" kind of reader.
However (and there's always a however), I can't decide if I like Jacobia or Jake, the main character. I think it's because of the narration style. She (not sure if I mean the writer or the character) uses sarcasm and asides that break the 4th wall. I almost didn't read any other in the series, but I decided to try a couple more because I liked her with the other characters, especially Ellie, who is her fellow detective. And if I like all the characters who all like Jake, then it's worth giving it another chance.
In this book, I saw how much Jake loves her son and understand how much Sam has overcome. Jake and Ellie are a great mystery-solving pair, and through Ellie, I, like Jake, learn about living in a new town with a different lifestyle than I've experienced.
Many reviews talk about the narration style of splitting up dialogue with direction. This isn't as annoying with a good reader on the audiobook. Lindsay Ellison reads the books I've read, and she does an excellent job.
August 13, 2025
I started reading this series , because I read the first book of the new series with these characters first. Then I found out that the Home Repair is Homicide series was a prequel series. I found some reviewers referring to the split dialogue technique that the author uses in these books. I hadn't really paid attention to it in the first book because I was actually reading not listening to the book. However, for this book and the next I am listening to them and I now understand the frustrations of others. It is extremely annoying that in almost every conversation, the author employs this technique. Almost every conversational sentence is interrupted in the middle with a he said or she said. The narrator cannot make it sound natural. These books were written many years ago and it does seem like she has dropped this technique in the Death by Chocolate series, which is good. As many others have pointed out it is way to distracting.
The other problem I have with her books is that there are too many characters introduced as potential suspects, whose story actually goes nowhere. This is a common issue in many cozy mysteries. That being said, I like this series and the follow up series. I am really interested in Jacobia's prior career as a financial advisor, but since the back story for this series is her home renovation on an ancient house in Maine, more time is spent on her home repair efforts than her former career. Since I own a 100 yr old house, I not only sympathize with her, but I have had to deal with some but not anywhere near all of her problems, since my house is on the west coast.
The other problem I have with her books is that there are too many characters introduced as potential suspects, whose story actually goes nowhere. This is a common issue in many cozy mysteries. That being said, I like this series and the follow up series. I am really interested in Jacobia's prior career as a financial advisor, but since the back story for this series is her home renovation on an ancient house in Maine, more time is spent on her home repair efforts than her former career. Since I own a 100 yr old house, I not only sympathize with her, but I have had to deal with some but not anywhere near all of her problems, since my house is on the west coast.
April 13, 2020
I enjoyed this amateur detective cozy. The main character was fun, witty, and engaging, but a bit of a pushover when it comes to her jerk of an ex-husband. She tells people it's to make life better for their son, Sam, but to let him freeload off her (he's a rich heart surgeon who took her for nearly everything she had in their divorce), become his slave, and cow-tow to his every whim, is doing their son no favors. Sam would be much better off if she stood up to her ex, as he needs to stand up to him as well about his future, but has no one to emulate. Plus her subservient attitude to her ex is so beneath such a strong independent woman the author tries to make her out to be.
Otherwise, the story and characters are believable and fun. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series, and am hoping the fixer-upper theme will bring in repair tips, as was promised, in future books. She pretty much had someone else handling the repairs, and there were no tips.
I missed the first book in the series, Dead Cat Bounce, as I had read another book by that title some time ago. I've had the Jake Tiptree series on my to read shelves so long, that the blurb was very familiar and I mistakenly thought I had read it. I'll go back and read it in a few weeks. I already have my next 4 books started.
Otherwise, the story and characters are believable and fun. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series, and am hoping the fixer-upper theme will bring in repair tips, as was promised, in future books. She pretty much had someone else handling the repairs, and there were no tips.
I missed the first book in the series, Dead Cat Bounce, as I had read another book by that title some time ago. I've had the Jake Tiptree series on my to read shelves so long, that the blurb was very familiar and I mistakenly thought I had read it. I'll go back and read it in a few weeks. I already have my next 4 books started.
May 12, 2018
A few months ago I started searching area libraries for books, as this one, in the Home Repair is Homicide series. It's set in Eastport, Maine, and the protagonist is a former NYC trader/investment advisor who not only left her egotistical, abusive neurosurgeon husband, but who decided to move far away from the City when her son started hanging with a crowd that was into using drugs.
Even without the mystery aspect, this is a pretty good plot set-up, right?
Graves' writing is wonderful and she captures Downeast Maine so well that, if I didn't have some relatives and friends who've lived up there, I wouldn't believe it.
In this, the second book in the series, Jacobia (aka "Jake"), is still working her way through conflicts with her ex when a an long-go ex-boyfriend (and now ne'er do well) is found shot along the shore. And then his father is killed. And then the woman he was seeing when he was killed.... Add the fact that Jake is trying to get new (or reclaimed) shutters repaired and up before the visit of a an influential grant-giver and everyone's life is beyond full.
I really do love this series, though it took me a few days to really get into this book, and am about to go to my library account to order the next from interlibrary loan!
Even without the mystery aspect, this is a pretty good plot set-up, right?
Graves' writing is wonderful and she captures Downeast Maine so well that, if I didn't have some relatives and friends who've lived up there, I wouldn't believe it.
In this, the second book in the series, Jacobia (aka "Jake"), is still working her way through conflicts with her ex when a an long-go ex-boyfriend (and now ne'er do well) is found shot along the shore. And then his father is killed. And then the woman he was seeing when he was killed.... Add the fact that Jake is trying to get new (or reclaimed) shutters repaired and up before the visit of a an influential grant-giver and everyone's life is beyond full.
I really do love this series, though it took me a few days to really get into this book, and am about to go to my library account to order the next from interlibrary loan!
February 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. Although I now have only two books in this series listed as "read" in Goodreads, I'm sure I have read several others (publication started in the 90s). I love the main characters, even Victor, Jacobia's ex, is a hoot! Jacobia (Jake) Tiptree used to be a high flying financial whiz on Wall Street before she left Victor, taking her teenaged son Sam to a remote island off the northern Maine coast. She is restoring an old house while solving mysteries with her best friend Ellie.
This installment included several murders, characters out of Jake's Wall Street past (one of whom she stills provides financial advice), her live in love Wade, Ellie's husband George, and New York neurosurgeon Victor who says he wants to move to Maine to be closer to Sam (and to torment Jake who had the gall to leave him in the first place).
The writing is a good step above many cozy mysteries. I would love to start at #1 and binge read (and or re-read) the entire series.....it is that good!
This installment included several murders, characters out of Jake's Wall Street past (one of whom she stills provides financial advice), her live in love Wade, Ellie's husband George, and New York neurosurgeon Victor who says he wants to move to Maine to be closer to Sam (and to torment Jake who had the gall to leave him in the first place).
The writing is a good step above many cozy mysteries. I would love to start at #1 and binge read (and or re-read) the entire series.....it is that good!
October 25, 2022
Once I started listening to this book, I remembered reading a holiday-themed book from this series and not liking it very much. I didn't even write a whole review on it, just that it was a decent cozy series. I think I am going to go back and listen or read that book again to see what the heck I was thinking. Because this one was outstandingly good! I like the setting, the characters, the tone and the premise. The relationships are very realistic and it's not just the main character, Jacobia, getting involved in the investigation. There are other voices and others minds at work helping and doing.
I like the narrator, Lindsay Ellison, so will keep listening to the series. She's not over-the-top in voices for male and female nor of the Maine accent. She sort of has a round tone to her voice. Melodic.
I liked everything that was occurring through the book. A very good mystery and I look forward to the rest of the series.
I can definitely recommend this book, likely this series and this author.
I like the narrator, Lindsay Ellison, so will keep listening to the series. She's not over-the-top in voices for male and female nor of the Maine accent. She sort of has a round tone to her voice. Melodic.
I liked everything that was occurring through the book. A very good mystery and I look forward to the rest of the series.
I can definitely recommend this book, likely this series and this author.
April 29, 2022
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, I thought I'd found a new (for me) mystery series but after reading 'Triple Witch' I'm having second thoughts. Ellie is a far more interesting and capable leading lady, unfortunately she's just Jacobia's sidekick. And as for Jacobia, she spends far too much time looking back on her past mistakes and yet, not learning from them. The nail in the coffin for this series for me though is Victor. It appears he's to become a recurring character and if that's the case, this will be the last Home Repair is Homicide book.
Note: She explains the investment phrase "Dead Cat Bounce" in the first book, but I don't recall if anyone explained the reason the yacht is called Triple Witch. I assumed it was a reference to the options market, those 3rd Fridays when stock index futures, index options and options expire, aka 'triple witching' but don't remember if Jacobia mentioned it.
Note: She explains the investment phrase "Dead Cat Bounce" in the first book, but I don't recall if anyone explained the reason the yacht is called Triple Witch. I assumed it was a reference to the options market, those 3rd Fridays when stock index futures, index options and options expire, aka 'triple witching' but don't remember if Jacobia mentioned it.
January 26, 2017
I had issues with this book:
At the end of book one, Ellie and Jake were about to look into another mystery and in this book nothing was mentioned about it.
Also at the end of book one both Ellie's parents are now dead and nothing on how they died was mentioned in this book. The last I read was that Ellie s mother was going into mental institute. I understand that George and Ellie would be married, but it would have been nice to read about the wedding.
Clarice is now married to the chief of police Alan and has been for 6 months, when at the end of book 1 they had just started dating.
I like the characters but there are times that I want to scream because the author goes writes too much detail about how Jake is feeling and how what is going on will effect her future. When someone is on the edge of a boat, tell me later how she felt about it.
At the end of book one, Ellie and Jake were about to look into another mystery and in this book nothing was mentioned about it.
Also at the end of book one both Ellie's parents are now dead and nothing on how they died was mentioned in this book. The last I read was that Ellie s mother was going into mental institute. I understand that George and Ellie would be married, but it would have been nice to read about the wedding.
Clarice is now married to the chief of police Alan and has been for 6 months, when at the end of book 1 they had just started dating.
I like the characters but there are times that I want to scream because the author goes writes too much detail about how Jake is feeling and how what is going on will effect her future. When someone is on the edge of a boat, tell me later how she felt about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2017
Triple Witch is the second book by Sarah Graves in this series. I read one book by her previously but not in this series. I liked the other book better. If M.C. Beaton had written this book, Victor Tiptree would have been dead by page 3. Instead he is set up to be a recurring character in the series. I am a fan of M.C. Beaton. The main character (Jacobia Tiptree) is an intelligent character of strength and is likable but the book itself seemed to drag on forever. I'm not sure at this time if I'll read another. After reading it, I was not sure of who was the murderers or why. Another thing; considering it is a story involving home repair, there is a small plumbing repair fixed with gum (give me a break) and the large one involving shudders will have to be redone hung them upside down in the dark. That's ludicrous. I don't think I'm giving away too much.
December 8, 2019
Jake and Ellie find a body on the shore when they were going to try out the "fake" bullets Jake made. While they continue to work around the area to get ready for a visit from a VIP, they continue to find bodies and Jake runs into a man she helped put into jail for scamming older adults out of their money. When people think she is onto the newest scam she becomes a target.
While this is happening, Jake's ex-husband has come to town and is staying in the guest room. While he is with her he goes from being demanding, to trying to help, to eating organic, to eating whatever he is given. He also states that he is going to buy a home near Jake and start a new or different kind of practice.
I have been reading this series out of order and have been enjoying meeting Jake and her friends.
While this is happening, Jake's ex-husband has come to town and is staying in the guest room. While he is with her he goes from being demanding, to trying to help, to eating organic, to eating whatever he is given. He also states that he is going to buy a home near Jake and start a new or different kind of practice.
I have been reading this series out of order and have been enjoying meeting Jake and her friends.
August 12, 2024
Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree is still busy trying to fix up her accent house in Eastport, Maine. Not just because it needs it, but also because a representative is visiting soon to determine if Eastport is a good candidate for grant money provide by an historical association.
Even she and her friend Ellie discover the body of Kenny Mumford, a local that Ellie dated for a while, she and Jake start trying to figure out who killed him. He was one of those people known to always be looking for "the next big thing," but was otherwise harmless.
Things get out of hand pretty quickly, and soon there are more murders, something involving former trader moved into the area that Jake helped the SEC take down, and why is Jake's ex-hus b snd Victor staying at her house?
This was an entertaining and good read, with a lot of moving parts, so to speak.
Even she and her friend Ellie discover the body of Kenny Mumford, a local that Ellie dated for a while, she and Jake start trying to figure out who killed him. He was one of those people known to always be looking for "the next big thing," but was otherwise harmless.
Things get out of hand pretty quickly, and soon there are more murders, something involving former trader moved into the area that Jake helped the SEC take down, and why is Jake's ex-hus b snd Victor staying at her house?
This was an entertaining and good read, with a lot of moving parts, so to speak.
January 18, 2018
Triple Witch
Jacobia Tiptree and her son, Sam, live in a small coastal town in Maine where Jacobia is fixing up an old Victorian home. Jacobia is divorced from Victor probably the world’s most manipulative man. Jacobia used to be a stock trader and had done some research for the SEC that got Willoughby Baxter imprisoned for skimming funds.
There are three murders in the book that at first seem to be linked to drug smuggling. When Jacobia and Ellie find Ellie’s Old boyfriend washed up on the shore with a gunshot between his eyes, nothing will do except finding out who did it.
There are lots of twists to the plot and the side element of Victor’s behavior adds another twist. How Jacobia has kept from killing the man is beyond me.
Jacobia Tiptree and her son, Sam, live in a small coastal town in Maine where Jacobia is fixing up an old Victorian home. Jacobia is divorced from Victor probably the world’s most manipulative man. Jacobia used to be a stock trader and had done some research for the SEC that got Willoughby Baxter imprisoned for skimming funds.
There are three murders in the book that at first seem to be linked to drug smuggling. When Jacobia and Ellie find Ellie’s Old boyfriend washed up on the shore with a gunshot between his eyes, nothing will do except finding out who did it.
There are lots of twists to the plot and the side element of Victor’s behavior adds another twist. How Jacobia has kept from killing the man is beyond me.
June 12, 2019
After finishing this book, I have to say ... that Sarah Graves is something else. She has a way of weaving a slow meandering story that keeps me invested enough that, when I am finally thinking "man this is moving rather slowly" things pick up and I am unable to go to bed till I finish.
The only things I don't like about the stories are Victor the ex-husband (I would like to see him slowly eaten by an alligator, toes first) and that dreadful, psychotic child that randomly wreaks havoc. Otherwise, I absolutely love the characters AND the narrator. That New England accent is awesome!
Officially, I'm invested so I recommend this series if you like rich characters and a good mystery but you want the drama and excitement to build into a satisfying crescendo.
The only things I don't like about the stories are Victor the ex-husband (I would like to see him slowly eaten by an alligator, toes first) and that dreadful, psychotic child that randomly wreaks havoc. Otherwise, I absolutely love the characters AND the narrator. That New England accent is awesome!
Officially, I'm invested so I recommend this series if you like rich characters and a good mystery but you want the drama and excitement to build into a satisfying crescendo.
July 3, 2022
I’ve really enjoyed this series so far. I love old houses and this book focused a lot on Jacobia’s old house and preparing it for a visit from a representative from an organization that provides grants. Eastport sounds really neat, I can see this becoming a vacation destination for me at some point! Jacobia’s ex Victor is in town and rotten as can be. I think she lets him walk all over her way too much but in this book she vows to do a better job of standing up to him. The mystery was pretty complicated and at several points it seems as though things are all wrapped up but as the layers keep peeling off you find out nothing is what it seems. Good book and I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
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