38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this new series! Can't wait for more!, June 14, 2010
This review is from: Grace Under Pressure (Manor House Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
Having read the first book of the White House mysteries, I was familiar with Hyzy's writing and was wanting to see what else she had to offer. I'm glad I did! I thought the White House book was OK, but this new series totally ups the ante.
Grace is smart and efficient, the mystery was solid, the setting and scenes grabbed me from the first pages. It's almost always hard for me to get into a new series, so for me this is a huge compliment. I had tried the last two White House books but never really got into them.
I tend to "shop" for new authors/series at the library so I don't get too burned financially, and I'd say that I do not finish around 75% of the books I pick up. This book, however, was a pleasant surprise, I had trouble putting it down, and I read it in two days. Since I got it at the library, I will have to order a copy as a keeper.
Grace's roommates have a lot of potential after their first introduction, I hope Hyzy brings out their personalities more in the next book. I was surprised that the 2-star reviewer said that they didn't seem to have a role. Also, it is true that Grace doesn't seem to have friends, but she had lived away from the town for many years, so it will take some time to make friends, and develop the relationships that we have been given a glimpse of.
This would be a fun book to take out on the beach!
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44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVED IT!!!, June 1, 2010
This review is from: Grace Under Pressure (Manor House Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is the first book in a brand new series by July Hyzy who is also the author of the White House Chef Mysteries.
Grace Wheaton moves back home to nurse her mother in her last days and inherits the family home, which is a Victorian Painted Lady that needs a lot of work. She ends up living there and finds two roommates, Bruce and Scott, who own a little wine shoppe in downtown Emberstowne. She also lands her dream job as Assistant Curator at the famous Marshfield Manor. Her family was always drawn to the manor and she had visited many times as a child.
Her mettle as Assistant Curator is tested as an intruder causes a disturbance at a very important tea being held in the Birdcage Room of the manor. Security arrives and after a mad chase through the tables, chairs and attendees, the man is apprehended, the staff puts the room back in order and the tea continues. Grace feels the situation was handled as well as could be expected, but within minutes she learns that the man in the tea room was just a diversion for the real crime that took place elsewhere in the manor. Her boss, the Head Curator, Abe, a lifelong friend of the manor's owner, Bennett Marshfield, is found dead in the private residence, and the killer as disappeared into thin air.
Grace then finds out Bennett has been receiving threatening letters, and he is the primary witness against one of his former friends who was running a complicated Ponzi scheme that was responsible for many people to loose their family fortunes. Grace starts to think that the real target was Bennett and Abe was killed by mistake. Grace steps into Abe's shoes to run the manor and begins to investigate the murder as she has no real confidence in the overworked Emberstowne police force. She also has to deal with a very unreasonable customer and the roof of her "Painted Lady" is leaking.
5 stars!!!!
I absolutely loved this book! The story has more twists and turns than any ride in a amusement park! The story was told so well I felt like I was a bird on Grace's shoulder taking the entire trip right along with her. The character descriptions were ideal, they came to life right off the page. The hint of romance, a secondary plot that will continue as the series develops, and a mystery that kept you guessing until almost the final page all make this book a definite MUST READ! I usually don't like to give my highest praise to the first book in a series, as it sets the bar pretty high for subsequent editions, but this book was excellent!! I can't wait to see what comes next!!
I always say it takes a very special person to be an author, someone who can tell a story so well that you can forget the world around you and escape into the pages of their book. Since starting this blog I have cyber-met some wonderful authors, that have the true gift of being great storytellers. Today I am adding one more author to that list and I hope I am lucky enough to cyber-meet Julie Hyzy soon. She definitely has the gift.
To find out more about Julie Hyzy and her books be sure to check out her web site [...].
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The Berkley Publishing Group a division of Penguin Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What Pace! What Grace!, June 4, 2010
This review is from: Grace Under Pressure (Manor House Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
I loved this book. What pace. What a terrific protagonist. What a satisfying ending. I've read Hyzy's other books in the White House Chef series and hoped I could expect another "thrill-zy" [a cozy with thriller pace]. I was so pleased. Grace cares about Marshfield Manor. She has fabulous friends and an intriguing employer. It's not easy being the curator at Marshfield Manor, but Grace brings passion and, yes, grace, to her job while investigating a crime that could upend her world. Well done, Julie Hyzy. I can't wait for the next.
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