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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Historically Delightful...., April 15, 2004
"It Had to Be You" is Jill Churchill's 5th book in the "Grace & Favor Mystery Series," which chronicles siblings, Lily and Robert Brewster's life in a small town during the Depression. We continue to view how they are coping with the terms of their Uncle's will, which stipulates that they must live and work in Voorburg for 10 years before they can inherit the wealthy estate. To earn money, the siblings temporarily work at a private nursing home. When an overbearing old man is smothered, they work with Police Chief Howard to help solve the mystery. I LOVE these characters and this book is no exception. I was reading another book when this arrived from Amazon and I could hardly wait to start reading it. "It Had to Be You" transports the reader back to the early 1930's and immerses one in the jargon, names, and historical data of the time period. I was AMAZED at how this book was so well researched and the attention to historic detail that it showed. We learn of Roosevelt's inauguration; of his imposed restrictions on the banking industry and his fireside radio chats. We also meet traveling salesmen with the latest novelties: "samples" - small products of new items such as "Bisquick" that allow the consumer to try them before buying. I especially enjoyed reading about Robert's suggestion of the dumb waiter. Churchill is an absolute MASTER at realism. More than any other "Grace and Favor" book, "It Had to Be You" focuses more on the daily life of Lily and Robert Brewster rather than the mystery itself per se. If you seek a mystery that leaves your heart pounding and wondering who the culprit is, "It Had to Be You," is probably not the best choice. And to be honest, if you are seeking a great romance - these two are as celibate in thought and deed as it gets.... But if you seek an historic delve into the lives of two great characters (even if they both need a little romance in their lives!) - you can't go wrong. It is especially interesting how the Brewsters do a variety of odd jobs, and I look forward to the next book to learn what they will be involved in next! Churchill is a wonderfully gifted writer and the series is great.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Entry into the Grace and Favor Series, April 13, 2004
The year is 1933 and Franklin Delano Roosevelt has just been inaugurated as President of the United States and the country continues to suffer from the effects of Great Depression. On the banks of the Hudson River, Lily and Robert Brewster, sister and brother left paupers at the outset of the Depression continue to live in the white elephant house they inherited from their great uncle Horatio. But they haven't inherited the house quite yet. The house is known as a Grace and Favor home according to a custom once practiced in great Britain which requires that the inheritors live in the house and work in the area for 10 years to sustain themselves before they really inherit the house. This is the backdrop for It Had to Be You by Jill Churchill the fifth book in the author's Grace and Favor series featuring amateur sleuths Lily and Robert Brewster. As they have done in the previous cozy mysteries in this series, they are once again called upon to help solve a murder. This time the murder takes place in a local nursing home when an elderly patient is smothered and where Lily and Robert are working while the home is severely understaffed. With an interesting cast of characters the author has fashioned another charming book about the Brewsters, their unusual living arrangements and some of the other local residents chief among them the Chiefs of Police of two towns, a journalist for the local newspaper and the woman who owns the nursing home. The story does become even more interesting when a second body is found in a pond and readers wonder if the two murders are somehow related. And who could have done these deadly deeds as the finger points to several suspects. While I enjoyed this book and would suggest it to others who enjoy cozy mysteries, I do recommend beginning the series with the first book Anything Goes which remains my favorite titles of this series. I would also suggest reading another series written by this author which features a housewife turned sleuth named Jane Jeffrey. In my opinion Jill Churchill always provides her readers with a nicely spun mystery which is good reading and at times even amusing. Once again I look forward to a new book in either of her "must read" series for me.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cozy and Entertaining Mystery, April 1, 2004
Robert and Lily work hard in order to keep their guesthouse, Grace & Favor, during the Great Depression. The siblings take on temporary jobs at a nearby nursing home, but they are soon trying to help police solve a murder. A crabby old patient in the home is smothered, even though he would have died naturally within days. To add to this puzzling event, the body of a young man is found as the ice melts in a lake at a nearby town. How can the two murders possibly be connected? It Had To Be You is a cozy portrayal of village life during the Great Depression with a mystery thrown in the mix. The characters are interesting and believable, and author Jill Churchill has obviously done her research on the era. The book has a genteel feel that seems very appropriate to the time. Don't expect blazing guns and madcap action, but do enjoy the delightfully depicted period details. This is the fifth Grace & Favor novel, but it stands well on its own. Churchill does an excellent job of introducing characters and providing hints of their pasts without having readers wade through explanations of what happened in previous books.
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