Heirs and Graces [Hardcover]

Gerald Hammond (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2005

Grace Gillespie is constantly assured that Duncan Cameron, her partner Stuart’s cantankerous uncle, was once a charming man, but old age seems to have withered whatever charms he may have had. Shortly before Grace and Stuart’s wedding, they receive news that Duncan has suffered a stroke and requires constant care. So as not to miss out on her honeymoon on board a luxurious cruise liner, Grace arranges around-the-clock care, but it is not long before the unhappy couple are called home when the nurses threaten to walk out on the bitter old man. Just two days after Stuart and Grace arrive home Duncan dies. Suspicions concerning his death are soon roused however, when it is discovered that substantial withdrawals have been made from Duncan’s account since the time of his death. Gerald Hammond’s tale of intrigue sees the welcome return of Grace Gillespie featured in Saving Grace.

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘Ingenious, spattering its targets with doses of dry wit’ --The Sunday Times

Straight aim at the target of coherent storyline --Daily Telegraph

About the Author

Gerald Hammond is a retired architect and the creator of 'John Cunningham', dog breeder in Scotland and of 'Keith Calder', gunsmith. He also writes under the pseudonyms 'Arthur Douglas' and 'Dalby Holden'. His previous works include Dead Letters, Saving Grace, and Down the Garden Path. He lives in Scotland with his family.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Allison & Busby (October 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749083093
• ISBN-13: 978-0749083090
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,611,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Sequel to Saving Grace, February 20, 2007

By 

James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Heirs and Graces (Hardcover)

Heirs and Graces is the sequel to Saving Grace which was only an average Hammond novel which never really moved out of second gear. Heirs and Graces does move into third at times but still is not one of Hammond's great reads.

Hammond novels vary substantially in quality and although like Saving Grace, this is of a high enough quality that you will stick with it until the last page it is not in the much higher quality league of some of his other work, novels that once you've begun to read, you can't put down and you will tell every one you know to check them out once you've finished.

If you enjoy Hammond also check out British authors James Pattinson (that's Pattinson not Patterson) and Christopher Nicole who write in a similar style. The best Hammond novels worth checking out are A Running Jump, On the Warpath, The Dirty Dollar and The Snatch.

In Heirs and Graces nurse/physiotherapist Grace Gillespie marries Stuart Campbell another of the main characters from the former novel who in that one fell of a roof who she was hired to help get better. Stuart's grumpy old uncle Duncan who also helped take care of him in the former novel passes away and as Grace and Stewart return from their honeymoon they soon realise that Duncan had more wealth than they ever knew about and that they are prime suspects in his murder.

You don't need to have read Saving Grace to follow this novel but it certainly helps if you have to understand the characters a bit more.