Customer Reviews

Who's Sorry Now? (Grace & Favor Mysteries, No. 6)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I agree with all the disappointed reviews of this book. I've collected this series and, at this point, I'm seriously considering giving up the books. I have the hardcover and the synopsis of the book on the DJ isn't even correct! What about the skeleton? What on earth did Robert and Lily have to do with discovering the murderer? How did the killer have plans for Grace & Favor????? (I don't know WHERE that particular comment came from!)

The writing really IS terrible. I felt like the author was bored half the time she was writing. In a way, I was. There was no romance, no real danger, no real mystery--just the day-to-day happenings of silly Robert (who does come off as a rather weak character). The sentences were short, choppy and just stated facts. The story was still somewhat interesting. I suppose that's because I've been interested in the characters. I'm just sad because this series showed such promise; I loved the historical stuff. None of that in this one. (Oh--maybe that's where the skeleton came in????)

Spoiler coming....

I was SO GLAD Robert changed the name of the mailing facility! That was almost too much for me when it was going to be named after him. And the killer's explanation of why he replaced the paint can. Oh my word! Sure, I hadn't thought of that explanation myself, but it was so incredibly simplistic. I know that, figuratively, my jaw dropped.

I like Police Chief Walker and I like the new deputy. But I was surprised at how little Lily and Jack Summer figured in this story and at how silly Robert appeared. I felt sorry for him.

I still can't believe the skeleton part wasn't "resolved". Not that it needed to be--but the book gave the impression it was supposed to be related. How weird. And how disappointing.

I have been a Grace & Favor fan from the series start, and was thrilled to see this new book on the shelves. That thrill didn't last. The series is supposed to be of a simplier time, but this story's dialogue is painfully simplistic while the plot is confused, disjointed, and a bit farfetched. What was the significance of the skeleton under the bush?-I didn't see any. What part did Robert and Lily (the central figures of Grace and Favor) contribute to the conclusion of the story?-I saw none. And what of the books in the library?-I don't believe it.
As I forced myself to finish the book I had the distinct feeling that the author had an assignment (was under contract) to write about 250 pages and the content was not necessarily important. So like many of us did while in high school, she wrote a lower quality story, but satisfied the assignment by achieving the required story length. I've never expected this genre of novel to be Pulitzer-qualifying, but I expect to be entertained.

I've read one other Churchill book, but was willing to give this one a go. It was light, and charming, but, I just don't get it. The style of the writing, with the repitition of main plot themes over and over; it just seemed either the author thought we needed to be retold a story over and over, or she just ran out of things to write.

Let me give an example. Early in the book we learn that 3 "biddies" were going through the mail, and they wanted to prevent certain letters from being delivered. As the plot progressed, the protagonist felt it was important to tell others about what happened. Follow me so far? Now, in most books, the author would have written "...and he told them about the incident he saw with the mail," but this author has him repeat the same story with the same details to each person he sees. And WE, poor readers, have to hear it all over again. Likewise for other important "clues," they are repeated in detail over and over again as if the reader is a child, and needs to be reminded of these not-very-complicated plot developments.

The mystery itself was mundane, and there is a whole "subplot" of burying up some bones that is not at all relevent to the book.

Nice sense of life during the depression era, though. And charming (although 1 dimentional) characters

I normally enjoy this series more than the Jane Jeffry series, which has gotten silly and boring...but this installment gave it a run for its money.

What was the point of this book? The murder seemed to be secondary to endless babbling about Robert and his postal center idea, or who was getting a dress hemmed at the tailor. The ending kind of came out of nowhere with no real reason. And the other mystery just seemed to be completely dropped without any explanation or resolution.

Though this series has two main characters, Lily has always seemed to come across as the star...but she was barely present in this one. And Robert has gotten exceptionally annoying. Does he have any purpose other than to drive around town showing off his car and bothering people while they're trying to make a living?

I hope the next installment is better or I'm done with this series.

I have read all of the GRACE AND FAVOR MYSTERIES. This one was trite and boring. The book jacket review was NOT an accurate description of the book. This will be my last book by this author. What a waste!

Set in April and May of 1933. Siblings Lily and Robert Brewster live in the Hudson Valley. The Depression is making life hard for everyone. Lily and Robert reside at the Grace & Favor Cottage. They take in boarders for a bit of income. Their newest boarder is Voorburg's chief of police, Howard Walker. Chief Walker has a new deputy too, Ron Parker. (Deputy Parker helped out in a previous mystery.)

The poor town lost its post office a few years ago. The town's mail in now dumped at the train station for people to rummage through until they find all their letters and packages. When Robert sees two women snooping over mail belonging to others, and even discussing destroying one before it could reach its addressee, he begins a petition to have an unofficial post office made. In fact, the train porter has already agreed to be the unofficial postman if it gets approved by the town council.

Robert would not have overheard the women if he had not been at the train station awaiting the arrival of his own package. While there, Robert helps the young widow Sara Smithson and her grandfather, Master Tailor Kurtz, haul their trunks home. Mr. Kurtz was born in America, but spent many years living in Germany. (Sara rescued her grandfather from the Nazis just in time!) However, someone does not like the newcomer and is out to get rid of Mr. Kurtz, permanently. At the same time, the train porter is murdered. Chief Walker has to locate a killer, as well as find out who has it in for Voorburg's new tailor. But wait, there is even more going on in this normally sleepy town. As the Harbinger boys remove some shrubs at Grace & Favor for the Brewsters, a very old skeleton is unearthed!

**** After reading a few novels from this mystery series, I feel as though I actually know the locals of Voorburg. Without even realizing it, I have learned a lot about life during the Depression. Forensic and Crime labs were not as well equipped and it is exciting to see how the law enforcements made do. As for readers who actually lived through the Depression, this entire series is so exact and well written that I would not be surprised to find that every novel gets a place of honor on their "Keeper" shelf.

Author Jill Churchill has a rare talent that allows Voorburg and its inhabitants to seem real. Each character has his/her own personality and quirks. This latest installment of the series is well worth your time and money. As usual, I eagerly await the next story. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I have enjoyed the other Grace & Favor books but this one was so bad it didn't even seem to be by the same writer! I am very disappointed in this book.

(SPOILERS) The murder is dull and plodding. There are several sub-plots and story lines, large and small. How many scenes do we need to sell a stupid motorcycle? Just sell it! How many scenes do we need to get the deputy moved in? Just move in! How many scenes do we need about GETTING MAIL BOXES?!?! What in the world was the skeleton all about? Why wasn't it resolved?

There is scene after scene of filler, conversation after conversation about *nothing* and the ending is dreadful.

I have enjoyed the Grace & Favor mysteries, but this one has been almost painful to read. The writing quality is awful. There is little to no descriptive writing. It is full of choppy dialog and disjointed storylines. Police Chief Walker is one of my favorite characters and was extremely disappointed at the handling of his story.
I would have expected better from my daughter's high school english class. Shame on Miss Churchill. Shame on the editors.

I just read the Booklist review (at the top of this Amazon page) and saw the description of Churchill's "spare and eloquent" writing. To me, it sounded like it was written by a 12-year-old, for an audience of 8-year-olds. Based on the other reader reviews, it sounds like maybe the earlier entries in this series are better, but I didn't make it past the first chapter in this one.

This looks like a draft. None of the characters you follow in the first few chapters appear in the last few chapters. Every sentence is noun, verb with no variation, no clauses. The first mystery, a teen girl's body in the garden, is completely ignored halfway through and never looked into! The second mystery, lots of cash in the bookcase is clearly a case of a manipulative lawyer scamming them, but never looked into again. The third crime seems to hinge on their only clue, it was done with a jeweler's wire. But this is never found nor attributed to the person arrested. And the running gag of trying to build a homemade post office at the station is not only pointless but also left hanging at the end.
None of the characters do anything natural. None of the dialog is worth hearing once, but it is repeated at least three times each (and once five times), apparently to fill the pages. Don't waste your time on this hack.