The Book of Old Houses (Home Repair Is Homicide Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: cat dancing, glazing compound, Bert Merkle, Bob Arnold, Merrie Fargeorge (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this multilayered cozy, the 11th in Graves's home repair series (after 2006's Trap Door), Jacobia Jake Tiptree has uncovered what looks to be a very old book while fixing up her 1823 house in Eastport, Maine. Local rare book expert Horace Robotham offers to take a look at it, but then dies in what appears to be a mugging gone wrong. Jake doesn't think too much about this until a stranger drives up to her house three weeks after Horace's death. He introduces himself as a friend of Horace's, says he might have some information about the book and then asks Jake if he can hide a gun in her house. Meanwhile, Jake's father is putting the moves on her sassy housekeeper, Bella. Although the development of minor characters is a little thin, local color and an entirely unexpected denouement combine for engaging reading. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“Mixing slaughter with screwdrivers, renovator-author Sarah Graves wields the pen and paintbrush behind the Home Repair Is Homicide series.” —Miami Herald

“Packed equally with incidents and tips on household repair.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Multilayered.… engaging.”—Publishers Weekly


From the Hardcover edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; Reprint edition (November 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553588036
• ISBN-13: 978-0553588033
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,164 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What was this all about?, January 13, 2008

By	M. C. Carter "cartertoggle" (Columbia, Md USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Book of Old Houses (Home Repair Is Homicide Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This entry in the long running series finds Jake still in a quandry over the old book she found in the cellar of her Maine 'fixer upper'. And like the old house that never seems to be completed, I did not find that the story line was complete....convuluted, over busy, full of starts and stops, yes. Finished, certainly...Complete, no. I have been a big fan of Jake's stories from the first but this one falls flat. Maybe I still miss Victor! I have never been a fan of Ellie's (too contrived) or Wade's (off to the boat...go catch a murderer....see you later). In my opinion the storyline couldn't decide whether to develop into a straight who-dunit, branch out into a supernatural thriller, or just turn into a morality tale. (Bad guy corrupts weird kid in an quaint setting and they all wear aluminum foil hats forever). And poor Sam. PLEASE find him a purpose in life. I will eagerly await the next book and hope for the best.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Book of Old Houses, June 24, 2008

By	Karen B. Harnden - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Book of Old Houses (Home Repair Is Homicide Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This story was a little hard to get into. In some ways it was frustrating to read. When she was going all over town trying to get clues and investigate, she was supposed to have a party that afternoon, and she kept saying she needed to get home and work on it, and she never did. The party came off with everyone helping, but that doesn't often happen in real life. I usually enjoy Sarah Graves novels, and this one had some good things in it, but it was not a real enjoyable read.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book of Old Houses, June 4, 2008

By	Erica D. Vetsch - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Book of Old Houses (Home Repair Is Homicide Mysteries) (Hardcover)

The fictional world created by Sarah Graves in her Home Repair is Homicide series is one of my favorites. I enjoyed this book, as I have every book in the series so far. In fact, after I read this one, I started the series over again.