The Book of Old Houses

November 12, 2007
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.

December 15, 2007
In the midst of renovating her 1823 house, Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree ("Trap Door") found an old book listing the previous owners of her home. Strangely, the list, which was dated and appeared to be written in blood, included Jake's name. She sent it to local book historian Horace Robotham to authenticate, but Robotham died, and the book disappeared. Now a friend of his is in town asking questions and looking for the volume. In her 11th "Home Repair Is Homicide" mystery, Graves fools the reader into relaxing and then shows who is in charge by ending her book in an unexpected way. With each title, she just keeps getting better. Graves lives in Eastport, ME. [See Prepub Mystery, "LJ" 9/1/07.]

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