Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Sunday, July 2, 2017

GRACE TO THE FINISH by Julie Hyzy

A GHOSTLY LIGHT by Juliet Blackwell

GRACE TO THE FINISH

Book 8 in the Manor House Mysteries

by Julie Hyzy

The New York Times bestselling author of the Manor House Mysteries and the White House Chef Mysteries returns with a mix of murder and mayhem for curator Grace Wheaton.

Now that Grace Wheaton has officially been named heir to Bennett Marshfield’s fortune, her usually busy schedule has become a juggling act. In addition to her duties at Marshfield Manor, she’s bankrolling her roommates’ refurbished wine shop, Amethyst Cellars. Grace is excited to check out the rustic space with Bruce and Scott. But that excitement turns to dismay when they stumble upon the body of the banker involved with the sale.

Grace wants to get to the bottom of this mystery quickly so that her friends’ new venture isn’t overshadowed by an unsolved murder, but she’s got even more to balance when her troubled sister, Liza, is released from prison early. Liza’s first stop is Marshfield Manor and her first priority is grabbing a bite of Bennett’s fortune for herself. Grace has to keep her greedy sister at bay and catch a killer before her new life comes crashing down around her.

MY REVIEW

Book 10 of the Manor House Mysteries is another great story that will having you wishing you were to the manor born. At the least it will have you waiting impatiently for book nine. ;-)

As these characters in GRACE TO THE FINISH continue to grow and evolve, author Julie Hyzy readers transfixed on their lives and what will become of them next. I myself have come to like some of the characters better over the series, and there is one that I don’t care for as much as I did.

This mystery stared off fast in chapter one, and built momentum from there. With protagonist Grace Wheaton elbow deep in the everyday running of her own life, she takes on new challenges, and of course, a murder investigation. There’s never a dull moment in this story.

GRACE TO THE FINISH is perhaps my favorite book in the series so far. Well, okay, tied with one other title. Either way, this is some of Ms. Hyzy’s best writing.

📗📖📘📖📗📖📘

A GHOSTLY LIGHT

Book 7 in the Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries

by Juliet Blackwell

In the latest mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Give Up the Ghost, it will take a beacon of ghostly intervention to guide contractor Mel Turner to the truth...

Dangerous tides ahead...

When her friend Alicia hires Turner Construction to renovate a historic lighthouse in the San Francisco Bay, Mel Turner can’t wait to get her hands dirty. Alicia plans to transform the island property into a welcoming inn, and while Mel has never attempted a project so ambitious—or so tall—before, she’s definitely up for the challenge.

But trouble soon arises when Alicia’s abusive ex-husband shows up to threaten both her and Mel, and later turns up dead at the base of the lighthouse stairs. With no other suspects in sight, things start looking choppy for Alicia. Now, if Mel wants to clear her friend’s name, she’ll need the help of the lighthouse’s resident ghosts to shine a light on the real culprit...

MY REVIEW

A lighthouse, murder, and ghosts, oh my! Another fabulous Haunted Home Renovation Mystery!

When I started reading cozy mysteries, I didn’t know there were para-cozies dealing with ghosts, and witches. I love the traditional cozy so much I couldn’t even think about read one with a paranormal element. But then I did, and I loved it, and I have read more like, A GHOSTLY LIGHT. It seems as though I like a cozy with a ghosty from time to time. And author Juliet Blackwell helps play a part in that.

A GHOSTLY LIGHT was a fascinating book that I couldn’t put down. From the vivid descriptions of the lighthouse, to the murder and investigation, meeting the ghosts, and the great reveal, as well as a surprise last couple of sentences, everything about this story worked from the way it flowed, to the suspense, and the mystery, Ms. Blackwell has written tale to beat.