Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree took the dangerous plunge from Wall Street power broker to homeowner. Now the do-it-yourself enthusiast is about to discover that her own dream house is built on a foundation of murder.
Buying a beachfront fixer-upper to lease out to Eastport, Maine's, burgeoning tourist crowd seems like a good idea to Jake Tiptree and her best friend, Ellie White. But working double-time as landladies to a coven of wannabe witches is not what they had in mind. And it only gets worse when Jake is called out one stormy night to make a repair—and stumbles on a dead body in the utility shed.
A small-time thief and street preacher with a particularly violent message, the deceased was no favorite of Jake's nor of anyone else in Eastport. But what's he doing shot to death on Jake's property? Jake's bewitching tenants—including an ex-cop, a con man, and a mute teenage girl—claim to have been too busy conjuring spells to have heard or seen a thing. Then a member of the coven disappears without a trace, and Jake doesn't think it's a case of witchcraft but a kidnapping—or worse.
Scandal, secrets, and a mysterious box buried deep in the foundation of her own home are just the beginning of a mystery that threatens to bring Jake's house—and life—crashing down. Now she and Ellie are racing to find a missing girl who may either be the key to it all—or lead them to a killer holding the final nails to their coffins.
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"Jacobia puts herself amd eventually Ellie in more danger than ever before. While searching for a missing mute teenage girl, the readers learn more about Jacobia's childhood and gain insight into her behavior. An unexpected development concerning her ex-husband Victor provides even more insight into Jacobia's chracter and past life."
— Lynda (4 out of 5 stars)
" This is a new series for me, and I like it. Not subtle or complex, but an engaging and well spun tale with an ample batch of suspects and likable protagonists. I'll read more. "
— Kathy, 2/18/2014" This was an okay book - I think I was a little bothered by her writing style because (a) she used stupid a's and b's to make lists, and (b) it was very distracting. It got to the point where I was just waiting for her a's and b's to show up. And the plot was a little confusing. It's a mystery, so it's supposed to be confusing, but she purposefully held back info, and it was so obvious that she was just trying to drag out the story. And the home repair tips were few and far between, and too basic to really be called "tips." "
— Shelley, 2/18/2014" I finished reading this book, but I don't plan to read anymore in this series. Jakes emotional problems are so over the top that I just get tired of reading about it. Honestly, the woman needs therapy! "
— Nancy, 2/9/2014" This is the ninth book of a series, but the first book that I read. Didn't matter, the book was easy to follow and sent me to the library to find the rest of the series. "
— Chris, 2/7/2014" overstretched credulity, piss-poor payoff on subplot "
— Helen, 1/19/2014" Graves writes a nice mystery--a little edgier than a cosy, and full of regional description. I also like her home repair hints scattered throughout the story. "
— Mary, 1/16/2014" I have liked other books in this series, the oddities in this story did not enhance the story, they were more of a distraction, as was the subplot of child abuse which may or may not have occurred. All in all, this book was a disappointment. "
— Lbaker, 12/29/2013" Always a good read, even for those not interested in home repair. Ending of this one a surprise because didn't anticipate the removal of one character from the collection of people in Eastport, Maine. "
— Shirley, 12/22/2013" Witches, dead body, missing 15 yr old, coming to terms with childhood incest...makes for a differenct kind of read "
— Barbara, 12/20/2013" I enjoyed this book, but there were a few things about the author's writing that annoyed me. She would make a great allusion to something, and then continue on and ruin it by explaining what she meant. Intelligent people read cozy mysteries too. "
— Jen, 12/12/2013" Set in Eastport, Maine, this is the latest (at the time) in a series about a former financial wizard who restores an old house and solves crimes in a struggling small town Down East. Always enjoyable with good characters, plots and setting. "
— Nikki, 11/17/2013" Pins and Needles! Yes, I was sewing so there were pins involved, but I have to say, this one had me on the edge of my seat, on pins and needles! Good story! "
— Pat, 2/9/2013" I like the idea and the premise of this book (and the series) but I am not a fan of the style of writing. I probably won't read another of these. Also, if you read one of the later ones first like I did, you will know what happens in the earlier ones, so you should read them in order. "
— Sara, 11/14/2012" This was interesting to read because it was set in Eastport Maine and so all the terrain and surrounding places were familiar to me. It had a stead climb and the people were interesting. I thought the witches would have a bigger play but they didn't. I will read other books by this author. "
— Cindy, 5/11/2012" Another fun read by Sarah Graves in the Home Repair is Homicide Series. "
— Terri, 11/11/2011" Picked up this book as the series title "home repair is homicide" is very funny and true, at least at my house! Reminded me of Diane Mott Davidson's books - same set of characters. Enjoyed it but feel that Davidson is the better writer. "
— Susan, 8/14/2011" This is another in the home repair mystery series. It adds new development to the characters, and continues the interesting happenings in the small coastal town. I really enjoyed it! "
— Cheryl, 8/6/2011" this one was really cool. that's all i have to say. "
— Francesca, 8/5/2011" Spooky ending. Even better than Sue Grafton. "
— Kurt, 6/24/2011" OK. I think I'm just getting tired of this series. "
— Peggy, 5/19/2011" This was interesting to read because it was set in Eastport Maine and so all the terrain and surrounding places were familiar to me. It had a stead climb and the people were interesting. I thought the witches would have a bigger play but they didn't. I will read other books by this author. "
— Cindy, 5/12/2011" overstretched credulity, piss-poor payoff on subplot "
— Helen, 3/31/2011" Graves writes a nice mystery--a little edgier than a cosy, and full of regional description. I also like her home repair hints scattered throughout the story. "
— Mary, 2/28/2011" This is the ninth book of a series, but the first book that I read. Didn't matter, the book was easy to follow and sent me to the library to find the rest of the series. "
— Chris, 2/7/2010" I started this in Cleveland. I picked it up from a used book store while waiting for our table at Tommy's. On the jacket it isays "complete with Home Repair is Homicide repair tips." I enjoyed it, but like many of this genre I quickly move on and forget what I read. "
— Ruth, 1/10/2010" I enjoyed this book, but there were a few things about the author's writing that annoyed me. She would make a great allusion to something, and then continue on and ruin it by explaining what she meant. Intelligent people read cozy mysteries too. "
— Jen, 4/28/2009" I like the idea and the premise of this book (and the series) but I am not a fan of the style of writing. I probably won't read another of these. Also, if you read one of the later ones first like I did, you will know what happens in the earlier ones, so you should read them in order. "
— Sara, 4/22/2009" Witches, dead body, missing 15 yr old, coming to terms with childhood incest...makes for a differenct kind of read "
— Barbara, 4/19/2009" I enjoyed this book but not as much as the rest of them. First of all it is shorter and second I don't know why she decided to kill off Victor. I don't see what purpose it served. "
— Mtl, 1/13/2009" this one was really cool. that's all i have to say. "
— Francesca, 3/14/2008" This is another in the home repair mystery series. It adds new development to the characters, and continues the interesting happenings in the small coastal town. I really enjoyed it! "
— Cheryl, 2/16/2008" Set in Eastport, Maine, this is the latest (at the time) in a series about a former financial wizard who restores an old house and solves crimes in a struggling small town Down East. Always enjoyable with good characters, plots and setting. "
— Nikki, 1/3/2008Sarah Graves lives with her husband in Eastport, Maine, in the 1823 Federal-style house that helped inspire her books. This series and the author’s real-life experience have been featured in House & Garden and USA Today.
Lindsay Ellison is a narrator, producer, director, editor, performer, teacher, and a published and recorded songwriter and poet. She has narrated hundreds of audiobooks for the Library of Congress and the Perkins School for the Blind. She is an improvisational storyteller and a spokesperson for art and literacy on several New England television stations, and she coaches the art of narration nationally.