Since she bought her rambling fixer-upper of a house, Jacobia Tiptree has gotten used to finding things broken. But her latest problem isn't so easily repaired. Along with the rotting floor joists and sagging support beams, there's the little matter of the dead man in Jake's storeroom, an ice pick planted firmly in his cranium. Not much happens in her tiny Maine town, but that's about to change. Jake's unknown guest turns out to be local boy turned billionaire Threnody McIlwaine. When Jake's best friend, quiet and dependable Ellie White, confesses to the murder, cops and journalists swarm into the snowbound Eastport. Jake smells a cover-up and begins poking into past history between McIlwaine and Ellie's family. But someone doesn't like nosy neighbors—and Jake's rustic refuge may become her final resting place.
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"This book is not only well-written, but smart. The protagonist isn't perfect, but she's intelligent, strong, and self-sufficient. The Maine locations and the old home repairs are fun to read about, the mystery seems almost secondary to the character of Jake and the small Maine town they live in. I can't wait to read them all. Big fun."
— Julie (4 out of 5 stars)
" I wasn't sure I was going to like this book because it seemed hard to get into, but I did eventually and enjoyed the book. didn't suspect who the killer was (but rarely do) and am interested to see how the rest of the series goes "
— Leslie, 2/8/2014" I listened to the audio version...enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author! "
— T.W., 1/25/2014" this was a pretty good book, but i couldn't understand why it was called that. it mentioned it maybe once. "
— Francesca, 1/15/2014" Murder mystery staring old finance guru in little town which nobody has never heard. Story itself is ok. Characters of book give feel of overacting their roles, but writer say that this is feature of town where story happens, but she failed to make me believe that. Solution of murder mystery was bit disappointing as reasoning's of participants were just plain stupid. But book prose's quality is good which make it easy and somewhat enjoyable to read even with previously mentioned problems. "
— Eero, 12/21/2013" The setting is vivid, the characters are strongly portrayed, and the story of murder is fascinating. Unfortunately, Graves refuses to tell the story. She constantly interrupts the narrative, and that makes it a chore to ferret out the scattered bits of real story along the way. "
— Aaron, 11/25/2013" This entire series, "Home Repair is HOmicide" mysteries, has great characters you care about and good stories to boot. This is the first in there series. I always look forward to the next installment. "
— Carol, 11/24/2013" As a good mystery should, it kept me guessing until the end. And the suspense was great! "
— Taunja, 11/17/2013" I love how she uses words- she is an extraordinary writer! "
— Ruth, 10/25/2013" Listened to the audio and liked it enough to listen to the next one in the series. Walking and listening is a good way to make exercise less painful. Haven't read any "Maine" books in awhile. I always enjoy learning about a new part of the country while cozying up to dead bodies. "
— Margaret, 9/17/2013" I've never read anything by this author, so I'll give her a try. "
— Peggy, 8/6/2013" This is my kind of fun reading. A down to earth, spunky sleuth, lots of scenic details about the location of the mystery, and a rather complex plot. I can't wait to read the next one in the series. Lucky for me, Graves has written 12 of them. "
— Laura, 7/23/2013" I had to skip to the end -- the story just couldn't hold my interest. "
— Jennifer, 7/13/2013" This is the first book in the series. I truly enjoy these books, not because they are great literature, because they are not, but they are great fun! "
— Terri, 5/6/2013" Have you ever started reading a book but is sounds so familiar that you go read the ending to be sure? Well, this is what I did for this book. I enjoyed it better the first time. But it is still a cute book! "
— Pat, 4/2/2013" Great introduction to the series. Appealing characters and setting on a small island off the coast of Maine. Moving on to book 2. "
— Amanda, 3/23/2013" I love a good comedy - mystery! This was a third in a series so now I have to find the others..lol "
— Genetta, 10/4/2012" I love mysteries series! This series is set in Maine, and I've read all the books in the series and hope the author will be writing more. "
— Susan, 9/20/2012" I read and enjoyed Book of Old Houses, and decided to read another of Graves' books. What draws me back is the town the main character lives in. I think it is the home town we all wish we came from. "
— Mary, 7/8/2012" Love to read series mysteries. Also love to read about areas that I am familiar with, having grown up in New England, and driven to Prince Edward Island, a few times, I am somewhat familiar with the setting. Good stories. "
— Donna, 6/23/2012" Between fixing up her old house, Jacobia was trying to help her friend who'd confessed to a murder. She had to figure out who really did it because Ellie had promised not to tell. "
— Joyce, 8/15/2011" Finally! I found a new series of mysteries to read - yay! "
— Marcia, 6/30/2011" This was an intersting intro into Eli. I really wish I had begun to read this series from the start instead of the hit and miss I have been doing. Things would have made more sense. "
— Cindy, 6/8/2011" This is a fun series of humorous murder mysteries that I found homey and well written. I'd consider them a "cozy". "
— Jackie, 5/26/2011" Listened to the audio and liked it enough to listen to the next one in the series. Walking and listening is a good way to make exercise less painful. Haven't read any "Maine" books in awhile. I always enjoy learning about a new part of the country while cozying up to dead bodies. "
— Margaret, 4/7/2011" not one cat - wall street expression "
— Helen, 3/31/2011" Don't let the title fool you...no cat dies. I am enjoying this new series. Wonderful characters and a good plot. I love a good cozy mystery and this one had plenty of twists to keep me interested. I will be starting the next one later today. "
— Kimmie, 11/8/2010" The setting is vivid, the characters are strongly portrayed, and the story of murder is fascinating. Unfortunately, Graves refuses to <em>tell</em> the story. She constantly interrupts the narrative, and that makes it a chore to ferret out the scattered bits of real story along the way. "
— Aaron, 11/6/2010" 1st in the Jake Tiptree, Home Repair is Homicide, series. I enjoyed it. The characters were well developed and I can see that this will make a good series following up on them. The story line was interesting and the action riveting at times. Not too much home repair involved, though. "
— Sharonm, 6/5/2010" choppy, I just couldnt get through it. I was really hoping to like it. "
— Alan, 5/22/2010" Eastport Maine <br/>titles refer to Wall Street terms <br/>home repair tips "
— Delafieldlib, 5/4/2010" This was entertaining. Still a murder mystery which I'm not always a huge fan of. But I liked the main character with her witty sarcasm and I loved that it was set in rural Maine. It made me want to live there. It was nice brain candy. "
— Maury, 3/26/2010" Not my type of cozy. "
— Heidi, 3/4/2010" I liked this one much better than the one I first read in this series (which I think is #4). It's still light, but there was more mystery and detection in the plot and the ending wasn't quite so unbelievable. "
— Marty, 1/18/2010" Love to read series mysteries. Also love to read about areas that I am familiar with, having grown up in New England, and driven to Prince Edward Island, a few times, I am somewhat familiar with the setting. Good stories. "
— Donna, 11/30/2009" This is a fun series. Overall, I like her characters, and the first few plots in particular were clever, and since it is set in my hometown area, I enjoy "visiting". "
— Barbara, 8/20/2009Sarah 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.