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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Grace to the Finish by Julie Hyzy is the eighth (and, unfortunately, the last) book in A Manor House Mystery series. Grace Wheaton is touring the Granite Building, the new sight for Amethyst Cellars, with Bruce and Scott. They are preparing to go down to the basement when they see a woman collapsed on the floor at the bottom of the steps. It turns out to be Virginia Frisbie, the banker Scott and Bruce dealt with when buying the building. Upon further inspection of the basement, they discover that someone has been squatting there and items are missing. Did Virginia interrupt a thief which resulted in her death? Grace’s sister, Liza is being released from prison and is coming to live in Emberstowne. Aunt Belinda has agreed to come from Florida to supervise Liza (Grace wishes to avoid her toxic sister). Grace is worried how her sister will behave and what will happen when Liza learns about Grace’s good fortune. It turns out that Aunt Belinda has already informed Liza, and they have hired an attorney. Grace needs to find a way to stop Liza. An old memory sends Grace searching through old family photo albums. Grace sets out to unearth what was happening at the Granite Building in the hopes of catching Virginia’s killer. She will need to multitask to keep up with her work at Marshfield Manor, snare a murderer, uncover a way to hinder her conniving sister, and, if Grace is lucky, find time for a date with Dr. Joe Bradley.
Grace to the Finish is well-written, has good characters, and a nice setting. It has been interesting to watch Grace (as well as the other characters) develop over the course of the series. She is slowly adjusting to her new role as heir to Bennett Marshfield. I like that Grace is an intelligent and articulate main character with a good moral compass (as well as relatable). I wish there were more main characters like Grace in cozy mysteries. The pace of the story is medium. There is quite a bit of activity in the story and numerous details that go along with it (which slows down the flow of reading). Two of my favorite characters are Frances and Flynn. They provide humor to the story (it helps to lighten it up). Grace to the Finish is best read after finishing the first seven books in the series. Each book in the series builds upon the previous one. I give Grace to the Finish 4.50 out of 5 stars. I just wish the two mysteries had been more complex (I would settle for one). The murder mystery and the one regarding Liza were easy to unravel. Actually, the murder of Virginia Frisbee is a storyline that unfolds instead of a mystery that readers can solve (I prefer a mystery that I can solve—I find it more captivating). I appreciated that Grace works with the police to solve the crime (instead of going behind their backs or working against them). The romance was not over-the-top in the story (thank goodness). It was light and enhanced the story. I am saddened that there will be no further books in A Manor House Mystery series. We need more cozy mysteries like Grace to the Finish.
Grace to the Finish is well-written, has good characters, and a nice setting. It has been interesting to watch Grace (as well as the other characters) develop over the course of the series. She is slowly adjusting to her new role as heir to Bennett Marshfield. I like that Grace is an intelligent and articulate main character with a good moral compass (as well as relatable). I wish there were more main characters like Grace in cozy mysteries. The pace of the story is medium. There is quite a bit of activity in the story and numerous details that go along with it (which slows down the flow of reading). Two of my favorite characters are Frances and Flynn. They provide humor to the story (it helps to lighten it up). Grace to the Finish is best read after finishing the first seven books in the series. Each book in the series builds upon the previous one. I give Grace to the Finish 4.50 out of 5 stars. I just wish the two mysteries had been more complex (I would settle for one). The murder mystery and the one regarding Liza were easy to unravel. Actually, the murder of Virginia Frisbee is a storyline that unfolds instead of a mystery that readers can solve (I prefer a mystery that I can solve—I find it more captivating). I appreciated that Grace works with the police to solve the crime (instead of going behind their backs or working against them). The romance was not over-the-top in the story (thank goodness). It was light and enhanced the story. I am saddened that there will be no further books in A Manor House Mystery series. We need more cozy mysteries like Grace to the Finish.
kimlb's review against another edition
4.0
Best in the series which is sad since it is the last one.
lisg's review against another edition
5.0
This is the last of the Manor House mysteries and I'll miss reading this series. In this one, Grace's sister Liza is back to cause more trouble. This time she has the help of their Aunt Belinda. To add to the trouble, Grace and her roommates stumble across a body in their new building. Add in mysterious stalkers, a homeless man, and secrets that come to light, and this book is a great ending to a good series.
bleyz16's review against another edition
5.0
So sad this is the last book in the series and I'm hoping the author decides to continue this series as there are a lot of open storylines left to explore.
Side note: So glad her sister and aunt finally got what they deserved, such awful people
Side note: So glad her sister and aunt finally got what they deserved, such awful people
meliaraastair's review against another edition
5.0
I needed a little break between #10 and #11 of the Wheel of Time series, and then I remembered there was a "new" book out in this series I hadn't read yet. Julie Hyzy is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors, so it was an easy choice for what to read! (By "new" - this book came out summer of 2017 and I've somehow missed it til now - *facepalm*).
Grace is back with her roommates/now business partners inspecting their new property when they find a body. It seems to be murder - and what's more, there are signs a squatter is in the building. Add to that, her sister's about to get out of jail, her badgering aunt is supposed to show up to help out, and Joe's got a secret - will they finally connect, or will the secret scare her off?
So I'll admit I read this book in one sitting. Oops? A perfect lazy, rainy, Sunday morning kind of book. Lots going on and good writing. As always, I highly recommend Julie Hyzy! Also...is she still writing? Is she going to put out more books in either this or the White House chef series??? I can't seem to find much recent info on her.
As always, highly recommend! Just don't want to give too much away of the plot - this series does build on previous books, so go back and check out #1. 9 of 10 overall and 4.5 of 5 for readability.
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
Grace is back with her roommates/now business partners inspecting their new property when they find a body. It seems to be murder - and what's more, there are signs a squatter is in the building. Add to that, her sister's about to get out of jail, her badgering aunt is supposed to show up to help out, and Joe's got a secret - will they finally connect, or will the secret scare her off?
So I'll admit I read this book in one sitting. Oops? A perfect lazy, rainy, Sunday morning kind of book. Lots going on and good writing. As always, I highly recommend Julie Hyzy! Also...is she still writing? Is she going to put out more books in either this or the White House chef series??? I can't seem to find much recent info on her.
As always, highly recommend! Just don't want to give too much away of the plot - this series does build on previous books, so go back and check out #1. 9 of 10 overall and 4.5 of 5 for readability.
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
brooke4131's review against another edition
5.0
What a great read! I've been a fan of this series from the very beginning and am sad to see it end......but what a way to go! Many kudos to the author for wrapping up a lot of the storyline and leaving readers with a sense of closure.
msrichardsreads89's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dollycas's review against another edition
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Grace Wheaton is learning her new role as heir to Bennett Marshfield’s fortune. She and Bennett work together so she can become familiar with everything in his life especially Marshfield Manor. She is also the not so silent partner in her roommates wine shop, Amethyst Cellars. They have purchased a building and are just starting on their plans to not only open their wine store again but opening a restaurant in the building too. Add to that her sister, Liza, is being released from prison early and plans to stake her claim for her share of Bennett’s money immediately. As if that isn’t enough Grace, Bruce and Scott find find a dead body in their new building. So even though Frances seems to think Grace needs a new man in her life, she is going to have to solve the murder and straighten out her sister before she can even think of anything like that.
Julie Hyzy has created truly wonderful characters in this series. They are characters that are so engaging that it is easy to become involved in everything they do. Grace, Bennett and even Frances’ relationships have grown so much since the beginning. Bruce and Scott have really evolved too. Aunt Belinda and Liza bring their own craziness to this story. We learn their real backstory and more about Grace’s family in this installment and it is quite interesting.
The murder mystery is very well plotted and timely for the world today. Grace is like a dog with a bone as she tries to fit all the pieces together. A homeless man may have the final clue to help everything fall into place. A subplot to this mystery is that Joe is holding something back from Grace. She doesn’t know if she can trust him and she may just have to give up on the relationship they have been working hard to build.
I was and still am sad that the author announced earlier this month that this is the last book in the series. I understand she wants to take her writing in a different direction. She does leave everyone in a good place but not everything is complete. I would love to be at the grand reopening for Amethyst Cellars, or see how more of Marshfield Manor is opened to the public, and find out if Grace did find that forever love. I know the door is closed for now, but I can hope Julie may revisit the Manor someday in the future. If not we say goodbye to some amazing characters and are blessed by the short time we got to spend with them.
Another perfect escape from Julie Hyzy!
Grace Wheaton is learning her new role as heir to Bennett Marshfield’s fortune. She and Bennett work together so she can become familiar with everything in his life especially Marshfield Manor. She is also the not so silent partner in her roommates wine shop, Amethyst Cellars. They have purchased a building and are just starting on their plans to not only open their wine store again but opening a restaurant in the building too. Add to that her sister, Liza, is being released from prison early and plans to stake her claim for her share of Bennett’s money immediately. As if that isn’t enough Grace, Bruce and Scott find find a dead body in their new building. So even though Frances seems to think Grace needs a new man in her life, she is going to have to solve the murder and straighten out her sister before she can even think of anything like that.
Julie Hyzy has created truly wonderful characters in this series. They are characters that are so engaging that it is easy to become involved in everything they do. Grace, Bennett and even Frances’ relationships have grown so much since the beginning. Bruce and Scott have really evolved too. Aunt Belinda and Liza bring their own craziness to this story. We learn their real backstory and more about Grace’s family in this installment and it is quite interesting.
The murder mystery is very well plotted and timely for the world today. Grace is like a dog with a bone as she tries to fit all the pieces together. A homeless man may have the final clue to help everything fall into place. A subplot to this mystery is that Joe is holding something back from Grace. She doesn’t know if she can trust him and she may just have to give up on the relationship they have been working hard to build.
I was and still am sad that the author announced earlier this month that this is the last book in the series. I understand she wants to take her writing in a different direction. She does leave everyone in a good place but not everything is complete. I would love to be at the grand reopening for Amethyst Cellars, or see how more of Marshfield Manor is opened to the public, and find out if Grace did find that forever love. I know the door is closed for now, but I can hope Julie may revisit the Manor someday in the future. If not we say goodbye to some amazing characters and are blessed by the short time we got to spend with them.
Another perfect escape from Julie Hyzy!
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Julie Hyzy and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Julie Hyzy is back for another annual instalment in the Grace Wheaton series. This novel packs a punch and offers some insight into numerous threads that have been left dangling from previous series novels. Celebrating their recent purchase of a run-down building in town, Grace and her roommates-cum-business partners are eager to get a start on the renovations. However, after opening things up, they discover a woman’s body laying at the base of the stairs. Virginia Frisbie is not a random victim, having served as the local bank’s vice-president and the institution’s representative in the sale of the property. Could she have fallen, or is there something more nefarious at play? Grace finds herself in the middle of yet another mystery that could have a definitely murderous odour. As the investigation progresses, a squatter is discovered and his account could play a key role in given better context as it relates to Virginia’s presence on-site, as well as a mysterious man with whom she would rendezvous on a regular basis within the building. If that were not enough, Grace’s sister, Liza, is set to be released from prison and is itching to get her hands on the lion’s share of the Marshfield Estate, something that Grace has been lucky enough to have been promised when her boss (and recently discovered uncle) Bennett Marshfield passed on. Armed with a nosy aunt in town from Florida, Liza seeks to cash-in on the millions (or billions) to which she feels she is entitled because of her bloodline. However, as Grace frets about this, she learns a secret about Liza that could pose an even larger problem, once it comes to the surface. Grace may have a great deal on her plate, but there are suitors all around her, some of whom she has been trying to encounter romantically for quite some time. They, too, have skeletons in their closets, forcing Grace to make some major life decisions. A wonderful addition to the Marshfield Manor series, showing how entertaining Hyzy’s writing can be, in that quaint manner reserved for clean-fun reading. Highly recommend the entire series for a beach-binge, should time permit.
I have heard rumours that Hyzy decided to end the series with this novel, which would be somewhat disheartening. If it is true, she ends things on a high note, closing the proverbial book on the series before it loses its lustre. Grace Wheaton has seen much transformation in the series and this novel allows the reader to learn a touch more about her. Her sleuthing ways are front and centre in this piece, while the interesting balance of her work seems to have taken a back burner. I always enjoyed the balance, though I suspect Hyzy had too many Grace balls in the air to inject mention of art in more than passing. The secondary characters remain strong, with Frances adding her two cents whenever and wherever possible. The rest of the crew keep the story flowing well, though they do not play a crucial role. Even Liza and Aunt Belinda seem to be muted in the storyline that utilizes them. The overall mystery is strong and keeps the reader guessing. The entire series has relied on a quaint nature and so there is a strong sense of lightheartedness, even when cracking the mystery wide-open. Some key aspects of the story are resolved herein, which fuels the aforementioned rumours a little. However, there is much that could be developed yet, so Hyzy has not entirely closed the door on another book. Either way, I enjoy these novels, as they are quick-reads and highly entertaining for the time they take to finish.
Kudos, Madam Hyzy, for another wonderful novel. I am eager to see what else you have going on, being it Grace, Olivia, or someone new.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Julie Hyzy is back for another annual instalment in the Grace Wheaton series. This novel packs a punch and offers some insight into numerous threads that have been left dangling from previous series novels. Celebrating their recent purchase of a run-down building in town, Grace and her roommates-cum-business partners are eager to get a start on the renovations. However, after opening things up, they discover a woman’s body laying at the base of the stairs. Virginia Frisbie is not a random victim, having served as the local bank’s vice-president and the institution’s representative in the sale of the property. Could she have fallen, or is there something more nefarious at play? Grace finds herself in the middle of yet another mystery that could have a definitely murderous odour. As the investigation progresses, a squatter is discovered and his account could play a key role in given better context as it relates to Virginia’s presence on-site, as well as a mysterious man with whom she would rendezvous on a regular basis within the building. If that were not enough, Grace’s sister, Liza, is set to be released from prison and is itching to get her hands on the lion’s share of the Marshfield Estate, something that Grace has been lucky enough to have been promised when her boss (and recently discovered uncle) Bennett Marshfield passed on. Armed with a nosy aunt in town from Florida, Liza seeks to cash-in on the millions (or billions) to which she feels she is entitled because of her bloodline. However, as Grace frets about this, she learns a secret about Liza that could pose an even larger problem, once it comes to the surface. Grace may have a great deal on her plate, but there are suitors all around her, some of whom she has been trying to encounter romantically for quite some time. They, too, have skeletons in their closets, forcing Grace to make some major life decisions. A wonderful addition to the Marshfield Manor series, showing how entertaining Hyzy’s writing can be, in that quaint manner reserved for clean-fun reading. Highly recommend the entire series for a beach-binge, should time permit.
I have heard rumours that Hyzy decided to end the series with this novel, which would be somewhat disheartening. If it is true, she ends things on a high note, closing the proverbial book on the series before it loses its lustre. Grace Wheaton has seen much transformation in the series and this novel allows the reader to learn a touch more about her. Her sleuthing ways are front and centre in this piece, while the interesting balance of her work seems to have taken a back burner. I always enjoyed the balance, though I suspect Hyzy had too many Grace balls in the air to inject mention of art in more than passing. The secondary characters remain strong, with Frances adding her two cents whenever and wherever possible. The rest of the crew keep the story flowing well, though they do not play a crucial role. Even Liza and Aunt Belinda seem to be muted in the storyline that utilizes them. The overall mystery is strong and keeps the reader guessing. The entire series has relied on a quaint nature and so there is a strong sense of lightheartedness, even when cracking the mystery wide-open. Some key aspects of the story are resolved herein, which fuels the aforementioned rumours a little. However, there is much that could be developed yet, so Hyzy has not entirely closed the door on another book. Either way, I enjoy these novels, as they are quick-reads and highly entertaining for the time they take to finish.
Kudos, Madam Hyzy, for another wonderful novel. I am eager to see what else you have going on, being it Grace, Olivia, or someone new.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
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