Nail Biter

I love the setting, I enjoy the characters, but this one is very uneven. Jacobia Tiptree (our heroine) is asked by the local sheriff to search for a missing teenager because he doesn't think the State Police are putting enough emphasis on the search and because he has been told by the Staties to butt out. YEAH RIGHT. The Sheriff assigns the town busy-body to search for a missing/possibly kidnapped child???? For some reason, "Jake" keeps flashing back to some unspecified but awful situation in her past that has her convinced that the missing girl is in grave danger. I found this whole part of the plot very contrived, and Jake's anxiety so repetitive that I wanted to abandon the book, or at least skip over her on-going angst, on several show more different occasions. However, Graves is skillful enough to arouse my curiosity to the point that I had to keep reading to find out the resolution to several different pieces of the story.

It's always difficult to review mysteries without giving away the plot. I won't reveal the story, but I will tell you there are storms, ghosts, several suspects, natural and man-made disasters galore. In fact, this one might not qualify as a cozy in many peoples' minds. There are several sub-plots and enough amateur detecting to keep it interesting. I just wish it had been tightened up a bit. The extra helpings of words did insure that anyone who hadn't read one of the earlier books wasn't going to miss anything. A bit wordy, but still a satisfying read. As usual, Lindsay Ellison's narration is first class. show less

This is her newest release. I love her mysteries. I was rivited to my sofa. I woke up reading this book and several hours later i was finished. Her character development is very strong. I feel like I know them and what is going on in their in their lives. Trap door is the next one to be released and I am not sure I can wait until 2007 for the hard copy.

Nail Biter is one of the best books in this series, at least so far. Jacobia (Jake), husband Wade, son Sam, and ex-husband Victor all live in a small town in Maine. Jake is busy restoring her 1800's home, Sam is going to school and living on his own. Victor is, well, Victor. Fans of the series know what that means.

When Jake and best friend Ellie purchase an old fixer-upper home to eventually rent they are shocked when someone wants to rent it before they even get started on repairs. The people who are renting are rumored to be witches and that sets the locals to gossiping. Then one of the locals is found dead in the shed beside the rental, sending Jake and Ellie on the hunt for the killer.

There are some terrific sub-stories here. Child show more abuse, mutism, and a shocker twist at the end that still have me mulling over the next in the series. No spoilers here but if you've been reading this series and like me are behind, you need to read this one. show less

So I started reading this book a couple of days ago, and realized that I had read it before. But since I don't really remember it, I am going to finish reading it and then post a review.

I enjoyed reading this book again. I did feel a little mislead by the back cover, stating that she rents her cottage to a group of witches. They weren't really witches and I thought that could have been an interesting plot development. I did like the teen Wanda. Her character seemed a little more thought out. The others in the group were more stereotypes.

I like how supportive Jake's husband is of her sleuthing and crazy behavior. At least he has decided it is useless to try and stop her. I do wonder if she has any self preservation instincts, because she show more does go headlong into dangerous situations. Agreeing to meet a suspected murderer late at night in a lonely location is something I definitely would not want to do.

The resolution of her story with her ex, Victor, was good. I didn't like how mean he was to her.

I am still enjoying this series and plan on reading more of it. show less

Just when you think you know everything about Jacobia, Ms. Graves reveals another facet of her past and personality. There are some sad developments in the personal lives of the main characters. The mystery is well drawn but sort of run-of-the-meal - the real story is about Jacobia this time.

Another book in the Home Repair series. This one starts slightly different than previous ones in the series. From a different point of view. After that it's much like the previous tomes.

Ellie and Jake bought a house along the coast line to be a rental property. They then got a group of tenants who the town thinks are witches. Then Jake, on one of her many trips to the house to fix stuff that seems to break daily finds a dead body.

Soon after that one of the tenants goes missing. A young girl who has a way with animals and doesn't speak at all. Jake and Ellie get involved in that of course, trying to find her since the state guys are busy with the murder, etc.

Needless to say it goes along in the way it usually does for the two women. show more Although this book was a bit more intense than the previous ones.

There was also a subplot that was quite intense. And this time in addition to some doosies of home repairs (one with a whole ton of water) there was also a ton of stuff that happened on the water and on boats.

I also loved the Tall Isle stuff, only because I know of a couple of islands that you can walk to at low tide and get seriously stuck on them when it becomes high tide (although usually you don't get shot at on them of course).

A solid three star book and the end is quite the cliffhanger. show less

didn't grab me at first, but I love a woman who can do her own home repairs; this is my first Sarah Graves mystery and I plan to go back and start with book 1 before deciding if I want to continue