Anything Goes

The first book of Jill Churchill's Depression-era Grace and Favor mysteries introduces siblings Lily and Robert Brewster. The down on their luck pair learn that they have inherited a house in Voorburg-on-Hudson, New York, but it comes with stipulations that they must fulfill. When they first arrive in the town, no one wants to talk with them about the details of their uncle's death in a boating accident. Eventually they learn that their uncle was murdered, and that the crime is as yet unsolved. A second murder, seemingly connected to the first, convinces the pair that they must figure out who is responsible for both crimes.

I've read two or three of Churchill's Jane Jeffry books, but this is the first book I've read in this series. I show more enjoyed it a lot more than the Jane Jeffry series. I like the era and the setting, and I liked Lily's character more and more as the book progressed. Lily's is definitely the stronger personality of the two, and she comes across as intelligent, resourceful, and kind. The solution to the mystery was obvious to me early on, but this didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book. I will definitely be reading more books in this series. show less

First Line: Lily was hot and cranky.

Lily and Robert Brewster enjoyed being members of the idle rich, until their father lost everything in the crash of 1929. Now they're part of the disillusioned poor and very tired of scrimping and saving for every crust of bread. At first they jump for joy when they are told that an uncle has died and left them a Hudson River mansion. They jump higher when they're told that a fortune goes with the mansion. They stop jumping when they learn that they have to live in the mansion for ten years before they can get their hands on a penny of the money.

They pack their bags and arrive at their new home, which they swiftly name Grace and Favor Cottage. They're settling in and getting to know the people in the show more area when they discover that their uncle was murdered aboard his yacht during a storm. Since Lily and Robert inherited the money, they are now suspects, and when another body turns up in the kitchen of Grace and Favor, they know they have to be the ones to clear their names.

This was a pleasant little read that moved right along. I liked the time period and the Hudson River setting, and Lily and Robert were fun characters who provided a laugh or two along the way. However, the villain was not difficult to spot, and I didn't find Lily and Robert as engaging as I thought I would. Probably because this poor kid has an innate suspicion of rich kids. (I have to admit to a bit of a smirk when Lily moaned about her awful job and working conditions. Poor baby.)

I don't think this is a series that I'll continue to read, but I can certainly see where it would be a favorite of many other readers of cozy mysteries. If you like the time period and are in the mood for a pleasant afternoon's mystery, you could certainly do a lot worse than picking up Anything Goes. show less

Lily Brewster and her brother Robert had grown up idle rich in NYC. But, yhe stock market crashed in 1929. Their mother was dead and their father committed suicide. The siblings were left destitute. Lily found a job at a bank snd Robert often worked waiting tables at fancy restaurants. They lived in a poorly furnished tenement, barely scraping by. Then one day they recieved word that their still wealthy Great Uncle Horatio had died and left them his estate, with conditions. Lily and Robert immediately moved to upstate New York, taking residence at Grace and Favor Cottage, a huge mansion along the river. In order to help the Brewsters with living expenses, their uncle's lawyer and wife decide to board at Grace and Favor Cottage. Soon the show more Brewster siblings realize that their uncle's death had not been an accident, but rather murder. Lily and Robert want justice for Uncle Horatio, but who in the sleepy town of Voorburg-on-Hudson?

This was an engaging fast read. I liked the setting, interesting characters, and the sparely written plot, with a few twists and turns to keep me guessing. show less

June 29, 1999
Anything Goes
Jill Churchill

The first chapter of this book was featured on the Twilight Lane section of the Mystery Net website, and when I read it I immediately wanted to buy it. I haven’t been overly fond of Jill Churchill’s Jane Jeffry series, which features a widowed mother of three kids living in suburbia – too many PTA jokes and “soccer mom” references. This series is new, though, set in the 1930’s, the years after the Crash. Lily and Robert Brewster are brother and sister (a nice departure from the husband/wife or sister/sister teams) whose father lost his fortune in the Crash of ’29, subsequently killed himself, and left Lily and Robert penniless. They’ve gone from riches to rags, and take up menial show more jobs while barely making rent in a Manhattan tenement. They soon find that they’ve inherited a huge, run-down mansion in upstate NY, on the Hudson River, from their Great Uncle Horatio, who has recently passed away in a boating accident. The will has “grace and favor” conditions, which usually means that the recipient is receiving the gift or inheritance only for a limited period of time, such as a monarch bestowing a castle and lands to a favorite soldier in thanks for faithful service or a great favor done. Usually the gift is good only for the lifetime of the recipient. This was different in that Lily and Robert have to live in the house for ten years before it and the cash become theirs. They agree to this and move there, and take the lawyer, Mr. Prinney, and his wife in as boarders. Mrs. Prinney cooks for everyone.
There’s a possible love interest for Lily later in the form of a local small-time reporter. There are the greedy neighbors next door, too, whose daughter has the hots for Robert.
Lily and Robert soon learn that Uncle Horatio actually died under mysterious circumstances, and that they are possible suspects. That’s the mystery to solve, and the end result is fairly predictable. I enjoyed the setting and tone very much, and look forward to the next one. show less

A nice little mystery with an excellent depiction of the Depression and the issues around it. I think that is why I am a fan of this series. It shows what the depression was like on a human scale not just an abstract one for example the scene where the family is living in the back of their pickup next to the garbage dump digging for food and other items to sell. And yes this was a reality.

I enjoyed the main characters of Lily Brewster and her brother Robert immensely! I usually do not think of actors that could play the parts of the lead characters but for this title I could easily imagine Pierce Bronsan and his leading lady Stephanie Zimbalist from Remington Steele. It's an easy-to-read mystery that was pleasant to curl up with and read.

Lily & Robert are impoverished, but were once rich & high society: Their father lost all his money in the crash of 1929 and promptly committed suicide leaving his children in debt & homeless...

As the series begins they have been invited to the reading of their Uncle's will. As it turns out he had been watching them and decided that as they were the only ones to have never asked him for money, rather taking jobs that barely kept them housed & fed, he left them the bulk of his estate on the condition that they: live in the house for ten (10) years; never leave the village for more than 2 weeks a year each; and they each find employment to support their personal needs, all the estate needs would be provided for from the Estate's show more funds.

Things are going along well, until someone brings up the fact that their Uncle drowned but the autopsy found a large gash in his head.... Both Lily & Robert begin to investigate, but those in the know have never been able to prove anything.

I enjoyed this book, it was interesting and entertaining.

I was sure that I had read this series before, but the only parts I remember are Robert & Lily's circumstances & Robert's yellow Duesenberg show less