A Face at the Window: A Home Repair Is Homicide Mystery

I think several of the reviewers have been too harsh in their ratings, and I wonder if their low ratings simply reflect the fact that this author is changing things up a bit. Yes, this book is a departure from the "cozy" that readers have come to expect from Graves. So, deal with that, but don't judge the writing as poor just because you're disappointed that the point of view has changed or that this book falls into a thriller genre rather than a cozy. And really, the review from the creative writing teacher is so condescending. Out of curiosity, I checked her other reviews; would you believe that the vast majority of her reviews are one- and two-star reviews?? One wonders why she continues to read so many poorly written novels. Personally, I was surprised at Graves' switch to a darker genre, but once I got past that, I was willing to read on and enjoy the thrill ride. I applaud Graves for stretching her writing wings, and I look forward to lucky number 13 in the series.

Jake (who never uses her real name, Jacobia) Tiptree's true love is working on her dilapidated fixer-upper in the remote island village of Eastport, Maine. With her handyman father off on his honeymoon with Jake's acerbic housekeeper, she has decided to tackle chipping out and replacing her crumbling cement walk. With her husband, Wade Sorenson, Eastport's harbor pilot, off on a job, and her best friend Ellie in Italy with her husband, Jake would be all alone if she weren't babysitting Ellie's three-year-old daughter, Lee. But Jake is distracted from her life by an unwelcome intrusion from her past. Ozzie Campbell, the man who murdered Jake's mother when Jake was a toddler, is ready to stand trial...and he's gone on the lam. Jake is concerned because she has learned that Campbell read her victim's impact statement right before he vanished. She knows and likes Eastport police chief Bob Arnold, so she doesn't hesitate to tell him that she's terrified Campbell will come after her. Bob, however, believes that Jake is overreacting. He can't imagine that anything in Jake's statement, which recounts events she remembers from being three years old, would be so threatening to Campbell that he would harm Jake. Jake actually agrees with Bob's thoughts, at least in her head. Yet somehow, deep in her gut, she knows she is in imminent danger. Meanwhile, a troubling narrative from Anthony, a young man on a trip to Maine with his bizarre-acting acquaintance, Marky, lets the reader know that something ominous is definitely in the works: "Discovering that Marky Larson had brought a gun...changed everything for Anthony Colapietro." Marky has a plan, given to him by an unnamed person. Anthony has nothing but regret for being on this caper with Marky, but he doesn't doubt that Marky would just as soon kill him as look at him if Anthony doesn't do his every bidding. When Jake goes to the hardware store to pick up sidewalk concrete and a trowel, the store owner, Tom Godley, tells her that two strangers had come in with a picture of her and asked questions about her. Godley, of course, reassures Jake that he told them nothing. And yet Jake feels the opposite of reassured. Who could the young men be, and could they be connected to Campbell? Jake's feelings of unease are nothing, though, compared to the panic she feels when she goes to pick up little Lee at her babysitter's house. Helen, the babysitter, doesn't answer the door. When Jake explores the house, she finds it empty. The sunporch, the room Helen keeps the children in during nice weather, is in a shambles as if there's been a struggle. As Jake's heart drops sickeningly, her phone rings. It's Ozzie Campbell with an ominous message. Meanwhile, Helen's voice is heard. She's terrified, bound and gagged, in the back of a car next to Lee, who has been drugged. Helen knows their kidnappers, who have made no attempts to disguise themselves, plan to murder her. Her mind flashes back to the survival techniques her ste

I thought A Face at the Window was a great read. I loved the fast paced story telling of the author. Great sub plots, particularly Helen and her step father. The bad guy characters were super, and the ending was very satistying. I'm definitely going to check out the other books in this series.

I really liked this book. You're drawn in immediately. You don't have to wait several chapters before the heart of the story begins. I have enjoyed this whole series. Can't wait for the next one!!

Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree, who resides in Eastport, Maine, feels very uneasy after her father was decades on the run as a fugitive. Her father was exonerated from killing his wife because a bomber made a deathbed confession stating he was there and Jake's father did not kill his wife. The only other adult in the house at the time of the murder was Ozzie Campbell, who loved Jake's late mom. Jake was three years old when the tragedy destroyed her home; a trauma that she witnessed and remembers in great detail though she never saw the killer's face. The horrific events haunt her decades later as she can still vividly see what happened. After Jake give her witness impact statement to the ADA that should close the case, he forwards it to Campbell's defense lawyer. Right after that Campbell vanishes and Jake fears he is coming to get her. Jake is extra concerned because she is watching her best friend's toddler Lee while the woman and her husband are in Europe. Her paranoia is warranted when apparently Campbell has two thugs working for him snatch Lee and her teenage babysitter, Helen. He calls Jake telling her to meet him if she wants the kid back alive. While Campbell and Jake play cat and mouse, Helen tries to escape and get help.. Even though a recurring part of the series, the household tips seem a bit out of place in this gritty thriller filled with evil villains who have no qualms about killing an innocent young child and two courageous heroines trying to save the toddlers life and that of their own. From the onset Jake feels someone stalking her, watching her, and waiting to attack. She cannot get the authorities to understand Campbell is coming for her although she no has idea why; no one believes her until three females including her are in jeopardy. Sarah Graves' latest thriller is much darker than usual but even more exhilarating as Campbell's obsessed purpose becomes clear to the reader while Jake's sense of hopelessness of saving the teen and the tot grows with each step she takes. Harriet Klausner