Genre:

As curator and manager of the Marshfield Manor, Grace Wheaton is delighted to be part of the estate’s magnificent history, but no one told her solving murder was in her job description…

When Grace’s former professor calls to warn her that there have been a rash of thefts at various historical sites, Grace isn’t surprised—because Marshfield Manor has been targeted, too. She wonders if it has something to do with the film crew roaming the grounds, digitally immortalizing the manor, but then she gets distracted by an incident much more dire: the shooting of one guest and the murder of another.

Grace does her best not to go looking for trouble, but with a murderer on the loose, she can’t seem to leave the dirty work to the cops—especially since the killer still seems to be lurking around town, waiting to finish the job of making Grace history…

Review

For fans of:  Claudia Bishop

Grace Wheaton has yet to see a dull moment since signing on as curator and manager of Marshfield Manor.  The most recent issue to plague the estate is a rash of thefts – a serious concern given the seemingly endless supply of priceless antiques on display in the manor, but at least it’s a problem that can be solved with increased security.  Or so Grace thinks.  Then a member of a tour group is pushed to her death and the only witness to the crime is shot, and Grace is forced to wonder if perhaps there’s more going on at Marshfield than meets the eye.  Did the dead woman interrupt a theft in progress?  The items stolen thus far have been valuable, but not inordinately so; is a bigger heist in the works?  Can Grace get to the bottom of this mess and restore peace to Marshfield Manor, or will the next thing taken be her life?

Grace Among Thieves is the third of author Julie Hyzy’s Manor House Mysteries.  I’ve never read a Julie Hyzy book I didn’t love, and Grace Among Thieves is no exception.  Hyzy’s writing is intelligent without being dense or obtuse.  Her prose has grace, charm, wit, and style, and her descriptions are wonderfully vivid and lush.  The book’s central mystery is cleverly constructed and takes full advantage of the series’ unique setting.  And while I was pretty sure I’d figured out the twist by the time I was halfway through the book, that in no way dampened my enjoyment of the story; to the contrary, it actually served to ramp up the tension.

Hyzy’s characters are fabulous, as well, thanks in large part to the fact that she’s allowed them to grow and develop over the course of the series.  With her books, you never know when a protagonist is going to turn into an antagonist or when an antagonist is going to become a reluctant ally, but you can guarantee that when it happens, it’ll be 100 percent earned.  Just like real people, her characters are works in progress, constantly being shaped by their experiences and their relationships.  This keeps things fresh, but it also keeps things real, and I think it’s probably a big part of what keeps her readers coming back for more.

Perhaps my only complaint about this book is the setting.  From the very start of the series, I’ve had a difficult time wrapping my head around the concept of Marshfield Manor.  (It’s a hotel, a museum, and a private residence?  Huh?)  Granted, that’s probably at least in part because we don’t have anything like that in my neck of the woods; I understand it’s a bit more common down South.  But while Hyzy does do a better job here than in previous installments of explaining the origin of Marshfield Manor and the role it plays in the community, it still hasn’t quite sprung to life in my mind.  It’s the only part of her tale about which I can say that, though, so I suppose even that minor criticism is ultimately a compliment.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of reading a Julie Hyzy novel, Grace Among Thieves is a great place to start, and if you’re lucky enough to have read them all but this, it certainly won’t disappoint; do yourself a favor and pick up a copy today.

Reviewed by Kat N.

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