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Home Repair Is Homicide #7
Mallets Aforethought
Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree left her high-powered career for a dilapidated fixer-upper and the dream of a quiet existence in the quaint town of Eastport, Maine. But she found that no matter how carefully you remodel your life, murder can take up residence anywhere.
It’s Eastport’s most notorious landmark: the old Harlequin House. Named for the disgraced physician Chester Harlequin, it was used as a hideout for gunshot gangsters and their molls during Prohibition’s heyday. Now fixer-upper enthusiast Jake Tiptree and Harlequin’s only living descendant, Ellie White, are refurbishing the mansard-roofed mansion to host the local Historical Society’s upcoming gala. But when stripping down old wallpaper reveals a secret door to a room containing not one but two corpses, Jake and Ellie once again find home repair leading to homicide.
One of the bodies is a skeleton dressed in 1920s flapper chic. But the other is that of real-estate mogul Hector Gosling, and in his pocket is a paper bearing the single word “Guilty.” The less-than-scrupulous tycoon has been poisoned, and when it’s learned that the offending substance is the poison that Ellie’s husband George has been using to kill red ants, he is immediately taken into custody. Then it develops that George had recently accused Gosling of a scheme to scam George’s vulnerable old aunt out of her life savings—and George out of his inheritance.
With George held for murder, Jake and a pregnant Ellie swing into action. In between Ellie’s Lamaze sessions, baby showers, and CPR classes taught by Jake’s ex-husband Victor, the two amateur sleuths must sift their way through a trail of seemingly contradictory clues. Then another corpse surfaces and suddenly Jake and Ellie realize they must find this killer fast. A clever culprit is not only building an airtight case against Ellie’s husband. He—or she—is planning to nail everyone who stands in the way.
From the Hardcover edition.
It’s Eastport’s most notorious landmark: the old Harlequin House. Named for the disgraced physician Chester Harlequin, it was used as a hideout for gunshot gangsters and their molls during Prohibition’s heyday. Now fixer-upper enthusiast Jake Tiptree and Harlequin’s only living descendant, Ellie White, are refurbishing the mansard-roofed mansion to host the local Historical Society’s upcoming gala. But when stripping down old wallpaper reveals a secret door to a room containing not one but two corpses, Jake and Ellie once again find home repair leading to homicide.
One of the bodies is a skeleton dressed in 1920s flapper chic. But the other is that of real-estate mogul Hector Gosling, and in his pocket is a paper bearing the single word “Guilty.” The less-than-scrupulous tycoon has been poisoned, and when it’s learned that the offending substance is the poison that Ellie’s husband George has been using to kill red ants, he is immediately taken into custody. Then it develops that George had recently accused Gosling of a scheme to scam George’s vulnerable old aunt out of her life savings—and George out of his inheritance.
With George held for murder, Jake and a pregnant Ellie swing into action. In between Ellie’s Lamaze sessions, baby showers, and CPR classes taught by Jake’s ex-husband Victor, the two amateur sleuths must sift their way through a trail of seemingly contradictory clues. Then another corpse surfaces and suddenly Jake and Ellie realize they must find this killer fast. A clever culprit is not only building an airtight case against Ellie’s husband. He—or she—is planning to nail everyone who stands in the way.
From the Hardcover edition.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
110 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Graves
34 books794 followersSarah Graves lives with her husband John, a musician and luthier, and their black Labrador Retriever in a house very much like the one Jacobia Tiptree is remodeling in Eastport, Maine. When she's not writing Jake's adventures, Sarah works with her husband on the house and she plays the 5-string banjo.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
December 1, 2023
I don't do any significant home repair/renovation work, but I like watching the shows on television - and I like reading this series. I'll never use them, but I always pick up a tip or two from these books that would be helpful if I ever did attempt a project like these :)
This book focused more on Ellie (and George) than on Jake and her family, but Wade, Sam and even Victor showed up often enough to keep me satisfied. We all knew who did *not commit the murder, but there were plenty of other suspects for Jake to question. I had one character near the top of my list for most of the book, which turned out to be right, although I never would have guessed the motive.
The next book in this series is in my Audible+ library, and I hope to work it into my reading (listening) plan before it's removed from the catalog.
This book focused more on Ellie (and George) than on Jake and her family, but Wade, Sam and even Victor showed up often enough to keep me satisfied. We all knew who did *not commit the murder, but there were plenty of other suspects for Jake to question. I had one character near the top of my list for most of the book, which turned out to be right, although I never would have guessed the motive.
The next book in this series is in my Audible+ library, and I hope to work it into my reading (listening) plan before it's removed from the catalog.
March 15, 2023
3.5 stars Good entry, I suspected the killer 1/2 way through the book not sure why Jake and Ellie didn’t.
July 16, 2018
This one got dangerous! She should be PTSD'd out like mad
November 29, 2011
Disappointing. This is the 7th in the "Home Repair is Homicide" series, and based on this book, I won't be reading the others. The setting is neat (Maine), but the characters and plot are only semi-interesting, and I am very annoyed with the author's writing style; she interrupts herself (and her characters) a LOT and it makes her writing very stilted and awkward to read. An example: "'So Cory,' George went on, 'has to eliminate the ants.'" Not annoying if it were once in awhile written like that, but most conversations between characters have almost every other line being interrupted, and I just couldn't get used to it. May try listening to these on audio books and see if that helps. In the meantime, I'll be reading other things.
April 10, 2021
2.5 rounded to 3. Too long, convoluted.
September 20, 2019
Who knew homerepairs could be so entertaining
June 15, 2011
Mallets Aforethought by Sarah Graves is #7 in Graves' "Home Repair is Homicide" series.
It takes place in a small town in Maine and the protagonist are pair of women home repair experts: Jacobia (known as "Jake") and Ellie, friends and partners in fixing homes and solving crimes.
I had a tough time rating this one-it really is a half-star case for me: better than a 2 star "ok" but not quite a whole-hearted 3-star "I liked it." I enjoyed the location and the characters were comfortable to spend time with.
What the story needs badly, though, is a plot. I saw the murderer coming a mile (or at least the page-equivalent of) away. And although I'm not too demanding when it comes to clever plots and killers, this one was too tired to stand up even in tv rerun. Which was sort of how I felt reading it-that I'd seen it before. In fact, more than once.
But because I liked the characters and the setting, I may give the series another chance, perhaps trying one of the first few.
Because I liked the writing and the people. I just really need a little bit of surprise.
It takes place in a small town in Maine and the protagonist are pair of women home repair experts: Jacobia (known as "Jake") and Ellie, friends and partners in fixing homes and solving crimes.
I had a tough time rating this one-it really is a half-star case for me: better than a 2 star "ok" but not quite a whole-hearted 3-star "I liked it." I enjoyed the location and the characters were comfortable to spend time with.
What the story needs badly, though, is a plot. I saw the murderer coming a mile (or at least the page-equivalent of) away. And although I'm not too demanding when it comes to clever plots and killers, this one was too tired to stand up even in tv rerun. Which was sort of how I felt reading it-that I'd seen it before. In fact, more than once.
But because I liked the characters and the setting, I may give the series another chance, perhaps trying one of the first few.
Because I liked the writing and the people. I just really need a little bit of surprise.
June 27, 2021
I'm several chapters into this book and am enjoying it VERY much, in spite of the author's unfortunate overuse of certain literary devices. The story is excellent and the characters are fun and compelling. This is better than the average cozy, for sure.
The series is set in a small town in maine, which is interesting in itself, but the author doesn't make a big deal out of it; the setting runs, as it should, in the background, and the characters interact with it seamlessly. The slang and casual expressions the characters use are all regional and amusing to my southern ear.
I actually recommend this series for light, fun reading, even to people who aren't into cozies. I like it enough that I bought the first four books because the library doesn't have them!
The series is set in a small town in maine, which is interesting in itself, but the author doesn't make a big deal out of it; the setting runs, as it should, in the background, and the characters interact with it seamlessly. The slang and casual expressions the characters use are all regional and amusing to my southern ear.
I actually recommend this series for light, fun reading, even to people who aren't into cozies. I like it enough that I bought the first four books because the library doesn't have them!
May 4, 2015
7th book in this series - and luckily it was available at the library. The rest of the series is also at the library, so I will continue, but I hope she's got some tricks up her sleeve moving forward. The murderer was telegraphed pretty early - as another reviewer said, once a new character is introduced early it's a pretty good bet said character is the murderer. And this one was telegraphed with flashing red lights, and the story thinned out considerably from there.
Graves does a great job with the main set of characters, but after 7 books in a small town you'd think there's be more recurring characters. Well, we'll see hat the next one brings.
Graves does a great job with the main set of characters, but after 7 books in a small town you'd think there's be more recurring characters. Well, we'll see hat the next one brings.
October 15, 2018
Not quite a 3 star rating, more like a 2.8 star
I’m surprised this book was better than the others. Granted I still kind of zoned out for a portion of the book. As well as the fact that characters just randomly popped up with no explanation and we were just to assume we should know who they are without being introduced to any of them.
This book picked up in the last 1/4, I did enjoy that and wish that the first 3/4s of the book matched it.
.
I’m surprised this book was better than the others. Granted I still kind of zoned out for a portion of the book. As well as the fact that characters just randomly popped up with no explanation and we were just to assume we should know who they are without being introduced to any of them.
This book picked up in the last 1/4, I did enjoy that and wish that the first 3/4s of the book matched it.
.
September 6, 2017
When I picked this one up and marked it as "Currently Reading", my Goodreads list showed it as "Read", but I remembered absolutely nothing about it. I'm going back to pick up the books I've missed in this series because I do enjoy Sarah Graves' writing, the setting and the characters. I figured out who-dun-it, but I enjoyed the book anyway.
November 21, 2016
"Jake" and Ellie find not just one corpse, but TWO when they open a secret room in the historic house they are helping to restore. One seems to be from the 1920'2-30's but the other... far more recent!
Ellie's husband George is accused of the murder and the ladies finding themselves in the search for the killer.
Ellie's husband George is accused of the murder and the ladies finding themselves in the search for the killer.
June 30, 2012
Another very good Sarah Graves mystery. Can't imagine how a real live person could sustain all the injuries she receives in every book, but then that is what makes it fiction. Good plot once again.
September 2, 2025
I continue to read both this series and the next starring Jacob and Ellie. I was able to determine the culprit fairly early on in this book, but not the reason. Seems like petty jealousy is also enough for some people to murder. but there was the element of greed as well.
I was hoping the writing style would improve as time progressed. Sadly this is not the case. I started out reading a death by chocolate series book first and then went back to start this series to get proper background on these characters. SG has this annoying writing style of interrupted prose. She interrupts descriptive sentences and also dialogue sentences. It is a feature in what seems like almost every paragraph, even when she is only describing the scenery. It is really noticeable when listening to an audio book. It fast becomes, not clever.
Also, with each passing volume, Jacobia seems to become more and more stupid, Sam's drug problems before they came to Maine become more serious, and Victor, her ex husband is painted as a worse and worse bad guy. In the first book Sam mostly had a marijuana and attitude problem before the move. Now his drug use back then has been magnified to pharmaceuticals, glue sniffing, and just about everything short of Heroin. Victor has the gigantic ego necessary to be a highly successful brain surgeon and the characteristic of belittling others including Jake that often accompanies that. This has turned into a marriage long session of verbal abuse plus serial infidelity. In addition, it was revealed that once when Sam was under the age of 10 he smacked her. Definitely not good, but also something that you are told was never repeated, and also instantly regretted. While I don't condone this at all, I am reminded of the number of times I read in books where frustrated women regularly smack the men who have worked their last nerve, but we never seem to see this as abuse since the action shocks them as much as it apparently did Victor, and is not repeated. However, as this series progresses, it seems like the physical abuse might be expounded as well. It feels like a lie to make these problems with her son and ex become more serious with each book. Also Jake has learned to do all of these home repairs, but it seems that she is now regularly getting hurt in the process, or making matters worse with her repair attempts, or doing something foolish in her attempts.
The thing that really bothers me in this series, is her careless attitude regarding her own safety in these investigations. Not only is she supposedly a smart and savvy woman, she is also a woman whose background suggests she should know better than to take the foolish risks that she does. She grew up in a poverty stricken mining town and moved to the mean streets of NYC at 16. She learned how to successfully navigate both and protect herself from harm, even when she managed money for some mob people. So how is she constantly putting herself in life threatening danger without backup in these books. And why does anybody answer her nosy, probative questions when she is still considered to be from "away". Once she decided whodunit in this story, why didn't she just tell her husband, Ellie, Sam or her dad of her suspicions before she ran off to avert whatever she thought he was going to do? Also this is the second time that the killer has drugged her. I believe they would have administered a lethal dose right from the start, but that wouldn't work for the books. So since it seems likely that the victims in this book might have been drugged, and she knew or suspected this, why did she accept ANYTHING taken by mouth (coffee) from the guy she suspected, and continue to consume it even though the taste was off. Were her brain and senses impaired from too much toxic fumes ingested during home repair?
I'm mainly continuing with this series, because in the continuing series, it is clear their are some background developments that I know can only be explained by finding then in tis series.
I was hoping the writing style would improve as time progressed. Sadly this is not the case. I started out reading a death by chocolate series book first and then went back to start this series to get proper background on these characters. SG has this annoying writing style of interrupted prose. She interrupts descriptive sentences and also dialogue sentences. It is a feature in what seems like almost every paragraph, even when she is only describing the scenery. It is really noticeable when listening to an audio book. It fast becomes, not clever.
Also, with each passing volume, Jacobia seems to become more and more stupid, Sam's drug problems before they came to Maine become more serious, and Victor, her ex husband is painted as a worse and worse bad guy. In the first book Sam mostly had a marijuana and attitude problem before the move. Now his drug use back then has been magnified to pharmaceuticals, glue sniffing, and just about everything short of Heroin. Victor has the gigantic ego necessary to be a highly successful brain surgeon and the characteristic of belittling others including Jake that often accompanies that. This has turned into a marriage long session of verbal abuse plus serial infidelity. In addition, it was revealed that once when Sam was under the age of 10 he smacked her. Definitely not good, but also something that you are told was never repeated, and also instantly regretted. While I don't condone this at all, I am reminded of the number of times I read in books where frustrated women regularly smack the men who have worked their last nerve, but we never seem to see this as abuse since the action shocks them as much as it apparently did Victor, and is not repeated. However, as this series progresses, it seems like the physical abuse might be expounded as well. It feels like a lie to make these problems with her son and ex become more serious with each book. Also Jake has learned to do all of these home repairs, but it seems that she is now regularly getting hurt in the process, or making matters worse with her repair attempts, or doing something foolish in her attempts.
The thing that really bothers me in this series, is her careless attitude regarding her own safety in these investigations. Not only is she supposedly a smart and savvy woman, she is also a woman whose background suggests she should know better than to take the foolish risks that she does. She grew up in a poverty stricken mining town and moved to the mean streets of NYC at 16. She learned how to successfully navigate both and protect herself from harm, even when she managed money for some mob people. So how is she constantly putting herself in life threatening danger without backup in these books. And why does anybody answer her nosy, probative questions when she is still considered to be from "away". Once she decided whodunit in this story, why didn't she just tell her husband, Ellie, Sam or her dad of her suspicions before she ran off to avert whatever she thought he was going to do? Also this is the second time that the killer has drugged her. I believe they would have administered a lethal dose right from the start, but that wouldn't work for the books. So since it seems likely that the victims in this book might have been drugged, and she knew or suspected this, why did she accept ANYTHING taken by mouth (coffee) from the guy she suspected, and continue to consume it even though the taste was off. Were her brain and senses impaired from too much toxic fumes ingested during home repair?
I'm mainly continuing with this series, because in the continuing series, it is clear their are some background developments that I know can only be explained by finding then in tis series.
May 19, 2025
Jacobia "Jake" is a home repair expert and amateur sleuth living in the small town of Eastport, Maine. Her colorful past as a young mother, ex-wife of a philandering brain surgeon, daughter of a wanted fugitive, comrade of a mobster, and money manager for the rich and powerful comes in handy as she tries to solve a murder.
While renovating the historic Harlequin House, Jake and her best friend Ellie open a hidden room and discover not one but two bodies--one decades old and the second a local realtor known of his shady tactics in acquiring property from the elderly. Soon, Ellie's husband George is arrested for the murder, since one of the realtor's victims was George's aunt and he publicly threatened to do away with the realtor. George refuses to provide an alibi for the time of the murder, so Jake and Ellie must find the real killer and stop the trail of bodies that keeps getting longer.
Jake has a lot of back story. While this book can certainly be read as a standalone, Jake's character and history would probably be easier to keep up with if I'd started at the beginning of the series. It was distracting at times.
The setting feels authentic, and Jake certainly seems to know her home repair. The negatives for me were 1. The subplot of the decades-old body was wrapped up quickly, almost as an aside, after seeming like it was going to be important. 2. The villain seemed obvious to me too early on. 3.
While renovating the historic Harlequin House, Jake and her best friend Ellie open a hidden room and discover not one but two bodies--one decades old and the second a local realtor known of his shady tactics in acquiring property from the elderly. Soon, Ellie's husband George is arrested for the murder, since one of the realtor's victims was George's aunt and he publicly threatened to do away with the realtor. George refuses to provide an alibi for the time of the murder, so Jake and Ellie must find the real killer and stop the trail of bodies that keeps getting longer.
Jake has a lot of back story. While this book can certainly be read as a standalone, Jake's character and history would probably be easier to keep up with if I'd started at the beginning of the series. It was distracting at times.
The setting feels authentic, and Jake certainly seems to know her home repair. The negatives for me were 1. The subplot of the decades-old body was wrapped up quickly, almost as an aside, after seeming like it was going to be important. 2. The villain seemed obvious to me too early on. 3.
February 5, 2023
Ah! Finally an explanation for why secondary character Tommy Daigle’s surname changed to Pockets (seriously, Pockets? What is he, a junior mafioso?) a few books in the series ago. Clearly, either the author or the editor has noticed all the continuity problems that have plagued these books. Or so I thought. Then, of course, the name Weasel Bodine popped up on a young man of uncertain character. Interestingly, Weasel Bodine (real name Wesley, in both cases) was the name of a victim in Wicked Fix. I realize those of us with families who have been in Maine since the Year Ought often have many relatives, some of whom share the same name, but this is more a recycling of names. As if the author could not be bothered to invent a new one. It’s irritating and it detracts from some otherwise better than average mysteries.
On the mystery front, this one was pretty easy to figure out. It seemed obvious to me who the villain was, due in no small measure to the fact that most of the new characters that were introduced were already deceased. No matter who gets arrested, you know that Jacobia, Ellie, Wade, George, Sam, Tommy, Bob or Clarissa won’t have done it. That leaves someone from away or newly mentioned Eastport native. Still, it was a a good story and moved along at a very good pace.
On the mystery front, this one was pretty easy to figure out. It seemed obvious to me who the villain was, due in no small measure to the fact that most of the new characters that were introduced were already deceased. No matter who gets arrested, you know that Jacobia, Ellie, Wade, George, Sam, Tommy, Bob or Clarissa won’t have done it. That leaves someone from away or newly mentioned Eastport native. Still, it was a a good story and moved along at a very good pace.
February 19, 2022
Great cozy mystery. I had an idea who was the murderer was. It was still a"oh! It was them!" moment. For sure just a mystery book. If you're looking for romance mystery, this is not it and I'm glad for it. I find that it makes a much better read to not have unnecessary flirting/romance scenes. They're just filler and books without them show a better skill of building the story.
I've heard people complain that there isn't enough home repair info for boasting as a home repair series. I disagree. I felt there was just enough. Too much and its filling out a book to make up for a lack in actual story content. This was a just right middle ground. Enough to keep the theme but not hinder the story.
I've heard people complain that there isn't enough home repair info for boasting as a home repair series. I disagree. I felt there was just enough. Too much and its filling out a book to make up for a lack in actual story content. This was a just right middle ground. Enough to keep the theme but not hinder the story.
August 18, 2018
Jake and Ellie have volunteered to help fix up the old Harlequin mansion to use for the Historical Society gala. Behind the old wallpaper they find a sealed door and a secret room with 2 bodies, one recent and one old. Ellie's husband George had a grievance with Hector, the recent body, and becomes a prime suspect. The old one, a woman from the 20s, was the mistress of Ellie's uncle who owned the house years ago and was shot in the head. Both women start looking into both murders because of their close connection to Ellie. Side stories on Jake's friend Jemmy and her son Sam's friend Tommy give the story depth. Good mystery.
September 21, 2018
Mallets Aforethoughts is the 7th in the Home Repair is Homicide series with Jacob Tiptree as the main character. She is a married woman living with her second husband and son from her first marriage in the town of Eastport, Maine with a number of family, friends and neighbors in a pretty good series. In this one, her best friend Ellie is about to have a baby and Ellie's husband is jailed for the murder of a realtor who takes advantage of old people to get control of their homes and wealth. I usually really like these and I liked this one as well but it seemed to drag along so I gave it three stars. Look at this as a low spot in the series but I will continue to read them.
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September 25, 2022Dnf. I realize this is the 7th book so they might have seen a lot of dead bodies at this point, but these people are at worst sociopaths or at best obstructing justice. You find a dead body, you call the cops. Not meander your way home, get showered and changed, tell a couple people what happened, have them leave, then finally call. Jeez Louise. Also this writing style is off on tangents constantly, further keeping us in limbo as that dead guy just keeps rotting away and the killer and evidence get further away. Super weird.
December 2, 2020
I enjoyed the continuing saga of Jacobia Tiptree. These are great books to loose yourself in during stressful times. Jake and Ellie's perils are serious and they survive them cleverly. Good happens along the way. Life is jagged, but endurable, and there is real joy, often. Plus, the tips on house maintenance are real. I give the same review for all her Home Repair is Homicide books, they are good.
March 23, 2025
Jake and Ellie find two dead bodies in the house they are repairing for the historical society. Ellie's husband, George, is arrested for one of the murders, he was poisoned!
But more people are dying, and someone tried to kill George in jail!
George is keeping is mouth shut, he will not tell who he was with for his alibi. Who is out to get George?
Oh, Ellie is very pregnant!
But more people are dying, and someone tried to kill George in jail!
George is keeping is mouth shut, he will not tell who he was with for his alibi. Who is out to get George?
Oh, Ellie is very pregnant!
July 14, 2017
Jacobia continues her sleuthing in downEast Maine with a cast of enjoyable characters. Her friend Ellie is close to giving birth while her husband is erroneously a suspect in a murder. This is a quick, can't-put-it-down lighthearted read.
February 19, 2018
Home Repair is Homicide is a great series! You get some home repair information, a bit of history, a bit of Eastport, Maine, geographical information, and a great mystery! Caan;t wait to read the next book in the series!
November 6, 2018
In this entry in the Home Repair is Homicide series, Jake finds not one but two dead bodies - one a skeleton many many years old, along with someone from town. Someone not so well liked, and George, the husband of Jake's friend Ellie, is the prime suspect.
Well written and it flows well.
Well written and it flows well.
December 4, 2018
Good book
Love these stories, we have an old house and have built a place in a lake far from stores. So improvising is a way of life. I love the stories. They always keep you wondering who did it.
Love these stories, we have an old house and have built a place in a lake far from stores. So improvising is a way of life. I love the stories. They always keep you wondering who did it.
April 30, 2019
Not bad - seems a little random that Ellie is pregnant, but I'm going with "these books happen pretty far apart, so time has gone by." Pretty good read - as usual, I didn't see the killer's identity coming, although I had some suspicions. Loving this series so far!
February 16, 2020
enjoyed this series not only good characters and storyline. it also has good home repair tips you can use. her ex-husband as a doctor also gives tips through out the book. this book lives up to all expectations. hoping to read more from her.
June 21, 2020
The last detail of the murder is solved and Ellie realizes her baby is coming, she called for an ambulance. But the ambulance was in time to deliver the baby. Most of the story Jake did the sleuthing alone because Ellie was going to have a baby any time and George was on jail on murder charges.
February 15, 2022
I think I’m now a fan this author. I’ve read two of her series and I’ve been very happy. Her female characters are so interesting, so strong, I’m all on board. The mystery felt a little cozy but that was right in this instance, I think it suits this series. Thumbs up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews