Helpful Score: 3
I hadn't read any by Churchill before so thought I'd give this series a try. I really enjoyed the setting & the main characters. I'll definitely be reading the others in this series.
Helpful Score: 3
The first in a series featuring a sister and brother who solve mysteries during the Depression in NY state. Evocative scenes of life at that time and enjoyable main characters.
Helpful Score: 2
Great start to a new series. Lily and her brother Robert inherit a home from a little known uncle during the depression. The conditions of the home ownership are a bit murky, but the town has a few secrets revealed when a man is found murdered in their kitchen.
Helpful Score: 2
A good first book in the series. It was interesting to find what amounts to historical references to the Depression and events my mother related to me.
It will be interesting to follow the character development.
It will be interesting to follow the character development.
Donna R. (readingjesusfreak) reviewed Anything Goes (Grace and Favor, Bk 1) on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great cozy and fun to read.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved it
Helpful Score: 1
Fun book set in a period I love, but the mystery was predictable.
Helpful Score: 1
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 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.
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 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.
The start of a great little series. Despite being set in teh Depression, they're not depressing!
If you like this time period, the Maisie Dobbs series is good too.
If you like this time period, the Maisie Dobbs series is good too.
Helpful Score: 1
Wow.... just loved it ! sort of comical, yet such likeable characters. and a catchy plot... I could not guess the guilty party !
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful cozy and great fun. Characters are very fun and likable.
Fun read!
Great "first in series".....am looking forward to reading the rest.....and to see how the characters develop...........
This author also writes the wonderful Jane Jeffry series.
First in the Grace and Favor series. I really liked this book! Lily and Robert are former socialite brother and sister who are going through hard times in the Great Depression. They receive help, in a sense, when they inherit a mansion from their recently deceased great uncle, but they must live in it for 10 years before it is turned over to them.
The first in the Grace and Favor cozy mystery series is a very enjoyable read. I love the characters and the setting plus the mystery is good. I highly recommend this book to any who love cozy mysteries and historical fiction.
I like anything Jill Churchill writes and I wish she were still publishing her books. This is a gentile mystery series set during the Great American Depression and chronicles the trials of a brother and sister who are barely able to eke out a living. Inheriting a distant relative's estate is a blessing even if they must leave New York and live in the house in a small town to reap the monetary benefits. Nice cozy mystery series with likable characters.
Frankly I found it boring but I tend to read books by James Patterson and Robert B Parker. I am looking for new authors so am trying out a variety of authors that I've never read before. This one was way too light and didn't entertain me.
AFTER THE CRASH OF 1929, TWO NEW YORK YOUNG ADULTS ARE BARELY SURVIVING AND THEN THEY ARE LEFT A UPSTATE MANSION-THERE ARE STRINGS ATTACHED AND A MYSTERIOUS BOAT ACCIDENT THAT KILLED THEIR UNCLE. YOU WILL ENJOY THE MANY CHARACTERS AND SCENERY.
LeAnne G. (Gracious-Granny) reviewed Anything Goes (Grace and Favor, Bk 1) on + 137 more book reviews
great fun series, this is the first one
Leanne D. (eclecticmusicmama) reviewed Anything Goes (Grace and Favor, Bk 1) on + 426 more book reviews
I enjoyed the first book of this series and really liked the female lead character. Her brother seemed to need some fleshing out as a character, so we will see if that happens in the coming books, or if he is meant to be a side character, rather than a main character, as it appeared when the series began.
A quick, fun cozy!
A quick, fun cozy!
This is the first in the Grace and Favor series. Lily and Robert, who lost everything in the crash, inherit from their great-uncle Horatio, but they must live in his mansion for 10 years, while supporting themselves, to gain title to the mansion and the rest of Uncle Horatio's fortune.
This is a great read. The pacing is excellent, and the style is definately 30's without going overboard like so many do. You will enjoy it!
Fun mystery.
As always her books are great..very enjoyable read.
Once rich in 1929, but after the crash, Lily and Robert, brother and sister, find life hard, but a great uncle bequeaths them a mansion and a fortune to go with it if they reside there 10 yrs. They find out their uncle was murdered. then another body turns up and the brother and sister are suspects.
the first in a very cute series. Not the best one, but still above average
Dominique Y. (NaughtyLittleMinx) reviewed Anything Goes (Grace and Favor, Bk 1) on + 103 more book reviews
It's 1931. Siblings Robert and Lily will inherit Grace And Favor "cottage" and the corresponding fortune only if they live in the mansion for 10 yrs from great-uncle Horatio. However, Horatio was murdered and the siblings are suspect. Then another corpse is found in their kitchen. The siblings become determined to clear themselves.
I liked this book. It wasn't boring as I thought it might be. It's easy to follow and you don't know who dunnit until almost the end.
I liked this book. It wasn't boring as I thought it might be. It's easy to follow and you don't know who dunnit until almost the end.
First in the "Grace and Favor" mysteries
A great start to what looks to be a good series.
A delightful cozy mystery by Jill Churchill about an inheritance for a brother and sister which includes not only a fortune, but also a murder for them to solve with clever sleuthing!
Book 1 in the Grace and Favor series.
Jill Churchhill writing is witty with always a corpse somewhere in her stories!
1st in the series. I really liked the characters, setting, and the story. Can't wait to read the next one.
They Have Inherited a Lovely Upstate Mansion. . .
The crash of 1929 has ended the party for high-living New Yorkers Lily Brewster and her brother Robert and takes them from the upper echelons of the idle rich and deposits them to the lowly depths of the disillusioned poor. However, rescue arrives in the form of their recently deceased great-uncle Horation who bequeaths to them Grace and Favor "Cottage" which is really a great sprawling mansion. And there's a fortune to go with it, but only if they reside there for ten years.
And an Inconvenient Corpse
With no other alternative, the spirited Manhattanites move to a quiet and quaint Hudson River community and try to fit in. But they soon find out that great-uncle Horatio didn't die peacefully. He was murdered while on an elaborate sailing party on the Hudson River aboard his yacht-and Lily and Robert are suspects. But when another corpse appears in the kitchen of the mansion, the siblings are determined to clear themselves. Without a clue how to begin, Lily and Robert start snooping, unaware that their savvy sleuthing could make them the killer's next targets
The crash of 1929 has ended the party for high-living New Yorkers Lily Brewster and her brother Robert and takes them from the upper echelons of the idle rich and deposits them to the lowly depths of the disillusioned poor. However, rescue arrives in the form of their recently deceased great-uncle Horation who bequeaths to them Grace and Favor "Cottage" which is really a great sprawling mansion. And there's a fortune to go with it, but only if they reside there for ten years.
And an Inconvenient Corpse
With no other alternative, the spirited Manhattanites move to a quiet and quaint Hudson River community and try to fit in. But they soon find out that great-uncle Horatio didn't die peacefully. He was murdered while on an elaborate sailing party on the Hudson River aboard his yacht-and Lily and Robert are suspects. But when another corpse appears in the kitchen of the mansion, the siblings are determined to clear themselves. Without a clue how to begin, Lily and Robert start snooping, unaware that their savvy sleuthing could make them the killer's next targets
This is the first book in the Grace and favor series. A quick read. I may read some others in this series.
The crash of 1929 has ended the party for high-living New York siblings, Lily and Robert-they are now part of the disillusioned poor. Rescue arrives in the form of recently murdered Uncle Horatio: he bequeaths them a mansion, IF they live there 10 years. Another corpse appears, and then the siblings become the killer's next targets.
Very good book - great series!
this was the first in this series I had read, and I enjoyed it very much, in fact I've requested another Grace and Favor mystery via this website! Saw this at my local library's Book Sale, so bought an extra copy to swap.
