Grace Against the Clock is a bit of a locked room mystery. A party is held in the museum/manor's basement, where there is only one way in and out and Grace herself is manning the door. One of the hosts is murdered; poisoned while seemingly alone behind the stage curtain and covered in defensive wounds. But no one hears or sees anything.

The author writes a delicate balance: Grace makes the decision to "investigate" which I find a turn off most of the time, but her investigative style involves a lot of research and a few conversations that felt plausible and natural, so it works. I am at the point now that these characters feel like friends or acquaintances and even Francis and Hillary have their charms now. Grace's romantic life is a bit chaotic which normally irritates me, but again, the author manages to do what no other has before: swayed my opinion about the romantic interest.

I don't know how I didn't see the murderer coming, but I didn't. Actually, I do kind of know how I missed it and it was very cleverly done. I was totally fooled. No TSTL moments either.

I'd argue Julie Hyzy is one of today's better cozy writers. Whenever Ms. Hyzy's next book is announced it always goes immediately on the "to buy" list without any hesitation. They are solid, incredibly well-crafted mysteries with characters that become more interesting with every book. Instead of developing character tension over the course of one story, Ms. Hyzy subtly draws it out over the course of the series. This style requires readers to be a little patient, as the hook is set slowly over the course of a few books, but it pays off in the form of a series of books worth the investment of time.

I'll definitely be buying Ms. Hyzy's next book. ( )

Grace Against the Clock is the fifth book in the A Manor House Mystery series.

Once again Hyzy has provided the reader with an engaging mystery. A well developed story with interesting and believable characters.

Joyce Swedburg and her ex-husband Dr. Leland Keay are planning a fund raiser to cover the cost of repairing the Emberstowne village green clock. The fund-raiser is going to take place in an unused area of the Marshfield Manor's basement. As Grace is about to start the festivities, Swedburg has a case of food poisoning and is unable to attend, she finds that Dr. Keay is no where to be found. She asks David Cherk, a local photographer to look behind the curtains he had had erected for his evenings presentation, while she and Francis set off to check other nearby areas. As they are returning, Dr. Keay appears and stumbles onto the stage and falls, apparently in a drunken stupor. Grace runs to his side in time to hear the word injection from his dying breath. Leland had a history of alcohol abuse in the past, but everyone thought had been sober for five years since his being in an accident in which his mistress had been killed. It appeared to have been a "locked room" murder, but soon, with the help of the curator of the historical center, that in fact there is a "wood elevator" in the room. Grace now sets her sights on who might have known of this entrance and wanted to do away with Leland. Even though she was supposedly sick, Joyce becomes a prime suspect, as does Grace's neighbor, Todd Depota, whose wife was killed in the accident of Leland's.

Meanwhile on the home front, Hillary, Bennett's step-daughter, is busy getting her decorating business going by rejuvenating Grace's Victorian home. Grace and Hillary have had issues in the past, but amazingly, things are going well with them. As work begins in the basement, Hillary soon find a locked metal door, similar in appearance to bank vault door, and when Larry the locksmith gets it opened there appears to be tunnel behind the door. But where the tunnel leads or who had made it is a mystery to everyone.

Most all the characters from the previous books in the series are back once again. Bennett seems to be resolved that Grace will be involved with the investigation and pretty much lets Grace pursue the investigation with out too many comments. Francis is a wonderful character and this reader is beginning to enjoy the banter that she has with Grace. In fact, they both have seemed to accepted each other and their bickering seems to be of the good natured type. Scott and Bruce continue to be around as sounding boards for Grace. Once again PI Tooney puts his life on the line for Marshfield Manor and is rewarded nicely for his efforts.

Most definitely will be watching for the next book in this exciting series. ( )

http://www.girllostinabook.com/2014/08/review-grace-against-clock-by-julie-hyzy.... ( )