Bennett Marshfield, owner of Marshfield Manor, and Grace Wheaton, the manager and curator, are working with emissaries from the Emberstowne Chamber of Commerce in the planning of a fund-raiser to repair the huge town clock. The clock has sentimental value to the residents and is known as the Promise Clock. Dr. Leland Keay, world-renown cardiac surgeon and Emberstowne's most charming, witty, and eligible bachelor, is working on this project with his ex-wife, Joyce Swedburg, volunteer party planner and big-time wealthy-man- hunter. This was not an amicable divorce and Dr. Keay and Joyce are arguing over several things.

To add to the stress, Grace's old house is getting a total make over by Bennett's stepdaughter, Hillary. She's hoping the outcome will jump-start her new decorating service. So far, Hillary and Grace have worked in harmony, and surprisingly, Hillary has some very good ideas.

The night of the big party, Dr. Keay who is supposed to give the welcoming speech is nowhere to be found. Grace finds him just as he stumbles, falls, mumbles the word "injection," and falls over dead. Initially suspected as a heart attack, the coroner rules Keay's death a homicide. Dr. Keay had been injected with an overdose of moonshine.

Julie Hyzy is quickly becoming my go-to author when I want a quick and delightful mystery to read. The core characters-- Bennett and Grace; nosy secretary Helen; Grace's roomies Bruce and Scott; and Marshfield's investigator, Tooney-- are solid and breathe life into each story in their assigned roles. GRACE AGAINST THE CLOCK is a good, credible tale. Dr. Keay had a very dark side to him and many enemies. Ms. Hyzy leads the reader through a number of viable suspects before she knocks your socks off with the surprise ending. There is so much to like about GRACE AGAINST THE CLOCK--the characters, dialogue, pacing, humor and a superb narrative. Please, read and enjoy!

Book Summary

When Marshfield Manor hosts a charity event, Grace Wheaton, the mansion’s curator and manager, is happy to lend a helping hand—until a killer makes an unwanted donation.

With the town clock in desperate need of repair, local lawyer Joyce Swedburg and her ex-husband, Dr. Leland Keay, are trying to put their differences aside to organize a benefit at Marshfield Manor to raise money to restore the beautiful timepiece. While Grace appreciates the opportunity to support such a good cause, the tension between the unhappy exes is giving her the urge to put both of the organizers in time out.

But after Leland collapses on stage during the festivities, poisoned, Grace suspects there was more going on behind the scenes. Now, she’s in a race to catch a ticked off murderer, and, if she’s going to prevent anyone else from getting hurt, every second will count.