Grandmother's House: A Port Silva Mystery - Hardcover

Lapierre, Janet

3.07

29 ratings by Goodreads

9780684193823: Grandmother's House: A Port Silva Mystery

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0684193825 ISBN 13: 9780684193823

Publisher: Scribner, 1991

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Vowing to keep the historic house left to him by his grandmother from the grips of greedy developers, thirteen-year-old Petey Birdsong must rely on the help of Val Kuisma to protect him when things turn violent

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From Kirkus Reviews:

The author's locale remains the town of Port Silva in northern California (The Cruel Mother, 1990, etc.), with the focus this time on Charlotte Birdsong, piano teacher, first-class cook, and single mother of 13-year-old Petey. Their house, willed to Petey by his grandmother, is on a historic little street called Finn Lane. John Leino, owner of much of the property there, has died. His widow wants to sell the whole area to developers and has sent smooth lawyer Hal Michaelson to negotiate deals with those who own their houses. But the area's a hotbed of environmental causes, and Charlotte's policeman tenant (and possible love interest) Val Kuisma is plagued besides with the disappearance of developer Ed Boylan, last seen on a hard-drinking tour of local bars. Meanwhile, Petey's father--a has-been actor with a nose for the main chance- -makes a sudden appearance; the arrival of a quartet of nomadic hippies complicates matters further, as violence escalates on Finn Lane and Michaelson disappears. A jumble of plotlines, characters, and corpses dilutes the thrust of a moderately engrossing puzzle--one much enhanced by its strong evocation of a special place. -- Copyright �1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Publishers Weekly:

LaPierre ( The Cruel Mother ) takes us on a delightful third visit to the California coastal town of Port Silva, although series regulars Meg Halloran and her spouse, police chief Vince Gutierrez, make only cameo appearances. The focus is on single mother Charlotte Birdsong and her son Petey, whose house is one of several properties that Cynthia Leino, a former town resident, wants to buy up for development. An underground environmental group agitates against the development, and Charlotte begins to suspect that her son is taking part in their effort. Town police (including Charlotte's tenant and confidant Val Kuisma) are already puzzled by the disappearance of Edward Boylan, another developer, when the sleazy lawyer acting for Mrs. Leino also vanishes. This seductive tale rapidly engages the reader with the Birdsongs, Val and a raft of other interesting characters. The subplot involving the environmental commandos and the missing Boylan provides an intriguing (and wonderfully resolved) second story line, adding depth to a very enjoyable read. Paperback rights to Worldwide Library.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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