In St. Patrick's Custody (A Patrick and Grace Mystery, Book 1)

By Janet Elaine Smith

Grace Johnson, elderly New York City widow, "ran away from home, and at my age " she says. Patrick O'Mally, retired New York cop, comes to her rescue by taking her to the homeless shelter where he... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932993479
• ISBN13: 9781932993479
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Star Publish
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.3" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

A touching, different, fun mystery

In St. Patrick's Custody, by born storyteller Janet Elaine Smith, introduces us to Grace Johnson, a diminutive and quirky senior sleuth with a down-to-earth attitude and considerable spunk. Grace calls on her life experience and innate keenness to delightful advantage as she confronts potentially deadly mysteries, all the while fighting a personal battle of high stakes. Not a moment too soon, Grace finds a perfect sleuthing partner in redoubtable "retired" New York City detective Patrick O'Mally, with whom she forms a vibrant relationship. Readers in search of a mystery that delivers a lump in the throat along with a pleasurable zing of suspense and discovery should consider picking up this heartwarming novel. (Review by Jimmy Fox, author of Deadly Pedigree, Lineages and Lies, and Jackpot Blood)

Fabulous mystery starring Grace and Patrick

Grace is afraid her daughter is about to put her in a nursing home, so she runs away. Her friend Patrick puts her in a homeless shelter so her children can't find her. She's not sure if her sons are in on it or not, but doesn't want to take a chance. Thus begins the adventure of her lifetime. She and Patrick go to the park almost every day. They begin seeing a child that appears homeless, but she won't let them get near. They leave her food as often as they can. Grace also makes many friends at the shelter, including Mr. Douglas who runs it. He used to be a priest until he met his wife. Grace gets off to a shaky start with Anne Douglas. Anne feels threatened by Grace and tends to make life unbearable at times. The St. Patrick's statue is stolen from a nearby church. Patrick is asked to help find it. Patrick is a retired New York Detective. Grace insists that he let her help him. She has an idea that she might know where the statue is. There is something in Patrick's past that still haunts him. Grace is determined to find out what it is and to try to help him get past it. They have many adventures, some fun and some dangerous, as they try to unravel the mysteries. This is the first book in this series that I have read. It is a very delightful mystery and so easy to read. I look forward to reading more in this series. Grace is the type of person you would want to invite over for dessert if she lived in your neighborhood. Who couldn't like her! Janet Elaine Smith has created wonderful characters and such a terrific setting. I highly recommend this book.

A must read

Grace Johnson was an unlikely candidate to be involved in solving a mystery. Grace was an elderly woman whose children wanted to put her away in a nursing home after the death of her husband, James. Grace decided that there was still some life in the old girl yet and that she wasn't quite ready to be sent to an old folk's home. She ran away from her children and her empty life. Grace ended up in a New York City homeless shelter where she found happiness in being needed.Patrick O'Mally was an ex New York City policeman with a grudge, a grudge against the Vince Bellazoni who had killed in his son. He was also a very lonely man since his wife, Margaret, died. Meeting Grace Johnson was the best thing that had happened to him in a long time.Someone tried to poison Father O'Brien. Who would try to kill such a beloved old priest? Someone stole the statue of St. Patrick from St. Patrick's Cathedral. Who would stoop so low as to do such a thing? Was that really a leprechaun that Grace kept seeing every time she saw that poor dirty little homeless girl? Did Vince Bellazoni really kill Patrick's son?In Saint Patrick's Custody by Janet Elaine Smith is a lighthearted mystery chock full of surprises, twists and turns. Read along and be delighted by the story of Patrick and Grace as they try to solve the mysteries - and end up falling in love along the way.***Reviewed by Kristie Leigh Maguire, author of Emails from the Edge, Desert Triangle, co-author of No Lady and Her Tramp and contributor to Calliope's Mousepad...

Elderly librarian relates

"In St. Patrick's Custody" is a novel rich in characters. Grace is a widow with grown children, quite ready for new adventures, and fleeing from the possibility of being placed into a home for old people. Patrick is a reluctant retiree from the New York Police Department. Mikki is a poor little orphan living on the streets and very good at disappearing. Shawn is a midget, who could easily be mistaken for a Leprechaun. Father O'Brien is a well loved priest who very nearly dies from rat poison. The place is New York City, with St. Patrick's Cathedral, Central Park, and a shelter for the homeless. Mixed together they all play a part in a thriller, written by a church friend of us all, Janet Elaine Smith. It's a mystery full of puzzles to be solved, wrongs to be set right, and even a bit of a love story. Try it and see.