The Mystery of Grace

By Charles de Lint

Book Overview

On the Day of the Dead, the Solona Music Hall is jumping. That's where Altagracia Quintero meets John Burns, just two weeks too late.

Altagracia - her friends call her Grace - has a tattoo of Nuestra Se ora de Altagracia on her shoulder, she's got a Ford Motor Company tattoo running down her leg, and she has grease worked so deep into her hands that it'll never wash out. Grace works at Sanchez Motorworks, customizing hot rods. Finding the line in a classic car is her calling.

Now Grace has to find the line in her own life. A few blocks around the Alverson Arms is all her world -- from the little grocery store where she buys beans, tamales, and cigarettes ("cigarettes can kill you," they tell her, but she smokes them anyway) to the record shop, to the library where Henry, a black man confined to a wheelchair, researches the mystery of life in death - but she's got unfinished business keeping her close to home.

Grace loves John, and John loves her, and that would be wonderful, except that John, like Grace, has unfinished business - he's haunted by the childhood death of his younger brother. He's never stopped feeling responsible. Like Grace in her way, John is an artist, and before their relationship can find its resolution, the two of them will have to teach each other about life and love, about hot rods and Elvis Presley, and about why it's necessary to let some things go.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765317575
• ISBN13: 9780765317575
• Release Date: March 2010
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Absolutely loved!

John's love complemented Grace in a way you hoped that they would always be together in their real lives. They were just 2 weeks too late.... Grace and her "soul sister" in the otherworld was a beautiful story as well. My first book read by Charles deLint and I will try reading another one of his books.

Grace is a mystery

Well, this isn't a 'standard' de Lint book in the normal stomping grounds of Ottawa, Canada. However, possibly because of the influence of Terri Windling, he's written a book that takes place in the Southwest (altho this isn't his first foray into that area). It was kind of a surprise but I wasn't surprised that, once again, he's provided a very, very compelling and thoughtful story. As with all of his books that I've read, I thought this was really good and rereading material. I've a shelf in my bookcase devoted to Charles de Lint.

Sweet and Magical Story

I've been a fan of Charles De Lint since his first books came out in the '80's and grabbed this book as soon as it was available on Kindle. At first glance, The Mystery of Grace didn't grab me as much as some of the others had. It's a little slower and gentler than most of his other books. By the time I finished the book, I had changed my opinion. When I finished the book, my only response was "Wow". It really made me think and I can see re-reading this a number of times. Grace wasn't a "heroine", but she felt very real - flaws and all. Ultimately, the story was a character-based story revolving around Grace and her growth over a relatively short period of time. As such, it's definitely slower than most of Mr. De Lint's novels. Other than John & Conchita, there's very little interaction with other characters and there's very little traditional adventure. Most of the adventure and growth was internal. It's a very sweet & magical story and definitely worth the read.

Drawn in - loved it

The Mystery of Grace is my first Charles de Lint book and I loved the characters, the way it was written and told. The ending could have been a little more tidy but what the heck. I loved it and will be reading more by de Lint.

~ another must read ~

There is a blurb on this book by Alice Hoffman. She said "Nobody does it better". I don't usually put much stock in these author blurbs, but I have to say that I agree with this one. I don't remember how I found Charles De Lint, but I am grateful that I did, because as Ms Hoffman says, nobody does it better. This is the story of Grace. It is a story of live and love and faith, or the loss of it. It is a story of friendship and commitment and death. Most of all, it is a story that reminds us, as do all of De Lint's books of the magic within us all. Grace with her tattoos and her grease and her family, the good and the bad,, is each one of us. Grace is more aptly named than you might think at first look. Grace learns to open her heart wider than she ever believed that she could, and see truth. This is yet another must read in a long line of must reads by this magical author.

A great story from the heart

This story basically hit every note that I was looking for. There were so many things in this story that were hopefully and meaningful. The story is so possible and just a great view in the afterlife. I really enjoyed the characters and at a certain part in the book when Grace came back, it really hit me and made me want to cry. It's just really emotional and deep but extremely good! If you like Charles de Lint, this would be a great current book to read and get into. I just finished reading it and I am just blown away. At first it starts up dull but it just gets so fantastic!!!! Definitely WORTH IT!!!!!!