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Saving Grace
Grace Pierrepoint Rendell, the only child of an ailing billionaire, has been treated for paranoia since childhood. When she secretly quits her meds, she begins to suspect that once her father passes, her husband will murder her for her inheritance. Realizing that no one will believe the ravings of a supposed psychotic, she devises a creative way to save herself—she will write herself out of danger, authoring a novel with the heroine in exactly the same circumstances, thus subtly exposing her husband's scheme to the world.
She hires acclaimed author Lynn Andrews to help edit her literary insurance policy, but when Lynn is murdered, Grace is discovered standing over the bloody remains. The clock is ticking: can she write and publish her manuscript before she is strapped into a straitjacket, accused of homicide, or lowered six feet under?
With a cast of secondary characters whose challenges mirror Grace's own, Saving Grace is, at its core, an allegory for the struggle of the marginalized to be heard and live life on their own terms.
She hires acclaimed author Lynn Andrews to help edit her literary insurance policy, but when Lynn is murdered, Grace is discovered standing over the bloody remains. The clock is ticking: can she write and publish her manuscript before she is strapped into a straitjacket, accused of homicide, or lowered six feet under?
With a cast of secondary characters whose challenges mirror Grace's own, Saving Grace is, at its core, an allegory for the struggle of the marginalized to be heard and live life on their own terms.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2020
263 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
About the author
D.M. Barr
9 books306 followersWHO IS D.M. BARR?
By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of suspense, satire, and sweet romance.
My background includes stints in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations and real estate. I was, for a long and happy time, an award-winning magazine writer and editor. Then kids happened. And I needed to actually make money. Now they're off doing whatever it is they do (of which I have no idea since they won't friend me on Facebook) and I can spend my spare time weaving tales of debauchery and whatever else tickles my fancy.
The main thing to remember about my work is that I am NOT one of my characters. For example, as a real estate broker, I've never played Bondage Bingo in one of my empty listings or offed one of my problem clients.
But that's not to say I haven't wanted to...
By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of suspense, satire, and sweet romance.
My background includes stints in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations and real estate. I was, for a long and happy time, an award-winning magazine writer and editor. Then kids happened. And I needed to actually make money. Now they're off doing whatever it is they do (of which I have no idea since they won't friend me on Facebook) and I can spend my spare time weaving tales of debauchery and whatever else tickles my fancy.
The main thing to remember about my work is that I am NOT one of my characters. For example, as a real estate broker, I've never played Bondage Bingo in one of my empty listings or offed one of my problem clients.
But that's not to say I haven't wanted to...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
September 5, 2020
I really didn’t want to give this book 5 stars. I mean it wouldn’t do to get a rep as an easy marker now would it? But the thing is, I just loved this crazy, satisfying and, well, empowering book.
45 year old Grace has been under psychiatric care for 40 years, can you believe that? She is psychotic, a danger to herself and others so she moves through life like a zombie, in a shadow world of strong psychotropic drugs. Her husband doesn’t seem interested in her, except to patronise and gaslight her, and even her teenage sons are in on it, taking their lead from their father. But Grace longs to feel again, she is tired of ‘floating’ aimlessly. So she weans herself off her meds and finds the world is indeed a scary place - but not because she is insane. She becomes convinced her husband of 25 years is only waiting for her old and very rich father to die before he kills her off and gets his hands in billions.
And so it begins. Grave has a plan, but like many a plan it doesn’t go according to plan. What follows is an eye-opening, somewhat harrowing and quite suspenseful ride with a side serving of crazy. The writing is not ‘lyrical’ but it flows effortlessly. Grace is a plausible and very relatable character and the supporting cast members were a joy (well apart from the evil ones). This book is a rallying call for all those people out there who feel they don’t have a voice! Many thanks to BookSirens and D.M. Barr for my review copy. My opinions are my own.
45 year old Grace has been under psychiatric care for 40 years, can you believe that? She is psychotic, a danger to herself and others so she moves through life like a zombie, in a shadow world of strong psychotropic drugs. Her husband doesn’t seem interested in her, except to patronise and gaslight her, and even her teenage sons are in on it, taking their lead from their father. But Grace longs to feel again, she is tired of ‘floating’ aimlessly. So she weans herself off her meds and finds the world is indeed a scary place - but not because she is insane. She becomes convinced her husband of 25 years is only waiting for her old and very rich father to die before he kills her off and gets his hands in billions.
And so it begins. Grave has a plan, but like many a plan it doesn’t go according to plan. What follows is an eye-opening, somewhat harrowing and quite suspenseful ride with a side serving of crazy. The writing is not ‘lyrical’ but it flows effortlessly. Grace is a plausible and very relatable character and the supporting cast members were a joy (well apart from the evil ones). This book is a rallying call for all those people out there who feel they don’t have a voice! Many thanks to BookSirens and D.M. Barr for my review copy. My opinions are my own.
August 24, 2020
So, first of all, I love to read thrillers and I exclusively read thrillers only when I was younger. Saving Grace has given me exactly what I wanted and what I expected. The characters, especially Grace, were very well formulated and I really liked Andrea and Zev.
The story was convincing and fast-paced, having some surprises here and there. In general, the characters felt real from beginning to the end. I truly felt sorry for Grace throughout the story.
What I didn't like were some of the side story. At some point, there were too many side characters and i.e. Kenzie took a much bigger part than I expected and unfortunately, the story didn't really benefit from this development. Also, even though Zev was a refreshing, nice addition to the story, his other friends and happenings were not as interesting as the rest of the story.
I felt that Grace and Andrea were such strong characters that others kind of faded away. For example, Druthers and Eliot were very pale in comparison to these strong women, which is not necessarily a bad thing but I felt that the power balance with the characters were not even. To be honest, I actually expected much more from either Eliot or Druthers by the end but well.. But I'm being very nitpicky here because I got into this story with very high expectations!
All in all, the suspense and twists of Saving Grace were very entertaining to read and it was a fast page-turner. If you are looking for a fast, tension-filled read, you can go for this one. The first half of the book is really amazing to read and I was constantly waiting for surprises with every page which really was exciting.
**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**
The story was convincing and fast-paced, having some surprises here and there. In general, the characters felt real from beginning to the end. I truly felt sorry for Grace throughout the story.
What I didn't like were some of the side story. At some point, there were too many side characters and i.e. Kenzie took a much bigger part than I expected and unfortunately, the story didn't really benefit from this development. Also, even though Zev was a refreshing, nice addition to the story, his other friends and happenings were not as interesting as the rest of the story.
I felt that Grace and Andrea were such strong characters that others kind of faded away. For example, Druthers and Eliot were very pale in comparison to these strong women, which is not necessarily a bad thing but I felt that the power balance with the characters were not even. To be honest, I actually expected much more from either Eliot or Druthers by the end but well.. But I'm being very nitpicky here because I got into this story with very high expectations!
All in all, the suspense and twists of Saving Grace were very entertaining to read and it was a fast page-turner. If you are looking for a fast, tension-filled read, you can go for this one. The first half of the book is really amazing to read and I was constantly waiting for surprises with every page which really was exciting.
**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**
October 15, 2020
For 40 years, Grace has been under the care of a therapist for her mental health problems, which started when she was a young child.
Being on medications constantly, she's gone on to get married and have two children ... and she's had enough of feeling the way she does. Secretly weaning herself off her meds, she finds that she really isn't psychotic .. is she?
Being the only child of a billionaire, she thinks her husband is waiting for her father to pass and then he will kill Grace once she inherits her father's estate. Is this more a symptom of her illness .... or is actually seeing the truth?
Who will ever believe a woman who's been under a psychiatrist's care of 40 years? She comes up with a creative way to let the world know what has happened to her .. but the only person who can help her is murdered.
Did Grace kill her friend and she just doesn't remember? Should she be strapped into a straitjacket? Locked away before she can hurt anyone else?
This is an emotional story of a woman who is fighting for her life .. a 'normal' life that she's been cheated out of ..so she thinks. She so yearns to have someone listen to her ... really hear what she's saying ... and then believe her.
This is a page turner from start to finish with twists and turns at every corner and with characters that will remain with the reader long after the book is finished.
Many thanks to the author / Black Rose Writing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 14, 2021
Received an ARC copy by Book sirens in return for an honest review
Saving grace by D.M.Barr is a psychological thriller which is a story of Grace Pierrepoint Rendell, who has been under psychiatric care for more than 40 years. What happens when she wishes for freedom and fights the oppression she has been facing all her life?
Grace is an accountant and has been living a monotonous life taking care of her two sons and her husband Eliot. She has been under meds for far too long than she remembers. Whenever she wishes for a bit of excitement in her life, she has been termed as overreacting or disillusioned and needs to be taken care of.
She finally manages to escape her boring life when she joins a women’s writing group and decided to write a novel which will really be her slightly disguised autobiography.
There are murders, deceits, and family secrets that are to be uncovered, but there is also love, passion, and trust growing between the characters. There is a whole bunch of characters that are unique and own special stories. Stories that make grace realized that her problems are nothing compared to the enormity of struggles some individuals face.
I loved how there was a mention of the struggles faced by the LGBTQ community. Apart from the main story author also brought some issues to light.
Overall the writing style, character development were on point. The storyline was well woven and the ending was something I really appreciated.
Saving grace by D.M.Barr is a psychological thriller which is a story of Grace Pierrepoint Rendell, who has been under psychiatric care for more than 40 years. What happens when she wishes for freedom and fights the oppression she has been facing all her life?
Grace is an accountant and has been living a monotonous life taking care of her two sons and her husband Eliot. She has been under meds for far too long than she remembers. Whenever she wishes for a bit of excitement in her life, she has been termed as overreacting or disillusioned and needs to be taken care of.
She finally manages to escape her boring life when she joins a women’s writing group and decided to write a novel which will really be her slightly disguised autobiography.
There are murders, deceits, and family secrets that are to be uncovered, but there is also love, passion, and trust growing between the characters. There is a whole bunch of characters that are unique and own special stories. Stories that make grace realized that her problems are nothing compared to the enormity of struggles some individuals face.
I loved how there was a mention of the struggles faced by the LGBTQ community. Apart from the main story author also brought some issues to light.
Overall the writing style, character development were on point. The storyline was well woven and the ending was something I really appreciated.
October 11, 2020
***I received an eArc from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. ***
This was a fun, suspenseful, surprising psychological thriller that offered a burst of crazy throughout. Psychological thrillers are one of my favorite genres and this was a nice addition. The author did a great job of building your interest and empathy towards the main character in an authentic manner.
I enjoyed how the author was able to drop you instantly into the main character, Grace predicament. You were transported into Grace’s mind smoothly and effortlessly. The main character, Grace is a relatable woman that you love to follow along with, which can be difficult to achieve.
I enjoyed how this book flowed from one page to the next. The tension was palpable and well-orchestrated. You will not be disappointed in this mystery. It is a fun ride.
Thank you to Book Sirens for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun, suspenseful, surprising psychological thriller that offered a burst of crazy throughout. Psychological thrillers are one of my favorite genres and this was a nice addition. The author did a great job of building your interest and empathy towards the main character in an authentic manner.
I enjoyed how the author was able to drop you instantly into the main character, Grace predicament. You were transported into Grace’s mind smoothly and effortlessly. The main character, Grace is a relatable woman that you love to follow along with, which can be difficult to achieve.
I enjoyed how this book flowed from one page to the next. The tension was palpable and well-orchestrated. You will not be disappointed in this mystery. It is a fun ride.
Thank you to Book Sirens for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2020
From when she was a child, Grace Pierrepoint Rendell was deemed mentally unfit. Her diagnoses included paranoia and psychosis. This was by her father and this action was continued by her husband. Grace managed to break away from her father as a young adult when she went away to collage. However, it did not take her very long to meet the man who would soon become her husband. Although Grace managed to develop a career, becoming the mother of two boys sidelined her more than she would have liked. Throughout her life, however, one thing did not change, and that was her lifelong psychological treatment and a host of medications.
At some point, Grace decided to take her destiny into her own hands. She managed to fool her psychiatrist and husband. When visiting her ailing father, her deception did not come as easy. While reading this book - whether it was Grace's father, or her husband - I kept getting vibes of the classic movie Gaslight. Grace often questioned her own sanity, even during moments of obvious clarity. That is how good the ploys used against her were.
Once Grace's father's health became extremely serious, Grace knew that the likelihood of her becoming beneficiary of his multi-million dollar estate might not happen for her. In fact, she began to wonder if indeed her husband would "get rid of her" in order to collect said millions. So, Grace develops a scheme that will save her very life as well as her future. This plan included penning a fictional yet literal account that, if published, would inform any and all of the plans being made against her.
Despite her industriousness regarding writing her manuscript, things began happening that began to spiral out of her control, thus bringing her ever closer to danger. In this thrilling book there is a race against time that Grace has to manage. Fortunately she finds friends who are willing to stand by her. Will the manuscript be written in time to save her? With the connection I felt to Grace, some of the supporting characters, and the aforementioned movie, I found this book to be quite an entertaining read.
Many thanks to Black Rose Writing for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
At some point, Grace decided to take her destiny into her own hands. She managed to fool her psychiatrist and husband. When visiting her ailing father, her deception did not come as easy. While reading this book - whether it was Grace's father, or her husband - I kept getting vibes of the classic movie Gaslight. Grace often questioned her own sanity, even during moments of obvious clarity. That is how good the ploys used against her were.
Once Grace's father's health became extremely serious, Grace knew that the likelihood of her becoming beneficiary of his multi-million dollar estate might not happen for her. In fact, she began to wonder if indeed her husband would "get rid of her" in order to collect said millions. So, Grace develops a scheme that will save her very life as well as her future. This plan included penning a fictional yet literal account that, if published, would inform any and all of the plans being made against her.
Despite her industriousness regarding writing her manuscript, things began happening that began to spiral out of her control, thus bringing her ever closer to danger. In this thrilling book there is a race against time that Grace has to manage. Fortunately she finds friends who are willing to stand by her. Will the manuscript be written in time to save her? With the connection I felt to Grace, some of the supporting characters, and the aforementioned movie, I found this book to be quite an entertaining read.
Many thanks to Black Rose Writing for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
December 14, 2020
Ms. Barr’s storytelling is a master class of Oooh! Whee! delight ensuring her fans, old and new, a “just-one-more-chapter” reading experience they will not soon forget!
Read full review in the 2020 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2020 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 2, 2020
Dear Ms. Barr,
You had me going. Even at the end of Part One, when it should have been clear who the evil character was, I had my doubts. I had questions. Did Grace have multiple personalities – rock-solid accountant one moment and wackadoodle wife the next? Fourteen years without sex? Was Eliot gay? Barrington suddenly puts his daughter in an asylum – was he trying to cover up molestation? (Not that the actual offense was any better.) Did Grace have her druthers? Has an eggroll ever been cast as a murder weapon before? And were you being catty, naming the psychiatrist Leighmann (a layman)? Maybe the answers will be in the CliffsNotes edition.
You may find this odd, but reading Saving Grace reminded me of ping pong: The action was fast and furious, back and forth, perfectly matched, unrelenting. The pace and suspense were delicious.
But at the end of the day, I didn’t like the ending.
Not unhappy about the way it ended, but that it ended at all. It was just too enjoyable to terminate.
I can’t wait for your next book – write faster!
You had me going. Even at the end of Part One, when it should have been clear who the evil character was, I had my doubts. I had questions. Did Grace have multiple personalities – rock-solid accountant one moment and wackadoodle wife the next? Fourteen years without sex? Was Eliot gay? Barrington suddenly puts his daughter in an asylum – was he trying to cover up molestation? (Not that the actual offense was any better.) Did Grace have her druthers? Has an eggroll ever been cast as a murder weapon before? And were you being catty, naming the psychiatrist Leighmann (a layman)? Maybe the answers will be in the CliffsNotes edition.
You may find this odd, but reading Saving Grace reminded me of ping pong: The action was fast and furious, back and forth, perfectly matched, unrelenting. The pace and suspense were delicious.
But at the end of the day, I didn’t like the ending.
Not unhappy about the way it ended, but that it ended at all. It was just too enjoyable to terminate.
I can’t wait for your next book – write faster!
August 25, 2020
3.75 Stars (rounded up to 4)
Saving Grace, by D. M. Barr, is the story of Grace Rendell, who rises up against the oppression of her father, her psychiatrist, and her husband as she seeks independence and happiness. When we meet Grace, she is an accountant bored with her tepid marriage and raising two teenage boys. Her husband Eliot’s position is that Grace should be fulfilled by going to work and taking care of the kids.
Grace feels powerless and joins a women’s writing group so she can craft a novel, which will really be her thinly-disguised autobiography. This is where the action of this dram-edy really takes off! There is a cast of unique characters with their own special stories to share; there are murders and mayhem, extortion and intrigue, family rifts and secrets.
While D. M. Barr’s writing is clever and witty, it can also overflow with metaphors and semantic twists. As a reader I felt, at times, these exercises were a bit distracting and did not always add to the forward movement of the story. The number of characters is large and interesting, with a number of side stories about disenfranchised, marginalized and non-mainstream individuals whose life challenges mirror Grace’s struggles.
Overall I think there is much to like about this novel and I applaud D. M. Barr for shining her literary light on the plight of women who are not seen and not heard, as they struggle to achieve self-worth and recognition.
Thank you to Book Sirens for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
Saving Grace, by D. M. Barr, is the story of Grace Rendell, who rises up against the oppression of her father, her psychiatrist, and her husband as she seeks independence and happiness. When we meet Grace, she is an accountant bored with her tepid marriage and raising two teenage boys. Her husband Eliot’s position is that Grace should be fulfilled by going to work and taking care of the kids.
Grace feels powerless and joins a women’s writing group so she can craft a novel, which will really be her thinly-disguised autobiography. This is where the action of this dram-edy really takes off! There is a cast of unique characters with their own special stories to share; there are murders and mayhem, extortion and intrigue, family rifts and secrets.
While D. M. Barr’s writing is clever and witty, it can also overflow with metaphors and semantic twists. As a reader I felt, at times, these exercises were a bit distracting and did not always add to the forward movement of the story. The number of characters is large and interesting, with a number of side stories about disenfranchised, marginalized and non-mainstream individuals whose life challenges mirror Grace’s struggles.
Overall I think there is much to like about this novel and I applaud D. M. Barr for shining her literary light on the plight of women who are not seen and not heard, as they struggle to achieve self-worth and recognition.
Thank you to Book Sirens for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
September 7, 2020
Well-woven and fascinating story about gaslighting and the lengths some people will go to get their way. Keeps you guessing but keeps you interested all the way through.
August 3, 2020
I loved it! I felt so sorry for poor Grace, I was really rooting for her. It’s a great read.
October 23, 2020
This is a really gutsy, fast paced read. It is the first of Barr’s books that I have read. It is well written and has a sound plot. Barr is excellent at developing characters.
It focuses on gaslighting and paranoia. Grace, who is in her forties, is the only child of an ill and elderly billionaire. She has been treated for paranoia for many years ( since childhood) and is on medication to manage her psychiatric issues. She senses that her cavalier and cruel husband is planning to kill her; that he will put the plan in motion once her dad passes away in order to get his avaricious hands on her inheritance. She realises that because of her paranoia no one will believe her about this sinister plot of her husband’s.
She decides to come off her medication as she believes it will help her to think more clearly, work out exactly what is going on in the background of her life, and formulate a plan to stymie the plot against her. Her everyday life is difficult in that not only her husband but also her teenage sons gaslight and torment her.
She devises an ingenious plan and hires a well known author, Andrea, to help her write a book, outlining the circumstances of the murderous plot she beiueves her husband is hatching against her. She believes the publication of that book will expose her husband’s skullduggery to the world. Andrea is quite an interesting character. Unfortunately, Andrea is murdered and Grace is found near her gruesome and bloody remains.
There are a number of secondary characters in this story with their own problems, who support the plot very well. Some are interesting and others are evil. Grace struggles to finish her book and let the public know what is happening to her before it’s too late and she’s either locked up or murdered.
This book is suspense filled and captivating, containing lots of twists and turns and surprises. In some ways it reminded me of The Woman at the Window. It handles the topic of the marginalised in society, how poorly and patronisingly they are treated in life, and how they can sometimes devise their own tailored coping strategies very well.
I enjoyed reading this fast moving and engrossing thriller, which I read in one sitting. I recommend it to others. Thank you to Booksirens and the publisher for an ARC.
It focuses on gaslighting and paranoia. Grace, who is in her forties, is the only child of an ill and elderly billionaire. She has been treated for paranoia for many years ( since childhood) and is on medication to manage her psychiatric issues. She senses that her cavalier and cruel husband is planning to kill her; that he will put the plan in motion once her dad passes away in order to get his avaricious hands on her inheritance. She realises that because of her paranoia no one will believe her about this sinister plot of her husband’s.
She decides to come off her medication as she believes it will help her to think more clearly, work out exactly what is going on in the background of her life, and formulate a plan to stymie the plot against her. Her everyday life is difficult in that not only her husband but also her teenage sons gaslight and torment her.
She devises an ingenious plan and hires a well known author, Andrea, to help her write a book, outlining the circumstances of the murderous plot she beiueves her husband is hatching against her. She believes the publication of that book will expose her husband’s skullduggery to the world. Andrea is quite an interesting character. Unfortunately, Andrea is murdered and Grace is found near her gruesome and bloody remains.
There are a number of secondary characters in this story with their own problems, who support the plot very well. Some are interesting and others are evil. Grace struggles to finish her book and let the public know what is happening to her before it’s too late and she’s either locked up or murdered.
This book is suspense filled and captivating, containing lots of twists and turns and surprises. In some ways it reminded me of The Woman at the Window. It handles the topic of the marginalised in society, how poorly and patronisingly they are treated in life, and how they can sometimes devise their own tailored coping strategies very well.
I enjoyed reading this fast moving and engrossing thriller, which I read in one sitting. I recommend it to others. Thank you to Booksirens and the publisher for an ARC.
October 26, 2020
Saving Grace is an excellent psychological thriller that moves fast and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Grace has been under psychiatric care for 40 years and she is still strong enough to question herself and those around her. Saving Grace, is the third novel written by sales and marketing specialist D. M. Barr.
Grace comes from a wealthy background, but is placed in psychiatric care by her father at a very young age. Forty years later she has a husband and 2 children who don’t trust anything she says or does and often rely on her doctor to deal with her “episodes”. Grace has no recollection of what she is being accused of doing and she decides to secretly go off her meds to try to recapture some of her lost memories. She starts to become aware of whispered conversations and begins to feel paranoid. She decides that her husband is plotting to kill her and take her money. Although she is not sure of whether or not what she perceives is real or not, she comes up with a creative way to combatting the apparent threat.
Barr does an excellent job of developing the main characters. Grace is a very strong character and takes the reader along with her as she tries to resolve the mysteries in her life. Andrea, her friend, is also a very strong character who decides to help Grace. Beyond these two the other characters are not as interesting and could be developed more. I find her husband, Eliot, is particularly weak and feel he should be more central.
The plot is very fast moving with a great twist at the end. As well, the writing is free flowing and clear. These are the primary reasons everyone should read this book.
I recommend this book everyone likes a good fast-paced psychological thriller. I give it a 4 on 5. I want to thank NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Grace comes from a wealthy background, but is placed in psychiatric care by her father at a very young age. Forty years later she has a husband and 2 children who don’t trust anything she says or does and often rely on her doctor to deal with her “episodes”. Grace has no recollection of what she is being accused of doing and she decides to secretly go off her meds to try to recapture some of her lost memories. She starts to become aware of whispered conversations and begins to feel paranoid. She decides that her husband is plotting to kill her and take her money. Although she is not sure of whether or not what she perceives is real or not, she comes up with a creative way to combatting the apparent threat.
Barr does an excellent job of developing the main characters. Grace is a very strong character and takes the reader along with her as she tries to resolve the mysteries in her life. Andrea, her friend, is also a very strong character who decides to help Grace. Beyond these two the other characters are not as interesting and could be developed more. I find her husband, Eliot, is particularly weak and feel he should be more central.
The plot is very fast moving with a great twist at the end. As well, the writing is free flowing and clear. These are the primary reasons everyone should read this book.
I recommend this book everyone likes a good fast-paced psychological thriller. I give it a 4 on 5. I want to thank NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2020
Excellent book with many exciting, unexpected Twists and turns. Already recommended to several people!
September 23, 2020
I received a review copy from BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.
I so wish I could tell you everything that I loved about this book, but to do that, I would have to give away entirely too much of the story. Suffice it to say, Ms. Barr has created characters that are true-to-life and very three-dimensional, action and suspense that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat, and plenty of twists and turns. Oh, and never accept anyone here at face value!
I had to laugh a couple of times because I have been reading for 60+ years and being the grammar Nazi I'm accused of being, I think I have a pretty good grasp of vocabulary. Somehow Ms. Barr managed to put me in my place. I had to resort to the dictionary on my Kindle to discover the meaning of several words. Now, that's not a bad thing. I enjoy adding to my vocabulary and it reinforced my appreciation of the built-in dictionary. At least I didn't have to stop reading to go find a "real" dictionary or Google it.
I would like to see Ms. Barr make this book the beginning of a series (if she hasn't already). I love these characters, especially Hack, Zev, Kenzie, and Katie. I think there is the potential for a long series here. I sure hope Ms. Barr agrees.
If you haven't read Saving Grace I recommend you pick it up as soon as possible. But make sure you don't have anything important going on in your life when you start reading because you won't want to stop.
I want to thank BookSirens and Ms. Barr for the opportunity to read Saving Grace. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I loved it!
I so wish I could tell you everything that I loved about this book, but to do that, I would have to give away entirely too much of the story. Suffice it to say, Ms. Barr has created characters that are true-to-life and very three-dimensional, action and suspense that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat, and plenty of twists and turns. Oh, and never accept anyone here at face value!
I had to laugh a couple of times because I have been reading for 60+ years and being the grammar Nazi I'm accused of being, I think I have a pretty good grasp of vocabulary. Somehow Ms. Barr managed to put me in my place. I had to resort to the dictionary on my Kindle to discover the meaning of several words. Now, that's not a bad thing. I enjoy adding to my vocabulary and it reinforced my appreciation of the built-in dictionary. At least I didn't have to stop reading to go find a "real" dictionary or Google it.
I would like to see Ms. Barr make this book the beginning of a series (if she hasn't already). I love these characters, especially Hack, Zev, Kenzie, and Katie. I think there is the potential for a long series here. I sure hope Ms. Barr agrees.
If you haven't read Saving Grace I recommend you pick it up as soon as possible. But make sure you don't have anything important going on in your life when you start reading because you won't want to stop.
I want to thank BookSirens and Ms. Barr for the opportunity to read Saving Grace. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I loved it!
September 14, 2020
“Saving Grace”—D.M. Barr (4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫) I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller/domestic suspense that had me hooked from beginning to end. Grace Rendell is the only child to an ailing billionaire and ever since she was a child, she has been treated for “paranoia” and other supposed mental issues. When she decides to stop taking her meds, she sees the world in a much clearer focus with all that her husband has been putting her through and suspects he may try to murder her for her inheritance once her father passes. Grace doesn’t think anyone will believe her suspicions due to her alleged history of paranoia, so to save herself she decides to write a novel where the heroine is in the same circumstances as she is with hopes to expose her husbands scheme to the world before its too late for her. Grace befriends an acclaimed author who is helping her throughout the process of this book, but when she is found murdered, Grace is discovered at the scene of the crime. Time is ticking and Grace desperately needs to publish her manuscript before she is sent away to a mental institution, accused of homicide, or before she will be killed. This book had me on the edge of my seat as I felt so sorry for Grace and everything she has been through, and was rooting for her to take back control of her life. I would highly recommend this book for fans of a good suspenseful thriller! 👍🏼 Make sure to grab a copy of this book when it’s released on October 15th! Thank you to Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours and Black Rose Writing for providing me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review! 📚
November 3, 2020
Grace has lived most of her life receiving care and taking medication for her mental health issues. She went from her father’s house to getting married and having children, always feeling like she is living underwater. She finally has had enough and stops taking her pills. She doesn’t tell anyone, but oddly enough, she doesn’t feel worse, she feels better. Knowing that no one will believe her, she remains silent about her revelation.
Could her extremely wealthy father or her husband have something to gain from keeping Grace off balance and compliant? Grace starts to believe that her husband is only with her for her inheritance. Once her elderly father dies, the only thing between him and her money will be Grace, and how hard would it be to kill her and make it look like she harmed herself.
Grace comes up with a plan. She will write a fiction book, but it will contain all her suspicions in case something happens to her. She will still be dead, but at least her husband will not get away with murder. Strange things start to happen, and it remains to be seen if Grace is mentally sound or psychotic.
A very intriguing story about gaslighting, or the workings of an ill mind. Even though I was rooting for Grace, the alternative was horrifying, I almost hoped she was wrong about those around her. My first book by DM Barr and I would definitely like to do it again.
Could her extremely wealthy father or her husband have something to gain from keeping Grace off balance and compliant? Grace starts to believe that her husband is only with her for her inheritance. Once her elderly father dies, the only thing between him and her money will be Grace, and how hard would it be to kill her and make it look like she harmed herself.
Grace comes up with a plan. She will write a fiction book, but it will contain all her suspicions in case something happens to her. She will still be dead, but at least her husband will not get away with murder. Strange things start to happen, and it remains to be seen if Grace is mentally sound or psychotic.
A very intriguing story about gaslighting, or the workings of an ill mind. Even though I was rooting for Grace, the alternative was horrifying, I almost hoped she was wrong about those around her. My first book by DM Barr and I would definitely like to do it again.
October 12, 2020
A thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat!
This book is for those people who have felt marginalized for whatever reason, disenfranchised whether by society or family. Or, know someone who has…Pain is pain…and retribution is so sweet!
Oh. My. Word! There were moments when I was sad, angry, scared and even fist-pump moments. This was a well-written, fast-paced thriller where good and bad guys are masquerading as the other. Truly kept me on my toes trying to figure out which was which. I will admit while I was reading, my heart was racing.
Grace Rendell is a 45yo mother of two teen boys and wife to a successful businessman as well as daughter to a wealthy but disgusting man. She has been on very strong meds for paranoia and other related psychoses for many years. For some reason she has decided to get off her meds and finally feels some clarity. But with this clarity comes thoughts and events that Grace has been too fuzzy to question. Is it real or only a symptom of her condition? Sharing any more will ruin your reading experience. If you like a well-plotted page-turner thriller, this is a must-read book!
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through BookSirens and it would get more than 5 stars if I could.
This book is for those people who have felt marginalized for whatever reason, disenfranchised whether by society or family. Or, know someone who has…Pain is pain…and retribution is so sweet!
Oh. My. Word! There were moments when I was sad, angry, scared and even fist-pump moments. This was a well-written, fast-paced thriller where good and bad guys are masquerading as the other. Truly kept me on my toes trying to figure out which was which. I will admit while I was reading, my heart was racing.
Grace Rendell is a 45yo mother of two teen boys and wife to a successful businessman as well as daughter to a wealthy but disgusting man. She has been on very strong meds for paranoia and other related psychoses for many years. For some reason she has decided to get off her meds and finally feels some clarity. But with this clarity comes thoughts and events that Grace has been too fuzzy to question. Is it real or only a symptom of her condition? Sharing any more will ruin your reading experience. If you like a well-plotted page-turner thriller, this is a must-read book!
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through BookSirens and it would get more than 5 stars if I could.
October 17, 2020
Saving Grace is about a woman Grace, married to Eliot (with children), who stands to inherit a vast fortune from her father. The problem is that she has been medicated and had in-patient treatment for psychological problems since childhood, and so has been made to believe that she is mentally disabled.
The conflict begins with the fact that it appears that Eliot is a cad and the two have issues over his extramarital behavior. To say any more will ruin the book, you really must read this for yourself.
Saving Grace won't disappoint. It is well written, engaging, and easy to read. Saving Grace pulls you right in from the start and won't let you go right up to the very end. While the manifest conflict was expertly laid out, the latent secrets and motives for controlling Grace are unrolled expertly. I cut corners at work and stayed up late to finish it, I was that drawn in.
If you like psychological thrillers, this is for you and it is good entertainment. Barr is masterful with words; I would expect nothing less from Black Rose Writing, who has an excellent oeuvre. I would like to thank the author, Black Rose Writing and BookSirens for the advance readers’ copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The conflict begins with the fact that it appears that Eliot is a cad and the two have issues over his extramarital behavior. To say any more will ruin the book, you really must read this for yourself.
Saving Grace won't disappoint. It is well written, engaging, and easy to read. Saving Grace pulls you right in from the start and won't let you go right up to the very end. While the manifest conflict was expertly laid out, the latent secrets and motives for controlling Grace are unrolled expertly. I cut corners at work and stayed up late to finish it, I was that drawn in.
If you like psychological thrillers, this is for you and it is good entertainment. Barr is masterful with words; I would expect nothing less from Black Rose Writing, who has an excellent oeuvre. I would like to thank the author, Black Rose Writing and BookSirens for the advance readers’ copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 5, 2020
‘Had she uncovered their con?’ – This thriller is a keeper!
New York author D.M. Barr has worked in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations, and real estate. After success as award-winning magazine writer and editor she became a mother and now writing is her business. Her books to date - EXPIRED LISTINGS, SLASHING MONA LISA, and now SAVING GRACE. She lives in the Hudson Valley.
For those following the very fine novels of D.M. Barr, the polished quality of her prose is expected. What may not be as obvious is her penchant for pinpointing ‘flaws’ in her characters, making use of a depth of insight into such variants as psychosocial behavior and dysfunctional marriages to create a fascinating interplay. In SAVING GRACE she nudges reality in incorporating her own career in writing into the schemata of the plot.
The drivers of the tale are suggested as the novel opens: ’One felony was all it took to convince Andrea Lin she was better suited to committing on paper than in person. As renowned mystery author Lynn Andrews [a clever choice of nom de plume! – typical of Barr’s talent], she understood conflict equaled good drama. Like her readers, she should have expected the hiccups, even relished them. What she hadn’t counted on was the accompanying agita, especially while sitting in her Bergen County kitchen, far from the action of the Bitcoin Teller Machine. Her one job had been to place a single phone call when the money hit and tell the hacker to lift the encryption on Grace’s computer. Trouble was, her dozen calls remained unanswered until a few minutes ago, throwing her meticulous plan off schedule.’ Subtly, and with keen planting of detail, the platform for the story that follows is set in motion.
Having anchored our attention, the plot is well distilled on the back cover: ‘Grace Pierrepoint Rendell, the only child of an ailing billionaire, has been treated for paranoia since childhood. When she secretly quits her meds, she begins to suspect that once her father passes, her husband will murder her for her inheritance. Realizing that no one will believe the ravings of a supposed psychotic, she devises a creative way to save herself—she will write herself out of danger, authoring a novel with the heroine in exactly the same circumstances, thus subtly exposing her husband's scheme to the world. She hires acclaimed author Lynn Andrews to help edit her literary insurance policy, but when Lynn is murdered, Grace is discovered standing over the bloody remains. The clock is ticking: can she write and publish her manuscript before she is strapped into a straitjacket, accused of homicide, or lowered six feet under? With a cast of secondary characters whose challenges mirror Grace's own, Saving Grace is, at its core, an allegory for the struggle of the marginalized to be heard and live life on their own terms.’
D.M. Barr continues to impress as an author of note. This is one superb thriller with a superior story, and an exploration of misunderstood ‘flaws’ of mind. Brava!
New York author D.M. Barr has worked in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations, and real estate. After success as award-winning magazine writer and editor she became a mother and now writing is her business. Her books to date - EXPIRED LISTINGS, SLASHING MONA LISA, and now SAVING GRACE. She lives in the Hudson Valley.
For those following the very fine novels of D.M. Barr, the polished quality of her prose is expected. What may not be as obvious is her penchant for pinpointing ‘flaws’ in her characters, making use of a depth of insight into such variants as psychosocial behavior and dysfunctional marriages to create a fascinating interplay. In SAVING GRACE she nudges reality in incorporating her own career in writing into the schemata of the plot.
The drivers of the tale are suggested as the novel opens: ’One felony was all it took to convince Andrea Lin she was better suited to committing on paper than in person. As renowned mystery author Lynn Andrews [a clever choice of nom de plume! – typical of Barr’s talent], she understood conflict equaled good drama. Like her readers, she should have expected the hiccups, even relished them. What she hadn’t counted on was the accompanying agita, especially while sitting in her Bergen County kitchen, far from the action of the Bitcoin Teller Machine. Her one job had been to place a single phone call when the money hit and tell the hacker to lift the encryption on Grace’s computer. Trouble was, her dozen calls remained unanswered until a few minutes ago, throwing her meticulous plan off schedule.’ Subtly, and with keen planting of detail, the platform for the story that follows is set in motion.
Having anchored our attention, the plot is well distilled on the back cover: ‘Grace Pierrepoint Rendell, the only child of an ailing billionaire, has been treated for paranoia since childhood. When she secretly quits her meds, she begins to suspect that once her father passes, her husband will murder her for her inheritance. Realizing that no one will believe the ravings of a supposed psychotic, she devises a creative way to save herself—she will write herself out of danger, authoring a novel with the heroine in exactly the same circumstances, thus subtly exposing her husband's scheme to the world. She hires acclaimed author Lynn Andrews to help edit her literary insurance policy, but when Lynn is murdered, Grace is discovered standing over the bloody remains. The clock is ticking: can she write and publish her manuscript before she is strapped into a straitjacket, accused of homicide, or lowered six feet under? With a cast of secondary characters whose challenges mirror Grace's own, Saving Grace is, at its core, an allegory for the struggle of the marginalized to be heard and live life on their own terms.’
D.M. Barr continues to impress as an author of note. This is one superb thriller with a superior story, and an exploration of misunderstood ‘flaws’ of mind. Brava!
September 17, 2020
Saving Grace grabbed me by the throat, shook me and never let me go until the very end! Grace or Ruth, her pen name, was a daughter, wife and mother who became an author to tell her story in order to protect herself from a gas-lighting husband who, along with her father, had convinced her that she was mentally ill. In fact, her father and husband were so effective they had her hospitalized and medicated repeatedly since she was a child. The question is why? Grace thinks the answer is her inheritance. Money is the root of all evil.
Unashamedly, I will tell you I love a good psychological thriller. I loved Saving Grace. There were some points at which I had to wonder at Grace’s naivete in allowing herself to be so verbally castigated by her father and controlled by her husband. Although, as the plot unfolds, you have less reason to speculate on that and more facts to support her being so thoroughly duped.
In addition to enjoying the story, I found the characters, especially the supporting members of Grace’s “team” to be vividly described and wonderfully real. Each of them was trying to come to terms with their own identity and live authentic lives, at the same time determined to help a friend, Grace.
I did notice that there were some issues with the formatting and the font. At a few points early in the book, the color of the font faded out. It was still legible, but needs to be corrected.
If you liked the old movie Gaslight (black and white), I have no doubt you will enjoy Saving Grace.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, BookSirens.
Unashamedly, I will tell you I love a good psychological thriller. I loved Saving Grace. There were some points at which I had to wonder at Grace’s naivete in allowing herself to be so verbally castigated by her father and controlled by her husband. Although, as the plot unfolds, you have less reason to speculate on that and more facts to support her being so thoroughly duped.
In addition to enjoying the story, I found the characters, especially the supporting members of Grace’s “team” to be vividly described and wonderfully real. Each of them was trying to come to terms with their own identity and live authentic lives, at the same time determined to help a friend, Grace.
I did notice that there were some issues with the formatting and the font. At a few points early in the book, the color of the font faded out. It was still legible, but needs to be corrected.
If you liked the old movie Gaslight (black and white), I have no doubt you will enjoy Saving Grace.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, BookSirens.
September 22, 2020
What an emotional roller-coaster ride. I so felt for Grace being patronized by her husband and treated like a slave by her sons. Not to mention having the threat of incarceration at a lunatic asylum thrown in her face whenever she tried to exert her will.
I cheered when she found the courage to take herself off of her medications and again when she left her husband and turned to the one person she instinctively knew would care for and protect her. I cried with Grace when she discovered just what her father had put her through to save his precious hide and that her entire marriage was nothing but a sham.
Saving Grace also made me wonder how many others there are that are currently in similar circumstances. Today's drugs are so advanced that the idea of controlling someone through medication is not so farfetched, and the need to have that control can be due to many reasons. This is the first book I have read by this Author but it certainly won't be the last. Happy reading. Annemarie
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Saving Grace through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.
I cheered when she found the courage to take herself off of her medications and again when she left her husband and turned to the one person she instinctively knew would care for and protect her. I cried with Grace when she discovered just what her father had put her through to save his precious hide and that her entire marriage was nothing but a sham.
Saving Grace also made me wonder how many others there are that are currently in similar circumstances. Today's drugs are so advanced that the idea of controlling someone through medication is not so farfetched, and the need to have that control can be due to many reasons. This is the first book I have read by this Author but it certainly won't be the last. Happy reading. Annemarie
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Saving Grace through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.
December 1, 2020
Wow! What a book!
I found the main character in this book to be intelligent, interesting, strong, gutsy, and brave. This book was well formulated, strong, with some evil characters woven well into this engrossing, fast action, suspenseful ride. The fast, furious paced well written thriller flowed effortlessly. The actions around the main character by those she thought she could trust showed the lengths people will go to, to get what they want. Wow! It ran chill down my spine. Not all things appear to be what they really are! Find out for yourself! You won't be disappointed. The end was well worth the wait! Read and enjoy!
I received an ARC free from BookSirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
I found the main character in this book to be intelligent, interesting, strong, gutsy, and brave. This book was well formulated, strong, with some evil characters woven well into this engrossing, fast action, suspenseful ride. The fast, furious paced well written thriller flowed effortlessly. The actions around the main character by those she thought she could trust showed the lengths people will go to, to get what they want. Wow! It ran chill down my spine. Not all things appear to be what they really are! Find out for yourself! You won't be disappointed. The end was well worth the wait! Read and enjoy!
I received an ARC free from BookSirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
Read
October 16, 2020What if you realized that your whole life had been a lie orchestrated by those you trust the most?
A true mystery with plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers engrossed until the very end. The final twist in the last few pages of this novel is also shocking, providing one last surprise before the very satisfying ending.
Touching on the themes of family, relationships and personal independence throughout, SAVING GRACE is not only an intense thriller, but also an engaging story about the value of finding true friends and a chosen family.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2020/10/15/one-w...
A true mystery with plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers engrossed until the very end. The final twist in the last few pages of this novel is also shocking, providing one last surprise before the very satisfying ending.
Touching on the themes of family, relationships and personal independence throughout, SAVING GRACE is not only an intense thriller, but also an engaging story about the value of finding true friends and a chosen family.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2020/10/15/one-w...
May 30, 2021
The prologue starts with a murderer and ends with a page turner. This book was so absolutely unsolvable I had to read some chapters twice. It is so good I can’t recommend it enough I absolutely love this book. I loved it so much I went to look for more books by this author. I would love to give you a small summary and a cute review, but all that wants to come out is this book is awesome you should read it. I loved it! I was given this book by book sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 10, 2021
I started off not knowing whether I wanted to continue reading; not because the book wasn't well written, but because I wanted to punch Eliot in the face. But I read on, badly wanting resolution for Grace. Midway through the book, the story turned, bringing on a zany cast of characters. Without giving anything away, I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
September 23, 2020
Black Rose Publishing is true purveyor of hidden gems, and this book continues the trend. Within these pages, there's a fast paced tale of manipulation, gaslighting, conspiracy, and murder. All plotlines tie together and the characters are truly remarkable. I had a very hard time putting it down and thought it was the perfect length - not an ounce of fluff within the book.
I definitely recommend this one. Great fall evening read or could be a good beach read.
Thanks to PICT for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
I definitely recommend this one. Great fall evening read or could be a good beach read.
Thanks to PICT for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 5, 2020
Clever and imaginative! Great, multi-faceted characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last. Simply a GREAT read!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so
November 7, 2021
Riveting
I liked Grace immediately, other characters grew on me. Just when I thought I had it all figured out there was a huge plot twist! Well done 😊
I liked Grace immediately, other characters grew on me. Just when I thought I had it all figured out there was a huge plot twist! Well done 😊
September 15, 2020
This was a great thriller that kept me questioning whether Grace’s suspicions were right or if it was really her paranoia. She was a really well written character and I found myself rooting for her throughout the story. There was also a pretty unexpected twist in the last part.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was some of the side character stories. I felt it somewhat distracted from the main storyline, but not enough to stop reading.
If you like thrillers that are well written and keep you guessing, I definitely recommend you read this book!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was some of the side character stories. I felt it somewhat distracted from the main storyline, but not enough to stop reading.
If you like thrillers that are well written and keep you guessing, I definitely recommend you read this book!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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