Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace by Tracey Buchanan is a feel-good story about a crotchety old lady, Minerva, who would rather talk to the people in the cemetery than live folks.

" Mrs.Minerva Place knew they thought her odd.That, she didn't mind. Jept them out of her hair. But crazy? Crazy was a whole other matter. Preoccupation with a cemetery should not qualify one as insane." Chapter 1, page 1 of Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace

The year is 1952, Minerva does not have much of a social life and prefers it that way. She has a low tolerance for people in general. She teaches piano to the people in Paducah Kentucky. Other than that she prefers to be alone, with her research of the people that lived a long time ago. Once she does her research, she writes about who/what these long-ago residents were and what impact they had on the community.

Things for Minerva change, not that she has a choice when a young man, Robert McAlpin, with a 6-year-old son, George, moves into town insisting that she give George piano lessons. She is reluctant of course because she feels that at 6, he is too young. She does and she does find out that George is too fidgety. They do after a while involve themselves in her life, like it or not. They have invited Minerva over for Thanksgiving. An accident changes Minerva, Robert, and Georges's lives, Is that little block of ice around her heart finally melting?

Minerva is a hilarious woman, but with a heart of gold, if you can get in. Told with wit and as the story goes on, the reader learns about her life when young, her parents, sister, and husband. I could just picture in my mind's eye, how she either gets along or not with the people of Paducah, whether on the street, shops, or church. A story of forgiveness and redemption. It was such a fun read at just under 230 pages.

This is a book, that is not a murder mystery, no one was killed. But a story that if you like a funny escapist novel, then you have to read this one. I like to think that there is a happily ever after for Minerva, Robert, and George. I think they all deserve it!

5 stars!!

I received a copy of the book for review purposes only

This was such a heartwarming book and I loved Minerva’s character. She found peace by being by herself and is a true introvert. She makes small talk with people around her when she has to, so she doesn’t come off rude. The way she started to warm up to Robert and his son George brought a smile to my face. Some of Minerva’s thoughts made me laugh especially with the supernatural element added. I went into this book mostly blind. I didn’t remember the synopsis or reread it before I picked it up, so I did not see the “twist” coming that helped Minerva really open up and change. I loved how passionate Minerva was about telling the story’s of these peoples lives and how much time and research she put in it. It was just an all around good book.

Thank you @tracey_d_buchanan and @suzyapprovedboomtours for the gifted copy.

4.5/5

In 1952 Paducah, Kentucky, we meet church organist and piano teacher Mrs. Minerva Place, a widow in her fifties. Minerva lives alone and her social interaction is limited to pleasantries exchanged during brief interactions with others and occasional visits from her immediate neighbor Nella. Minerva prefers her solitude and is often annoyed with having to deal with others. She frequents Oak Grove Cemetery where, after studying the gravestones and markers, she researches the lives of the deceased denizens who spark her interest following which she writes up semi-fictional ( she likes to fill in the blanks with her carefully thought-out details) biographies, which she does not share with anyone. What makes her pastime rather interesting ( also at times alarming, prompting her to question her own sanity) are the “visits” from those who are the subject of her research. Minerva’s life is disrupted when she meets six-year-old George Robert McAlpin who recently moved into the neighborhood with his widower father. The McAlpins gradually find a way into her life and her heart, triggering a sequence of events that has Minerva taking stock of her life and reevaluating her priorities.

With its consistent pacing, superb characterizations ( both past and present residents of Paducah), a good dose of humor and an engaging narrative Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace by Tracey D. Buchanan is a beautifully penned, heartwarming novel that touches upon themes, of isolation, loneliness, self-acceptance, friendship, kindness, forgiveness and faith. The depiction of life in a small town is delightful. Minerva’s observations of the people around her make for some interesting reading as do her interactions with the ghostly apparitions who share parts of their stories with her. Minerva’s journey and her backstory are so real and relatable. She is not your typical grumpy senior who generally dislikes other people, but someone who has always felt alone and unloved which is why she shies away from attachments of any kind. She harbors insecurities and deep sorrow, which we come to know of as the narrative progresses. I loved how the author develops her story and paces her interactions with George and Robert, in keeping with her character. Robert’s backstory, which was revealed in a rush toward the end of the novel, could have been explored in more depth, but this does not detract from the overall reading experience. I loved how Minerva’s research and the life stories of the deceased residents motivate her to look at her own life from a fresh perspective. The author also incorporates historical details of Paducah into the narrative, referencing true events and well-known individuals who had their roots in Paducah. Overall, this is a beautiful story that left me with a lump in my throat and a smile on my face. Read this one with your heart and you won’t be disappointed!

Many thanks to Regal House Publishing and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really liked this book! This is a story about Minerva Place, a cranky widow who just wants to be left alone. As her story unravels, so does her wonderful imagination of the stories of those buried in the local cemetery. Everybody has a story. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Buchanan. Recommended!

Writing: 4/5 Plot: 2.5/5 Characters: 4/5
Minerva Place, church organist, piano teacher, and long time resident of Paducah, Kentucky. Relatively crusty with a deeply suspicious nature and a dislike of personal interactions of any sort, Minerva does have one angle in her life which is quite engaging: she often visits the local cemetery, finds an interesting gravestone, researches the person portrayed and … is often visited by the spirit of that person who sets her story straight. Newcomers to the town — engineer Robert McAlpin and his seven year old, somewhat undisciplined son, George — appear on her doorstep requesting piano lessons. From this set of characters the story follows three separate lines simultaneously: the current day, the slow unfolding of Minerva’s person history, and the elaborations of the lives of the cemetery denizens, injected with Minerva’s imagination to fill the blank spots. There is personal growth and a real shift in Minerva’s life — however it comes rather slowly, and I admit to skimming a bit at the end. I really enjoyed Minerva’s creative stories about the historical figures interspersed in the narrative, but too much of the story focussed on shame and guilt (for my taste) and took too long to get to a (weakly) positive resolution.

Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace by Tracey D. Buchanan is a book that places us in the shoes of Minerva Place, a widow who is rather curmudgeonly and would prefer to be left alone and is absolutely NOT nosy, no, she just wants to know what is going on, but NOSY is when one asks questions, which she simply does not do. As the book unfolds, we find the reason that Minerva keeps everyone at bay and prefers to be alone. It is through her interactions with a young widower and his precocious son that she begins to reflect on her past, her behaviour now, and what the future may hold for her if she continues to close herself off from the world.

Threaded through this plot is Minerva's hobby and what she looks forward to most in her week: visiting the cemetery and jotting down names and dates from tombstones, which she then takes to the library to research. With said findings, she weaves stories of the deceased, and she is so engrossed in her writing that she can conjure up images of these departed souls--it has to be her overactive imagination and not actual spirits, right?

The supernatural aspect hooked my interest originally, but I enjoyed the trope of "grouchy older person makes their own little found family and warms up with time". Generally, it's men in media who fulfill this role, so it was especially enjoyable to see a woman take up the mantle this time. The book itself is a quick read, and I started to get more engrossed with it the deeper I read into it. I hope the author writes future stories; I think she has a great creative streak.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a charming story set in Paducah, KY. Minerva Place is a quirky church organist and piano tewxher who learns an important lesson of forgiveness and grace when an accident disrupts her life.

Thanks to NetGalley i have discovered a delightful new protag and a promising new author. This was a delightful read and i look forward to more from Ms Buchanan.