Saturday, January 26, 2013

Murder on the House by Juliet Blackwell


First Line: What makes a house look haunted?

The word is out. General contractor Mel Turner has been named "California's most promising up-and-coming Ghost Buster" by Haunted House Quarterly. An Indiana couple has an arrangement with the owner of the historic Bernini House to buy it and turn it into a haunted bed-and-breakfast. Only two contractors are still in the running for the project: Mel and Josh Avery of Avery Builders. The couple has a novel idea for choosing their contractor. Mel and Josh have to spend the night in the house, and the one who stays in the house longest wins.

Mel already knows the house is haunted because she met and spoke with the spirit of a little girl who died a century ago. Armed with that knowledge, she brings an entourage of friends to the sleepover. Unfortunately the house gains another ghostly occupant when someone doesn't survive the night. Somehow Mel has to cajole the reticent spirits into revealing the identity of the killer, and as she tries, she risks becoming a permanent (if ethereal) resident of Bernini House herself.

I enjoy this series for many reasons. Blackwell treats her readers to a bit of the history of the San Francisco area in these books. This time it's the colorful and vibrant Castro District. Readers also get a good idea of just what a general contractor does during the renovation of historic homes. The plots are fun, too. In this third book, the elderly woman who owns Bernini House is the type of woman who makes a habit of promising people things in order to get what she wants. These promises wind up adding many names to the suspect list.

As in any cozy mystery worth its salt, it's the cast of characters that keeps me coming back for more. Mel is hard-working, talented, and funny, and I love how she tries to adjust to her new ghost buster status. Her father, her stepson Caleb, her friends... Mel is surrounded by an interesting mix of people who add a lot to the enjoyment of the book. The paranormal angle is well done, too. Since Mel deals primarily with old houses that have lots of history and colorful owners, most people would expect a ghost or two to pop out of the woodwork. Depending on their dispositions, they can either give Mel a lot of help or be frustrating hindrances.

If you love mysteries that take place in wonderful old spooky houses and have a good cast of characters, I definitely recommend Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series.

Murder on the House by Juliet Blackwell
ISBN: 9780451238849
Signet © 2012
Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Cozy Mystery, #3 Haunted Home Renovation mystery
Rating: B+
Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen.

8 comments:

  1. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series. Great review!!

    Kimberlee
    www.girllostinabook.com

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    1. I have so much fun with this series. Whenever I hear that a new one is about to be published, I have to get my hands on it!

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  2. Cathy - It's funny; I'm not generally one to reach for a 'haunted' novel or series. But I do like series with strong senses of place. And tie in some history too and I'm definitely interested.

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    1. I didn't used to care much at all for anything paranormal unless it had vampires. Now I can't stand vampires, and I like several series-- like this one-- that have a ghost or two. Go figure!

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  3. I definitely need to check out this series...I did read the 1st in her other series and enjoyed it!

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    1. I haven't tried the series you mention, but I do have one of the books she's written as Hailey Lind.

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  4. I wouldn't have thought I would like such a series but you hooked me with vintage and historic house motif. I'll check it out. BTW, I put A Double Death on the Black Isle on my Christmas list and read it immediately. Loved the Scottish village setting as you indicated, and of course, I like newspaper offices as they used to be. Worked in my small hometown newspaper out of high school, still have pleasant memories of the newspaper that my great-grandfather had a hand in starting.

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    1. I'm so glad that you enjoyed A Double Death on the Black Isle, Teresa. I love this series, and it reminds me that I have the latest-- Beneath the Abbey Wall-- sitting here waiting to be read!

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