Although my enjoyment of cozy mysteries has slackened in the past couple of years, there are still a few series that are favorites. Kate Carlisle's Fixer-Upper series featuring contractor Shannon Hammer is one of them. Carlisle has created a good solid cast, and she certainly knows how to craft intriguing mysteries. In addition, I always enjoy the contracting, architectural, and design elements that she incorporates into each book. (And I just have to tell you that the pink tape measures that Carlisle handed out one year are priceless. I still have two because it seems as though Denis wants nothing to do with a pink tape measure! All the others in the house disappear regularly.)
So I had a big smile on my face when I learned that there would be a new Fixer-Upper mystery this year. Let me tell you more about it!
 |
| Available October 22, 2024! |
Synopsis:
"Christmas has come to Lighthouse Cove, but business hasn’t slowed
down for Shannon Hammer. She’s been contracted to renovate a local hotel
owned by the Garrisons, a family that’s so devoted to the holidays they
serve a seven-course dinner every night from Thanksgiving through
Christmas. Last year’s festivities featured a train that transported
guests around the breathtaking Cliffside property. This year, Shannon
and her crew have been commissioned to build a Victorian-style
carnival midway with games and prizes galore.
Everyone in town loves the hotel’s spirit, except the Garrisons’ children and their spouses, who are hum-bugged by the money being wasted on holiday cheer while their inheritance goes up the chimney. Things turn nasty when a mischief-maker close to the family is found dead. It’s up to Shannon and Mac to catch a sinister Scrooge before all of Lighthouse Cove receives coal for Christmas."
Everyone in town loves the hotel’s spirit, except the Garrisons’ children and their spouses, who are hum-bugged by the money being wasted on holiday cheer while their inheritance goes up the chimney. Things turn nasty when a mischief-maker close to the family is found dead. It’s up to Shannon and Mac to catch a sinister Scrooge before all of Lighthouse Cove receives coal for Christmas."
Each book in this series has Shannon and her crew working on something different: restoring old Victorian houses, a castle, installing solar panels-- you name it. Now it's a Victorian carnival midway. I'm really looking forward to it!
How many of you are familiar with this series? Inquiring minds would love to know!
Certain cozy series are worth following, Cathy, and I'm glad this is one you like a lot. There's just something about cozies and Christmas that...goes together. No wonder you're waiting for this one!
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to the architectural goodies Carlisle incorporates into her stories.
DeleteThis is not a series I'm familiar with...I don't read a lot of cozies, but I do enjoy them every once in awhile. :D
ReplyDeleteMy reading of them has fallen off quite a bit. Too many that I've sampled lately have been too formulaic, but this series is a good'un.
DeleteThere was a series being published back in the '90s (and that shouldn't seem so long ago!) that I enjoyed which involved home renovation details on an old Victorian home. Your anticipation of this one brings that back to mind 🙂
ReplyDeleteNow that you say that, it does remind me of Sarah Graves' Home Repair Is Homicide series set in Maine. I can't remember why that series fell by the wayside because it was good. I might have to do some backtracking...
DeleteThat's exactly the series I was thinking of :) I think it ended because she started a different series, but it's been long enough that I can't say for certain.
ReplyDeleteI know she's got another one now. Food oriented and much cozier than the one you and I thought of. I read the first one in this new series, and it was okay but not okay enough to read more.
Delete