A Ghostly Light by Juliet Blackwell

First Line: The tower reached high into a gray sky.

Mel Turner and her construction crew have been hired to renovate a historic lighthouse on an island in San Francisco Bay. Mel's friend Alicia intends to turn the property into an inn, and although Mel has never attempted such an ambitious project, she can't wait to get started.

But what begins as a dream come true turns into a nightmare when Alicia's abusive ex-husband shows up, threatening both her and Mel. Later, when his body is found at the base of the lighthouse, things begin to look ominous for Alicia, and Mel knows what that means-- another renovation/investigation (renogation?)

This is another solid entry in one of my favorite cozy series, made even more special because I love lighthouses and the accompanying keeper's houses. Blackwell always handles the supernatural elements in this series well. She doesn't overdo it. The ghosts Mel sees aren't just there to provide chills and thrills; they honestly have something to do with the mystery, and that's something that I appreciate.

Mel is a character whom I enjoy coming back to again and again. Smart, funny, capable, she's just as good at solving mysteries as she is at renovating old buildings. (That "renovating old buildings" is another reason why I enjoy this series.) Mel not only heals old buildings, she heals people as well, this time a domestic abuse victim, Alicia.

If you enjoy light mysteries with characters who make you smile, if the occasional appearance of a ghost doesn't bother you, and if you consider learning some of the history of the San Francisco area, I highly recommend Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series. It's good.

A Ghostly Light by Juliet Blackwell

ISBN: 9781101989357
Berkley Prime Crime © 2017
Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Cozy Mystery, #7 Haunted Home Renovation mystery 
Rating: B+
Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen.

Give Up the Ghost by Juliet Blackwell

First Line: It's hard to ruin a Pacific Heights mansion.

Andrew Flynt is a San Francisco millionaire who's used to getting his own way. He wants to sell the Victorian mansion he so lovingly renovated, but ghostly happenings keep scaring off potential buyers. Flynt even calls in a famous psychic who tells him that his multi-million dollar "updates" have left the resident ghost extremely angry. Cue contractor Mel Turner. 

Charged with restoring several of the original features to placate the ghost and facilitate a sale, Mel starts tracking down the items she and her crew are going to need. But when the psychic is found stabbed to death, Mel knows it's going to be another case of double duty: finding out the secrets of the old house known as Crosswinds... and working to catch a killer.

I have come to depend on Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovations series for light, fun reads that deliver my fix of wonderful old houses. Blackwell always handles the paranormal aspects of these books with a light, sensitive touch that I appreciate.

In Give Up the Ghost, the story behind the ghosts and the ghosts' lives are fascinating, and the entire story moved along at a quick, steady pace. But what flabbergasted me was what Flynt did to that poor house. Why on earth someone who prefers glass, chrome, and black leather would buy an old Victorian mansion and then insist on forcing it to conform to his taste is beyond me, but I know that it happens. To say that Mel's work to undo the damage was every bit as interesting as the mystery... well... it actually plays an important part in the mystery!

If you're in the mood for a light, intriguing mystery about a house with hidden rooms, secret doors and passageways, and a few things that may go bump in the night, I think it's time to acquaint yourself with Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovations series. They can be just what the doctor ordered.

Give Up the Ghost by Juliet Blackwell

ISBN: 9780451465818

Obsidian © 2015

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Cozy Mystery, #6 Haunted Home Renovation mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen.

Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell

First Line: Communicating with the netherworld can be a game changer.

Business is slowing down and Mel Turner needs a job so she can pay bills and not be forced to lay off any of her crew. Unfortunately work comes in a form she would prefer to turn down.

Mel's boyfriend Graham has his hands full with the reconstruction of an ancient building shipped over from Scotland. The job has been plagued by strange goings-on and rumors that the stones are cursed. At first he merely brings Mel in to check for paranormal activity. Mel not only finds it, she also finds a body-- and work for herself and her men.

The original work crew wants to walk off the job, so Mel brings in her own crew to work with them, but she's got to work fast. Between restless spirits and a killer on the loose, she's got her work cut out for her.

Although I tend not to like much of the paranormal in the books I read, Juliet Blackwell knows the one angle that I like most: haunted houses. I've enjoyed her Haunted Home Renovation series from its inception, not only for the spooky old homes, but because it's a series with a lot of meat on the bone.

Mel is a perfect heroine for a cozy series. She's quirky, smart, funny, and hard-working. Since this new job site is in a remote location, she has to pack a bag and move in. Her job isn't made any easier when she discovers that she has to deal with people who remind her of Mrs. Danvers and Nurse Ratched. To the author's credit, Danvers/Ratched do not remain mere cardboard cutouts. We can also see how good Mel is at her job by the way she gets the new crew on her side-- not an easy task when they're ready to head for the hills.

The secondary characters back Mel up perfectly, from her dad to Graham to the eccentric billionaire footing the bill for the ancient monastery to her stepson Caleb who spends his time getting in hot water. 

Another aspect of this series that I enjoy is that readers always learn something relating to architecture and renovation. In Keeper of the Castle we learn how to stay true to medieval architecture while meeting modern building codes (in addition to the proper way to run a construction crew).

The mystery is strong as well. Blackwell provides plenty of misdirection to keep everyone guessing, and there's a good resolution to the ghostly subplot, which is more involved than originally thought. 

I can count on Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series for quick, entertaining, and enlightening reads. Bring on Give Up the Ghost! 
 

Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell

ISBN: 9780451465801

NAL © 2014

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Cozy Mystery, #5 Haunted Home Renovation mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen  
 

Home for the Haunting by Juliet Blackwell

First Line: You know your job is tough when you find yourself escaping into a Port o' Potty for a minute alone.

While San Francisco contractor Mel Turner is in charge of a volunteer home renovation project, she can't keep her mind off the house next door-- the place the local kids call the Murder House.

Before the renovation job can be completed, volunteers find a body while cleaning out a shed. Since the property is now a crime scene, work must stop, which is a good thing for Mel because as the San Francisco Police Department's unofficial "ghost consultant," she has to help Inspector Annette Crawford with all the questions Crawford's beginning to have about that creepy house next-door.

Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series continues to make my enjoyment factor rise. Yes, there are paranormal aspects to the stories, but it's really kept to a minimum-- no ghostly gimmicks to ease the main character's way out of a tight spot in the plot. In Home for the Haunting, I learned a bit more about San Francisco area architecture and real estate, and I enjoyed the volunteer organization Neighbors Together's work to revitalize neighborhoods and make homes safer and more comfortable for their owners. It mirrors the grass roots efforts of many people throughout the country who believe in donating their time and skills.

One of the reasons why this series is such a winner is due to its excellent cast. Throughout these books, Mel has been at a sort of crossroads, and Home for the Haunting has her working through her relationship issues with the hunky Graham and with her sister Cookie. She also has some time to come to terms with what she really wants from life. The neighborhood kids are a wonderful addition to the cast, and I was almost in shock when the relationship between Mel and Annette Crawford appeared to thaw a bit.

Although I had my suspicions about characters that I should indeed have been wary of, I couldn't quite pinpoint everything they did and how they fit into the plot. Just what I like: a good, keep-you-guessing story.

If you're new to the series and wondering if you should start at the beginning, I think you could "test the waters" by reading this book. It will set you up well for both past and present and give you an idea if you want to go back and read the previous books. For background, plot, and characterization, I think you're really going to enjoy Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series. It's a winner.
   

Home for the Haunting by Juliet Blackwell

ISBN: 9780451240705

NAL © 2013

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Cozy Mystery, #4 Haunted Home Renovation mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen. 


 

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.

Dead Bolt by Juliet Blackwell

Title: Dead Bolt
Author: Juliet Blackwell
ISBN: 9780451235305
Publisher: Signet, 2011
Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages
Genre: Cozy, Amateur Sleuth, #2 Haunted Home Renovation mystery
Rating: B
Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen.

First Line: My father always used to say: There's nothing quite like a protracted remodel to test a person's sanity.

Mel Turner's father was right. The renovation of the historic Queen Anne Victorian house in San Francisco is taking much longer than it should primarily because the owners insist upon living on site throughout the entire process.

When strange things begin to happen and  Mel begins to see ghosts out of the corners of her eyes, she knows she's got trouble. A grumpy old man across the street covets the house, and Mel wonders if he could be at the heart of some of the disturbances. He's found dead in his shop and things keep happening, so Mel knows the answers are going to be a bit more difficult to find. These are the first dangerous spirits that Mel has had to deal with, but deal with them she must if this renovation has a prayer of being completed.

If you like strong female characters surrounded by a loving if unconventional family and a handsome man or two... and if you like your mysteries housed in old Victorian homes being brought back to life... and if you like your old houses populated with a spirit or two... then you've come to the right book in the right series.

Mel Turner is a general contractor specializing in restoring historic homes. She's divorced, lives with her father, and dearly loves her stepson, Caleb. She didn't know she'd inherited her mother's ability to see ghosts until after she'd sustained a solid whack to the head. In this book, the spirits are decidedly unfriendly, and one of them (the "shadow ghost") made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

This isn't just a ghost-laced little mystery, though. There's the renovation to savor, and those homeowners who insist on living in the house while it's being torn apart are every bit as interesting as the ghosts with whom they're sharing space. If you're in the mood for a light, fun, well-written cozy that whets your appetite for old houses and ghosts, Dead Bolt will be just your cup of tea.

If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell

Title: If Walls Could Talk
Author: Juliet Blackwell
ISBN: 9780451231819
Publisher: Signet, 2010
Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages
Genre: Cozy, Amateur Sleuth, #1 Haunted Home Renovation mystery
Rating: B+
Source: Paperback Swap

First Line: This was one pitiful-looking mansion.

Mel(anie) Turner may dress like a Madonna groupie, but she knows her stuff when it comes to renovating historic homes in the San Francisco Bay area.

Her latest client wants her expertise in bringing a Pacific Heights mansion back to life, but when she visits the morning after a boozy "Do-It-Yourself" remodeling party, she discovers his partner-- who seems to have had a horrendous accident with power tools. The man dies as a result of his injuries, and as Mel begins to see that certain facts and figures just don't add up, she also gets a visit from the dead man's spirit. Murderous intent fills this particular down-at-heel mansion up to its eaves.

To me, old houses might as well be ancient pyramids. They hold secrets and messages from the past; I feel them whispering to me as I walk the hallways. Walls, attics, basements... over the past five years I had found newspapers from the thirties, liquor bottles, old coins, address books, even the occasional stash of money or stocks. I once unearthed a button-up baby's shoe and a dress pattern book from 1916. I even liked the smell: the distinctive, musty aroma of history, reminding me of used bookstores...promising the serendipitous discovery of the perfect novel or family relic or beloved treasure.

Once I read that paragraph, I knew that Mel and I were going to get along just fine. She and I have the same feeling for old houses, and as I turned the pages, my affinity for this character grew through her relationships to the other characters and to the way she conducted her business. If I had an old mansion to renovate, I'd hire her on the spot.

Blackwell paced the story well, and although I had a hazy idea of whodunit, I was so drawn in by Mel's character, the action, and the bits of San Francisco history the author shared that I didn't focus on it. I was enjoying Blackwell's storytelling so much that I didn't particularly care whom the killer was.

Yes, there is a ghost in the story, but for those of you who don't care for the paranormal, this element did not overwhelm the story at all. (I'm a reader who doesn't care for a great deal of "woo-woo" myself.)

I am really looking forward to the next book in this series, and I hope that Mel never runs out of old mansions to renovate.

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