Not enough Thor.

Quite a good mystery, though. For most of the book the plot concerns the discovery of a skeleton on the job site of the man who doesn't look like Thor and the re-opening of the cold case connected to it. The crimes escalate in the second half of the book, claiming modern day victims as well, but generally, I think Carlisle tried to bring too many elements together here. I certainly didn't guess the murderer, but I didn't find the motive compelling enough to believe it either.

I'm going to wait for a synopsis of the next book before committing to reading it - I'm holding out one last hope for more involvement with the Thor-lookalike police chief. ( )

cozy-mystery, Y/A-only-means-no-gratuitous-erotica, contractors, small-town, small-business, family-dynamics, friendship, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth*****

Small towns mean rapid transit gossip and knowing everyone else's business. So when contractor Shannon finds a skeleton in the lighthouse mansion she is renovating/restoring for the handsome crime writer staying in the apartment above her garage it's really big news. Especially when it turns out that is is the remains of a local girl and sister to one of Shannon's coworkers who disappeared fifteen years ago. Let the sleuthing begin and the plot twists and red herrings pile up! Lots of other goings on amongst friends and the mystery brings it down to the wire. Good read!
Angela Starling is the chirpy narrator. ( )

I've read 3 in this series and I think this will be the last. There is just too much jumping around about who might have done it. By the time I finish the book, I don't care who did it. ( )

Shannon Hammer's construction company finally has the go ahead from the Historical Society to start the renovations to the old Lighthouse mansion, that is until a skeleton is found in the old dumbwaiter.

Discovering that the bones belonged to a friend from high school who everyone thought had just run away, sends Shannon's memories of those days flooding back to her. Who hated Lily enough to stuff her in the dumbwaiter and leave her there to die?

The characters are definitely growing and expanding in their dimensions - the mystery was well-planned and clues well done. ( )

This third book in Kate Carlisle's Fixer-Upper cozy series delves deep into Shannon Hammer's high school past. It's always interesting to learn about a favorite character's background. However, as much as I like Shannon, there is a lesson that I wish she would learn.... Every time she gets exasperated, flies off the handle, and tells someone, "I'll kill you!" she puts herself chin deep in hot water. Hopefully she won't have to stumble over too many more dead bodies before she erases that sentence from her vocabulary!

Carlisle's strong mysteries, sense of humor, and vivid casts of characters are always the major draws to any of her books, but I have a special place in my heart for her Fixer-Upper books. Shannon specializes in renovating old houses, and there's always the possibility of discovering secret nooks and crannies. I love that. I also love how Carlisle incorporates fascinating nuggets about different facets of architecture and renovation. In Crowned and Moldering, I learned a bit about green architecture as Shannon wins a contract to build solar canopies for the local high school parking lot.

Whether it's humor, mystery, characterization, architecture, or romance, I recommend Kate Carlisle's Fixer-Upper series. I have a feeling you're going to enjoy them as much as I do. ( )