Deck the Hallways

Lighthouse Cove is really getting into the spirit of the holiday with Shannon’s construction crew heading up a project for Holiday Homebuilders. They are revamping a local Victorian house into apartments for low income residents, with volunteers and contractors eager to help. An unpopular bank manager, tasked with keeping an eye on things, has run-in after run-in with most of the characters before his demise, about halfway through the book. Appropriately named Mr. Potter, just like one of the biggest baddies in Christmas lore, no one is too sorry about his death. Even with all those red herrings, the second half of the book flows a bit faster, with the residents, Santas and police hard at work to conclude everything before Christmas.

When one of the characters in Deck the Hallways looks at Shannon and says, "You lead the most interesting life," I just had to laugh. It's true. Shannon Hammer certainly isn't your typical contractor, and this latest Fixer-Upper mystery is filled with all sorts of things happening to her. There's that group of Santas who insist on helping out at the jobsite. There's Shannon's relationship woes, and I'm not about to get into the strange things that turn up in the bed of her truck.

Even though I correctly guessed the identity of the killer the second time the person made an appearance, it didn't spoil this book for me. For one thing, I was too busy picturing the conversion of that grand old house into apartments. For another, I was show more watching Shannon teach her skills to local young people. Shannon is invested in her community, and for me, this is one of the things I like most in this very enjoyable series.

Like all well-written cozy mysteries, Deck the Hallways has much more to it than trying to guess whodunit. Well-developed characters, lots of humor, a tease of romance, and a hearty dose of home renovation makes this Fixer-Upper series one of my favorites. show less

A fun, well-written cozy with likeable characters, a few intriguing mysteries, and a Christmas theme that follows through. Amateur detective and contractor Shannon Hammer (her last name is the only clunker in this book) is overseeing the conversion of an old Victorian mansion into ten affordable apartments for homeless families. When a murder in the mansion puts the remodel on hold, Shannon feels compelled to help solve the crime, especially since her dad is one of the many suspects. A few other mysteries pop up, along with some suspicious characters. I appreciated the accuracy of the construction terms and detailed carpentry descriptions. This novel kept me guessing till the end, when everything works out just in time for Christmas. If show more you like cozies with independent women protagonists, small town settings, and warmhearted personalities, you'll enjoy this book. show less

As one of Kate's raters, I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Although this is the fourth book in Carlisle's Fixer-Upper cozy mystery series, it can serve well as a stand-alone because references to past events and characters are made throughout. The writing is very well-researched and readable, with doses of humor to lighten the mood.

The narrator and main character is Shannon Hammer, a building contractor. Her area of expertise being Victorian homes, her current project is to renovate a Victorian mansion into multiple apartments for homeless families. As can be inferred from the title, the holiday season is upon Lighthouse Cove. Shannon's project is a charitable one, with everything, from the show more house to the labor and materials, coming from donations. The whole community turns out to volunteer, including Shannon's father, Jack.

The only wrench in the works is Potter, the ornery president of the local bank. His unwelcome visits, interference, and confrontations puts everyone on edge. After an especially heated exchange with Jack, Potter is found dead by none other than Shannon...again. She immediately summons Eric Jensen, Lighthouse Cove's hunky police chief. The grand majestic mansion becomes a crime scene and work comes to a temporary standstill. Jensen and his team have their work cut out for them. They can't rule anyone out. There are numerous suspects, each with a motive to murder. But, since Jack's prized ax is the murder weapon, he is the main person of interest.

This was another enjoyable cozy mystery. The culprit wasn't obvious and the plot wasn't predictable. The ending didn't feel rushed and tied the main plot and side plots together nicely. I enjoyed re-visiting familiar characters and meeting new ones. This was the third of Carlisle's cozies I've read and I look forward to many more. show less

Deck the Hallways by Kate Carlisle is the fourth book in the Fixer-Upper Mystery series. Shannon Hammer is supervising the Forester House project for Holiday Homebuilders. They are dividing the mansion into apartments for people in need. The house was donated by Lighthouse Cove Bank and Trust. Many people are donating their time and services for this special project. Unfortunately, they have a scrooge in their midst. Peter Potter, representing the bank, insists on visiting the site every single day. Mr. Potter is definitely on Santa’s naughty list for the way he manages to antagonize every single person he encounters. Early one morning Shannon is unable to sleep and heads over to the job site. Shannon wants to check the progress the show more butler’s pantry that is being turned into a kitchen. The door will not budge. She pushes on it and finds Mr. Potter on the other side with her father’s new axe in his neck. Jack, Shannon’s father, had a very loud, public argument with Potter the day before. Someone is trying to frame Jack. Shannon sets out to find the Grinch that is trying to ruin her Christmas. Shannon’s stocking is overflowing with trouble. A troublesome volunteer, a plethora of Santa’s, missing tools, a parade to organize, stolen diamond charm, the return of her beau, and a baby! Someone left a baby in Shannon’s truck. Shannon needs to find the baby’s mother and a killer (and someone to take care of said baby). Will she be able to wrap up her to do list by Christmas Eve? Join Shannon and friends for some holiday hijinks in Deck the Hallways!

Deck the Hallways was an entertaining novel. It has engaging characters, good writing and a beautiful setting of Lighthouse Cove, California. There is certainly a lot going on in this book, but the author makes it work. I give Deck the Hallways 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I just wish that more work had been put into the mystery. It was obvious who would be killed (I think Peter Potter is nastier than Scrooge). The killer’s identity was as obvious as a wrapped golf club sitting under the tree. Deck the Hallways can be read alone. Everything the reader needs to know (about the main characters and town) is provided in the book. I look forward to visiting Shannon again in Lighthouse Cove in the next A Fixer-Upper Mystery novel. show less

Shannon Hammer's project in this installment of the Fixer Upper series is to renovate an old Victorian mansion into multiple apartments for low income families. The house has been donated but the Bank manager isn't happy about it. Which of course turns him into the victim of this murder mystery. The community has rallied behind the project with multiple contractors/workers donating their time for the cause. Even Shannon's retired father gets into the act but there's the problem. Her Dad had an argument with the victim and now could be considered the prime suspect.

Shannon juggles the renovations, murder investigation, and an abandoned baby making this book entertaining and heart-warming as well. The characters are fun to follow and I show more look forward to more! show less

Shannon is in charge of restoring a Victorian mansion that will divided into apartments for low-income families. They are working on a Christmas deadline with contractors and volunteers. Even her retired dad and his cohorts have come to help. Things are going along swimmingly, right up and until a cranky banker is found dead in the butler’s pantry. When the murder weapon is linked to her dad, Shannon is determined to prove his innocence. The problem? Narrowing down the list of suspects: it seems nearly everyone involved in the project had a reason to the hate the banker. With the addition of a troupe of Santas, this Christmas cozy will put you in the holiday mood. Not for murder, of course, but for decking out your own house with show more greenery and trees. A great plot with likable (and not-so-likable) characters, this mystery can only add to your enjoyment of the season. show less