Eaves of Destruction
The annual Victorian Home and Garden Tour, in Lighthouse Cove, California is right around the corner. Contractor, Shannon Hammer is unusually busy trying to get several homes ready for the show. Unfortunately, murder seems to be the theme this year.
Rival homeowners and neighbors are contending for Shannon’s attention. Some of them will do anything to win Best in Show. One client, in particular, is incredibly demanding, and not a nice person to work for. The workload on Shannon and her crew is almost crushing. Just when she thinks they won’t get through all the projects, a new woodworker comes along to save the day. Shannon is positive they can deal with the extra work that the tour presents. That is until murder shows up before they can complete the job.
Series: A Fixer-Upper Mystery – Book #5
Author: Kate Carlisle
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Berkley
Rating:
Scully, the small town’s building inspector, is found dead on one of Shannon’s job sites. He wasn’t liked by anyone and was unethical to boot, but she is concerned that blame will be placed on her or one of her crew. Her worries are alleviated when a group of other suspects surfaces. But she doesn’t like that one of her clients or employees could have something to do with the man’s death. A few days later another body is discovered, and Shannon swings into full investigation mode along with thriller writer Mac.
This is the fifth book in the “A Fixer-Upper Mystery” series. Ms. Carlisle has constructed a carefully thought out story that has as many twists and turns as it does suspects. The characters are very likable and memorable without being cliché. Shannon is hardworking and easy to like; her friends are devoted and are people she can count on. Mac has all the magnetism you would expect from a famous author, as well as a mind for murder. He is handsome and intelligent, yet not pompous.
The plot in Eaves of Destruction plays on the appreciation of architecture, and old Victorian Houses in particular that many people admire. Plus the lengths some people will go to in order to win a competition, even one that involves friends, neighbors and possibly murder. The exchanges between Shannon’s crew, family, and friends combine to make the story plausible and engaging. The book is fast-paced, making the reader impatient to turn the page. The ending surprises and thrills as well as gratify the reader’s sense of justice.
This book is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys learning about woodwork, construction, and rivalry between neighbors, and embraces a female lead who is capable and determined. Eaves of Destruction is a pleasurable read that will leave the reader waiting in anticipation for the next book.
About the Author:
New York Times bestselling author Kate Carlisle is a native Californian who worked in television production for many years before turning to writing. Kate’s television credits include numerous game shows, music videos, concerts, and variety shows, including The Midnight Special, Solid Gold, and The Gong Show. She traveled the world as a Dating Game chaperone and performed strange acts of silliness on The Gong Show, most notably as a member of the girl group, The Whispers. They didn’t sing, exactly, but spit water on the host of the show.
Kate also studied acting and singing, toiled in vineyards, collected books, joined a commune, sold fried chicken, modeled spring fashions and worked for a cruise ship line, but it was the year she spent in law school that finally drove her to begin writing fiction. It seemed the safest way to kill off her professors. Those professors are breathing easier now that Kate spends most of her time writing in Southern California where she lives with her perfect hero husband.
Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the proud recipient of the Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier awards, and her first Bibliophile Mystery received a Best First Mystery nomination from RT Book Reviews. Kate loves to travel and read and drink good wine and watch other people cook.
Contact Kate: kate@katecarlisle.com
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