Diane Kelly constructs a unique and fun cozy mystery!
As a fan of Diane Kelly's cozy mysteries, I was excited to read this, and it was delightful! This is the sixth book in the entertaining House-Flipper Mysteries, but it works as a stand-alone. This time, the cousins Whitney and Buck, who work together to renovate and flip properties, have begun work on a historical firehouse, and Whitney is planning her wedding. A local woman approaches them. She owns half of her townhouse building, and the other half is in disrepair. The cousins manage to obtain the property and end up with more than they bargained for, and when the woman dies an untimely and mysterious death right in front of their eyes, they step in to help figure out what happened.
Kelly's writing style, an engaging balance of wit, suspense, and misdirection, keeps you hooked from start to finish. The mystery is intriguing, with high stakes for Whitney, a wide suspect pool, and a unique murder weapon used for this crime. This one will keep you guessing.
The characters are very well done, and I love the Nashville area setting. Whitney is a relatable and engaging sleuth, and I enjoy her dynamic with her cousin and work partner, Buck. The regular secondary characters are a warm group who are fun to spend time with, and there's always plenty of laughs. Even the adorable cat, Sawdust, gets his own chapters.
What sets this series apart for me is the renovation work. I enjoy the renovation and construction elements in the story, which reads like an HGTV show. These transformations are informative and fun, and I always look forward to the interesting jobs they work on, like the century-old fire station in this one. I also enjoyed all the wedding excitement for Whitney and Collin and loved the satisfying ending. Cozy mystery lovers will want to add this to their tbr!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the free book!
My steep was Huckleberry Happiness by Plum Deluxe
A fruity and delicious black tea and great hot or iced!
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