The first in a brand-new cozy series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville–where the real estate market is to die for. WILL THIS KILLER DEAL LEAD TO A DEAD END? Meet Whitney Whitaker. A hopeless romantic when it comes to real estate, she knows what it takes to find–and flip–the home of one’s dreams. A fixer-upper is like catnip to Whitney: she can’t resist the challenge of turning an eyesore into … of turning an eyesore into a priceless work of art. So when one of her clients decides to liquidate a crumbling property, Whitney seizes the opportunity to purchase it for a song. But soon a curious incident of the cat in the night-time leads to a change in tune. . .
Sawdust is the name of Whitney’s cat–of course. Whitney’s passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don’t belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it’s up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgage property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment. . .and maybe her own life.
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Dead as a Door Knocker takes readers to Nashville, Tennessee where Whitney Whitaker lives in the tiny guesthouse on her parent’s property with her adorable cat, Sawdust. She puts her business degree to work at managing properties for clients of Hearth & Home Reality and keeps her construction skills sharp working part-time for Whitaker Woodworking. Whitney is hoping to start selling real estate once she obtains her license. Whitney is a smart, interesting and spunky woman. When Rick Dunaway offers to sell a home to Whitney at a good price, she jumps at the chance. She knows it is a good investment, but Whitney cannot afford it on her own. Thus, enters her cousin, Buck Whitaker. Whitney should have known that Rick had an ulterior motive. When Rick turns up dead in the flower bed and Whitney is without an alibi, the new homicide detective believes he has a slam dunk case. But Whitney is not going down without a fight. I like how Whitney with the aid of Buck and her friend, Colette nose around for information. The mystery is multifaceted. There are a couple of potential suspects and good clues to help readers identify the guilty party. I enjoy Diane Kelly’s writing style. I was drawn into the story and I kept reading until I finished it. We get to know Whitney along with her family and her best friend. I am happy that the author took the time to establish our main character. I especially enjoyed the chapters written from Sawdust’s perspective. They are entertaining. I found myself laughing as Sawdust described the “demon” that zips around the floor (robot vacuum cleaner). Dead as a Door Knocker is a good start to A House Flipper Mystery series (4 out of 5 stars). Dead as a Door Knocker has relatable characters, home renovations, a caring family, good food, a dead body and an adorable cat.
Dead As A Door Knocker
House-Flipper Mystery, Book #1
Diane Kelly
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The first in a brand-new cozy series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville—where the real estate market is to die for.
WILL THIS KILLER DEAL LEAD TO A DEAD END?
Meet Whitney Whitaker. A hopeless romantic when it comes to real estate, she knows what it takes to find—and flip—the home of one’s dreams. A fixer-upper is like catnip to Whitney: she can’t resist the challenge of turning an eyesore into a priceless work of art. So when one of her clients decides to liquidate a crumbling property, Whitney seizes the opportunity to purchase it for a song. But soon a curious incident of the cat in the night-time leads to a change in tune. . .
Sawdust is the name of Whitney’s cat—of course. Whitney’s passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don’t belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it’s up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgage property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment. . .and maybe her own life. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Whitney is a strong smart woman and she is very talented in carpentry. So when the opportunity to buy a house and flip it presents itself, she jumps at the chance. Her cousin Buck helps her and together they go into the house-flipping business. There was a lot of action contained within the pages of the book. I would have been discouraged by the mishaps that befall the house, but Whitney did not give up. I enjoyed getting to know Whitney and Buck and I enjoyed their relationship, with its bickering and banter. I also enjoyed getting to know, Collette, Whitney’s friend. She may be a love interest for Buck, we will have to wait and see. And Whitney’s cat, Sawdust, is adorable and adds to the story.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick, easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching the house come to life. I really enjoyed reading the chapters that were written from Sawdust’s point of view. I thought that was really clever and added humor to the book.
The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. With twists and turns and a few red herrings thrown in, it was not an easy one to solve.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book, when it is published.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
A cat, a can-do heroine, and a corpse in the flower bed. You’re going to laugh.
When Nashville property manager Whitney Whitaker attempt to flip her first house and instead finds a dead body, it seems everything goes wrong except for the renovations. With Dead as a Door Knocker, Diane Kelly introduces a heroine who is as good with a hammer as she is with a one-liner. Whitney and her adorable scaredy-cat Sawdust are a welcome addition to your home and bookshelf.
The first in a delightful new cozy mystery series by Diane Kelly Dead as a Door Knocker is a total winner with terrific characters and a cute as can be cat named Sawdust. I like that Whitney Whitaker is a woman in a male dominated field who holds her own and is comfortable in her own skin. I truly enjoyed this and look forward to future installments.
Kelly’s Flipper Mysteries are a fun series to add to your TBR list. I started in the middle, so I’m going back and reading the earlier books.
The scenes with her sleuth, Sawdust (the cat) and the robotic vacuum are a hoot.
A must-read for cozy lovers.
A delightful first book in a series! I loved the setting of Nashville and the house flipping storyline was fun. I especially enjoyed the chapters that were Sawdust, the cat’s, point of view. I am really looking forward to reading the next book and seeing what happens when Whitney and her cousin take on more house fixing up jobs. I would love to see relationships develop between Whitney and Detective Flynn as well as Buck and Colette. I highly recommend this series!!
Living 20 minutes east of Nashville, I had to try this series, and while it had a slow beginning for me, it did not disappoint very solid mystery
This is the first mystery I read where you have to wait for a few chapters before the murder happens and I think this is why I felt it being slow, but during that time you get to know more about the characters so while I did enjoy it I was still waiting and waiting for the murder to happen. LOL
Things I really enjoyed, Sawdust personal chapters and yes, the cat has his own mini-chapters so cute, the story settings, characters and since I was never able to guess who done it, I will be on needles waiting for the next murder to happen in Nashville so I can see Whitney in action again.
The BEST Diane Kelly book ever so far, and I had been in for mourning the last Tara book…But this is Well worth the wait, very interesting and entertaining with lovely original characters and an exciting plot. Very well written!
Dead as a Door Knocker is the first book in the House Flipper series. I hope there will be many more.
We meet Whitney and her cat, Sawdust in this entertaining cozy mystery by Diane Kelly. Whitney is working for a Nashville property management firm and has a chance to try her hand at house flipping. She enlists her cousin to partner up with her on the flip.
When the former owner of the house turns up dead in a flower bed on her property, Whitney is thrown into the investigation. First she must clear her name and then find out who is trying to silence her permanently.
It has a great setting, likeable characters, including the nosy neighbor, humor, romance, Sawdust’s opinion is included along with plenty of twists and turns to have you guessing until the end.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what Whitney and Sawdust get into next.
I was given an ARC from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review.
Whitney Whitaker arrives at the property she manages to evict three college age men for nonpayment of rent. They have done damage to the house and to her amazement they leave, but not without making threatening comments. When she contacts the owner of the property, he makes her an amazing offer to sell her the house, at a discount, for her to repair and flip the home. Whitney is excited about the offer and arranges, with help, to finance the purchase. She stays in the home to safeguard her equipment and things start to go wrong. Was her professional home inspector honest with her? Did the owner deceive her about the condition of the house? All this will not matter when her cat, Sawdust, finds a dead body in the flower bed. Detective Colin Flynn will arrive to investigate as to who would have wanted the man dead. This is the first in a new series by Diane Kelly who is also known for her “Tara Holloway” and “Paw Enforcement” series. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
Whitney Whitaker, carpenter/property manager, was excited about a lucky break into the world of real estate flipping but one fire and a murder later she was not feeling so lucky.
A unique and fun twist to this story are the brief chapters written from the viewpoint of Sawdust the cat. The human characters are a likeable group too and I look forward to getting to know them better in coming editions of the House-Flipper Mystery series.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this story. The opinions are my own.
This will be one of my favorite new series this year! Dead as a Door Knocker appeals for many reasons, including the protagonist, Whitney Whitaker. She works at least part time for her uncle doing upgrades and other carpentry work as well as for a realtor overseeing repairs for managed properties. Her sidekick and roommate is Sawdust, the littlest kitten of his litter, who absolutely adores Whitney. The mystery is complex and challenging, and the author’s trademark humor is LOL funny.
Whitney evicts three college guys who stopped paying their rent on a home. She was upset with the damage they left. She couldn’t hide it from the home’s owner, who decided to sell the house. Because he knew Whitney, he would give her a great deal on it. When she heard the price, she knew she and her cousins could do most of the work to enhance its natural beauty and sell it quickly for a good profit. With the loan requirements complete, they begin the work. Because of the costly tools and material they would have in the home, Whit will stay there at night. She packs up a bag and Sawdust, prepared to stay. While relaxing the first evening, the fire alarm goes off, barely allowing her time to find Sawdust and escape wearing her rubber ducky jammies and slippers.
Days later, with the roof replacement underway, Whit works in the yard to put colorful flowers in front. She was to meet the former owner of the home there the prior evening for business yet to be completed, but he never showed. When she finally left that evening, Whit found an envelope with the necessary docs on the porch. The next morning, Sawdust is with her when she works in the garden…and makes a horrifying discovery. Just beneath the surface of the garden lies the dead body of the former owner of the home…and the nosy neighbor pointed the police towards a huge hammer Whit had somehow left outside all night as the likely weapon. What a fine mess this house flip has become!
I love that little Sawdust! The characters, including Sawdust, are very well depicted with loving, hard-working family members and Whitney’s work family, the owners of Home and Hearth. Whit and Buck have clearly been close through the years with their easy banter and how well they work together. I am very impressed by how the author writes about Sawdust, including the chapters dedicated to reflecting his feelings and his true cat-sonality. The “demons” he fears reminds me of the “monsters” my own cats try to escape.
Whit tries to determine who the real killer is, as the detective acts as if she may have done the deed. Whit is certain that her home inspector, Bobby, was involved, as she heard him on the phone with what sounded like his bookie, and he needed fast money. Did the former owner bribe him to keep the faulty wiring out of his report and not get enough? Maybe the owner’s biggest property management competitor is behind it, since he wanted to get his hands on the property. There are several plot twists that shuffle the suspects but simply don’t bring the right person to light. I was stumped, and totally surprised when seeing who the killer really was, and why. It was not someone I had considered at all. The end is satisfying, with all loose ends tied up. I highly recommend this clean, fun cozy to fans of the author and anyone who enjoys cats and property management or construction.
From a grateful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Meet Whitney Whitaker. A hopeless romantic when it comes to real estate, she knows what it takes to find—and flip—the home of one’s dreams. A fixer-upper is like catnip to Whitney: she can’t resist the challenge of turning an eyesore into a priceless work of art. So when one of her clients decides to liquidate a crumbling property, Whitney seizes the opportunity to purchase it for a song. Soon a curious incident of the cat in the night-time leads to a change in tune. . .
Sawdust is the name of Whitney’s cat—of course. Whitney’s passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him, but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don’t belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it’s up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgaged property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment and maybe her own life.
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Series: A House Flipper Mystery – Book 1
Author: Diane Kelly
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Business
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
The first book in this series from author Diane Kelly, Dead as a Door Knocker is an exciting debut. The characters feel like old friends and get into situations that make the reader smile and at times outright laugh. St. Martin’s has a winner on its hands. Ms. Kelly has been writing two other series and is the award-winning author of the Tara Holloway and Paw Enforcement series.
Whitney loves home renovation, she isn’t a girlie girl, and never was. When other girls wanted to play princess, she wanted to build something. She will pick up a hammer before she will a lipstick. Branching out into the home renovation business could be lucrative, and with her cousin, Buck helping it shouldn’t take long to turn a profit. But everything goes wrong right from the start. Fire, vandalism, and murder.
The characters in this first book have plenty of personality. Whitney’s cousin Buck has pluck and comes to her defense whenever necessary. Whitney’s charming employers are loving, kind and willing to help Whitney when they can even if it costs them business. The star of this book beside Whitney is her cat Sawdust. He is a lovable little furball, the chapter headings of Sawdust’s thoughts are worth the read alone.
The setting of this book in Kentucky brings to mind cool walks on quiet dirt roads along with the sounds of birds and cicada’s on hot summer days; winters may not get a lot of snow and ice, but it will still have you longing for a warm fire and hot cocoa.
The murderer is not necessarily a surprise. However, the unraveling of the clues takes a bit of thinking, as all good mysteries should. Dead as a Door Knocker is the delightful combination of fun and mystery that cozy writers strive for in their books. It is entertaining, fast-paced and well written. The plot stays true, and the twists and turns keep readers turning the page. I look forward to reading more books in this series and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fun-filled who-done-it.
My favorite part of this whole book was when Sawdust was talking. I found this book to be slow. I also figured out who the killer was right when we meet him. Also why is Detective Flynn so short. This book is the first in a series and it sets up the books to follow. This book is slow as you are getting to know all the people in the story. I was expecting so more excitement in this first book. We can only hope this series gets better with each book.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
Dead As A Door Knocker by Diane Kelly was an entertaining beginning to this new series.
I enjoyed meeting Whitney and her family. She is a strong and likable character who never gave up throughout the story. Her cousin, Buck, is adorable with his sense of humor and concern for Whitney. Whitney’s friend, Collette, also added some interesting details and warmth to this cozy mystery.
I found the story to be slow to start but it finally picked up about 1/3 of the way into the book and swiftly moved to the reveal with plenty of suspects and twists to keep me guessing. Ms. Kelly has developed the characters well in this book; and I am sure that they will grow more as the series continues. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Pretty conventional cozy mystery. If you read Kelly’s Paw Enforcement series, you recognize a similar use where she gives the animal some page time. In the Paw Enforcement books Brigit (the dog) sometimes adds pertinent details whereas Sawdust (the cat) doesn’t. So, I could do with out those asides.
The setting, characters, action and story were pleasant, went by fast, but pretty standard for a cozy. So, I wasn’t wowed, but I’d consider reading the next entry in the series. I’m thinking Whitney’s new roommates could add something to the next story.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. 3.5/5