Deck the Hallways
Fixer-Upper Mystery, Book #4
By Kate Carlisle
ISBN13: 9780451488220
Author website: http://www.katecarlisle.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
Someone’s been slayed! If contractor Shannon Hammer can’t nail the real culprit in the St. Nick of time, her dad will wind up in the clink…
Even at Christmastime, Shannon is more spackle than sparkle, which is why she leaps at the chance to transform a grand old Victorian mansion into ten charming apartments for homeless families. Filled with the spirit of the season, all of Lighthouse Cove turns out to help—her best friends, her beau Mac and his niece, a troupe of far-from-angelic Santa Claus impersonators, and her father, Jack.
But their merriment is soon dashed by a heated scuffle between Jack and the miserly president of the bank who’s backing the project. When the man is murdered, all eyes are on Jack, and visions of prison time dance in Shannon’s head. Now, she needs to pull off a crime-solving miracle, before her father’s Christmas goose is cooked…
Review:
Ok I loved Deck the Hallways! A fantastic Christmas read (but I am sure any time read as well). A nod to “It’s a Wonderful Life” in a few delightful details as well so many other fabulous Christmas themes. Seriously who could ask for more in a holiday cozy! Oh yes, let’s not forget a fabulous protagonist in Shannon Hammer who I personally would love to spend the holidays with even if she was a bit of a scrooge to start the book. Santas are everywhere, what joy. An angel is born if not seriously a winged one. Good deeds are being done for those in need and evil is smashed out and good is victorious. See the perfect Christmas cozy!
Contractor Shannon Hammer is all set to head up the wonderful project Lighthouse Cove has for some homeless families. Every year they do this and this year is very special. They are transforming a wonderful old Victorian mansion into apartments for several needy families. All of Lighthouse Cove gets involved, including her friends, her father and an army of Santa Clauses. Shannon just is not in the holiday spirit, but loves what they are doing. That is until mean old Mr. Potter comes and tries to ruin everything. No one likes the vicious man. When he winds up dead, killed not only after fighting with Shannon’s father Jack but with one of his tools, things do not look so merry. Of course Shannon has to get involved or else her dad could be spending Christmas in jail.
Mr. Potter was the nasty president of the bank that was backing the wonderful Christmas house renovation. He was not happy about it and not shy about expressing his opinions including his dislike of Jack. There is no shortage of suspects and no lack of motives. Shannon has her work cut out for her in more ways than one since she is also in charge of the house renovations and the crews as well as the volunteers. Loads of fun characters show up to help, well fun and some suspicious ones too. So many side stories delighted me which is unusual, but these all flowed together like well-oiled carolers. So many suspects can sometimes hinder a story, but again the way author Kate Carlisle was able to spice the storyline with them and their tales was more satisfying than a cup of warm apple cider by a fireplace on a cold winter’s night.
Deck the Hallways is the fourth installment in Kate Carlisle’s Fixer-Upper Mystery series and I loved it. It truly is the perfect Christmas cozy read. The author has such a descriptive writing style (though not boringly so, just right) that you can smell the seasons scents, feel the textures of materials being used in the Victorian mansion, get a chill when the cold weather comes in, and get involved with the characters. I love visiting Lighthouse Cove and could not think of a better time to go than the holidays. Even if you have not read any of the other great books in this series you can read this as a standalone without any problems. I think this may be my favorite yet.
