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Fixer-Upper Mystery #11
The Knife Before Christmas
Contractor Shannon Hammer hopes for a peaceful Christmas with her fiancé, Mac, until murder throws a wrench in her holiday plans in a brand-new installment of the USA Today bestselling Fixer-Upper Mystery Series.
Christmas has come to Lighthouse Cove, but business hasn’t slowed down for Shannon Hammer. She’s been contracted to renovate a local hotel owned by the Garrisons, a family that’s so devoted to the holidays they serve a seven-course dinner every night from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Last year’s festivities featured a train that transported guests around the breathtaking Cliffside property. This year, Shannon and her crew have been commissioned to build a Victorian-style carnival midway with games and prizes galore.
Everyone in town loves the hotel’s spirit, except the Garrisons’ children and their spouses, who are hum-bugged by the money being wasted on holiday cheer while their inheritance goes up the chimney. Things turn nasty when a mischief-maker close to the family is found dead. It’s up to Shannon and Mac to catch a sinister Scrooge before all of Lighthouse Cove receives coal for Christmas.
Christmas has come to Lighthouse Cove, but business hasn’t slowed down for Shannon Hammer. She’s been contracted to renovate a local hotel owned by the Garrisons, a family that’s so devoted to the holidays they serve a seven-course dinner every night from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Last year’s festivities featured a train that transported guests around the breathtaking Cliffside property. This year, Shannon and her crew have been commissioned to build a Victorian-style carnival midway with games and prizes galore.
Everyone in town loves the hotel’s spirit, except the Garrisons’ children and their spouses, who are hum-bugged by the money being wasted on holiday cheer while their inheritance goes up the chimney. Things turn nasty when a mischief-maker close to the family is found dead. It’s up to Shannon and Mac to catch a sinister Scrooge before all of Lighthouse Cove receives coal for Christmas.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2024
169 people are currently reading
2612 people want to read
About the author
Kate Carlisle
97 books2,817 followersGolden Heart and Daphne du Maurier Award winning author Kate Carlisle spent over twenty years working in television production as an Associate Director for game 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. She 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 near the beach in Southern California where she lives with her perfect husband.
A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She loves to drink good wine and watch other people cook.
Despite the appearance of overnight success, Kate's dream of publication took many, many years to fulfill.
A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She loves to drink good wine and watch other people cook.
Despite the appearance of overnight success, Kate's dream of publication took many, many years to fulfill.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
December 27, 2024
Murder! Christmas! Family drama! All the perfect elements of a holiday whodunit. I enjoy the characters normally, but the new Garrison family brought tons of not-so-nice ones, which of course made for great drama. Looking forward to seeing if they play a more pivotal role in the future. Good for a few laughs and tears, and of course, all the drama with Shannon's nemesis again!
October 30, 2024
I usually love this series, but this book was a major disappointment. It got off to an excruciatingly slow start. For about the first third of the book nothing much was happening except for a huge dump of information about new characters and some sort of Christmas tent with a carousel inside along with game booths that I can't quite picture. Then detailed instructions for the roll out of Santa, with some instructions repeated. There was no fixer upper projects or construction work going on. Her dad got barely a mention or two. It was mostly description of the Christmas Carnival. And kissing. Lots of kissing. Way too much kissing. There was a murder that finally happened a little over a third of the way into the book, but nobody really cared because nobody really liked the murder victim. There was a subplot about the widow of a soldier who died in battle that actually got more development than the murder. Does the VA not provide any sort of survivor benefits? Were the kids not eligible for Social Security benefits? At one point the author forgot there was a first person narrator and dropped into third person POV. Where is the real Kate Carlisle and who wrote and edited this book? If this had been my first "Fixer-Upper" mystery, it would have been my last. I'm just going to have to chalk this one up to a swing and a miss and hope the next one in the series gets back on track.
November 11, 2024
I do love this series and the characters but this installment was pretty insufferable.
It opened with a 150+ page introduction to a bunch of characters whose relationships I’m still confused about. I feel like she repeated the same thing a dozen times but it was so convoluted and unnecessary that it never stuck. The murder didn’t happen until over halfway through so it was completely detail-less and bland.
The dialogue was also hard to read. I don’t remember that from previous books but this one was tough. It was clunky and awkward and the sicky-sweetness between Shannon and Mac was even too much for a Hallmark movie.
I still don’t understand the whole bit with Aurora and the thefts. She was awfully cavalier about the whole thing and it didn’t feel fully developed, just like everything else in this book.
It opened with a 150+ page introduction to a bunch of characters whose relationships I’m still confused about. I feel like she repeated the same thing a dozen times but it was so convoluted and unnecessary that it never stuck. The murder didn’t happen until over halfway through so it was completely detail-less and bland.
The dialogue was also hard to read. I don’t remember that from previous books but this one was tough. It was clunky and awkward and the sicky-sweetness between Shannon and Mac was even too much for a Hallmark movie.
I still don’t understand the whole bit with Aurora and the thefts. She was awfully cavalier about the whole thing and it didn’t feel fully developed, just like everything else in this book.
August 1, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
Big disclaimer: I like Kate Carlisle's style of writing but I've only read the first book in the series so I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it but I really did!
The Knife Before Christmas is another great book written by Kate Carlisle that follows Shannon, a contractor working on the Cliffs Hotel in the charming town of Lighthouse Cove. She is having to deal with tough personalities during her job including the ghastly Randi who is the daughter-in-law of the owner of the Cliffs Hotel. Randi is found murdered and Shannon's curiosity takes over which makes her play the "Scooby-Doo" game, trying to figure out whodunit.
I thought this book was very clever and fun. The setting was warm and cozy and I liked the mystery a lot. I got to know the characters very quickly because I haven't read the whole series but I thought the book was very easy to follow and the mystery was challenging enough. I really liked the character growth that we see in this book. I'm sure it must be a really nice payoff for the people who've been following the series for a long time. I'm for sure going to pick up the other books in this series to check them all out. The only thing I did not like was how long the chapters are, I wish the chapters were shorter so it would be easier for me to ready. Even with that I highly recommend this for the cozy vibes and for people who enjoy a great cozy mystery!
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Kate Carlisle for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Big disclaimer: I like Kate Carlisle's style of writing but I've only read the first book in the series so I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it but I really did!
The Knife Before Christmas is another great book written by Kate Carlisle that follows Shannon, a contractor working on the Cliffs Hotel in the charming town of Lighthouse Cove. She is having to deal with tough personalities during her job including the ghastly Randi who is the daughter-in-law of the owner of the Cliffs Hotel. Randi is found murdered and Shannon's curiosity takes over which makes her play the "Scooby-Doo" game, trying to figure out whodunit.
I thought this book was very clever and fun. The setting was warm and cozy and I liked the mystery a lot. I got to know the characters very quickly because I haven't read the whole series but I thought the book was very easy to follow and the mystery was challenging enough. I really liked the character growth that we see in this book. I'm sure it must be a really nice payoff for the people who've been following the series for a long time. I'm for sure going to pick up the other books in this series to check them all out. The only thing I did not like was how long the chapters are, I wish the chapters were shorter so it would be easier for me to ready. Even with that I highly recommend this for the cozy vibes and for people who enjoy a great cozy mystery!
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Kate Carlisle for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
December 8, 2024
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The Garrisons own the local Cliffside Hotel in Lighthouse Cove. Shannon Hammer and her crew have renovated several parts of it. The family loves the holidays and always plans something special for the days leading up to Christmas. They serve a seven-course dinner each night and getting a reservation is darn hard. They also have fun on the grounds of the hotel. Last year a train took guests on a tour of the beautiful Cliffside estate. This year the Garrisons have asked Shannon and her team to design and build a Victorian-style carnival midway with games and tons of prizes. They have an extraordinary ride that needs to be included and installed in the design.
Things seem merry and bright until the Garrisons’ children and their spouses have some concerns about the money being spent on the carnival. They would rather have the cash stashed away for them to inherit. But things take a deadly turn when a dead body is found in the basement. Shannon and Mac are soon on the trail to find out who was at the top of Santa’s naughty list and would be receiving their lump of coal in jail.
Christmas in Lighthouse Cove – sign me up – I am all in!
This being the 11th installment of the Fixer-Upper Mysteries the characters are like old friends. I worked in home construction for a couple of years so I enjoy following Shannon around to all her job sites and her creative ability to breathe new life into old homes. She has an amazing crew that can take her ideas and run with them. I love it when she pulls out her pink toolbox and tools and works right alongside them. Shannon and Mac are a perfect match and an awesome sleuthing team. But what I love most about Shannon and Mac is their empathy and huge caring hearts. Family, friend, or stranger – if someone needs help, they will go above and beyond to help the person in any way they can.
The Garrisons are an interesting family. Bill and Lilian are the 3rd generation to own the hotel and they have steadily made improvements to the place. With the exception of their son, Logan, all of their children and their spouses live and work at the Cliffside. Like most families, they have their ups and downs. Bill and Lilian had been Shannon and Chloe’s parent’s best friends. So much so that when their mother passed away Lillian became a surrogate mother to the girls. Featuring this family in this story was grand for many reasons sans the murder. Ms. Carlisle’s detailed descriptions were wonderful. She created distinct images in my mind of the entire hotel and its new “Fun Zone”. You could feel the joy Bill had when his dream space came to life as well as all the people that visited the new attraction.
I appreciated the time the author took to share all the holiday planning and interactions before she delved into a compelling mystery. The victim was not a nice person but those around tolerated them. Anyone could have snapped and killed them. That means the suspect list is a long one. Shannon and Mac have to work through them all. After some well-placed twists, a second death actually provides clues that could lead to the killer. Shannon has her ah-ha moment at what could have been a very inopportune time but she gets help from a surprising person until the calvary shows up to drag the guilty party away.
I did enjoy the subplot at the Veterans’ Village and the three porch pirates. Good people do good things to help people in need. This “village” has been a wonderful place for Lighthouse Cove and veterans with homes, education, jobs, and more. Shannon has a fantastic idea to light the place up for Christmas to bring awareness to visitors and joy and celebration for the residents. It is a special place for both Shannon and Mac and I love that we get to tag along when they visit.
The Knife Before Christmas is a festive whodunit with tons of good holiday feels. I had a delightful time in Lighthouse Cove with genuine and engaging characters who loved Christmas just as much as I do. The mystery was very well-plotted so that the community and family holiday spirit shines as the killer is brought to justice. It was “quite a Christmas” including a Christmas miracle or two.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
The Garrisons own the local Cliffside Hotel in Lighthouse Cove. Shannon Hammer and her crew have renovated several parts of it. The family loves the holidays and always plans something special for the days leading up to Christmas. They serve a seven-course dinner each night and getting a reservation is darn hard. They also have fun on the grounds of the hotel. Last year a train took guests on a tour of the beautiful Cliffside estate. This year the Garrisons have asked Shannon and her team to design and build a Victorian-style carnival midway with games and tons of prizes. They have an extraordinary ride that needs to be included and installed in the design.
Things seem merry and bright until the Garrisons’ children and their spouses have some concerns about the money being spent on the carnival. They would rather have the cash stashed away for them to inherit. But things take a deadly turn when a dead body is found in the basement. Shannon and Mac are soon on the trail to find out who was at the top of Santa’s naughty list and would be receiving their lump of coal in jail.
Christmas in Lighthouse Cove – sign me up – I am all in!
This being the 11th installment of the Fixer-Upper Mysteries the characters are like old friends. I worked in home construction for a couple of years so I enjoy following Shannon around to all her job sites and her creative ability to breathe new life into old homes. She has an amazing crew that can take her ideas and run with them. I love it when she pulls out her pink toolbox and tools and works right alongside them. Shannon and Mac are a perfect match and an awesome sleuthing team. But what I love most about Shannon and Mac is their empathy and huge caring hearts. Family, friend, or stranger – if someone needs help, they will go above and beyond to help the person in any way they can.
The Garrisons are an interesting family. Bill and Lilian are the 3rd generation to own the hotel and they have steadily made improvements to the place. With the exception of their son, Logan, all of their children and their spouses live and work at the Cliffside. Like most families, they have their ups and downs. Bill and Lilian had been Shannon and Chloe’s parent’s best friends. So much so that when their mother passed away Lillian became a surrogate mother to the girls. Featuring this family in this story was grand for many reasons sans the murder. Ms. Carlisle’s detailed descriptions were wonderful. She created distinct images in my mind of the entire hotel and its new “Fun Zone”. You could feel the joy Bill had when his dream space came to life as well as all the people that visited the new attraction.
I appreciated the time the author took to share all the holiday planning and interactions before she delved into a compelling mystery. The victim was not a nice person but those around tolerated them. Anyone could have snapped and killed them. That means the suspect list is a long one. Shannon and Mac have to work through them all. After some well-placed twists, a second death actually provides clues that could lead to the killer. Shannon has her ah-ha moment at what could have been a very inopportune time but she gets help from a surprising person until the calvary shows up to drag the guilty party away.
I did enjoy the subplot at the Veterans’ Village and the three porch pirates. Good people do good things to help people in need. This “village” has been a wonderful place for Lighthouse Cove and veterans with homes, education, jobs, and more. Shannon has a fantastic idea to light the place up for Christmas to bring awareness to visitors and joy and celebration for the residents. It is a special place for both Shannon and Mac and I love that we get to tag along when they visit.
The Knife Before Christmas is a festive whodunit with tons of good holiday feels. I had a delightful time in Lighthouse Cove with genuine and engaging characters who loved Christmas just as much as I do. The mystery was very well-plotted so that the community and family holiday spirit shines as the killer is brought to justice. It was “quite a Christmas” including a Christmas miracle or two.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
December 3, 2024
I'm usually a big fan of this series but this one was a bit long on description and a lot short on mystery. The first half of the book was a description of the family being highlighted in all its familial messiness, but it was repetitive and grew tiresome, not as endearing as I would have liked. The murder finally happened at around 50%, sandwiched between the description and a sort of cloyingly sweet happiness between Shannon and Mac, and then the couple and their friends. The reveal of the murderer, who seemed to be obvious from the start, was almost slapstick in the way everyone was slapping the guilty party around. In short, this was a long, drawn out story that was better suited as a novella and not my favorite in the series.
July 2, 2024
The Knife Before Christmas, the 11th and newest book in Kate Carlisle's irresistible A Fixer-Upper Mystery Book series, is an enjoyable read for fans of the series. I especially love when Shannon interacts with Mac and her other friends; I have become so attached to the whole group. I like that the lives of the group are dynamic with small appropriate developments with every book. I adore the fact that Shannon's tools are all pink, so she is sure to get them back. The lighthearted relationship between the contractor and her team adds to my attachment to the series.
I am a holiday fan so getting to participate in the plans for The Cliff's hotel Christmas festivities made things even more fun in spite of the murders that come with every book. It is after all, a cozy mystery.
#NetGalley #BerkleyPublishingGroup #KateCarlisle #AFixer-UpperMysteryBook # The Knife Before Christmas.
I am a holiday fan so getting to participate in the plans for The Cliff's hotel Christmas festivities made things even more fun in spite of the murders that come with every book. It is after all, a cozy mystery.
#NetGalley #BerkleyPublishingGroup #KateCarlisle #AFixer-UpperMysteryBook # The Knife Before Christmas.
November 8, 2024
This book has officially started my Christmas season! This was a fast and entertaining read that felt like visiting old friends. Being set during Christmas gave it an even more pleasant scene with the author's description of holiday events around Lighthouse Cove. Of course there has to be a body found and then the mystery truly begins as Shannon and crew are on the case! Get ready for a fun read with some characters you will absolutely love, and some you will seriously dislike. Enjoy!
November 8, 2024
Always a good read. This Christmas story put me in a Christmas mood. I like all the characters in this book. The plot was a good one. I loved the Christmas carousel.
September 15, 2024
Nothing is better than a Christmas-themed cozy mystery from Kate Carlisle. I was very excited about this book since I love the holidays and this series. There’s just something special about the charm that Carlisle puts into her books and this book is no exception.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. The characters and mystery kept me hooked from the first page, making this one of my favorites in this series.
I loved the way Carlisle writes as well. It’s always free-flowing and eloquent, making it easy for readers to enjoy. If you’re looking for a holiday-themed book to get you in the Christmas spirit, then look no further. THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS has got you covered.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. The characters and mystery kept me hooked from the first page, making this one of my favorites in this series.
I loved the way Carlisle writes as well. It’s always free-flowing and eloquent, making it easy for readers to enjoy. If you’re looking for a holiday-themed book to get you in the Christmas spirit, then look no further. THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS has got you covered.
February 6, 2025
144 pages before anything happens (aka the murder) then close to another 100 more pages before any investigation starts. Very disappointed. Would not recommend to mystery -murder fans, even those that prefer the more "campy" versions. Save your reading time.
December 29, 2024
The first half of this book was largely pointless, which says a lot because the book is only 270 pages. Nothing happens in the first 130 pages besides introducing characters and putting together a christmas carnival. Besides that, the dialog between characters is so cheesy and unrealistic. Almost every interaction was one person saying how spectacular or amazing something was and the person they were talking to agreeing that it was spectacular. Very people pleasing vibes.
Cut to midway through the book when the murder finally happens and the story is still boring! It's just more small town gossip that's really petty and boring. We don't even find out who the murder is until there are 10 pages left in the book. And not in a suspenseful way, the main character kind of just happens upon it. Not quite the cute, mysterious, fun holiday read I thought it would be.
0 stars.
Cut to midway through the book when the murder finally happens and the story is still boring! It's just more small town gossip that's really petty and boring. We don't even find out who the murder is until there are 10 pages left in the book. And not in a suspenseful way, the main character kind of just happens upon it. Not quite the cute, mysterious, fun holiday read I thought it would be.
0 stars.
December 11, 2024
Not much happens and the writing is excruciating. It reads like an AI chat bot wrote it.
December 9, 2024
I really adore this series and this book is a lovely edition. A Christmas carnival at an old, gorgeous mansion restored to a hotel, on the cliffs overlooking the water?! Yes please! I always love learning anything that Shannon Hammer has to offer from the descriptions of the gorgeous desk to the creepy gargoyles has me wanting to get back to my volunteer house reno days. I just love Lighthouse cove and all of Shannon's friends and this cozy time of year made the book even more enjoyable. Especially Mac and Shannon who are the best couple. What was not enjoyable (by design) were some of the snarky characters, who honestly have no right to be so rude and grumpy. But even so I was itching to find the villain and was SHOCKED by the ending!
Note: I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it.
October 21, 2024
3.5 stars, actually.
Despite not being a huge fan of cozy mysteries, this series is a favorite - largely because for once the main character is a real woman, not a ditzy female who never listens to reason, and the stories always are intriguing and relatively fast-paced. This one, too, was enjoyable, but it was noticeably lacking in the usual pizzazz.
Yes, there's a murder in the small California coastal town of Lighthouse Cove (make that two murders, in fact); but those events take up a only a few pages - the rest mostly filled with characters running around talking about how much they like (or dislike) each other. Even the relatively brief reference to a current real-life trend (a particular concern for online shoppers) ends up with a not-quite-realistic conclusion and seems more like an afterthought than part of the plot.
Shannon Hammer is an accomplished builder with her own construction firm (for those not familiar with the series, yes, that's her real last name). It won't be long till she marries her true love, MacKintyre Sullivan, who's a successful writer of mystery novels (though it's a mystery to me when he finds the time to do much writing). This book takes place a few weeks before Christmas, so the small town is gearing up for the season. That's especially true at the Cliffs Hotel, a restored (much of it by Shannon and her team) Victorian mansion owned by Bill and Lilian Garrison, who apparently have money to burn and are by all accounts the most lovable people on the planet. Bill has asked Shannon to create a "Fun Zone" to entertain locals and tourists for the holidays, and there's plenty of enthusiasm and hoopla surrounding that.
The Garrisons have three grown children, all married to other characters - some of them are perfect like the parents/in-laws, some way at the other end of the lovable spectrum. One beloved son, Logan, has been away as an officer in the U.S. Navy and just returned home, to the delight of everyone. His wife, Randi, is one of the nasties - she can't seem to tolerate anyone except herself, and Shannon is at the top of her enemy list. Since she's married to the son of the resort owners, though, she's been given a relatively cushy job despite everyone's dislike of her (and she of them). No big surprise, then, when she turns up as the first murder victim.
At this point, I can't reveal much more without spoiling things for others, so I'll say simply that, like almost all cozy mysteries, there's a happy ending (well, except for those two dead people). If you're already a fan of this series, do read it - it may not be my favorite, but it's definitely worth it. If this will be your first, I suggest starting with an earlier book (but then that's what I suggest to all new-to-a-series readeers). As for me, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.
Despite not being a huge fan of cozy mysteries, this series is a favorite - largely because for once the main character is a real woman, not a ditzy female who never listens to reason, and the stories always are intriguing and relatively fast-paced. This one, too, was enjoyable, but it was noticeably lacking in the usual pizzazz.
Yes, there's a murder in the small California coastal town of Lighthouse Cove (make that two murders, in fact); but those events take up a only a few pages - the rest mostly filled with characters running around talking about how much they like (or dislike) each other. Even the relatively brief reference to a current real-life trend (a particular concern for online shoppers) ends up with a not-quite-realistic conclusion and seems more like an afterthought than part of the plot.
Shannon Hammer is an accomplished builder with her own construction firm (for those not familiar with the series, yes, that's her real last name). It won't be long till she marries her true love, MacKintyre Sullivan, who's a successful writer of mystery novels (though it's a mystery to me when he finds the time to do much writing). This book takes place a few weeks before Christmas, so the small town is gearing up for the season. That's especially true at the Cliffs Hotel, a restored (much of it by Shannon and her team) Victorian mansion owned by Bill and Lilian Garrison, who apparently have money to burn and are by all accounts the most lovable people on the planet. Bill has asked Shannon to create a "Fun Zone" to entertain locals and tourists for the holidays, and there's plenty of enthusiasm and hoopla surrounding that.
The Garrisons have three grown children, all married to other characters - some of them are perfect like the parents/in-laws, some way at the other end of the lovable spectrum. One beloved son, Logan, has been away as an officer in the U.S. Navy and just returned home, to the delight of everyone. His wife, Randi, is one of the nasties - she can't seem to tolerate anyone except herself, and Shannon is at the top of her enemy list. Since she's married to the son of the resort owners, though, she's been given a relatively cushy job despite everyone's dislike of her (and she of them). No big surprise, then, when she turns up as the first murder victim.
At this point, I can't reveal much more without spoiling things for others, so I'll say simply that, like almost all cozy mysteries, there's a happy ending (well, except for those two dead people). If you're already a fan of this series, do read it - it may not be my favorite, but it's definitely worth it. If this will be your first, I suggest starting with an earlier book (but then that's what I suggest to all new-to-a-series readeers). As for me, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.
January 20, 2025
A Christmas Cozy Mystery to entertain, delight and offer a puzzle for your brain! I love this author as she crafts a strong, intelligent amateur sleuth who stumbles across bodies and then helps untangle the whodunit alongside the police chief who she happens to be friends with. It doesn't hurt that her fiancé is a mystery writer and helps her decode the information that she discovers along the way. The added twist in this mystery is who the victim is and the complicated feelings that person brings up in Shannon (our main character) and her friends. Once again, the author has created a book that will keep you turning pages as you race to solve the mystery alongside the characters while also falling more in love with Lighthouse Cove and the people that live there!
December 14, 2024
Horrible. No plot. Don’t waste your time.
Read
October 24, 2024THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Kate Carlisle is the 11th book in the Fixer-Upper Mysteries series. It’s the exciting story of Shannon Hammer as she works to make this year’s Christmas event at the Cliffs Hotel the best one ever to the delight of all the Lighthouse Cove residents and visitors from far and near. She’s determined to not let anything deflate the momentum including age old cliques, her nemeses or even a case (or two) of murder.
Shannon is thrilled to be back working with Bill and Lilian Garrison, 3rd generation owners of the grand Cliffs Hotel. Bill is determined to make this years Christmas event bigger and better than any before it. Sharon and her team work hard, on what became labeled as the Fun Zone, installing Bill’s recent purchase - a carousel, that’s bound to be a major draw, along with all the game areas, that are designed to fascinate the young and bring back fond memories for the rest. With prizes galore, there are no losers. There’s also an eight-course dinner, for those lucky enough to get a ticket, every night during the holidays. Hiring Steve Shore for the Santa Claus is the icing on the cake. With the help of the experts on her team, the surprise element of Santa appearing and his Santa personality will be an exciting hit for the kids - young and old. It will be like stepping back to a long-ago Victorian carnival that’s came to town. With everything tested and working exactly as planned, what could possibly go wrong?
Logan, the eldest son, returning home after being discharged from the Navy, the announcement of a competition between the Garrison children and their spouse in which Shannon will the advisor in an upcoming renovation project (meaning that come the new year she’ll be working closely with some her archenemies “friends”) all while making sure the carnival’s plans are expertly executed and work properly have Shannon meeting herself coming and going. Plus, she lets Logan talk her into organizing and advertising a Christmas decoration event at Homefront, the tiny home subdivision for veterans needing a bit of assistance. When Shannon discovers a body while exploring another part of the estate, it really shakes things up. Shannon and her boyfriend Mac might have to bring back the Scooby Doo game to help figure out whodunit – especially when the death count increases. What’s the connection between the victims and why would anyone feel the need to kill them? Will there be others or can the evidence have the guilty party found? Will a missing tool become part of the evidence and, if so, who will it point to?
THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS is the magnificent story where the past joins the present in the form of the Fun Zone, a great way for everyone to envelop themselves in the Christmas spirit. Kate Carlisle writes it in such vivid detail, it makes the reader feel as if they were walking among the other holiday visitors. It’s easy to understand the personalities of each member of the Garrison family and how they interact with one another as well as with Shannon. When the murder is revealed, Shannon begins to put her amateur sleuth skills to work. Between the three (Shannon, Mac and the Chief of Police), there’s nowhere for the culprit to run. THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS is a whodunit story that also touches on family, community, love and the holiday spirit as well as evil deeds, contenting with a nemesis and even facing one’s own fears. It’s all wrapped in holiday cheer that’s bound to make you smile a time of two too. FIVE STAR reading for me and I bet you too!
Although part of the series, THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, like all the books in the series, can most definitely be read as a standalone book.
I receive an ARC of this book with no requirement or expectations of a review. All opinions are completely my own.
#TheKnifeBeforeChristmas # FixerUpperMysteries #KateCarlisle #cozymystery
Shannon is thrilled to be back working with Bill and Lilian Garrison, 3rd generation owners of the grand Cliffs Hotel. Bill is determined to make this years Christmas event bigger and better than any before it. Sharon and her team work hard, on what became labeled as the Fun Zone, installing Bill’s recent purchase - a carousel, that’s bound to be a major draw, along with all the game areas, that are designed to fascinate the young and bring back fond memories for the rest. With prizes galore, there are no losers. There’s also an eight-course dinner, for those lucky enough to get a ticket, every night during the holidays. Hiring Steve Shore for the Santa Claus is the icing on the cake. With the help of the experts on her team, the surprise element of Santa appearing and his Santa personality will be an exciting hit for the kids - young and old. It will be like stepping back to a long-ago Victorian carnival that’s came to town. With everything tested and working exactly as planned, what could possibly go wrong?
Logan, the eldest son, returning home after being discharged from the Navy, the announcement of a competition between the Garrison children and their spouse in which Shannon will the advisor in an upcoming renovation project (meaning that come the new year she’ll be working closely with some her archenemies “friends”) all while making sure the carnival’s plans are expertly executed and work properly have Shannon meeting herself coming and going. Plus, she lets Logan talk her into organizing and advertising a Christmas decoration event at Homefront, the tiny home subdivision for veterans needing a bit of assistance. When Shannon discovers a body while exploring another part of the estate, it really shakes things up. Shannon and her boyfriend Mac might have to bring back the Scooby Doo game to help figure out whodunit – especially when the death count increases. What’s the connection between the victims and why would anyone feel the need to kill them? Will there be others or can the evidence have the guilty party found? Will a missing tool become part of the evidence and, if so, who will it point to?
THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS is the magnificent story where the past joins the present in the form of the Fun Zone, a great way for everyone to envelop themselves in the Christmas spirit. Kate Carlisle writes it in such vivid detail, it makes the reader feel as if they were walking among the other holiday visitors. It’s easy to understand the personalities of each member of the Garrison family and how they interact with one another as well as with Shannon. When the murder is revealed, Shannon begins to put her amateur sleuth skills to work. Between the three (Shannon, Mac and the Chief of Police), there’s nowhere for the culprit to run. THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS is a whodunit story that also touches on family, community, love and the holiday spirit as well as evil deeds, contenting with a nemesis and even facing one’s own fears. It’s all wrapped in holiday cheer that’s bound to make you smile a time of two too. FIVE STAR reading for me and I bet you too!
Although part of the series, THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, like all the books in the series, can most definitely be read as a standalone book.
I receive an ARC of this book with no requirement or expectations of a review. All opinions are completely my own.
#TheKnifeBeforeChristmas # FixerUpperMysteries #KateCarlisle #cozymystery
November 5, 2024
Things are going well for Shannon as she and her team finish up some construction projects at the Cliffs before the holiday season. She is surrounded by good friends and a loving fiancé. So what if there are some “mean girls” who never grew out of it who revel in being snarky and demeaning. Shannon ignores them as much as possible but two of the three happen to be family members of the people who own the Cliffs so it is almost impossible to avoid them entirely. Then one of them is murdered and she, her fiancé and the chief of police find the body in a wine cellar.
The victim is a beauty but only on the outside. She is not a nice person and has managed to ruffle more than a few feathers both in the family and the staff that run the hotel. Even her husband, who has returned from a tour of duty, is fed up with her attitude. That means the list of suspects is long and involves a lot of people for whom Shannon cares.
A second murder ups the stakes but also provides the clues that will uncover the killer. The villain is not going to go without a fight but does not reckon with the anger of one of the victim’s friends. It is a nice tight mystery with lots of family dynamics and makes for a highly enjoyable read. Five purrs and two paws up.
The victim is a beauty but only on the outside. She is not a nice person and has managed to ruffle more than a few feathers both in the family and the staff that run the hotel. Even her husband, who has returned from a tour of duty, is fed up with her attitude. That means the list of suspects is long and involves a lot of people for whom Shannon cares.
A second murder ups the stakes but also provides the clues that will uncover the killer. The villain is not going to go without a fight but does not reckon with the anger of one of the victim’s friends. It is a nice tight mystery with lots of family dynamics and makes for a highly enjoyable read. Five purrs and two paws up.
April 24, 2025
It feels like forever since I read the previous book in this series! Once my turn finally came up on the library waitlist, I was ready to dive into the latest case for Shannon and the crew.
What I liked about The Knife Before Christmas:
Great setting - I don't just mean Lighthouse Cove, but the immediate setting of "action." The Christmas atmosphere, the huge old mansion-turned-hotel -- it just lent itself to a really immersive mystery in which to get engrossed.
Pace was unusual but not unpleasant - The timing of "the event" was not what I typically find in a cozy, but it didn't lag the storytelling or make the case feel rushed. I liked that some of the expected formulas for cozy mysteries were set aside in favor of some altered variables, making the storytelling feel fresh yet still familiar.
What I didn't care for:
The secondary plot - It felt unnecessary and maybe a bit forced. It failed to engage me and the resolution was slightly beyond my willingness to suspend disbelief.
What left me conflicted:
The cast of characters - I always enjoy the usual group. What I am specifically referring to here is the additional cast surrounding the case itself. My main complaint was that there were so many of them that it was difficult to keep them sorted out, particularly who they were in relation to one another.
I knew who it was far too quickly - While it's fun to be able to figure out whodunnit, this felt a bit obvious to me. I like to question my guess at least a little bit and I never did.
I'm always up for an installment of one of my favorite cozy series, and while this wasn't one of the best from this series, it was still fun and enjoyable. I'm spoiled by Kate Carlisle's books, so I have a higher expectation. Truly, this was a solid four-star read, and I'll be jumping right in line for the next one, whenever it releases.
What I liked about The Knife Before Christmas:
Great setting - I don't just mean Lighthouse Cove, but the immediate setting of "action." The Christmas atmosphere, the huge old mansion-turned-hotel -- it just lent itself to a really immersive mystery in which to get engrossed.
Pace was unusual but not unpleasant - The timing of "the event" was not what I typically find in a cozy, but it didn't lag the storytelling or make the case feel rushed. I liked that some of the expected formulas for cozy mysteries were set aside in favor of some altered variables, making the storytelling feel fresh yet still familiar.
What I didn't care for:
The secondary plot - It felt unnecessary and maybe a bit forced. It failed to engage me and the resolution was slightly beyond my willingness to suspend disbelief.
What left me conflicted:
The cast of characters - I always enjoy the usual group. What I am specifically referring to here is the additional cast surrounding the case itself. My main complaint was that there were so many of them that it was difficult to keep them sorted out, particularly who they were in relation to one another.
I knew who it was far too quickly - While it's fun to be able to figure out whodunnit, this felt a bit obvious to me. I like to question my guess at least a little bit and I never did.
I'm always up for an installment of one of my favorite cozy series, and while this wasn't one of the best from this series, it was still fun and enjoyable. I'm spoiled by Kate Carlisle's books, so I have a higher expectation. Truly, this was a solid four-star read, and I'll be jumping right in line for the next one, whenever it releases.
November 6, 2024
The latest Fixer-Upper mystery finds Shannon and her crew building a Christmas Carnival at the Cliffs Hotel. The festive atmosphere is shattered when a murder occurs during special holiday dining event.
The Knife Before Christmas is a well written twisty mystery with holiday flare and humor. It certainly keeps the reader's interest and the pages turning. As always returning to Lighthouse Cove is like a visit with old friends. The characters are quirky and complex. I have enjoyed getting to know them throughout the series. I recommend The Knife Before Christmas as well as the entire series to mystery lovers.
The Knife Before Christmas is a well written twisty mystery with holiday flare and humor. It certainly keeps the reader's interest and the pages turning. As always returning to Lighthouse Cove is like a visit with old friends. The characters are quirky and complex. I have enjoyed getting to know them throughout the series. I recommend The Knife Before Christmas as well as the entire series to mystery lovers.
November 8, 2024
Wow a lot happened in the last 1/3 of the book here! The set up of this one seems to be different than the others in the series. I felt like it was more a stand-alone vs number 11 in a series. 🤔
It took a long time to find out who died but I enjoyed the Garrison family dynamics! It was a cozy mystery & drama mashup that was a fun change of pace.
Overall I liked the mystery and I can see a lot of happy times up ahead for book 12!
It took a long time to find out who died but I enjoyed the Garrison family dynamics! It was a cozy mystery & drama mashup that was a fun change of pace.
Overall I liked the mystery and I can see a lot of happy times up ahead for book 12!
October 30, 2024
This was a fun holiday cozy mystery. Apparently it is part of a series but I read it as a stand alone. The author did a great job setting the holiday scene and really got me in the spirit. I wish there was a Cliffside Inn I could visit. the characters were likable and I would read more books about them. The mystery was predictable and didn’t even begin til midway through the book. I would recommend this one for the holiday fun and not really the mystery.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2024
I listened to this book and the reader wasn't the best which made me rate this book a 3. When I listen to a book, I need emotion and drama. This reader made me feel like I was listening to a child reading a story.
January 17, 2025
A story set just before Christmas. It was an easy read with enjoyable characters.
November 28, 2025
I feel like this installment too long to get to the mystery part and the storyline suffered because of it. But overall, it was solid.
January 16, 2025
I think this was the worst mystery I have ever read.
December 15, 2024
Insane. Someone is murdered at this hotel and everyone is like "oh well we didn't like them anyhow. Merry Christmas!" In what world?!?! This plot just wasn't very realistic or relatable. I also struggled with hundreds of gargoyles hanging from a ceiling in a cellar. How were they hanging? They are carved stone and probably very heavy. How could this be?
Two stars for being mildly entertaining.
Two stars for being mildly entertaining.
January 15, 2025
Wow. Just…wow, in the worst possible way. No plot, terrible characters who have no character and no morals.
The FMC’s personality was… she has curly hair. Naturally curly hair. Except when it’s wavy, which is not the same as curly, but does that really matter? Not to this author!
The murder in this alleged murder mystery did not happen until the 53% mark in the book. The first half of the book was filled with curly hair descriptions, family tree explanations, excessive kissing and PDAs, physical descriptions of the extensive cast of characters in the book, all of whom were drop-dead gorgeous, and a full description of the 8-course meal the group consumed (partially, cause that pesky murder happened right then, and this group of people I would never want to meet were more concerned that they didn’t get to finish their meal than they were that someone just got murdered in the very restaurant where they were eating.)
Everyone in this amoral town does not care in the least about the murder victim. The prevailing consensus is: well, she was a beyotch so I’m glad I don’t have to deal with her any more. WOW.
Then there’s a second murder, and people seem to care more about this 2nd victim because she was such a nice person who would, and I quote, ‘never do anything wrong.’ When we find out just seconds later that the 2nd victim was murdered because she was blackmailing the murderer, the people just make excuses for her, ‘oh, I’m sure she didn’t think of it as blackmail, she probably just thought it was a good way to make some money!’ JFC.
The townsfolk all condemn the 1st murder victim because she was probably having an affair. Meanwhile, the suggestion that the husband of the murder victim might also be having an affair is met with giggles and demands to hear the meet-cute story. 🤮
The secondary plot of porch pirates goes nowhere. One character comments that she lived in LA for 10 years and had never heard that term until just now. I immediately checked the publication date for the book - October 2024. How has someone not heard that term in 2024? Then when the porch pirates, or one group of porch pirates, get caught, half the people involved in the incident just think that the thieves should get a reward cause they’re just so cute. Which means the murderer has a real chance of acquittal cause the murderer is, of course, really good looking.
Thank god I do not live in this amoral town filled with 💩💩 people. 2 fewer people now.
The FMC’s personality was… she has curly hair. Naturally curly hair. Except when it’s wavy, which is not the same as curly, but does that really matter? Not to this author!
The murder in this alleged murder mystery did not happen until the 53% mark in the book. The first half of the book was filled with curly hair descriptions, family tree explanations, excessive kissing and PDAs, physical descriptions of the extensive cast of characters in the book, all of whom were drop-dead gorgeous, and a full description of the 8-course meal the group consumed (partially, cause that pesky murder happened right then, and this group of people I would never want to meet were more concerned that they didn’t get to finish their meal than they were that someone just got murdered in the very restaurant where they were eating.)
Everyone in this amoral town does not care in the least about the murder victim. The prevailing consensus is: well, she was a beyotch so I’m glad I don’t have to deal with her any more. WOW.
Then there’s a second murder, and people seem to care more about this 2nd victim because she was such a nice person who would, and I quote, ‘never do anything wrong.’ When we find out just seconds later that the 2nd victim was murdered because she was blackmailing the murderer, the people just make excuses for her, ‘oh, I’m sure she didn’t think of it as blackmail, she probably just thought it was a good way to make some money!’ JFC.
The townsfolk all condemn the 1st murder victim because she was probably having an affair. Meanwhile, the suggestion that the husband of the murder victim might also be having an affair is met with giggles and demands to hear the meet-cute story. 🤮
The secondary plot of porch pirates goes nowhere. One character comments that she lived in LA for 10 years and had never heard that term until just now. I immediately checked the publication date for the book - October 2024. How has someone not heard that term in 2024? Then when the porch pirates, or one group of porch pirates, get caught, half the people involved in the incident just think that the thieves should get a reward cause they’re just so cute. Which means the murderer has a real chance of acquittal cause the murderer is, of course, really good looking.
Thank god I do not live in this amoral town filled with 💩💩 people. 2 fewer people now.
May 6, 2025
I did not enjoy this novel, which is disappointing because I've wanted to read the Fixer-Upper Mystery series for a while. The pacing is an issue since a murder does not occur until almost half way through the book. Similarly, there are some editing decisions that irked me amid some eh writing. For example, why am I reading almost three pages of planning for Santa Steve's departure from the Garrison Hotel's Christmas Fun Zone? Why am I seeing, "...Tasmanian Devil was the sweetest, smartest boy kid in the world?" (188). Boy kid? The mixture of these components also makes the "unlikable" characters (specifically Randi and Craig) too one dimensional to believe and the case wraps up too quickly at the end (within the last fifteen pages of the book). As a mystery reader, I generally like to be apart of the crime solving process if I can't be whisked away into a compelling narrative as an observer.
This take is petty but the cover activated my pet peeve for cozy mysteries. The animals on the cover only appear at the beginning of the novel for a few brief moments and never appear again. Why are you luring me in with adorable pets and not incorporating them into the story? This choice feels a bit like false advertising for cozies. Mac also has a ginger cat and a black cat, where is the black cat on the cover?!
In spite of my critique, I'll give the other Fixer-Upper Mysteries a chance because some reviews pointed out that this novel seems to be an exception in a good series.
This take is petty but the cover activated my pet peeve for cozy mysteries. The animals on the cover only appear at the beginning of the novel for a few brief moments and never appear again. Why are you luring me in with adorable pets and not incorporating them into the story? This choice feels a bit like false advertising for cozies. Mac also has a ginger cat and a black cat, where is the black cat on the cover?!
In spite of my critique, I'll give the other Fixer-Upper Mysteries a chance because some reviews pointed out that this novel seems to be an exception in a good series.
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