Dead Post Society

House-Flipper Mystery #7

by Diane Kelly

The seventh in the House-Flipper mystery series set in Nashville, TN, where the real estate market is to die for.

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are no strangers to murder. After all, they’ve encountered corpses on their properties before. But this is the first time they’d decided to take a chance on a property where two murders have already occurred. Most buildings on the former boarding school property have been repurposed for an upscale retirement community, but the developer had no use for the headmaster’s house given its violent history. The headmaster and his wife were killed there decades earlier, their deaths remaining a mystery to this day.

Still, it seems a shame to see the beautiful Victorian give way to decay or the wrecking ball, even if many claim the unsettled souls of the victims still wander its halls, seeking retribution and justice. Can Whitney and Buck exorcise the structure’s demons, solve the cold case, and give the building new life? Or will ghosts from the past seek to silence them forever?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Cozy, Animals

293 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Award-winning author Diane Kelly writes romance and romantic mysteries featuring feisty heroines, quirky sidekicks, and sexy leading men, with humor that leaves readers laughing out loud.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diane Kelly brings together great characters, wonderful atmosphere, a former boarding school property being repurposed for an upscale retirement community, a headmaster’s house with violent history, and a mystery. Dead Post Society is the seventh book in the House-Flipper Mystery series featuring carpenter Whitney Whitaker Flynn.

Whitney and her cousins Buck and Owen work for her uncle’s carpentry business, Whitaker Woodworking. However, she and Buck also have their own building-flipping business. When told the headmaster’s Victorian home was going to be demolished Whitney and Buck come up with a plan to buy it and two acres of land and renovate it into a boutique hotel.

The mystery surrounds the deaths of the last headmaster, Irving Finster, and his wife Rosie. The case was never closed by the Robertson County sheriff’s office. As usual, Whitney can’t leave it alone until she determines what happened. But can Whitney solve the cold case or will it remain a mystery?

Whitney is inquisitive, perceptive, believes in progress as well as preservation, and doesn’t like to be the center of attention. She’s skilled, reliable, resourceful, and hardworking. She’s also married to Collin Flynn, a Nashville police homicide detective. He is intelligent, has a strong work ethic, a strict moral code, and runs to relieve stress. Buck has a great sense of humor and handles a lot of the heavier work. As in the author’s Mountain Lodge series, this series has features cats with Whitney’s cat Sawdust’s thoughts being interspersed throughout the book in a few short chapters. Collin’s two cats also make appearances throughout the book. While they aren’t necessary to the story line, they provide some humor and insights that made them enjoyable. The main characters were likeable and relatable. The relationships between the various characters add to the charm of the novel.

The story starts with a family event rather than a mystery, but quickly moves on to the carpentry work at the boarding school and the desire to purchase the headmaster’s house. Readers learn about the mystery surrounding the deaths of the Finsters. The intriguing plot had a few twists and turns and the characters had depth and came to life. While I guessed some of the items related to the mystery, this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story as I sped through it effortlessly. Food is mentioned through the novel and a recipe is included at the end of the book. I also enjoyed the poems and literary references at the beginning of each chapter. My only quibbles are that I wanted more details on the renovations, and there was so much going on with the family and the investigation, that the usual banter between Whitney and Buck was in short supply.

Overall, this is an engaging, clever, and entertaining novel that was a fast read. Readers looking for a cozy mystery with a dash of humor and a cold case that needs to be solved will likely enjoy this novel. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Diane Kelly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for April 01, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.09 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Post Society is the seventh book in Diane Kelly’s House Flipper Mysteries. This was a unique and different cozy mystery. Though there was a double killing it wasn’t recent murders. In fact it was a cold case that happened forty years ago. I love that sleuth Whitney Whitaker Flynn doesn’t heed her husband Collin’s warnings to mind her own business. Even cases that are so cold that they’re almost forgotten about intrigue Whitney and there’s no stopping her until she can solve the most unusual and complex murders. I love Whitney's character. She and her cousin Buck take old run down houses and restore them to list on the real estate market . She’s able to work in a men’s trade and isn’t afraid she might break a finger nail. She’s smart too as you already know if you’ve been reading the other books in this series. I was totally caught up in this cozy. I loved shifting through clues and going with Witney to investigate this cold case. I wasn’t sure who the guilty suspect would be but when I found out who it was I wasn’t surprised either.
When Witney and Buck decide to help Uncle Rodger restore and turn an old deserted boarding school into a senior complex she stumbles upon an old deserted house on the back of the schools property. After breaking into the house she is wowed by the antique furniture still left in the house. That’s not all she finds there. Evidence of foul play with blood on the floor and a bullet hole on the window ledge. Strange sounds coming from somewhere over head and shadows on the walls. Why does Witney feel a strong urge to find out what happened inside this old deserted house?
I highly recommend Dead Post Society to readers of cozy mystery and to those who love poetry. Each chapter starts out with a poem. This book can be read out of order and readers won’t be lost or confused. However if you enjoy the book you probably will want to read the other books in this series too. This book is scheduled for release on 4/1/25.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are solely my own.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best in this cozy mystery series so far! Whitney and Buck decide to renovate an old Victorian where a supposed murder-suicide took place 40 years ago. But when Whitney discovers an overlooked clue, she thinks someone might have gotten away with a double murder and decides to investigate the cold case. She's very methodical and thorough in her investigation but sure gets herself in some tight spots. Fun and entertaining with very likable characters. A nice touch is the poetry that begins each chapter and ties in with the pun of the title.

Unfortunately the bonus recipe for Lemon Pistachio Orzo Salad that was included at the end of the story turned out to be a dud for us as a side dish for our Easter lamb. It was salvaged by adding more lemon juice and some zest, more dill and some fresh basil, golden raisins and cubed fresh mozzarella. Thanks to my daughter and son-in-law for their suggestions.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new cozy mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Post Society the 7th instalment in the House Flipper Mysteries series by Diane Kelly. The characters of Whitney, Sawdust (cat), Buck, Collin and Collette are ones I have really come to love. I also enjoy the setting of Nashville, Tennessee. I like how the series continues to alternate chapters narrated by Whitney and her cat Sawdust.

This time around they are flipping an old Victorian which was the scene of two suspicious deaths. Can Whitney and Buck exorcise the structure’s demons, solve the cold case, and give the building new life? Or will ghosts from the past seek to silence them forever?

The mystery is interesting and had lots of twists which kept me guessing. I did suspect who the killer was just before Whitney did.

I highly recommend to all my cozy mystery loving friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St.Martin Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitney Whitaker, now nearing her first anniversary with Collin Flynn, is working with her cousin and uncle on turning a former boarding school into a retirement community. Whitney is interested in restoring the old Victorian that was the home of the headmaster, but first she has to solve a mystery.

It was March 1982 when the headmaster presumably murdered his wife and himself. The case has never been closed. The former investigator had some questions. Whitney, who found a bullet buried in one of the porch posts, has questions too.

Since the school closed abruptly that May, Whitney has all sorts of paperwork from the office which includes student disciplinary reports, staff evaluations, and minutes of board and faculty meetings. And, even though forty plus years have passed, they allow her to track down former students and staff to see if she can find out what really happened.

It was murder, and the murderer would really like the case to remain unsolved.

I enjoyed this seventh book in the house-flipper series.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dead Post Society (House-Flipper Mystery #7)" by Diane Kelly starts with Whitney's cousin/business partner, Buck, welcoming his first child. Then it jumps to Whitney and her Uncle's crew checking out an old boarding school for a big renovation job. While there, Whitney finds an old Victorian house with some serious history and convinces the property owner to sell it to her.

While Whitney and her cousin work on flipping the house into a B&B she finds out the tragic case of a murder suicide that happened there. However, no one is really sure that's how things went down. Whitney is well placed to search for new clues since it's as if no one bothered to clear out the house and left most of the school untouched after the deaths in the house. Everyone just up and left (despite them supposedly finishing the school year).

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dead Post Society is the 7th installment in the A House-Flipper Mystery series featuring carpenter Whitney Whitaker Flynn and set in Tennessee. Whitney's building partner and cousin, Buck and his wife Colette are welcoming a new baby and while they were waiting for the baby's arrival Buck and Whitney hadn't been doing any flipping. Instead they were working for Buck's father Roger doing renovations.

Uncle Roger has taken on the job of renovating the former Ridgetop Preparatory Academy which closed in the early 1980's and had remained vacant. The school and dormitories are still filled furnishings and supplies. Troy Loflin, a local developer has purchased the property and has plans to turn the grounds into a retirement complex. Troy is a former student so the project is close to his heart and money is no object.

Adjacent to the school is the former headmaster's house. The dilapidated Victorian has seen better days and has a unfavorable reputation. The headmaster, Dr. Irving Finster is reported to have killed his wife and then himself in an apparent murder suicide. Whitney decides that she wants to purchase the house and turn it into a Bed and Breakfast for the families who come to visit their relatives staying in the retirement home.

Curious as to why Dr. Finster would have killed himself or his wife, Whitney starts digging into the 40 year old mystery and quickly discovers that a third party might have been involved in the shootings. Could it have been one of his former students or colleagues? The girl who stalked the headmaster and his wife, the boy who was expelled for bad behavior or maybe even one of his fellow teachers.

A good addition to the series although this one fell a little flat for me. I missed the usual banter between Whitney and Buck, the descriptions of the renovations and having Sawdust on the job site. Whitney is contemplating a baby with her husband, Collin and working through her emotions about being a mom.

I received an advanced copy of Dead Post Society from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really about a 3.5; I was sort of knocked out of the mood with all the baby talk and especially the comment about how after the baby the cats won't matter. Sawdust played little role in this until the end and we don't get much at all of Copernicus and Galileo. But mostly I start distancing myself from a series when babies are in the offing. I'm not anti-baby but pro- mystery-- and too often the addition of a baby changes the dynamics of a series. One series I had followed for years went that route and the last book was almost unreadable. All the main character did was fix snacks for her son. (I was somewhere without food and hungry, so it was particularly annoying to be reading every four pages about blueberry muffins or cheese sandwiches..) I think the mystery was solved with an info dump at the end. When there's a child, the (usually female) main character now has to juggle child care with a career AND with sideline of sleuthing; plus that sideline frequently puts the character in danger in the books. It becomes a no win: either the character is a good sleuth and a bad mother for endangering herself or she has to step back to be a good mother and a bad sleuth. (I am speaking in fictional terms, not RL obviously because a lot of real parents have dangerous occupations; not many real life parents run around solving murders on a regular basis. Or even non-cozy mysteries when it is a parent's job as a police officer or such, the dynamics are very different. Whether or not you agree with the designation, cozies are called cozies for a reason.) As a rule, the authors that go this route have to constantly justify their heroine's doing this or that to prove their maternal fitness and it bogs down the story. The series I've seen that navigate it well tend to be ones where the children are a bit older and the series more on the humorous side, like Jill Churchill's Jane series or the more current over the top Finlay Donovan. Had I not known there is to be another in this series, I would have thought it was an ender. I hope Kelly will prove my concerns groundless.

(As I often say, my real favorite sub-genre is the classic mystery not the cozy; I like the puzzle. Most of those classic sleuths were childless or else we knew so little about their personal lives that they might as well have been childless.)

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buck and Whitney are cousins and partners in a property flipping business, have been involved in solving several murders, and Whitney is married to the local Homicide Detective.
They begin by helping uncle work on an old and neglected residential school to turn it into a resort/residence for wealthy elderly complete with clinics and shops. There is an old Victorian on the property that Whitney really falls for but it has a tragic history because of an apparent murder/suicide in 1982 that the sheriff's department has never quite closed. The investigation is very interesting and has many a well-placed misdirection. I thought it was riveting and was interested in the snippets of classic poetry beginning each chapter, and even more so with all of the fascinating teaching moments involving the rehab process as well as the local real history.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Avail Apr 01, 2025.
#Dead Post Society by @dianekellybooks #HouseFlipperMysteriesBk7 @minotaur_books @stmartinspress #cozymystery #murdermystery #NetGalley @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #crimeFiction #MentalHealth #depression #teaching #rehabbing

[Rachaelbookhunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are helping renovate a former private school that the buyer wants to turn into a retirement community. Whitney can't resist buying the old, abandoned headmaster's house adjacent to the property. After learning the headmaster and his wife died there Whitney find herself involved in a cold case.

This is the seventh book in the House Flipper Mystery series. I read and loved the previous one but this one not so much. The opening chapters are great. The vibes and setting of the old house are great. I saw all kinds of potential for where the story was headed, but it never did head there. The story was all about the cold case which is interesting and different, but unfortunately it took White off site. This means there was less talk about renovations which is a highlight of the series. Buck was barely involved in the story, further making this feel even less about house flipping.

The mystery itself is interesting but the investigating part isn't. Since everything happens out of town the side characters don't feel as involved. There is a fun scene with one of them, but a lot of the other scenes feel either kind of crazy or not very exciting. I didn't guess the killer, and by that point I didn't care anyway because the showdown felt unexciting and unbelievable.

I still plan to continue this series. I just hope the next one is more focused.

[Cozy Beauty Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck tackle a Victorian mansion with a dark past, aiming to transform it into a boutique hotel. As Whitney delves into the unsolved murders of the former headmaster and his wife, she uncovers chilling secrets that put her in danger. With engaging characters, a gripping plot, and a different settings, this cozy mystery is a delightful blend of suspense and charm. The authors  writing style in Dead Post Society is engaging  blending humor, suspense, and vivid descriptions. She skillfully incorporates  twists to keep readers guessing, while also weaving in historical elements and poetry quotes that add depth to the story. I found the story easy to read and understand and follow along as well.

Thanks netgally and to the author for allowing me to read this novel and give my honest review.

Rating 4 🌟

[Shannon Dunaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, and this book is a great addition. This story follows the main character as she tries to solve a cold case. This is a cozy mystery with a strong female lead, a great mystery, and I love all of the side characters. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, then you should really read this series.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable story featuring characters who are familiar. It was an easy read.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting mystery for Whitney. While she and Buck are helping their uncle on a huge project, turning an old boarding school into a senior living community, they buy the old Victorian that was the headmaster home but is not part of the project. Whitney is drawn into the tragedy of the old home that was deserted when it was said that the headmaster killed his wife and then committed suicide. As they start doing rehab on the house, Whitney finds a few things that point to the fact that maybe it wasn't a murder suicide after all. The detective she contacts, since it has been 40 years, the original has passed, says he will investigate if she can find more. Whitney being Whitney, she is all in. While this was an interesting mystery, there are a couple of things that were off for me. I could really not understand why Whitney was so invested in something so remote and to which she actually has no ties. She went way above and beyond, and it was odd without any real connection. The second thing was the poetry before each chapter, I enjoyed a quote to start a chapter, but this was a little overkill. Thanks to #Netgally, #Minotaur, and the author for a chance to read. #DeadPostSociety #HouseFlipperMysteries #DianeKelly #bookreviews #bookideas #retiredreader

[Anita (Hearts and Whodunits) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck decide to take a chance on a property where two murders have already occurred. The headmaster of a former boarding school and his wife were killed three decades earlier, their deaths remaining a mystery to this day. Can Whitney and Buck solve the cold case, and give the building new life?
This was a very interesting cozy mystery. I liked it, although I thought it took too long to solve the mystery. The chapters were drawn out, and that made the pacing very slow, in my opinion. I thought the chapters where the cat was the main character was cute; I just didn't understand the purpose of them. I felt that those chapters were an afterthought. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.

In this series, this is the first book I've read. Being a fan of home renovation shows, I was sure to enjoy this book. I was not disappointed. As a fan of cold case true crime, this story is one I loved. The characters I grew to love instantly especially the cats. I was immediately captivated by the setting and story. Quotes at chapter headings I didn't really read. In my opinion, the chapters in the amateur sleuths cats perspective did not add anything to the story although very cute. In the future, I will read more books in this series.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy, murder mystery definitely delivers. New life is breathed into a cold case when Whitney Whitaker finds a bullet in a porch post which may have played a part in the alleged murder-suicide of the headmaster and his wife over forty years before. Whitney's curiosity brings her to start her own investigation as she works on the old headmaster's Victorian house. The book has relatable characters, and an even more lovable cat. What more can you want? I was given a chance to read this book through NetGalley, and I hope it finds other readers who enjoy it as much as I did!

[Carlymor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really enjoyable book in one of my favorite series. Whitney and Buck are in the process of repurposing a former school as an upscale retirement community. One building not included in the project is a beautiful, old Victorian that Whitney just cannot resist. She thinks it's perfect as a b&b for family visitors to the retirees. But the building has a sad history as the location of a murder/suicide of the school's former headmaster and his wife. As she starts the renovation, she begins to suspect that the murder/suicide was really the murder of two people. A very good mystery that kept me wanting to find out what happened. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Loy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly is the seventh book in the house-flipper series. I have read several of the books and really enjoyed them.
Whitney Whitaker is now married, and the story starts with her cousin and business partner, Buck, welcoming a baby into the family. Whitney is now married to her detective boyfriend.
Buck and Whitney help their uncle’s woodworking business remodel a boarding school.
There is an old house on the property- so they purchase it to flip.
Whitney decides to try and solve the murder that happened in the house.
The story is good and worth reading. I enjoyed all the books in the series. Thanks for a copy for an honest review.
P.S. I love the cat Sawdust!

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whitney and her cousin, Buck, take on a rehab of an old Victorian where a murder/suicide took place decades before and was then just closed up. Soon her curiosity gets the better of her and she's investigating the cold case. Lots of red herrings keep the plot moving. An engaging series and this one with an old murder was an interesting addition. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracey Langenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read. I liked the combination of a closed boarding school and the former headmaster's house being converted to a senior residence and boutique hotel. Whitney needs to find the clues before they are lost forever.

[kelsi 🦇 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dead Post Society follows Whitney Whitaker, who works as a house flipper with her cousin and uncle. the family starts a job working on reconstructing an old prep academy, turning it into a nursing home instead. a victorian home resides on the property, once the home of the academy’s headmaster and wife, where a supposed murder-suicide took place forty years ago, but Whitney doesn’t think that’s the case.

As someone who hasn’t read any of the previous six books in this series, I enjoyed it! It was easy to catch on to who was what and pre-established relations and details. I thought that house flipping was a really unique concept in the cozy mysteries genre, which usually takes place with the owner of some sort of bakery or small shop.

My biggest wish is that this had a bit more of a paranormal focus——ghosts and strange behaviors were mentioned three times maximum, and the idea of a haunted house cozy had really excited me. Instead it was just a small mention of a figure out of the corner of Whitney’s eye, or her and another worker hearing footsteps in the house where the deaths had taken place. I would’ve loved for more of that!

Overall, I give the novel a 3.5 out of 5 stars, and may check out the rest of the series from the beginning in the near future. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars - Enjoyable installment in this series. I like that Whitney is investigating a cold case in this book.

[Ellen Hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy murder mystery with Murder, She Wrote vibes. Small town charm, amateur sleuth energy, and a fun investigation. I loved watching the mystery unfold. It was enjoyable read even though I wasn’t surprised who was the killer🕵️‍♀️✨

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another fantastic mystery, loved watching the investigation, and the personal updates in their lives!

[OpenBookSociety.com]

https://openbooksociety.com/article/d...

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

I always look forward to a new mystery in this series, and Dead Post Society exceeded my hopes. I was happily engaged from the first page, where Whitney’s family awaits the birth of the first baby of her cousin, Buck, and her best friend, Colette. Whitney’s mother makes broad hints that she is looking forward to a grandchild of her own. Whitney and Collin, a police detective, have been married less than a year, so they had not yet discussed timing for their own little bundle of joy.

There is sufficient backstory on the characters to introduce them to new readers. Each is well-defined according to their roles. Whitney and her possessive sidekick kitty, Sawdust, are my favorites. I enjoy her intelligence, hard work in the career she loves, her relationship with her husband, Collin, and her close bond with Sawdust.

Whitney and Buck have not had a house-flipping project since Whitney and Collin’s wedding and Mari’s birth. They have been working for Buck’s father and Whitney’s Uncle Roger, whose carpentry company has a huge new project. Buck and Whitney went to the new site to meet with the developer of the former Ridgetop Preparatory Academy, a boarding school. Troy is converting it into a modern retirement community with extensive refurbishment and upgrades.

Fascinated by a Victorian home on the property, Whitney and Buck inspected it. The exterior required many repairs. The inside was in excellent condition, except for its 1980s décor and much dust. The appealing antique furniture was also in excellent condition.

Whitney noticed that a collapsed porch post had broken at its widest point rather than the much more fragile areas higher up. A closer look showed her the cause, the bullet lodged in it, and she removed it. Whitney, a delightfully curious young woman, would research the home a little later. She had helped police solve several murders over the past couple years, and enjoyed puzzles. They then learned the history of the home.

The private high school/ boarding school closed in 1982, after a series of events resulted in a financial crisis. In early 1982, headmaster Irving Finster and his wife, Rosie, a beloved teacher, died in what was probably a murder-suicide in the Victorian. Small clues were found that indicated a third person was in their house that terrible day but was not proven. The case was never closed. Faculty and students alike were grieved by the tragedy, especially Rosie’s murder.

After discussing the work to be done on the school, Whitney asked Troy, the developer, what he would do with the Victorian. It saddened her that he planned to tear it down. She asked if they would consider selling it with a couple acres of land, and Troy was willing to entertain an offer. By the next evening, they had a verbal deal to buy the home and its contents, and Troy would have the sale documents prepared. Whitney and Buck would convert it into a boutique hotel, certain to be popular for those visiting family in the retirement community.

Whitney found a small hole in the window frame of the room where the deaths occurred, in perfect alignment with the broken porch post. She went to the local sheriff’s office, turned it in, and discussed it with the current detective. They then proceeded with the work on the retirement community. Not one to let a mystery go, Whitney talked with former teachers and a former student, and finally found solid evidence that led the detective to re-activate the case.

Finding information on a murder more than a decade before the internet was widely available stretched even Whitney’s snooping skills! There were a couple people who appeared to be top suspects, but for one reason or another, didn’t quite fit. The real killer was not a surprise to me, due to one little clue that I had tucked aside. All was resolved admirably with the murder and their renovation projects, with a surprise that I am looking forward to reading more about next time. I highly recommend this novel and series, especially to those who appreciate well-written cozy mysteries that include construction, cats, laugh out loud humor, and cold cases!

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitney and her cousin Buck buy a derelict Victorian mansion near an abandoned prep school. The school and house were abandoned after the last Headmaster and his wife died in what appeared to be a murder-suicide. But the sheriff at the time was never confident in that seemingly obvious conclusion and the case had never been officially closed. Forty years later, as Whitney and Buck prepare to turn the mansion into a boutique hotel, Whitney finds an overlooked piece of evidence that turns the entire case upside down.

I actually started reading this series with book five, Primer and Punishment. Though I know I missed a lot of back story and character growth from the first four books, I didn't have any trouble following the story or connecting with the characters. I've continued reading the new books as they come out and I love that Whitney has a non-traditional job and how her cousin and her new husband support her in her investigations. This book in particular is a bit of a departure from the typical cozy mystery in that the crime being investigated took place 40 years earlier and this book takes place over the course of several months instead of a few days or weeks as is normally the case. It all works, we get a fun, retro story and it advances Whitney to a pretty big life milestone at the very end (no spoilers!)

The villains in this story are many and it's very interesting to see these characters as their 1982 selves and then again as their current day selves. I think there's a message there about how people can change and how people can stay the same and also how some people may never have been who you thought they were. I particularly appreciate how the title plays on the movie Dead Poets Society, which takes place at a boarding school in the 50's but was made in the 80's.

Another thing I like about this series is how Whitney and Buck work to save old buildings while salvaging so much of what's inside them. Instead of smashing everything up and throwing it away, they repair and refurbish what can be saved and recycle whatever is usable but maybe not needed for the projects they're working on. I love the home renovation shows but I can't stand how they demolish and trash so many perfectly good things, things that others may be extremely happy to salvage, just for the sake of a good camera shot. That kind of waste of resources is so taxing to the environment. Whitney and Buck get big props from me for being responsible earth citizens!

All that to say, this was a non-standard cozy so it may not be everyone's cup of tea but it was a fun jaunt into the 1980's, along with a very interesting investigation and some big surprise twists.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diane Kelly’s Dead Post Society, the seventh installment in the House-Flipper Mystery series, sticks to the formula that cozy mystery fans have come to love—but with a twist of old-school true crime cold case and a dash of literary flair.

This time around, Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck take on their riskiest flip yet: a dilapidated Victorian home with a gruesome past—site of an unsolved double homicide from the 1980s. With plans to transform the house into a boutique hotel, they get far more than they bargained for when Whitney starts digging into the mysterious deaths of the headmaster and his wife, once dismissed as a murder-suicide.

The cold case angle adds weight and intrigue to the plot. Whitney’s investigation—sifting through dusty files, tracking down former students, connecting seemingly minor clues—brings a welcome layer of complexity to the usual cozy formula. The atmosphere is another strong point. The abandoned boarding school and the ghost-whispered halls of the headmaster’s house add a creepy but grounded tone that’s more spine-tingling than supernatural.

Whitney continues to shine as a lead character: practical, curious, and committed to doing the right thing even when it’s messy. Collin, her homicide detective husband, brings steady support and realism to her amateur sleuthing. Buck, usually a co-lead, fades into the background here, and his absence is felt—especially in the snappy cousinly banter that’s usually a hallmark of the series. The book also gives space to domestic developments, like Whitney contemplating motherhood, which adds dimension but also slows the mystery momentum at times.

Though the book is technically about flipping a house, the renovation work takes a back seat. Readers hoping for before-and-after details or DIY disasters won’t find much here. On the other hand, poetry lovers might appreciate the unique touch of verses opening each chapter. There’s also a recipe at the end, though opinions vary on how successful it is in the kitchen.

The mystery itself is solid, if not groundbreaking. A few readers spotted the culprit early, but the satisfaction comes more from the process than the twist. The reveal is clean and the story wraps up with a comforting sense of justice restored, even if the climax lacks real tension.

Dead Post Society is a satisfying entry that leans more into cold-case sleuthing than renovation drama. It’s clever, well-paced, and character-driven, even if it misses some of the charm and chemistry of earlier books. Fans of the series will find plenty to enjoy, and new readers can jump in without confusion. It’s not flawless, but it’s a smart, cozy read with just enough shadow to keep it interesting.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for my gifted copy.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've come to really enjoy this series. Why? Not just because of good stories, which is certainly true, or the likable, interesting characters who usually display a good sense of humor, but also because of one of the basic themes of the book: Don't destroy something just because it's rundown or old. While house flippers Whitney and cousin Buck accept that this isn't always easy, their efforts to find another way to preserve and restore the heart of what is there are admirable. It's certainly true in this book where Whitney just has an instinct about an old home that, gulp, was the scene of a murder-suicide. Or was it? Toss in Whitney's seeming inability to ignore a mystery, even one decades old, and you've got the basis for an intriguing story.

You'd think that with Whitney's marriage to Collin and with Buck being a brand-new father (welcome to baby Mari) that they wouldn't have time to sort out a long cold case. You'd be wrong. Although Whitney is devoted to her feisty cat Sawdust, she's like a dog with a bone when something spurs her into sleuth mode. Obviously Buck and Collin have her back but, well, speaking of cats, there's this ol' saying about curiosity and cats which comes dangerously close to proving true in Whitney's case. How could simply asking a few questions (okay, lots of questions) about a case that she can blame her curiosity on now owning the house wouldn't make Whitney a target, right? Wrong, but you're going to have to read the book to find out the details, not to mention why this title is so perfect.

Bottom line, a fun, intriguing plot that stands alone nicely even for new readers. The characters quickly become like old friends and neighbors, people you'll feel like you know and can root for. I've got to admit, I love that Whitney's profession isn't the typical role for females, too. The setting in each book is in the same area but involves a different property with different neighbors, so there's always something new to discover and new faces to meet. If it wasn't a murder-suicide, which even the old police files seem to have found an uncertain conclusion, what really happened? Who killed the husband and wife? Why? And, what's that presence Whitney senses in the house? Ghost? Or, yikes, is someone keeping an eye on her? Why....oh, never mind. If you like a fun cozy with interesting characters and frequent humor, not to mention occasional input from Whitney's feline Sawdust, you'll enjoy this book/series. Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #Minotaur for this early peek at what Whitney and Buck have been up to this time. Loved the reveal at the end. Can't wait for the next book!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly is a well-written mystery.

Will Whitney figure out what happened to the Finsters?

Whitney Whitaker Flynn
Our sleuth is Whitney, a carpenter and house flipper by trade. However, she is also an amateur investigator when the case finds her. In this installment, Whitney's family is helping to remodel an old boarding school that closed after the headmaster and his wife were killed. There is even speculation that the headmaster killed his wife and then himself. However, Whitney doesn't honestly believe that version.

Collin and Whitney are enjoying their first year of marriage. Things truly seem to be going along well for them. I love how patient and encouraging Collin is when it comes to Whitney's side passion. The two of them are fantastic together.

Whitaker Woodworking is going strong. Renovating the old school into a retirement home is an excellent idea. The entire process and timeframe are fantastic. Watching Whitney and her family being part of this is terrific. Then, with her and Buck's renovation of the headmaster's Victorian house into a boutique hotel, it is such a smart idea.

Sawdust
Whitney has a cat aptly named Sawdust, like his coloring. We even get a few chapters from Sawdust's point of view. These are some of my favorite chapters. It's always fun getting inside the head of a feline.

Five Stars
My rating for Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly is five stars. I love the whole house flipping, mystery-solving, carpenter aspect of the book. Don't let that fool you, as Whitney is intelligent and courageous. I highly recommend this book to all fans of cozy mysteries.

There is also a recipe for Lemon Pistachio Orzo Salad included at the end of the book.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly.

Until the next time,

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove