This Old Homicide

Fixer-Upper Mystery #2

by Kate Carlisle

Don't miss Framed For Murder , a Hallmark Movies & Mystery Original starring Jewel, based on This Old Homicide —the second novel in the New York Times bestselling Fixer-Upper Mystery series!
 
Valentine’s Day is approaching, and while contractor Shannon Hammer is delighted to be friends with not one but two handsome men, not everyone in Lighthouse Cove, California, is feeling the love. After her elderly neighbor Jesse Hennessey fails to make his daily appearance at the local diner, Shannon swings by his place to check on him. Not only does she find Jesse dead—of an apparent heart attack—but she also realizes that his home has been ransacked.
 
Someone suggests that a thief was searching for a priceless necklace Jesse claimed to have retrieved from a capsized sailing ship, but Shannon doesn’t believe it. Everyone knows Jesse had a penchant for constructing tall tales—like the one about him having a hot new girlfriend. But his death is soon ruled a homicide, and shady suspects begin popping out of the woodwork. When another victim turns up dead, Shannon is convinced she must find the killer before someone else gets nailed...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary

314 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 27, 2015

About the author

Golden 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.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Old Homicide is the second book in Kate Carlisle's 'A Fixer-Upper Mystery' series about a young female contractor named Shannon who took over her father's construction business in California. Shannon finds her elderly neighbor, Jesse, dead when she checks on him in his house. At first, it seems like natural causes, but as the cops investigate the holes in the walls and clutter all about the place, they know someone burglarized the joint. Could Jesse have found an expensive piece of jewelry during a recent underwater dive? There had been a Spanish shipwreck in the area many years ago!

This series is built on the friendship of five woman who supporting one another through babysitting, construction, store operations, heartache, and a whole lot more. Although we focus on Shannon, it's a wonderful group of people to get to know throughout this series. This is one of Carlisle's strengths in terms of building characters. Each feels unique, as do the remainder of the supporting cast from Shannon's ex-boyfriend to her petty high school friends who still like to torture her. She will waffle between the mysterious writer and the handsome cop, find plenty of new murders in each of the houses she repairs, and develop ties to a seaside town in need of tourists. All the makings of a fine series... and of the two I've read, I preferred the first one, but this had a strong mystery.

I look forward to picking up the third book next month once I can get through the ~10 blog tours I signed up for this quarter. That's the goal... to get current on this series before the end of the year. Anyone else reading them? Then, I can watch the TV show based off of these books. That sounds like fun to me!

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. Although I didn’t read the first book in this series, A HIGH-END FINSH, I never felt lost or like I was missing anything.

THIS OLD HOMICIDE was fast paced and entertaining. A good, tightly written mystery with plenty of suspects to make you wonder “whodunit”.

Ms. Carlisle is a superb storyteller. Her descriptions of the quaint town of Lighthouse Cove, CA, and the beautiful Victorian homes it is known for, were very vivid and truly drew me in.

My favorite part of this book is protagonist, Shannon Hammer. Her chosen occupation, a building contractor, is very refreshing. Don’t get me wrong, I love lead characters who own shops and restaurants, but this is a fun change. And while Shannon is a woman doing a “man’s” job, she keeps the girly alive by using pink tools, hard hats, tool belts, goggles, the works. Too fun. (No, she doesn’t make her male workers wear pink ;-) )
There is also a fun secondary story for fans who like a bit of a paranormal twist. I look forward to seeing how this will play out in future books.

The only drawback in this book for me, was the over use of curse words. H*ll and a*s made several appearances, but the over use of the word d*mn became very distracting to me. One of my favorite things about cozies is the lack of cursing. I only bring this up because I know a lot of people who read my reviews feel the same way and I thought you would want a heads up. However, if you can look pass this or it doesn’t make a difference to you at all, then please do get yourself a copy of THIS OLD HOMICIDE.

You can pre-order your copy now for the January 27 release!

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really 4.5 stars, but I rounded up.

I put off reading this book for so long, and I honestly don't know why. I had gotten the first chapter read and then set it down and never picked it back up about a year ago, so when I saw it at my local thrift store for a quarter I picked it up. I am so glad I did! This book was the perfect cozy; laid back, lots of clues and suspects, and a wonderful cast of characters.

The characters were an absolute pleasure to read about. Shannon was funny, normal, and realistic enough that I genuinely liked her, even if she was a bit too serious in her 'detecting' for my taste. Mac, Jane, and Eric were also wonderful supporting characters. I really hope Eric takes a bigger role in the next book and we learn more about his past, however. There's a small love triangle brewing but Shannon's mot in an actual relationship with either man, so it works.

The mystery was wonderfully plotted; I was 99% sure I knew who the killer was and then I was taken aback by who it actually was. The setting was also riveting; I love the fact that the entire town is a historic landmark.

Overall a superb mystery; I will be reading the next one. Highly recommend!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't as pleased with this story as much as the earlier one and her other series. I kept noticing all the repetition - telling the reader the same thing again and again and again. Generally it seemed more tedious of a tale, less interesting to want to read and characters that that didn't really connect. The main, Shannon, is still appealing but her friends and some of the others aren't really bringing much to the table. Best to relegate them to a single scene per book. There is a full palate of characters that can be introduced in each book - father, uncle, absent sister, employees, clients; ditch the girlfriends and Whitney; a screeching bimbo with erratic hate is a tired cliche.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Kate Carlisle has constructed another awesome mystery in the second installment of the Fixer Upper Mysteries.

Shannon Hammer is a very strong protagonist with job that keeps her on her toes managing several different construction work sites all at the same time. The life of a General Contractor means a lot of time traveling between sites, a heck of a lot of paperwork and a slew of phone calls but Shannon also has her own set of pink tools and she is not afraid to use them. Mystery writer, Mac, has moved into one of the suites above Shannon’s garage and they are becoming a little more than chummy. Police Chief, Eric, is getting to know Shannon better too and doesn’t accuse of murder this time, but he does try to tell her to keep her nose out of his investigation. This is a cozy mystery so you know that is not going to happen. Neighbor Jesse must have been quite a character with his tall and not so tall tales. Jesse was her best friend’s Uncle and she had known him much of her life and he has a special place in her heart and that just drives her to find out who killed him and why.

The author does any excellent job of storytelling. She drops a clue here and a clue there, hammers in a twist or two or three, and an extra little ghostly element along the way too, all to keep the reader guessing and fitting things together to solve the mystery right along with Shannon.

We also get vivid descriptions of the house being renovated and having worked in home construction and remodels I love those parts.

I guess it would be fair to say Kate Carlisle has nailed this story right on the head. I am looking forward to see what she has planned for the next Shannon Hammer project. I am sure she is already checking over the blueprints and getting the permits to bring us another wonderful mystery.

a perfect escape

[Melodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Kate Carlisle's Bibliophile series. It's near the top of my list, but this series? Not so much. When I picked this one up off The Pile I didn't realize it was #2 in the series. I have #1, but now I don't think I'll read it. This has the dreaded "triangle" and that is a plot point that just ABSOLUTELY sets my teeth on edge. I HATE it!! It's a lazy way to tell a story and Ms. Carlisle is better than that. This wasn't a bad story, but Shannon seems a bit clueless to me. She tends to not want to suspect people just because they come across as nice. I think I'll leave this series alone after this one. I like Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series a lot more and like her characters more, too. Love you Kate Carlisle, just not this series!

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Old Homicide by Kate Carlisle is the second book in the Fixer- Upper Mystery series. Contractor Shannon Hammer finds the dead body of her neighbour and his house ransacked when checking up on him when he had not been seen for a few days. I enjoyed this mystery although it did seem a little drawn out with all the construction work going on. I found Whitney too stupid and nasty as a character to be believable and her juvenile behaviour spoilt the book. Otherwise a nice and relaxing cozy mystery

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really need to trust my judgement more!! I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was [though not the why, not at first anyway], but dismissed it as WAY too easy. Yeah. I should listen to my gut; I read WAY too many cozies to not guess correctly once in awhile! LOL

I am enjoying this series; I like Shannon and the group of friends that she has and would love to be friends with them as well. NOT crazy about the potential love triangle that may or may not be brewing, but I am hoping they nip THAT in the bud, because I don't want to have to stop reading this series [but I will over a love triangle. I mean, seriously? They are total UGH]. And I would like to have someone slap Whitney in the face. :-)

Really good read and a series I would recommend to anyone.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 cozy stars...

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever read a cozy mystery, you know what you're in for. (If you haven't, let me just stop you right here and tell you that no matter which cozy series you choose, you do not want to start anywhere but at book one; you'll understand the mystery but lose all the dynamics of the recurring characters, and possibly have the previous installment mysteries spoiled for you, unless you begin with, well, the beginning.) ANYWAY, this is exactly what you would expect: a mystery, some cheesiness, and a tidy little ending.

What I liked about This Old Homicide:
The case - I had two suspects early on, but I honed in on the right one just past the halfway point. (The why was pretty obvious right from almost the start.) However, what I didn't have figured out was the how and just how all the pieces connected with one another.
The cheesiness - This isn't for everyone, and if it isn't for you, you'll probably want to stay away from this subgenre. Cheesiness abounds. The settings are usually idyllic--minus the recurring murders, obviously. There's always some kind of love triangle brewing in the series at some point. You have to be able to suspend disbelief, because there is so much about these books that is implausible, and simply be willing to be entertained. The cheese was extra but I was amused.

What I didn't care for:
The ghost thing - I can suspend disbelief for our antagonist finding multiple dead bodies, continually dodging the Grim Reaper, and somehow being allowed to give the police department a civilian assist, but I draw the line at paranormal activity.
Whitney - Probably one of my least favorite aspects of cozies is the need for a nemesis. They always feel like a cartoon to me. And they're somehow not that bright, as a rule. I read a few series where this particular tool isn't used or the nemesis disappears (or ya know, is otherwise eliminated, which in a genre like this is pretty easy to accomplish), and I always take note of this with great delight.

I do really enjoy this series. I like Shannon, Mac, Eric, and the gang. I think Shannon's occupation is different and fun. So far, the first two books of the series kept me interested. I did toy with three stars rather than four, due to the ghost and the nemesis, but in the end, I really was so invested in the actual mystery, that I tipped to the generous four-star side. I look forward to seeing what other unrealistic trouble our amateur detective finds herself in next.

[Paul Falk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enter the coastal community of Lighthouse Cove, Northern California. This is a warm and cozy place to live. In fact, most people remain there their whole life. The author casually introduced the reader to all its peaceful and pleasant surroundings. There were several supporting characters in the story, however, center stage belonged to Shannon Hammer. She owned and operated her own construction company. It's specialty was renovating fixer-uppers.

Shannon's next door neighbor and long time friend Jesse was murdered. He was more than just a neighbor; he was a good friend. It was Shannon's unfortunate luck to be the one that discovered his lifeless body.

His death had first been ruled a suicide. There were no apparent signs of a struggle. It didn't make any sense why anyone would kill a peaceful, elderly man. What could have possibly been the motive? He had no known enemies. But he did have something of value stashed away that it was feared, some people wanted. Soon though, there was a second murder. This raised suspicion in this once quiet community to a high alert. Now the possibility of homicide was on the table.

To me, this story presented one drawback in particular - a ghost. On site, at one of Shannon's restoration projects, strange things happened. Light switches turned off and on all by them self; then chairs moved, a can of paint was tossed against a wall and howling had been heard. So little time was given to this ghostly encounter for the remainder of the story that it seemed like an afterthought on the part of the author. It had no place in this book. A supernatural thriller, yes. This book no.

The action of the story progressed well throughout the reading. There were enough twists and turns to hold your attention. The cozy part was a little watered down and didn't really go very far. It was a Cozy Lite.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Shannon's elderly neighbor Jesse dies in suspicious circumstances she and her best friend Jane investigate. It soon becomes apparent that the murder and a spate of burglaries all centre on priceless jewelled necklace that Jesse has hidden somewhere in the house. Shannon needs to catch the murderer before they turn their attention to her and her friends.

There are some fairly rigid rules for cozy mysteries and you break them at your peril. So yeah, This Old Homicide pretty much follows the same pattern of a lot of cozy mysteries. I guess where it distinguishes itself is in the quality of the writing which is honestly a lot better than most of the cozy mysteries I've read. It's not quite as good as book 1 in the series, but still amongst the better cozy mysteries I've read.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mysteries authors with this one just reinforcing that opinion. It is just full of some incredible writing that flows so smoothly that it will suck you in making you forget that it is even a book. You feel like you are right next to Shannon as she works or stumbles across clues. I am impressed with her skills I must say and if you are a fan of this genre this should really be a must read book/series for you. I loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.

[Alyssa White · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sound I made when this book was over was amusing really! The next one is needed now. This series is just so wonderful and every page is better and better. Jesse was so dear hearted and this book made my heart sad, but I grew more into Jane which I loved. The different stories with each of the characters is just so wonderful. I can't wait to read the next one! #itishammertime

[Julie Fetcho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, fast paced and hard to put down

[Lisa B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I liked being able to continue right on with the series. Again, I really enjoyed the light feel of the story and liked seeing the same characters again. This story also had more action than the first, both on the mystery front and the romance front. The pacing in the story was also better than the first, but still not perfect. That said, I did find myself being really intrigued at times. The small town feel of the story was still there from the first, but was expanded upon by the author's descriptions of the town and some of the events that went on there. I do hope that romance situation sorts itself out in the next book as I'm a sucker for romance in these types of mysteries and cute stories.
Overall, I really enjoyed This Old Homicide and will definitely be continuing with the series.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time with this series. I saw that this was made into a television series on Hallmark Mystery channel and thought I'd give it a try. I am glad I did. I like the premise of Shannon Hammer owning and running her own house building/renovation contracting business. She inherited it from her father and she's doing a superb job. Her work on the houses and running the various crews fits in nicely with her life and the amateur sleuthing she does when her neighbor dies under mysterious circumstances.
The setting is nice, the characters are well-developed and the mystery is well done. I look forward to reading more in this series and watching the show on Hallmark Mysteries.
Definitely recommend.

[Sallee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read with plenty of characters. I found it very interesting with a itty bitty touch of the paranormal. The main character is a building contractor and has a lot on her plate. When her next door neighbor is found deceased when she went to check on him she suspects it is not natural causes as everyone thinks. We have sunken treasure, good looking men, good girl friends to make this story roll on. We have the expected love interest triangle here also but it did not detract from the overall story.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just really like this cozy little town of Lighthouse Cove and all the characters. Shannon has a fun job that I like to read about and great girl-friends. Eric and Mac sound perfect and I don't mind the love triangle so much (it's very light). In this one, I had an inkling who the killer was right away and it frustrated me to see them get around so easily! Shannon needs to stick with her guns and her strong suspicions and maybe she wouldn't end up in terrible situations. I liked this mystery with it's many parts (and red-herring suspects). I definitely will continue this series.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am continuing my read of this series I have discovered. In this book Shannon investigates the mysterious death of her next-door neighbor Jesse. He was an elderly gentleman well liked in the community that was well known for his tall tales. I really enjoyed the cast of characters and Shannon’s detective skills. The love interests in this story are also are very interesting to me and I hope she ends up with one of them. I look forward to seeing who she picks and how the relationship progresses. I will be picking up the next book in the series very very soon.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the series being picked up by the Hallmark Channel, I had a personification of Shannon - fortunately with Jewel - an artist I am fine with. The TV series differs from the books in the budding romance department, where the book is still unresolved and adds a rom-com respite to the mystery.

Kate Carlisle's style is to add a lot of characters into the picture and its up to you to eliminate them until you guess whodunit. Enjoyed this quick read and happy to guess the culprit right. Its a 6 book series so far and I can't wait for the next one.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story from the Fixer upper mysteries. Enjoyed this book and all the curious ideas as to how the murder happened and trying to figure out the suspects. When another murder happens Shannon knows she must find the killer before someone else ends up dead. I enjoy the writing style of this author and it is a quick read.

[Jenni Schell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun new series by Kate Carlisle. This is the second book and it was every bit as good as the first one. The characters are wonderful and the story is fantastic. Great job.

[Rosanne Henson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series (Fixer-Upper Mysteries)

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one. Shannon is a good main character and I like the others and the small town setting. The mystery was good and kept me guessing and the ending was exciting.

[Michelle Stagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I'm looking forward to reading more books from the author. It was a real page turner. Best book I've read this month.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Suspicion is a good thing. It can keep you alive.”

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery, easy to follow, by a favorite author of mine. I disliked the language used in the book-- a lot of crap, laugh ass off, pee on a parade-- so one star off.