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Mrs. Fix It Mysteries #1
Hammered
The day Scott York returned to his hometown to become the new sheriff, his old high school girlfriend knew her life would be changed.
Kate Flaherty is Rock Ridge’s handywoman. A mom struggling to put her twin boys through college, Kate takes every job she is offered…even the one that comes from Scott.
In her husband’s mysterious absence, Kate is prepared to fight the lingering attraction between her and the man who once broke her heart. But she is not prepared for the dead body she finds on his kitchen floor.
Kate can do anything from repairing holes in sheetrock to fixing leaky faucets, but can she solve a murder mystery that has the sheriff under suspicion?
Kate Flaherty is Rock Ridge’s handywoman. A mom struggling to put her twin boys through college, Kate takes every job she is offered…even the one that comes from Scott.
In her husband’s mysterious absence, Kate is prepared to fight the lingering attraction between her and the man who once broke her heart. But she is not prepared for the dead body she finds on his kitchen floor.
Kate can do anything from repairing holes in sheetrock to fixing leaky faucets, but can she solve a murder mystery that has the sheriff under suspicion?
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2015
76 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 27, 2018
Hammered by Belle Knudson is the first book in the cozy Mrs. Fix It Mystery series featuring Kate Flaherty, a middle aged lady who makes a living as a contractor. Kate's husband had disappeared five years before leaving her to raise her two sons on her own and with no trace of his whereabouts she takes whatever jobs she can to earn a living, including one from her high school sweetheart.
Scott York has just returned to town and hired Kate to do some work in his home but when his job at the sherriff's office calls him away Kate is expected to let herself in with the spare key. After working for an hour or so Kate wanders into the kitchen where she comes across a dead body of a woman she's never seen before and immediately calls the police but when it turns out the victim was Scott's ex Kate jumps in to help clear his name.
Hammered was a really short read for a cozy mystery so most will not find it surprising at all for me to say this one was a bit lacking overall. There weren't many characters even introduced to really come up with a complex mystery and most of the story focused on Kate's love life without her missing husband so I was beginning to think I'd picked up a romance with for whatever reason a dead body involved in it. It wasn't until the end that it all made a bit more sense so while I didn't think this was necessarily bad I did come away with a bit of a meh feeling.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Scott York has just returned to town and hired Kate to do some work in his home but when his job at the sherriff's office calls him away Kate is expected to let herself in with the spare key. After working for an hour or so Kate wanders into the kitchen where she comes across a dead body of a woman she's never seen before and immediately calls the police but when it turns out the victim was Scott's ex Kate jumps in to help clear his name.
Hammered was a really short read for a cozy mystery so most will not find it surprising at all for me to say this one was a bit lacking overall. There weren't many characters even introduced to really come up with a complex mystery and most of the story focused on Kate's love life without her missing husband so I was beginning to think I'd picked up a romance with for whatever reason a dead body involved in it. It wasn't until the end that it all made a bit more sense so while I didn't think this was necessarily bad I did come away with a bit of a meh feeling.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
February 6, 2017
I just couldn't get into this book. I tried.. but facts were repeated and the form was so poor, I just lost interest.. I usually read cozy mysteries in a night, but I could not even finish a few chapters before my brain was shouting that there are better books out there.
November 4, 2015
Kate Flaherty is a handywoman in the small town of Rock Ridge, Pennsylvania. She started her business when her husband disappeared and she had to support 2 boys just starting college. Her old high school sweetheart Scott York has just returned to town as the new police chief. She is repairing a hole in the sheetrock in his house when she discovers his ex-wife's body. Even though he is chief of police, Scott is arrested for the murder and Kate must gather evidence to prove his innocence since she's positive he didn't commit the murder.
I thought this story was a cute little cozy mystery. I prefer books that are at least 200 pages and this one was less, but the story was at a stopping point. Due to some unresolved issues, I can tell this is a series that will continue and I would like to read more.
I thought this story was a cute little cozy mystery. I prefer books that are at least 200 pages and this one was less, but the story was at a stopping point. Due to some unresolved issues, I can tell this is a series that will continue and I would like to read more.
January 24, 2017
I love when a female character shatters the norm. We have a female character who is a contractor and knows her way with a power drill... it is pretty awesome. Through in a pretty damn good murder mystery and you have one heck of a great mystery. For me, mystery needs to be fun and make me have multiple hmmm moments and when the final AHA happens... I liked to be surprised. Now, I did have the whodunit narrowed down to two people and one of the people I narrowed it down to was in fact the killer but the book was still tons of fun and I am sure I will finish book 2, just as fast.
Full review of entire series will be posted on The Cubicle Escapee.
Full review of entire series will be posted on The Cubicle Escapee.
November 11, 2015
Interesting
Nice change of cozy mystery. Unusual main character with a different twist missing husband old sweetheart back in town and his ex-wife gets killed
Nice change of cozy mystery. Unusual main character with a different twist missing husband old sweetheart back in town and his ex-wife gets killed
October 6, 2015
it was better than i thought for a short story. it could have been longer.
May 14, 2017
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
July 4, 2017
Short read, almost a novella. I don't know why but the word 'lover' irritates me. Not a lot of time to get into the story or linger on any of the suspects because we never actually knew who the suspects were besides her ex husband. Also, the cartoon woman on the cover is deceptive - she looks like she's about 25, and the actual main character is described as 'middle aged' and her sons are freshmen in college. But I got the box set 1-15 for $.99, so...
January 16, 2018
This was the first book in the Mrs fixit cozy my story series. It was an easy lighthearted read that I wanted to keep going back to finish ever time I had to put it down.
I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
January 6, 2018
Cute and light-hearted as you can get with a murder mystery. Now reading the second in the series. Quick relaxing read. I like the way this author writes.
August 14, 2019
Great book
Great book filled with suspense. Would recommend to anyone to read! Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
Great book filled with suspense. Would recommend to anyone to read! Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
May 5, 2020
It was a good murder mystery. Fast read and I figured out who did it.
August 28, 2020
OMG
I was riveted by this book from the first page. I must say tho, I was really hoping katydid and Scott has gotten together.
I was riveted by this book from the first page. I must say tho, I was really hoping katydid and Scott has gotten together.
July 30, 2021
This book was very short but interesting. I guess I'll keep reading more of the 15 books I have bundled together on my kindle. I wonder if the books will get longer or if they are all this short.
I kind of like the idea of the main character being a handy-(wo)man in a small town, but wish she didn't pull the "dumb girl" thing with her walking into dark alleys/places or other dangerous situations. She says this person could have a good motive for the killing but she's known them all her life and they can't possibly be a killer. So, I'll go ask them about it... alone. The main character knows one of the people in the small town is probably a murderer but her quest for information is more important than using her head. Of course, she had to be "saved" by one of the few handsome men around her that she may, or may not, be interested in.
I kind of like the idea of the main character being a handy-(wo)man in a small town, but wish she didn't pull the "dumb girl" thing with her walking into dark alleys/places or other dangerous situations. She says this person could have a good motive for the killing but she's known them all her life and they can't possibly be a killer. So, I'll go ask them about it... alone. The main character knows one of the people in the small town is probably a murderer but her quest for information is more important than using her head. Of course, she had to be "saved" by one of the few handsome men around her that she may, or may not, be interested in.
February 27, 2017
Kept my interest. Suspenseful.
December 30, 2015
I got this free on Kindle and was one of my "read on bart" books.
Nice cozy mystery. I enjoyed the premise and the story itself. I would read more but there were a few issues that would which I didn't care for. A high school ex comes back to town and will not take no for an answer. She doesn't seem to have a personality to start digging into other people's business to solve the mystery. It comes later in the book that she is stubborn and tenacious but that wasn't the impression she gave off in the first half of the story. She keeps repeating the same thoughts to herself, the same as in the exact words. She keeps reminding herself that she is still married even though her husband disappeared years ago. It could be a mantra she repeats to herself but it felt like the author had forgotten that it was already stated and so it is in there multiple times.
I liked the details of what she is fixings, the relationship to her small town clients, how she got into this position. It felt grounding to the story.
I might try others in the series and see if I like them.
Nice cozy mystery. I enjoyed the premise and the story itself. I would read more but there were a few issues that would which I didn't care for. A high school ex comes back to town and will not take no for an answer. She doesn't seem to have a personality to start digging into other people's business to solve the mystery. It comes later in the book that she is stubborn and tenacious but that wasn't the impression she gave off in the first half of the story. She keeps repeating the same thoughts to herself, the same as in the exact words. She keeps reminding herself that she is still married even though her husband disappeared years ago. It could be a mantra she repeats to herself but it felt like the author had forgotten that it was already stated and so it is in there multiple times.
I liked the details of what she is fixings, the relationship to her small town clients, how she got into this position. It felt grounding to the story.
I might try others in the series and see if I like them.
February 9, 2017
I enjoyed reading the book and am sure I will like the series. The stories are a little see through but they are well written and are a good way to pass the time.
September 25, 2015
This is the first in a series and is really quite good. The premise behind the series is a middle aged woman whose husband disappeared several years ago, leaving her to raise her twin boys (now in college) and find a new means of supporting the family. So she turns to the one thing she knows how to do - handyman. She learned from her dad, a single parent himself, now retired and living away. The story opens when an old high school flame moves back to town as the new Chief of Police, and she discovers the body of his ex-wife in his kitchen. She goes to work to solve the mystery and clear her old flame, who, incidentally, wants to rekindle that fire, but she's still married to the missing husband. Read it. It's that good.
November 2, 2015
When I first got the book off Amazon for my Kindle I had no idea it was a short story and not a novel, I was shocked at how quickly things were happening and before I knew it I was already half way through. The idea is cute and I like Scott because he has a lot of mystery surrounding him. You don't really know why he is back or what happened while he is away and I know that Kate's husband is supposed to be a mystery as well but I found myself not really caring why he isn't around. Kate does get a bit repetitive and I rolled my eyes at her sometimes but I think I liked it enough to continue the series.
October 12, 2016
If I've read any before, I could count the number of cozy mysteries I've ever read on one hand. I happen to like sex, swearing and (reading about) violence.
So, cozy mysteries are boring as hell. It was good, I assume, for a cozy? I dunno. It was all wrapped up WAY to quick, is that how they are? It's like "hey, here's the murderer, and now he's caught" the end. DULL!
But these are short and I need that right now for a challenge, so I'll keep up.
Oh, in the first book, MC said a version of "none of my business" over 20 times, in a book 130pages long, so that was a bit excessive, especially since it's not true!
So, cozy mysteries are boring as hell. It was good, I assume, for a cozy? I dunno. It was all wrapped up WAY to quick, is that how they are? It's like "hey, here's the murderer, and now he's caught" the end. DULL!
But these are short and I need that right now for a challenge, so I'll keep up.
Oh, in the first book, MC said a version of "none of my business" over 20 times, in a book 130pages long, so that was a bit excessive, especially since it's not true!
September 23, 2015
Mrs. Fix it is a Nosey Nelly and she get's into a wee bit of trouble.
This book was a fun murder mystery. I can't wait to read more of this series.
It was well written and one of the first books I've read by Belle Knudson.
If you like a fun lite murder this is a good for you. This is a short story that would only take a few hours to read...IF life would leave you alone and let you read. lol
I can't wait to find out what really happened to Kate's husband. This book is a stand-alone but there is still another mystery to uncover. Ohh...Ahhhh
This book was a fun murder mystery. I can't wait to read more of this series.
It was well written and one of the first books I've read by Belle Knudson.
If you like a fun lite murder this is a good for you. This is a short story that would only take a few hours to read...IF life would leave you alone and let you read. lol
I can't wait to find out what really happened to Kate's husband. This book is a stand-alone but there is still another mystery to uncover. Ohh...Ahhhh
September 25, 2015
"A recipe that works"
Take a dozen standard characters and put them in a tricky situation, use a simple approach to the setting, the dialogue and the story-line and what can go wrong? This is not a classic of the Mystery genre, but it's not meant to be. It's an easy read. The references to past events indicate I've picked up a book which will develop into a series and the questions I have will be addressed at a later date. I can choose to follow up or not; it doesn't really matter. As a stand-alone novel this fits the bill, something to fill a couple of hours leisure time.
Take a dozen standard characters and put them in a tricky situation, use a simple approach to the setting, the dialogue and the story-line and what can go wrong? This is not a classic of the Mystery genre, but it's not meant to be. It's an easy read. The references to past events indicate I've picked up a book which will develop into a series and the questions I have will be addressed at a later date. I can choose to follow up or not; it doesn't really matter. As a stand-alone novel this fits the bill, something to fill a couple of hours leisure time.
April 14, 2016
Hammered, the first in the Mrs. Fix It Mysteries was an easy to read cozy mystery about a female handyman (handywoman) who stumbles onto a dead body in the house of the towns new Police Chief. To add a complication or two, the new police chief happens to be her ex-boyfriend from high school. I rather enjoyed it. It was well written and very well edited. The only complaint was the 2 competing love interests, it felt a bit 'stuck together', so to speak. All in all, it's a good cozy mystery that doesn't take much time to read.
May 24, 2016
Kate Flaherty is her hometown's handywoman. She is a single mom trying to get her twin sons thru college after her husband leaves without a word and can't be found anywhere. When Scott York comes back to his home town as the new sheriff Kate takes a job from him to fix a wall in his house. Kate and Scott have a history together so when she takes the job he offers she thinks she can keep it all business until she finds a dead woman in Scott's kitchen. Scott is arrested for the woman's murder so Kate finds herself trying to prove he didn't do it. This is a fun, easy, quick read.
September 19, 2015
Under 100 pages, this is a quick and easy read. Kate Flaherty works has a handy (wo)man for income since her husband disappeared five years ago. While fixing a wall in the police chief's house, she finds a dead body. Think "Murder She Wrote" with tools instead of a typewriter/computer. A fun cozy.
September 25, 2015
The story develops nicely!
The story was quite plain at first
But The characters and plot developed quickly and became very interesting. One good aspect of the book is that it shows that while small towns are still small towns in this modern age, they are also irrevocably tied to the strife and problems o the larger society.
I'm interested in the sequel.
The story was quite plain at first
But The characters and plot developed quickly and became very interesting. One good aspect of the book is that it shows that while small towns are still small towns in this modern age, they are also irrevocably tied to the strife and problems o the larger society.
I'm interested in the sequel.
October 24, 2015
Couldn't get through it.
This book started out great, with a wonderful plot. Unfortunately, about 20% of the way through, the author began to get very repetitive with the character's inner dialogue, blogging the story down. So, I had to stop reading it. Life is too short. Some tweaking on this one would really help it.
This book started out great, with a wonderful plot. Unfortunately, about 20% of the way through, the author began to get very repetitive with the character's inner dialogue, blogging the story down. So, I had to stop reading it. Life is too short. Some tweaking on this one would really help it.
November 2, 2015
Okay
Definitely not a mystery. No suspense. No intrigue. Most of the characters remained flat and uninteresting. Very basic story line and book needs an editor - many typos and grammar errors. Also, you don't end a book with a major puzzle unsolved, i.e. what happened to her husband.
Definitely not a mystery. No suspense. No intrigue. Most of the characters remained flat and uninteresting. Very basic story line and book needs an editor - many typos and grammar errors. Also, you don't end a book with a major puzzle unsolved, i.e. what happened to her husband.
January 19, 2016
Pennsylvania Trauma
While being a liberated woman doing a man's job Kate sounds like the worst kind of doormat constantly stating her marital status to the town. Her husband disappeared five years ago and she runs around childishly stating that she doesn't date because she is an married woman. But it was a good story for the afternoon.
While being a liberated woman doing a man's job Kate sounds like the worst kind of doormat constantly stating her marital status to the town. Her husband disappeared five years ago and she runs around childishly stating that she doesn't date because she is an married woman. But it was a good story for the afternoon.
April 23, 2016
Nailed it
Wonderful cozy mystery full of drama, humor, romance, and of course a tragic death. I'm eager to find out the fate of Kate, her missing husband Greg, and high school flame/chief of police Scott. The story is well thought out and the delightful characters draw you into their little town and make you feel a part of their world.
Wonderful cozy mystery full of drama, humor, romance, and of course a tragic death. I'm eager to find out the fate of Kate, her missing husband Greg, and high school flame/chief of police Scott. The story is well thought out and the delightful characters draw you into their little town and make you feel a part of their world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews