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House-Flipper Mystery #1
Dead as a Door Knocker
The first in a brand-new cozy series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville—where the real estate market is to die for.
WILL THIS KILLER DEAL LEAD TO A DEAD END?
Meet Whitney Whitaker. A hopeless romantic when it comes to real estate, she knows what it takes to find—and flip—the home of one’s dreams. A fixer-upper is like catnip to Whitney: she can’t resist the challenge of turning an eyesore into a priceless work of art. So when one of her clients decides to liquidate a crumbling property, Whitney seizes the opportunity to purchase it for a song. But soon a curious incident of the cat in the night-time leads to a change in tune. . .
Sawdust is the name of Whitney’s cat—of course. Whitney’s passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don’t belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it’s up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgage property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment. . .and maybe her own life.
WILL THIS KILLER DEAL LEAD TO A DEAD END?
Meet Whitney Whitaker. A hopeless romantic when it comes to real estate, she knows what it takes to find—and flip—the home of one’s dreams. A fixer-upper is like catnip to Whitney: she can’t resist the challenge of turning an eyesore into a priceless work of art. So when one of her clients decides to liquidate a crumbling property, Whitney seizes the opportunity to purchase it for a song. But soon a curious incident of the cat in the night-time leads to a change in tune. . .
Sawdust is the name of Whitney’s cat—of course. Whitney’s passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don’t belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it’s up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgage property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment. . .and maybe her own life.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2019
256 people are currently reading
2059 people want to read
About the author
Diane Kelly
69 books1,227 followersAward-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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
September 12, 2025
After reading the sixth and seventh books in the house-flipper series by Diane Kelly, I decided I wanted to read the first five books in the series. Book one is
Dead as a Door Knocker
and features Whitney Whitaker, Sawdust, and Buck Whitaker.
Once again Diane Kelly brings plenty of mystery, atmosphere, and conflict to the story. Whitney is a property manager for Home and Hearth Realty and who also works part-time as a carpenter for her uncle’s company. Sawdust is her cat. Buck is her first cousin and works for his father’s company as a skilled carpenter. Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn is introduced here in his first week as a homicide detective.
After Whitney evicts the tenants of a house, the owner, Rick Dunaway, offers to sell her the fixer-upper. Whitney can’t resist the opportunity, and with Buck as a co-owner, they buy the house. But soon unfortunate events occur that stress Whitney, Sawdust, and Buck. One of these is a dead body. Whitney works to find out what happened before there’s a foreclosure on the property and Whitney and Buck lose their investment.
Whitney is inquisitive, perceptive, punctual, personable, believes in progress as well as preservation, and doesn’t like having restrictions put on her. She loves fixing up properties and pays attention to detail, but often puts herself in danger. This series has Whitney’s cat Sawdust’s thoughts interspersed throughout the book in a few short chapters. While they aren’t necessary to the story line, they provide some humor and insights that made them enjoyable. In fact, the scenes with the monster who collects crumbs, cat hair, and more each night are hilarious.
The author is a great storyteller and managed to pull me into the narrative quickly. The main characters are likeable and relatable and some, but not all of the antagonists are quickly known. The plot has a few twists and turns and a couple of subplots and the story moved at a good pace. The ending was perfect and sets up the second book in the series.
Overall, this is a fun, light, entertaining, and enjoyable cozy mystery with great characterization and some humor. It’s an excellent start to what I hope will be a long series. The author’s writing style is easy to connect with and draws me into her stories. I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series. Those who enjoy cozy mysteries will likely find this an entertaining read.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book was originally published on January 29, 2019.
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My 4.2 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Once again Diane Kelly brings plenty of mystery, atmosphere, and conflict to the story. Whitney is a property manager for Home and Hearth Realty and who also works part-time as a carpenter for her uncle’s company. Sawdust is her cat. Buck is her first cousin and works for his father’s company as a skilled carpenter. Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn is introduced here in his first week as a homicide detective.
After Whitney evicts the tenants of a house, the owner, Rick Dunaway, offers to sell her the fixer-upper. Whitney can’t resist the opportunity, and with Buck as a co-owner, they buy the house. But soon unfortunate events occur that stress Whitney, Sawdust, and Buck. One of these is a dead body. Whitney works to find out what happened before there’s a foreclosure on the property and Whitney and Buck lose their investment.
Whitney is inquisitive, perceptive, punctual, personable, believes in progress as well as preservation, and doesn’t like having restrictions put on her. She loves fixing up properties and pays attention to detail, but often puts herself in danger. This series has Whitney’s cat Sawdust’s thoughts interspersed throughout the book in a few short chapters. While they aren’t necessary to the story line, they provide some humor and insights that made them enjoyable. In fact, the scenes with the monster who collects crumbs, cat hair, and more each night are hilarious.
The author is a great storyteller and managed to pull me into the narrative quickly. The main characters are likeable and relatable and some, but not all of the antagonists are quickly known. The plot has a few twists and turns and a couple of subplots and the story moved at a good pace. The ending was perfect and sets up the second book in the series.
Overall, this is a fun, light, entertaining, and enjoyable cozy mystery with great characterization and some humor. It’s an excellent start to what I hope will be a long series. The author’s writing style is easy to connect with and draws me into her stories. I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series. Those who enjoy cozy mysteries will likely find this an entertaining read.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book was originally published on January 29, 2019.
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My 4.2 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
December 20, 2018
Dead as a Door Knocker by Diane Kelly is the first book in the brand new cozy House-Flipper Mystery series. This series takes a couple of my favorite things, renovating real estate and kitty cats, and combines them together so how could I say no to reading this one?
Whitney Whitaker has been working as a property manager to pay the bills for a while now while living in her parents pool house with her cat, Sawdust. Real estate and renovating are really Whitney’s passions so when an opportunity to buy a home in need of her TLC way below market value comes up Whitney finds it hard to pass by.
Knowing she can’t afford the property on her own even wiping out her bank account Whitney brings in her cousin as a partner. After the inspection is done and the paperwork signed Whitney and Buck end up with one problem after another including finding the seller’s body in the flower bed and with Whitney a person of interest in the murder she needs to find the real killer quickly.
Dead as a Door Knocker was such a cute cozy mystery that grabbed my attention right away. Whitney was a likable enough character along with the supporting cast around her but Sawdust steals the show with his own chapters from his point of view, watch out for demons in those! The story was one that took a bit to get to the mystery side but being the series opener I appreciated taking the time to build the characters and story before the suspects started lining up with the murder. All in all 4.5 stars for this new series by Diane Kelly and I will definitely be back for more.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Whitney Whitaker has been working as a property manager to pay the bills for a while now while living in her parents pool house with her cat, Sawdust. Real estate and renovating are really Whitney’s passions so when an opportunity to buy a home in need of her TLC way below market value comes up Whitney finds it hard to pass by.
Knowing she can’t afford the property on her own even wiping out her bank account Whitney brings in her cousin as a partner. After the inspection is done and the paperwork signed Whitney and Buck end up with one problem after another including finding the seller’s body in the flower bed and with Whitney a person of interest in the murder she needs to find the real killer quickly.
Dead as a Door Knocker was such a cute cozy mystery that grabbed my attention right away. Whitney was a likable enough character along with the supporting cast around her but Sawdust steals the show with his own chapters from his point of view, watch out for demons in those! The story was one that took a bit to get to the mystery side but being the series opener I appreciated taking the time to build the characters and story before the suspects started lining up with the murder. All in all 4.5 stars for this new series by Diane Kelly and I will definitely be back for more.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 28, 2024
Diane Kelly starts off her new series with this five star edge of seat cozy mystery. I was drawn into the mystery from the first chapter. I found it to be riveting and scary especially near the end of the book. I loved the main characters and how they helped to find the real murderer. I enjoyed reading about their skills in remodeling fixer upper houses. Made it all seem so easy although I know it’s not. I adored the sweet kitty Sawdust. Readers were taken into the mind of this cat with short chapters of what he was thinking as the story progressed. When a corpse turns up at Witney’s new home she becomes the main suspect. Main characters work together to find out who the culprit really is. The book had humor added that made it an enjoyable read. I first read book six of this series, Four Alarm Homicide. I loved it and decided to read book one . It certainly didn’t disappoint and the Author has landed on my list of favorites. I can’t wait to read book two Dead in the Doorway.
I highly recommend Dead as a Door Knocker to readers of cozy mystery. All books of the House Flipper Mystery series are available now to readers.
I borrowed a copy from the Libby App. A review was not requested. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.
I highly recommend Dead as a Door Knocker to readers of cozy mystery. All books of the House Flipper Mystery series are available now to readers.
I borrowed a copy from the Libby App. A review was not requested. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.
January 28, 2019
Whitney Whitaker is a property manager with dreams of making it big in real estate. When she gets the chance to buy a property to flip it, she thinks it might be too good to be true. And it is. Especially when a dead body is found buried in the flower bed.
The first book in a new cozy mystery series. Whitney is a likable character. She is single, living in her parent's guest house, and working all the time. She's a hard-worker with good relationships with her family and friends. In addition to her family and friends, Whitney has a cat, Sawdust. The reader gets insights to their relationship, since a few chapters are from Sawdust's point of view.
A cute and entertaining cozy mystery. With this being the first book in a series, a lot of the story is spent getting to know the characters. The murder mystery doesn't get started right away, but when it does, it's clear Whitney needs to investigate on her own to find the killer.
A fantastic start to the House-Flipper mystery series. I look forward to reading more about Whitney in future books.
I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first book in a new cozy mystery series. Whitney is a likable character. She is single, living in her parent's guest house, and working all the time. She's a hard-worker with good relationships with her family and friends. In addition to her family and friends, Whitney has a cat, Sawdust. The reader gets insights to their relationship, since a few chapters are from Sawdust's point of view.
A cute and entertaining cozy mystery. With this being the first book in a series, a lot of the story is spent getting to know the characters. The murder mystery doesn't get started right away, but when it does, it's clear Whitney needs to investigate on her own to find the killer.
A fantastic start to the House-Flipper mystery series. I look forward to reading more about Whitney in future books.
I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2023
This is a new cozy series set in Nashville and its hook is home improvement and flipping, but a dead body in the flower bed could seriously tank the resale. I liked the story, but the execution left a little to be desired.
Whitney Whitaker is a carpenter, property manager, woodworker and aspiring Real Estate Agent. She lives in her parent's pool house and when a property management client offers her a classic property in desperate need of repair in a desirable Nashville neighborhood at a steep discount, she jumps at the opportunity. She and her cousin, Buck, are ready for the challenge of renovating and flipping the property.
Whitney and Sawdust, her cat, move in and that night disaster strikes leading Whitney to realize there was a reason she got such a good deal. She confronts the seller and they come to an agreement, but when he turns up planted in her flower bed, Whitney is the prime suspect. Knowing she can't leave the investigation to the newly minted Nashville Police Detective, Collin Flynn, Whitney, Buck and her friend, Collete, set out to prove her innocence.
Whitney Whitaker is a carpenter, property manager, woodworker and aspiring Real Estate Agent. She lives in her parent's pool house and when a property management client offers her a classic property in desperate need of repair in a desirable Nashville neighborhood at a steep discount, she jumps at the opportunity. She and her cousin, Buck, are ready for the challenge of renovating and flipping the property.
Whitney and Sawdust, her cat, move in and that night disaster strikes leading Whitney to realize there was a reason she got such a good deal. She confronts the seller and they come to an agreement, but when he turns up planted in her flower bed, Whitney is the prime suspect. Knowing she can't leave the investigation to the newly minted Nashville Police Detective, Collin Flynn, Whitney, Buck and her friend, Collete, set out to prove her innocence.
December 11, 2018
This is the first thing I have read by this author and thought it was a solid start to a new series. I'm a fan of the fixer upper, flipper, home improvement shows on cable so this book appealed to me for that reason. The characters were likable and while not a cat person, I enjoyed the brief chapters giving a glimpse of life from Sawdust's perspective. The mystery was pretty well crafted. I thought the pace was a bit slow and it took awhile to set up the mystery. I did enjoy the story and would be open to reading more in the series.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me through Netgalley.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me through Netgalley.
April 1, 2019
Dead as a Door Knocker was a great start to a new cozy mystery series with an interesting mystery and a delightful cat.
Whitney Whitaker works as a property manager while she’s studying to take her real estate licensing exam. After she’s forced to evict three young men who trashed a rental property, the owner is frustrated and asks Whitney if she’d like to purchase the house for cheap. With her dream to eventually flip houses, Whitney sees this as the perfect opportunity for her first flip. But after she purchases the house, she encounters one problem after another with the property leading her to believe she got a bad deal. And after her cat Sawdust finds a body in the flower bed, her luck goes from bad to worse as the detective on the case is convinced she’s guilty. Determined to find the real killer, Whitney is in a race against the clock before she goes down for murder.
The main plot of this book of Whitney finding the body and being accused of murder doesn’t happen until a little ways into the book. At first the book centers on Whitney purchasing the house and beginning the renovations. The number of problems she runs into after she begins her renovations was staggering and I liked that she was quick to realize that the inspector she used was obviously not truthful as to the state of the house. Once the body is found, things quickly spiral out of control for Whitney. She is held for questioning and has very little recourse to prove her innocence when the circumstances of the death are revealed. I enjoyed her quest to find the killer as she’s great at finding connections and following up on them. I have to admit I was surprised by the killer’s identity but everything made perfect sense after the details were revealed.
Whitney is a fantastic main character and I found myself really enjoying her. Whitney lives in a pool house on her parent’s property while she’s saving up money for her eventual dream of flipping houses. She works as a property manager as well as doing carpentry work on the side in her family’s business. Whitney is great at both of her jobs and her skills as a carpenter definitely come in handy when renters want work done. Whitney has an adorable cat named Sawdust that accompanies her to the house she’s flipping and I enjoyed the hijinks he got into while there. Overall Sawdust was a delightful character and I enjoyed the small chapters we got from his point of view as they were quite fun. I loved his determination to conquer his fear of the robot vacuum Whitney owned.
Whitney is quite close with her family and a number of them appear throughout the story. The one who shows up the most is her cousin Buck who assisted her in buying the house and is helping her renovate it. I enjoyed their relationship as it was like that of siblings. Another big character is detective Collin Flynn, the man investigating the body found on Whitney’s property. Collin is new to his job, but he is quite good at it despite his suspicions that Whitney is the killer. He’s great at making connections and I appreciated his willingness to follow up on leads Whitney gave him.
Overall I really enjoyed Dead as a Door Knocker and I’m interested to see where the series goes in future books. I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking to get into cozies as it’s a light, easy read.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Whitney Whitaker works as a property manager while she’s studying to take her real estate licensing exam. After she’s forced to evict three young men who trashed a rental property, the owner is frustrated and asks Whitney if she’d like to purchase the house for cheap. With her dream to eventually flip houses, Whitney sees this as the perfect opportunity for her first flip. But after she purchases the house, she encounters one problem after another with the property leading her to believe she got a bad deal. And after her cat Sawdust finds a body in the flower bed, her luck goes from bad to worse as the detective on the case is convinced she’s guilty. Determined to find the real killer, Whitney is in a race against the clock before she goes down for murder.
The main plot of this book of Whitney finding the body and being accused of murder doesn’t happen until a little ways into the book. At first the book centers on Whitney purchasing the house and beginning the renovations. The number of problems she runs into after she begins her renovations was staggering and I liked that she was quick to realize that the inspector she used was obviously not truthful as to the state of the house. Once the body is found, things quickly spiral out of control for Whitney. She is held for questioning and has very little recourse to prove her innocence when the circumstances of the death are revealed. I enjoyed her quest to find the killer as she’s great at finding connections and following up on them. I have to admit I was surprised by the killer’s identity but everything made perfect sense after the details were revealed.
Whitney is a fantastic main character and I found myself really enjoying her. Whitney lives in a pool house on her parent’s property while she’s saving up money for her eventual dream of flipping houses. She works as a property manager as well as doing carpentry work on the side in her family’s business. Whitney is great at both of her jobs and her skills as a carpenter definitely come in handy when renters want work done. Whitney has an adorable cat named Sawdust that accompanies her to the house she’s flipping and I enjoyed the hijinks he got into while there. Overall Sawdust was a delightful character and I enjoyed the small chapters we got from his point of view as they were quite fun. I loved his determination to conquer his fear of the robot vacuum Whitney owned.
Whitney is quite close with her family and a number of them appear throughout the story. The one who shows up the most is her cousin Buck who assisted her in buying the house and is helping her renovate it. I enjoyed their relationship as it was like that of siblings. Another big character is detective Collin Flynn, the man investigating the body found on Whitney’s property. Collin is new to his job, but he is quite good at it despite his suspicions that Whitney is the killer. He’s great at making connections and I appreciated his willingness to follow up on leads Whitney gave him.
Overall I really enjoyed Dead as a Door Knocker and I’m interested to see where the series goes in future books. I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking to get into cozies as it’s a light, easy read.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
April 14, 2021
I really liked this book and I liked how you saw it not only through Whitney's point of view but through Sawdust (the cat) point of view. The story line was really good and the job kept me guessing till almost the end. I love the side characters Buck, and her best friend. I do also love Sawdust and I am wondering if we might get a love interest in the Detective. A really good book and I can't wait to continue this series.
February 11, 2019
If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. - Milton Berle
Whitney Whitaker followed Milt's advice and built her own proverbial door. She is a skilled carpenter (it runs in the family), a conscientious property manager (catering to "hands off" owners), and a dreamer (why not work for herself?). Whitney drains her savings account to flip a house with her cousin, thinking the rundown rental was a good deal. Just ask they push up their shirtsleeves to get to work, they encounter a series of problems that reveal the house was not such a good deal after all. Especially when a dead body pops up in the flower bed.
Whitney takes on one more role - amateur sleuth - to clear her name as a suspect in the murder. She is aided by friends and family until she hits a speed bump in the form of a sexy detective. Alas, DEAD AS A DOOR KNOCKER follows the blue print (ha ha) of cozy mysteries with a few twists and turns until the heroine reveals the murderer. Alas, Kelly sets this new series apart by embracing the "flipping" craze. Indeed, I am a HGTV junkie ... I enjoy the trials and tribulations of house flippers, hoping it might inspire me to pick up a hammer (or call a contractor). I felt a kinship with Whitney - she cared about her tenants while trying to satisfy the landlords. And she has a cat who fears the Roomba in Whitney's tiny house (alas, I suspect Sawdust the cat will grow claws throughout this series). I also appreciate the opportunity to see Nashville through Whitney's eyes - she's not fully immersed in the Country & Western culture that it overwhelms the reader.
I am a huge fan of Kelly's previous series, PAW ENFORCEMENT. I fell in love with Megan, a Fort Worth police officer, and Brigit, her canine partner known for her "take no prisoners" attitude. Could I welcome Whitney and Sawdust into my heart filled for admiration of Megan and Brigit? The answer is Yes! Different heroines, different sidekicks and different cities confirm variety is the spice of life. But deep down, both heroines share one common trait - a desire to better themselves while accepting who they are. Kudos, Diane Kelly, for making the transition. I look forward to more "flipping" with Whitney and Sawdust!
I received an ARC for my review.
Whitney Whitaker followed Milt's advice and built her own proverbial door. She is a skilled carpenter (it runs in the family), a conscientious property manager (catering to "hands off" owners), and a dreamer (why not work for herself?). Whitney drains her savings account to flip a house with her cousin, thinking the rundown rental was a good deal. Just ask they push up their shirtsleeves to get to work, they encounter a series of problems that reveal the house was not such a good deal after all. Especially when a dead body pops up in the flower bed.
Whitney takes on one more role - amateur sleuth - to clear her name as a suspect in the murder. She is aided by friends and family until she hits a speed bump in the form of a sexy detective. Alas, DEAD AS A DOOR KNOCKER follows the blue print (ha ha) of cozy mysteries with a few twists and turns until the heroine reveals the murderer. Alas, Kelly sets this new series apart by embracing the "flipping" craze. Indeed, I am a HGTV junkie ... I enjoy the trials and tribulations of house flippers, hoping it might inspire me to pick up a hammer (or call a contractor). I felt a kinship with Whitney - she cared about her tenants while trying to satisfy the landlords. And she has a cat who fears the Roomba in Whitney's tiny house (alas, I suspect Sawdust the cat will grow claws throughout this series). I also appreciate the opportunity to see Nashville through Whitney's eyes - she's not fully immersed in the Country & Western culture that it overwhelms the reader.
I am a huge fan of Kelly's previous series, PAW ENFORCEMENT. I fell in love with Megan, a Fort Worth police officer, and Brigit, her canine partner known for her "take no prisoners" attitude. Could I welcome Whitney and Sawdust into my heart filled for admiration of Megan and Brigit? The answer is Yes! Different heroines, different sidekicks and different cities confirm variety is the spice of life. But deep down, both heroines share one common trait - a desire to better themselves while accepting who they are. Kudos, Diane Kelly, for making the transition. I look forward to more "flipping" with Whitney and Sawdust!
I received an ARC for my review.
January 8, 2019
The first book in The House Flipper mysteries. Meet Whitney Whitaker and her cat, Sawdust. Whitney has been saving for a house of own. She accepted an offer to purchase a dilapidated house at a reduced price as the owner is liquidating his rentals. Since Whitney did not have enough funds to start remodeling She asked her cousin go into with her. The first-night Whiney spends at the house, she and her, cat Sawdust nearly escape with the lives from a fire in a back room. As the electoral system was not updated she asked the seller to cover the deductible portion of her insurance. He agreed but is found dead in the flower bed next to them. The police believe that Whitney had motive and arrested her for murder. Whitney begins to explore them. Does she find answers before she spent her life in prison?
Many thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 16, 2018
Dead As A Door Knocker by Diane Kelly was an entertaining beginning to this new series.
I enjoyed meeting Whitney and her family. She is a strong and likable character who never gave up throughout the story. Her cousin, Buck, is adorable with his sense of humor and concern for Whitney. Whitney's friend, Collette, also added some interesting details and warmth to this cozy mystery.
I found the story to be slow to start but it finally picked up about 1/3 of the way into the book and swiftly moved to the reveal with plenty of suspects and twists to keep me guessing. Ms. Kelly has developed the characters well in this book; and I am sure that they will grow more as the series continues. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
I enjoyed meeting Whitney and her family. She is a strong and likable character who never gave up throughout the story. Her cousin, Buck, is adorable with his sense of humor and concern for Whitney. Whitney's friend, Collette, also added some interesting details and warmth to this cozy mystery.
I found the story to be slow to start but it finally picked up about 1/3 of the way into the book and swiftly moved to the reveal with plenty of suspects and twists to keep me guessing. Ms. Kelly has developed the characters well in this book; and I am sure that they will grow more as the series continues. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
July 9, 2021
2.75 stars rounded up
A weak 3-stars for me because the story dragged before the murder happened. It also felt rather dry and there weren't any sparks between Whitney and the homicide detective. I appreciated Whitney for her skill, though. It's nice to read a book where the female MC is a competent carpenter.
Oh, and I LOVE cats on my book. But having Sawdust's POV intercepted in few chapters felt rather distracting
A weak 3-stars for me because the story dragged before the murder happened. It also felt rather dry and there weren't any sparks between Whitney and the homicide detective. I appreciated Whitney for her skill, though. It's nice to read a book where the female MC is a competent carpenter.
Oh, and I LOVE cats on my book. But having Sawdust's POV intercepted in few chapters felt rather distracting
February 10, 2019
Dead As A Door Knocker
House-Flipper Mystery, Book #1
Diane Kelly
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The first in a brand-new cozy series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville—where the real estate market is to die for.
WILL THIS KILLER DEAL LEAD TO A DEAD END?
Meet Whitney Whitaker. A hopeless romantic when it comes to real estate, she knows what it takes to find—and flip—the home of one’s dreams. A fixer-upper is like catnip to Whitney: she can’t resist the challenge of turning an eyesore into a priceless work of art. So when one of her clients decides to liquidate a crumbling property, Whitney seizes the opportunity to purchase it for a song. But soon a curious incident of the cat in the night-time leads to a change in tune. . .
Sawdust is the name of Whitney’s cat—of course. Whitney’s passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don’t belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it’s up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgage property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment. . .and maybe her own life. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Whitney is a strong smart woman and she is very talented in carpentry. So when the opportunity to buy a house and flip it presents itself, she jumps at the chance. Her cousin Buck helps her and together they go into the house-flipping business. There was a lot of action contained within the pages of the book. I would have been discouraged by the mishaps that befall the house, but Whitney did not give up. I enjoyed getting to know Whitney and Buck and I enjoyed their relationship, with its bickering and banter. I also enjoyed getting to know, Collette, Whitney’s friend. She may be a love interest for Buck, we will have to wait and see. And Whitney’s cat, Sawdust, is adorable and adds to the story.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick, easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching the house come to life. I really enjoyed reading the chapters that were written from Sawdust’s point of view. I thought that was really clever and added humor to the book.
The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. With twists and turns and a few red herrings thrown in, it was not an easy one to solve.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book, when it is published.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
House-Flipper Mystery, Book #1
Diane Kelly
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The first in a brand-new cozy series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville—where the real estate market is to die for.
WILL THIS KILLER DEAL LEAD TO A DEAD END?
Meet Whitney Whitaker. A hopeless romantic when it comes to real estate, she knows what it takes to find—and flip—the home of one’s dreams. A fixer-upper is like catnip to Whitney: she can’t resist the challenge of turning an eyesore into a priceless work of art. So when one of her clients decides to liquidate a crumbling property, Whitney seizes the opportunity to purchase it for a song. But soon a curious incident of the cat in the night-time leads to a change in tune. . .
Sawdust is the name of Whitney’s cat—of course. Whitney’s passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don’t belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it’s up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgage property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment. . .and maybe her own life. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Whitney is a strong smart woman and she is very talented in carpentry. So when the opportunity to buy a house and flip it presents itself, she jumps at the chance. Her cousin Buck helps her and together they go into the house-flipping business. There was a lot of action contained within the pages of the book. I would have been discouraged by the mishaps that befall the house, but Whitney did not give up. I enjoyed getting to know Whitney and Buck and I enjoyed their relationship, with its bickering and banter. I also enjoyed getting to know, Collette, Whitney’s friend. She may be a love interest for Buck, we will have to wait and see. And Whitney’s cat, Sawdust, is adorable and adds to the story.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick, easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching the house come to life. I really enjoyed reading the chapters that were written from Sawdust’s point of view. I thought that was really clever and added humor to the book.
The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. With twists and turns and a few red herrings thrown in, it was not an easy one to solve.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book, when it is published.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
October 25, 2019
Dead as a Door Knocker is book one in the new series by Diane Kelly. When the opportunity for Property Manager Whitney Whitaker to purchase one of her client's houses, she could not say no and for Whitney that when everything started to go wrong. On the first night in the new house, Whitney and Sawdust nearly died when someone set the house on fire. However, that was only the start. The readers of Dead as a Door Knocker will continue to follow Whitney Whitaker find out what happens.
Dead as a Door Knocker is a lovely cozy mystery, and I enjoyed reading this book. I love Diane Kelly portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Dead as a Door Knocker is well written and researched by Diane Kelly. I like the way Diane Kelly describes her settings of this book. I had to laugh at times with the antics of the characters.
The readers of Dead as a Door Knocker will understand the role of the property manager. Also, the readers of Dead as a Door Knocker will learn about buying and fixing up properties to resell.
I recommend this book.
Dead as a Door Knocker is a lovely cozy mystery, and I enjoyed reading this book. I love Diane Kelly portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Dead as a Door Knocker is well written and researched by Diane Kelly. I like the way Diane Kelly describes her settings of this book. I had to laugh at times with the antics of the characters.
The readers of Dead as a Door Knocker will understand the role of the property manager. Also, the readers of Dead as a Door Knocker will learn about buying and fixing up properties to resell.
I recommend this book.
Read
September 26, 2019This is the first in a brand new series. In this book Whitney Whitaker is attempting to flip her first house, with the help of her cousin, Buck. Whitney soon realizes that the person she bought the house from omitted some key problems with the house. After one problem after another arises, the last thing Whitney expects is for her cat, Sawdust, to find a body in the garden in front of the house. The body is the previous owner of the house. The police immediately suspect Whitney because of the argument she had with him over the sale of the house. Whitney starts to investigate because with her as a suspect and the body being found in the front yard it is making it hard to resell the house.
I think this was a great first book in the series. The characters were enjoyable and felt very natural. I loved the few chapters were we were told Sawdust's point of view. I will defiantly be reading the next book.
I received this book from net galley in exchange for an honest review.
I think this was a great first book in the series. The characters were enjoyable and felt very natural. I loved the few chapters were we were told Sawdust's point of view. I will defiantly be reading the next book.
I received this book from net galley in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2019
I was eager to read this book because of my interest in do-it-yourself projects. Whitney Whitaker is an admirable strong character who is not easily deterred by circumstances or men. She bought a house with her cousin to renovate and flip but things turn from bad to worse immediately after they close on the deal.
The book moved at a very slow pace for me. I thought there was an overabundance of detail about the materials and the action of the renovation which could have been devoted to better developing the mystery. The best part of the book was the interspersed short humorous chapters "written" by her cat Sawdust. They provided a well-needed relief for me. 2.5/5
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance digital copy of this book. My review is voluntary.
The book moved at a very slow pace for me. I thought there was an overabundance of detail about the materials and the action of the renovation which could have been devoted to better developing the mystery. The best part of the book was the interspersed short humorous chapters "written" by her cat Sawdust. They provided a well-needed relief for me. 2.5/5
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance digital copy of this book. My review is voluntary.
January 31, 2019
One of the cool things about this book is that just as you don't want it to end, there's a little sneak preview of the next book at the end! It goes right into the same time of year too. I'm so anxious to find out when that next book is coming out!
Whitney Whitaker was a carpenter and a property manager who was about to become a real estate agent and a house flipper with her cousin Buck as her partner, after her real estate agency's biggest client offered her a house for a steal of a deal. The house quickly became a huge source of trouble, starting with Sawdust her cat finding a dead body in the flower bed. Since Whitney's hammer was the weapon, she became the main person of interest, so she knew she had another job cut out for her: prove her own innocence or go down for something she didn't do. Her good friend Colette and her cousin Buck for always up for adventures!
The suspenseful scene that took place before there was a showdown was pretty cool, and Sawdust got to have a major part in that--way to go, sweet kitty! When Whitney insisted on going with Det. Flynn to the showdown with the killer, she somewhat came in handy. I had another person pegged for this murder, although I'd made a random comment early in the book for no reason whatsoever of "oh, I wonder if s0-and-so did it." There were good red herrings and secrets along the way. Now that I've read the little preview for the next book that comes at the end of this one, I'm probably going to be checking Amazon regularly to see when it comes to presale! Hopefully getting the author's newsletter will take care of that though.
I just fell in love with these characters! Mr. and Mrs. Hartley were the nicest people, who wouldn't want to have bosses just like that. Buck was a hoot and I'm wondering if he and Whit's friend Colette might get together eventually. I loved the camaraderie of the three of them. Whit actually had a great relationship with her parents--I'm always a fan of that! They weren't in it a lot, but they were super nice people. I'm not really a fan of the neighbor of the house they were flipping though. Patty seems like nothing but a complainer. And of course there's Det. Flynn who is a cat person like Whitney--I really hope they get together eventually! Last but not least whatsoever, Sawdust the cat was such a sweetheart! I thought it was fun how every so often there was a one or two-page chapter coming from his view-point, third person as written, but still giving the cat's thoughts--especially about a one-eyed mechanical demon that came to life when Whitney was gone!
Whitney Whitaker was a carpenter and a property manager who was about to become a real estate agent and a house flipper with her cousin Buck as her partner, after her real estate agency's biggest client offered her a house for a steal of a deal. The house quickly became a huge source of trouble, starting with Sawdust her cat finding a dead body in the flower bed. Since Whitney's hammer was the weapon, she became the main person of interest, so she knew she had another job cut out for her: prove her own innocence or go down for something she didn't do. Her good friend Colette and her cousin Buck for always up for adventures!
The suspenseful scene that took place before there was a showdown was pretty cool, and Sawdust got to have a major part in that--way to go, sweet kitty! When Whitney insisted on going with Det. Flynn to the showdown with the killer, she somewhat came in handy. I had another person pegged for this murder, although I'd made a random comment early in the book for no reason whatsoever of "oh, I wonder if s0-and-so did it." There were good red herrings and secrets along the way. Now that I've read the little preview for the next book that comes at the end of this one, I'm probably going to be checking Amazon regularly to see when it comes to presale! Hopefully getting the author's newsletter will take care of that though.
I just fell in love with these characters! Mr. and Mrs. Hartley were the nicest people, who wouldn't want to have bosses just like that. Buck was a hoot and I'm wondering if he and Whit's friend Colette might get together eventually. I loved the camaraderie of the three of them. Whit actually had a great relationship with her parents--I'm always a fan of that! They weren't in it a lot, but they were super nice people. I'm not really a fan of the neighbor of the house they were flipping though. Patty seems like nothing but a complainer. And of course there's Det. Flynn who is a cat person like Whitney--I really hope they get together eventually! Last but not least whatsoever, Sawdust the cat was such a sweetheart! I thought it was fun how every so often there was a one or two-page chapter coming from his view-point, third person as written, but still giving the cat's thoughts--especially about a one-eyed mechanical demon that came to life when Whitney was gone!
February 6, 2020
Dead as a Door Knocker is the debut of the House-Flipper Mystery series set in Nashville and featuring Whitney Whitaker, property manager, realtor trainee and house flipper. The worst part of Whitney's job as a property manager is evictions and she's got her hands full with the three rowdy college students months behind in their rent.
Property owner Rick Dunaway is well known as a cheapskate when it comes to repairs and this time after surveying the damage left behind by the boys he offers to sell the house to Whitney just to get it out of his extensive property portfolio. Whitney who works part time doing carpentry work with her cousins Buck and Owen, desperately wants the house thinking it would be a great flip, so she reaches out to Buck for help securing a mortgage.
With the sale finalized and the renovations underway, Whitney and Buck are soon faced with random acts of vandalism from egging to arson. Convinced that the damage is the work of one disgruntled student, Whitney is shocked when her cat, Sawdust digs up the dead body in the front garden.
Detective Collin Flynn is convinced that Whitney is the killer and she sets out with the help of her cousins and best friend, Colette to unearth the real murderer. Plenty of suspects include the college students, the neighbors on both sides, and the victim's employees and business partner.
A quick, fast paced plot with a spunky heroine and supporting characters. The author pens enough twists and turns that the final reveal feels like a hammer blow to the head. The main story line is broken up with chapters narrated by Sawdust. A refreshing family dynamic and a hint of romance will leave readers looking for the next in the series.
I received an advanced copy of Dead as a Door Knocker from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
Property owner Rick Dunaway is well known as a cheapskate when it comes to repairs and this time after surveying the damage left behind by the boys he offers to sell the house to Whitney just to get it out of his extensive property portfolio. Whitney who works part time doing carpentry work with her cousins Buck and Owen, desperately wants the house thinking it would be a great flip, so she reaches out to Buck for help securing a mortgage.
With the sale finalized and the renovations underway, Whitney and Buck are soon faced with random acts of vandalism from egging to arson. Convinced that the damage is the work of one disgruntled student, Whitney is shocked when her cat, Sawdust digs up the dead body in the front garden.
Detective Collin Flynn is convinced that Whitney is the killer and she sets out with the help of her cousins and best friend, Colette to unearth the real murderer. Plenty of suspects include the college students, the neighbors on both sides, and the victim's employees and business partner.
A quick, fast paced plot with a spunky heroine and supporting characters. The author pens enough twists and turns that the final reveal feels like a hammer blow to the head. The main story line is broken up with chapters narrated by Sawdust. A refreshing family dynamic and a hint of romance will leave readers looking for the next in the series.
I received an advanced copy of Dead as a Door Knocker from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
December 27, 2018
I love the character development that Diane Kelly gives us, especially of “Sawdust” the cat. Those tiny two page chapters giving us “Sawdust’s” thoughts is absolutely wonderful.
The story is about Whitney Whitaker and her attempt to flip a house and make a little bit of money for herself and her cousin Buck. But what she didn’t expect to find was murder, intrigue, disaster, and maybe bankrupt.
Whitney purchases a home to flip from a client of her Property Management Company. Little did she know that he would take advantage of her by selling her a home that had some major flaws. As those flaws come to light Whitney gets a tad bit angry.
But when a murder happens her little fits of anger start to make it look as though maybe she murdered someone in an attempt to assuage her anger. How far from the truth could that be, she is a wonderful person, or is she?
Diane Kelly develops a plot line that keeps you guessing throughout the book. You along with Whitney think you know who did the murder, but then you are proven wrong. So, who did it? And why is someone still trying to harm Whitney?
The story is very different from anything I have ever read in that it is about a carpenter, a house flipper, a property manager. How interesting a life could Whitney really have. But then we follow her on this harrowing ride to try and prove her innocence and we realize how easily any of us could be accused of something terrible. How would we respond.
I also love the fact that “Sawdust” plays a major role in the story. I know, I know, creative writing class tells you to never tell a story from an animals point of view. But heck, Sawdust is not just any animal. Sawdust is a hero in disguise.
Enjoy the Book!
The story is about Whitney Whitaker and her attempt to flip a house and make a little bit of money for herself and her cousin Buck. But what she didn’t expect to find was murder, intrigue, disaster, and maybe bankrupt.
Whitney purchases a home to flip from a client of her Property Management Company. Little did she know that he would take advantage of her by selling her a home that had some major flaws. As those flaws come to light Whitney gets a tad bit angry.
But when a murder happens her little fits of anger start to make it look as though maybe she murdered someone in an attempt to assuage her anger. How far from the truth could that be, she is a wonderful person, or is she?
Diane Kelly develops a plot line that keeps you guessing throughout the book. You along with Whitney think you know who did the murder, but then you are proven wrong. So, who did it? And why is someone still trying to harm Whitney?
The story is very different from anything I have ever read in that it is about a carpenter, a house flipper, a property manager. How interesting a life could Whitney really have. But then we follow her on this harrowing ride to try and prove her innocence and we realize how easily any of us could be accused of something terrible. How would we respond.
I also love the fact that “Sawdust” plays a major role in the story. I know, I know, creative writing class tells you to never tell a story from an animals point of view. But heck, Sawdust is not just any animal. Sawdust is a hero in disguise.
Enjoy the Book!
January 10, 2022
Someone on r/CozyMystery was looking for a recap of this book because it had been awhile since she read it and she just got the second book in the series. It looked super cute, so I picked it up and read it to give her a recap.
And this was cute, I love Sawdust and I loved that he got his own chapters and his fear of the Floor Demon and Ceiling Demons made me laugh. It added so much charm to the series! I liked Whitney too, she had that perfect blend of likable, competent, confident and vulnerable.
If I had to give a minus to the story, it was that there was just a little too much misery porn. It seems like every other page had another terrible catastrophe and after awhile, felt like filler and detracted from the great plot to the point I had to keep flipping pages to get past the latest calamity. Ugh. Such a shame, the plot was top notch. Several strong suspects each with good motive made it hard to pin down the whodunit, which added to my enjoyment.
Overall, an good start and I look forward to reading the second book soon!
And this was cute, I love Sawdust and I loved that he got his own chapters and his fear of the Floor Demon and Ceiling Demons made me laugh. It added so much charm to the series! I liked Whitney too, she had that perfect blend of likable, competent, confident and vulnerable.
If I had to give a minus to the story, it was that there was just a little too much misery porn. It seems like every other page had another terrible catastrophe and after awhile, felt like filler and detracted from the great plot to the point I had to keep flipping pages to get past the latest calamity. Ugh. Such a shame, the plot was top notch. Several strong suspects each with good motive made it hard to pin down the whodunit, which added to my enjoyment.
Overall, an good start and I look forward to reading the second book soon!
June 18, 2019
Within a few pages, I knew I was going to really enjoy this book. Debut of a new cozy series for Diane Kelly, it has all the elements to draw the reader in: a strong point of view from a winning protagonist, Whitney Whitaker, well drawn characters, a different take on the mileau, strong plot and written with style. Whitney, a property manager and carpenter, gets an opportunity to purchase a semi-dilapidated house for a reasonable price. Knowing that she has the skills for the repairs make the opportunity for flipping the house undeniably appealing. The story has twists and turns from there but always plays fair with the readers and true to Whitney's character. Looking forward to meeting her again too.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2019
Dead as a Door Knocker by Diane Kelly is the 1st book in the House-Flipper Mystery series, and a great start. Whitney Whitaker manages real estate properties and when a trashed home is offered to her cheap, she jumps at the chance to fix it up and flip it. When a dead body is found on the property's front yard, things get complicated. Whitney is determined to find the real killer and not lose her investment. I really enjoyed this book, it has a lot of action and suspects to sort through. I can't wait for the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries than I highly recommend this one. Ms. Kelly is no stranger to writing good books.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 28, 2019
Living 20 minutes east of Nashville, I had to try this series, and while it had a slow beginning for me, it did not disappoint very solid mystery
This is the first mystery I read where you have to wait for a few chapters before the murder happens and I think this is why I felt it being slow, but during that time you get to know more about the characters so while I did enjoy it I was still waiting and waiting for the murder to happen. LOL
Things I really enjoyed, Sawdust personal chapters and yes, the cat has his own mini-chapters so cute, the story settings, characters and since I was never able to guess who done it, I will be on needles waiting for the next murder to happen in Nashville so I can see Whitney in action again.
This is the first mystery I read where you have to wait for a few chapters before the murder happens and I think this is why I felt it being slow, but during that time you get to know more about the characters so while I did enjoy it I was still waiting and waiting for the murder to happen. LOL
Things I really enjoyed, Sawdust personal chapters and yes, the cat has his own mini-chapters so cute, the story settings, characters and since I was never able to guess who done it, I will be on needles waiting for the next murder to happen in Nashville so I can see Whitney in action again.
February 13, 2019
Whitney is a contractor who manages property for a company. She is offered a run down house that she plans to flip. The first day she buys it, it starts on fire, then she finds out the property next door has been zoned commercial, someone eggs the front of the house and she finds a body in the front yard. There is page between each chapter written by her cat that could easily have been left out, adding nothing to the story.
June 28, 2022
A great start to a new series! I really like Whitney and there’s lots of potential with all the characters. Sawdust was adorable and I loved how he got to narrate his own chapters. The mystery kept me guessing, the ending was exciting and I hope to see more of the adorable detective.
April 27, 2024
Terrific first book in this series. There were a few red herrings that led me to think I knew who the killer was, but I was so surprised how the story unfolded. The ending was unexpected for many reasons. I’m curious to see what’s next for Whitney, her cousin Buck, and her friend Collette. And what about the handsome, inexperienced Detective Flynn?
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
January 21, 2019
Meet Whitney Whitaker. A hopeless romantic when it comes to real estate, she knows what it takes to find—and flip—the home of one’s dreams. A fixer-upper is like catnip to Whitney: she can’t resist the challenge of turning an eyesore into a priceless work of art. So when one of her clients decides to liquidate a crumbling property, Whitney seizes the opportunity to purchase it for a song. Soon a curious incident of the cat in the night-time leads to a change in tune. . .
Sawdust is the name of Whitney’s cat—of course. Whitney’s passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him, but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don’t belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it’s up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgaged property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment and maybe her own life.
--
Series: A House Flipper Mystery - Book 1
Author: Diane Kelly
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Business
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
The first book in this series from author Diane Kelly, Dead as a Door Knocker is an exciting debut. The characters feel like old friends and get into situations that make the reader smile and at times outright laugh. St. Martin’s has a winner on its hands. Ms. Kelly has been writing two other series and is the award-winning author of the Tara Holloway and Paw Enforcement series.
Whitney loves home renovation, she isn’t a girlie girl, and never was. When other girls wanted to play princess, she wanted to build something. She will pick up a hammer before she will a lipstick. Branching out into the home renovation business could be lucrative, and with her cousin, Buck helping it shouldn’t take long to turn a profit. But everything goes wrong right from the start. Fire, vandalism, and murder.
The characters in this first book have plenty of personality. Whitney’s cousin Buck has pluck and comes to her defense whenever necessary. Whitney’s charming employers are loving, kind and willing to help Whitney when they can even if it costs them business. The star of this book beside Whitney is her cat Sawdust. He is a lovable little furball, the chapter headings of Sawdust’s thoughts are worth the read alone.
The setting of this book in Kentucky brings to mind cool walks on quiet dirt roads along with the sounds of birds and cicada’s on hot summer days; winters may not get a lot of snow and ice, but it will still have you longing for a warm fire and hot cocoa.
The murderer is not necessarily a surprise. However, the unraveling of the clues takes a bit of thinking, as all good mysteries should. Dead as a Door Knocker is the delightful combination of fun and mystery that cozy writers strive for in their books. It is entertaining, fast-paced and well written. The plot stays true, and the twists and turns keep readers turning the page. I look forward to reading more books in this series and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fun-filled who-done-it.
Sawdust is the name of Whitney’s cat—of course. Whitney’s passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him, but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don’t belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it’s up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgaged property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment and maybe her own life.
--
Series: A House Flipper Mystery - Book 1
Author: Diane Kelly
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Business
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
The first book in this series from author Diane Kelly, Dead as a Door Knocker is an exciting debut. The characters feel like old friends and get into situations that make the reader smile and at times outright laugh. St. Martin’s has a winner on its hands. Ms. Kelly has been writing two other series and is the award-winning author of the Tara Holloway and Paw Enforcement series.
Whitney loves home renovation, she isn’t a girlie girl, and never was. When other girls wanted to play princess, she wanted to build something. She will pick up a hammer before she will a lipstick. Branching out into the home renovation business could be lucrative, and with her cousin, Buck helping it shouldn’t take long to turn a profit. But everything goes wrong right from the start. Fire, vandalism, and murder.
The characters in this first book have plenty of personality. Whitney’s cousin Buck has pluck and comes to her defense whenever necessary. Whitney’s charming employers are loving, kind and willing to help Whitney when they can even if it costs them business. The star of this book beside Whitney is her cat Sawdust. He is a lovable little furball, the chapter headings of Sawdust’s thoughts are worth the read alone.
The setting of this book in Kentucky brings to mind cool walks on quiet dirt roads along with the sounds of birds and cicada’s on hot summer days; winters may not get a lot of snow and ice, but it will still have you longing for a warm fire and hot cocoa.
The murderer is not necessarily a surprise. However, the unraveling of the clues takes a bit of thinking, as all good mysteries should. Dead as a Door Knocker is the delightful combination of fun and mystery that cozy writers strive for in their books. It is entertaining, fast-paced and well written. The plot stays true, and the twists and turns keep readers turning the page. I look forward to reading more books in this series and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fun-filled who-done-it.
March 11, 2019
I grabbed my purse, my tool belt, and the bright yellow hard hat I'd adorned with a chain of daisy decals.
This is the first book in the House-Flipper Mystery series. I really enjoy the other series the Diane Kelly writes so I had high hopes for this one. It did not disappoint.
Whitney Whitaker works with her uncle's woodworking company along side her cousins, Buck and Owen. She is also the property manager for Home&Hearth Realty. Whitney has to remove a group of college boys from a rental property which results in threats from one of them. The property owner offers to sell the house to Whitney at a reduced price for her to renovate and sell, hopefully with her new upcoming real estate license. Whitney brings her cousin Buck in as a co-owner when she is unable to get a loan on her own. After an inspection by a well known home inspector, Whitney decides to spend the night in the house. A surprise fire brings to light some shady dealings between the inspector and the seller. A death creates chaos that Whitney hopes to get to the bottom of.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. I particularly loved Whitney's cat, Sawdust. I loved his take on the automatic vacuum and the smoke detectors. I'm glad he had a playmate in Whitney's mom's Boston Terrier, Yin-Yang. The characters are well written and feel like someone you know. I always appreciate that in a book.
There were a number of red herrings to have you suspect various people. Of course the police focus on Whitney. This is Detective Collin Flynn's first homicide investigation and he wants to tie everything you as soon as possible. I had my suspicions soon after a character was introduced. It was satisfying to know that I was correct.
Very nice start to the series. I look forward to the next book
This is the first book in the House-Flipper Mystery series. I really enjoy the other series the Diane Kelly writes so I had high hopes for this one. It did not disappoint.
Whitney Whitaker works with her uncle's woodworking company along side her cousins, Buck and Owen. She is also the property manager for Home&Hearth Realty. Whitney has to remove a group of college boys from a rental property which results in threats from one of them. The property owner offers to sell the house to Whitney at a reduced price for her to renovate and sell, hopefully with her new upcoming real estate license. Whitney brings her cousin Buck in as a co-owner when she is unable to get a loan on her own. After an inspection by a well known home inspector, Whitney decides to spend the night in the house. A surprise fire brings to light some shady dealings between the inspector and the seller. A death creates chaos that Whitney hopes to get to the bottom of.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. I particularly loved Whitney's cat, Sawdust. I loved his take on the automatic vacuum and the smoke detectors. I'm glad he had a playmate in Whitney's mom's Boston Terrier, Yin-Yang. The characters are well written and feel like someone you know. I always appreciate that in a book.
There were a number of red herrings to have you suspect various people. Of course the police focus on Whitney. This is Detective Collin Flynn's first homicide investigation and he wants to tie everything you as soon as possible. I had my suspicions soon after a character was introduced. It was satisfying to know that I was correct.
Very nice start to the series. I look forward to the next book
July 26, 2022
Fun and light cosy mystery with a main character working within fields - carpentry and real-estate - I've not encountered before, which gave it all a new and nice feeling for me.
I adored the little kitty, Sawdust, of course.
The mystery was really nicely handled too and quite skilfully told with twists and turns.
Did I feel annoyed when the MC (of course) became the prime suspect? Yes, of course. But the whole thing saved itself. Even the detective saved himself from the status of Mr. Asshat and I started to like him more and more. (Yes, owning cats has that effect. Cheap trick, but it does work.)
The only thing I found not-great with this book was the use of sound effects and the way the narrator read them with too much enthusiasm or feeling. It got annoying quickly, but thankfully was only present mostly in the beginning of the story.
One other shortcoming was that the actual storytelling seemed to assume I had the memory of the proverbial goldfish and kept re-explaining things to me that had already been explained only one or two paragraphs before. Some things reappeared at least three times and started feeling silly, but then the writing turned up a notch somewhere after the 60% mark and became better.
All in all, I felt like the story itself could have used a round of better, stricter editing, but as a whole it was a good feelgood book. I will gladly return for more stories about these characters.
And Sawdust. 😸
I adored the little kitty, Sawdust, of course.
The mystery was really nicely handled too and quite skilfully told with twists and turns.
Did I feel annoyed when the MC (of course) became the prime suspect? Yes, of course. But the whole thing saved itself. Even the detective saved himself from the status of Mr. Asshat and I started to like him more and more. (Yes, owning cats has that effect. Cheap trick, but it does work.)
The only thing I found not-great with this book was the use of sound effects and the way the narrator read them with too much enthusiasm or feeling. It got annoying quickly, but thankfully was only present mostly in the beginning of the story.
One other shortcoming was that the actual storytelling seemed to assume I had the memory of the proverbial goldfish and kept re-explaining things to me that had already been explained only one or two paragraphs before. Some things reappeared at least three times and started feeling silly, but then the writing turned up a notch somewhere after the 60% mark and became better.
All in all, I felt like the story itself could have used a round of better, stricter editing, but as a whole it was a good feelgood book. I will gladly return for more stories about these characters.
And Sawdust. 😸
September 20, 2023
Whitney Whitaker is the Property Manager for Home & Hearth Realty. Whitney also moonlights, adding her carpentry skills to her uncle’s business, Whitaker Woodworking, loving the work and working alongside her Uncle Roger and cousins Buck and Owen. While Whitney dreams of owning a home one day, she’s saving money by living in the renovated pool house at the back of her parents’ property. Whitney may have even more opportunities to find a home when she passes her real estate exam. Before the upcoming exam, she has a chance to purchase a house to flip and is hopeful that Buck will agree to a partnership on the opportunity and needed renovations. After all, what could go wrong with their combined experience in construction and comfort in working together?
This cozy mystery has many delightful aspects, from the Nashville, Tennessee setting to wonderful characters, beginning with Whitney and the whole Whitaker tribe, the Hartleys at Home & Hearth, and best friend Colette Chevalier. An extra-special mention of love is for Sawdust. His name is purr-fect for the feline sharing Whitney’s life. I loved Sawdust’s intermittent narrative chapters throughout the story, especially when he shared his fear of a demon in his home with Whitney.
I enjoyed the multiple aspects of real estate within the storyline. The twists and turns in the investigation kept spinning, and I didn’t figure it out before the reveal.
I’m looking forward to reading more of this series!
This cozy mystery has many delightful aspects, from the Nashville, Tennessee setting to wonderful characters, beginning with Whitney and the whole Whitaker tribe, the Hartleys at Home & Hearth, and best friend Colette Chevalier. An extra-special mention of love is for Sawdust. His name is purr-fect for the feline sharing Whitney’s life. I loved Sawdust’s intermittent narrative chapters throughout the story, especially when he shared his fear of a demon in his home with Whitney.
I enjoyed the multiple aspects of real estate within the storyline. The twists and turns in the investigation kept spinning, and I didn’t figure it out before the reveal.
I’m looking forward to reading more of this series!
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