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A Do-It-Yourself Mystery #2
Spackled and Spooked
A mystery surfaces behind the walls in the Do-It-Yourself series that's perfect for fans of HGTV's home renovation shows.
Avery Baker and her boyfriend, Derek Ellis, are flipping a seriously stigmatized house rumored to have ghosts. Soon they'll have even bigger problems-and this renovation project might haunt them forever.
Avery Baker and her boyfriend, Derek Ellis, are flipping a seriously stigmatized house rumored to have ghosts. Soon they'll have even bigger problems-and this renovation project might haunt them forever.
309 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 7, 2009
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907 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
February 13, 2017
This was a fun read!
Avery and Derek are finally working together. They have purchased a house that has had three murders done by the man who owned the house.
It has been said that the house is haunted, but Derek does not think that will be a problem, since the murders happened 19 years ago.
But they did not know that there were other things happening on the street. They did find out when they started working on the house.
They heard screams when they opened the front door and footsteps in the hallways.
Also, the noisy neighbor next door was killed while they were working.
They had the chief of police at the house several times investigating the strange happenings.
You need to read this book to understand what they had to endure to get the house ready to sell.
Avery and Derek are finally working together. They have purchased a house that has had three murders done by the man who owned the house.
It has been said that the house is haunted, but Derek does not think that will be a problem, since the murders happened 19 years ago.
But they did not know that there were other things happening on the street. They did find out when they started working on the house.
They heard screams when they opened the front door and footsteps in the hallways.
Also, the noisy neighbor next door was killed while they were working.
They had the chief of police at the house several times investigating the strange happenings.
You need to read this book to understand what they had to endure to get the house ready to sell.
May 17, 2019
This was a fun afternoon read. I really like the characters and the plot was nicely paced. Although I did guess early on who was behind the murders, it didn't distract from my enjoyment of the story.
February 23, 2016
Second book in the series, though characters seemed shallower, and the author seemed to be trying too hard. I really liked the first one just as fluff and an interesting home improvement fun story. This one seemed a bit flighty, too many characters- most non essential- it made for a scattered story. Not sure I will continue with the series. Disappointing.
March 23, 2018
It was okay, until the main character fell out of the stupid tree and hit [Pete Puma] a whoooooole lotta branches [/Pete Puma] on the way down.
February 12, 2019
Fun read. There were moments when I thought the main characters were a little slow to come to the right conclusions. But overall, interesting and enjoyable. Looking forward to the next one.
October 29, 2010
There have been a whole slew of themed mysteries coming out- especially those themed around things like house renovating or crafts. Some of them just can't seem to stand out when held next to their competitors & then there are some that are just fantastic to read. The `Do-It-Yourself' mystery series manages to hold it's own in a genre that is becoming increasingly competitive.
This particular entry to the series finds everyone's favorite fabric specialist working with her boyfriend Derek as they attempt to renovate a home with a past- a murderous one. Years ago the home's owner murdered his wife & two other family members in cold blood, with only his son escaping with his life. It's rumored that the house has been haunted ever since- and finding a body in the crawlspace underneath the house isn't helping Avery & Derek dispel those rumors!
This book was an incredibly quick read & I was pretty much glued to it from the first page. It's a very addicting read- literary crack. I like the romance between Avery & Derek, plus I like that Avery hasn't made her mind up about living in Maine just yet. (She's there, but she's still somewhat waffling about it.) There's also the rivalry going on between Melissa & Avery, which I enjoy greatly because it's not a dominating theme of the series, yet you can tell that there's eventually going to be a huge showdown between the two of them. (Maybe Melissa will make a play for Derek if the business takes off?)
There were one or two new characters introduced in the series & I'm hoping that they come back in future books. They show a lot of promise. There were one or two points that were relatively easy to guess at & the savvy should be able to predict the killer, but the journey is just pure fun. (And besides, isn't part of the fun of reading a mystery predicting whodunit?) There's not a huge amount of character growth though, but hopefully that will change in the next book.
If you liked the first one, you'll love this book. If you haven't, I recommend reading the first one prior to this, even though it isn't all that necessary. The book can stand alone for the most part. I have to admit, I'm already looking forward to not only the next one in the series, but also the first book in Bentley's new series as well. (She writes as Bente Gallagher.)
This particular entry to the series finds everyone's favorite fabric specialist working with her boyfriend Derek as they attempt to renovate a home with a past- a murderous one. Years ago the home's owner murdered his wife & two other family members in cold blood, with only his son escaping with his life. It's rumored that the house has been haunted ever since- and finding a body in the crawlspace underneath the house isn't helping Avery & Derek dispel those rumors!
This book was an incredibly quick read & I was pretty much glued to it from the first page. It's a very addicting read- literary crack. I like the romance between Avery & Derek, plus I like that Avery hasn't made her mind up about living in Maine just yet. (She's there, but she's still somewhat waffling about it.) There's also the rivalry going on between Melissa & Avery, which I enjoy greatly because it's not a dominating theme of the series, yet you can tell that there's eventually going to be a huge showdown between the two of them. (Maybe Melissa will make a play for Derek if the business takes off?)
There were one or two new characters introduced in the series & I'm hoping that they come back in future books. They show a lot of promise. There were one or two points that were relatively easy to guess at & the savvy should be able to predict the killer, but the journey is just pure fun. (And besides, isn't part of the fun of reading a mystery predicting whodunit?) There's not a huge amount of character growth though, but hopefully that will change in the next book.
If you liked the first one, you'll love this book. If you haven't, I recommend reading the first one prior to this, even though it isn't all that necessary. The book can stand alone for the most part. I have to admit, I'm already looking forward to not only the next one in the series, but also the first book in Bentley's new series as well. (She writes as Bente Gallagher.)
June 20, 2012
I'd have given this one 4 stars except that I again figured out who'd done it, why, and how, pretty much from the very beginning. Ditto with the other "big secret" in the story. I'm not usually that great at figuring out mystery novels, and I like it that way, so knowing all along was annoying. However, I still really enjoyed the characters and the story--watching them figure it out, that is.
This time, Avery Baker and her boyfriend Derek Ellis have purchased a vacant house to renovate and sell. It's been empty for about seventeen years, since Brian Murphy killed his wife and in-laws and then himself. Gossip says it's haunted, which Avery & Derek think is nonsense until they hear footsteps walking down the hallway with no one in sight. Then Derek discovers a human bone in the crawlspace, and suddenly there is a whole new murder for Chief Wayne to investigate, this one more recent. When the cadaver dog makes for the next door neighbor's house, the situation goes from bad to worse.
Engaging, believable characters make up for the lack of suspense, I think. It's a perfect cozy mystery: light and fun. A good beach read. Or couch read, in the event that your beach-going plans fall through. Bring on #3! (This was #2 in the Do-It-Yourself Mystery series.)
For readers' advisors: character and story doorways, no sex, and very little swearing.
This time, Avery Baker and her boyfriend Derek Ellis have purchased a vacant house to renovate and sell. It's been empty for about seventeen years, since Brian Murphy killed his wife and in-laws and then himself. Gossip says it's haunted, which Avery & Derek think is nonsense until they hear footsteps walking down the hallway with no one in sight. Then Derek discovers a human bone in the crawlspace, and suddenly there is a whole new murder for Chief Wayne to investigate, this one more recent. When the cadaver dog makes for the next door neighbor's house, the situation goes from bad to worse.
Engaging, believable characters make up for the lack of suspense, I think. It's a perfect cozy mystery: light and fun. A good beach read. Or couch read, in the event that your beach-going plans fall through. Bring on #3! (This was #2 in the Do-It-Yourself Mystery series.)
For readers' advisors: character and story doorways, no sex, and very little swearing.
November 5, 2009
Avery and Derek just bought their first house together and are busy doing the repairs and renovations needed to get it ready for resale. The house has a few problems, not the least of which is the gruesome murders/suicide that happened there around 20 years ago. Still, that is the least of their problems after a body is found in the crawlspace/basement of the house.
I am enjoying this series, the characters are a lot of fun, there are home repair tips at the back of the books, and the mystery is pretty good too! I did guess the killer in this one fairly quickly but there were enough twists and turns to make me second guess that choice, which makes it all the more fun.
Looking forward to number three in the series.
I am enjoying this series, the characters are a lot of fun, there are home repair tips at the back of the books, and the mystery is pretty good too! I did guess the killer in this one fairly quickly but there were enough twists and turns to make me second guess that choice, which makes it all the more fun.
Looking forward to number three in the series.
January 11, 2016
I liked the first of this series, but in this book, the main character worked my nerves! It's hard to believe that she was born and raised in Manhattan! As naive and just plain dumb as she is, how could she survive NYC? Won't continue this series.
June 10, 2014
Love these simple cozy mysteries...fast read
January 22, 2024
Reading this series reminded me of a TV renovating show I used to watch on HGTV. It was called Trading Spaces. In it two sets of neighbors traded houses for a day and redecorated a room with the help of a professional decorator. Sometimes they did some crazy things (to me at least) like gluing hay or leaves or flowers or bottlecaps on a wall. In this book the main character Avery Baker tears up brown paper bags, crumples the pieces, smooths them out, and then glues the pieces on the wall of a bathroom. Sounds to me like a cheap idea that won't last for long. Anyway this book was a lot better than the 1st in the series. It had a pretty good plot and sufficient pacing to keep the story flowing nicely. As I started reading, I was afraid that the plot was going to be a paranormal one, but that turned out to be red herring because everything was explainable.
Avery Baker and her new boyfriend Derek Ellis are now partners in a home repair and renovation business in Waterfield, Maine. The long-neglected house they just bought is a 1950s ranch house. But, as it turns out, the abandoned house was the scene of three murders and a suicide about 17 years ago. The Murphy house has been stigmatized, because it is now known as being haunted. Brian Murphy killed his wife, his in-laws and tried to kill his five-year-old son, but Patrick Murphy escaped. It isn't long before Avery hears footsteps in the hallway where nobody is there and screams when the front door is opened. Avery also finds a sparkly rhinestone earring shaped like a flower under the refrigerator they removed. And what's that red sauce on the corner of the stove? The coupe de grace has Derek in the crawl space under the house preparing to level the kitchen floor when he discovers a bone. They call Wayne Rasmussen, Chief of Police, who brings along Brandon Thomas, the CSI Officer. He and Derek continue excavating and discover more bones to indicate a body. Now Avery is really worried that they won't be able to sell the house when they've finished renovating.
Next, the brakes on Derek's truck are tampered with; and when Avery borrows it, she is almost killed when they stop working. There is a very nosy neighbor next door named Venetia Rudolph who is very opinioned. She has seen squatters and teenagers in the house at times. When the police bring in a K-9 dog to sniff for more bones on the property, he heads next door to Venetia's house, and they find her dead body in the dining room. The bones are finally identified and her name was Holly White. Nobody missed her in the past, because she always told people she was going to Vegas or Hollywood after graduation. She had been dating Brandon during their senior year of high school. Lionel Kenefick lives down the street and was a childhood friend of Patrick Murphy. Other people from the neighborhood gather on the street to watch the events going on; young Denise and her baby, businesswoman Irina, Linda is a middle-aged woman in curlers, and Arthur Mattson who frequently walks his dog. Some of them had a role in Holly's life. An anonymous call to the police indicates that Holly's travel bag could be found at Brandon's house. And it was, so Brandon is suspended and can't help out in the investigation. Therefore Avery and Derek help out Wayne investigate as well as college companions Shannon (daughter of Avery's best friend Kate McGillicutty who is dating Wayne), Josh (Wayne's son), Paige, and Ricky Swanson who is newly arrived in town to go to college.
There are, of course, many suspects. The Chief of Police doesn't have any qualms in letting his friends help him out investigating. A sub plot includes Derek's ex-wife and Avery's nemeses, Melissa, who is building a subdivision with cost-cutting measures. Derek calls them shoddy condos and houses. Helping her are Ray and Randy Stenham who are Avery's distant cousins. The reader doesn't see much of Kate or Jemmy and Inky, Avery's two Main Coon cats. There is a lot of pizza consumed in this book. (Avery doesn't cook.) I gave four stars because there in the second half of the book repetition appears and is annoying.
Avery Baker and her new boyfriend Derek Ellis are now partners in a home repair and renovation business in Waterfield, Maine. The long-neglected house they just bought is a 1950s ranch house. But, as it turns out, the abandoned house was the scene of three murders and a suicide about 17 years ago. The Murphy house has been stigmatized, because it is now known as being haunted. Brian Murphy killed his wife, his in-laws and tried to kill his five-year-old son, but Patrick Murphy escaped. It isn't long before Avery hears footsteps in the hallway where nobody is there and screams when the front door is opened. Avery also finds a sparkly rhinestone earring shaped like a flower under the refrigerator they removed. And what's that red sauce on the corner of the stove? The coupe de grace has Derek in the crawl space under the house preparing to level the kitchen floor when he discovers a bone. They call Wayne Rasmussen, Chief of Police, who brings along Brandon Thomas, the CSI Officer. He and Derek continue excavating and discover more bones to indicate a body. Now Avery is really worried that they won't be able to sell the house when they've finished renovating.
Next, the brakes on Derek's truck are tampered with; and when Avery borrows it, she is almost killed when they stop working. There is a very nosy neighbor next door named Venetia Rudolph who is very opinioned. She has seen squatters and teenagers in the house at times. When the police bring in a K-9 dog to sniff for more bones on the property, he heads next door to Venetia's house, and they find her dead body in the dining room. The bones are finally identified and her name was Holly White. Nobody missed her in the past, because she always told people she was going to Vegas or Hollywood after graduation. She had been dating Brandon during their senior year of high school. Lionel Kenefick lives down the street and was a childhood friend of Patrick Murphy. Other people from the neighborhood gather on the street to watch the events going on; young Denise and her baby, businesswoman Irina, Linda is a middle-aged woman in curlers, and Arthur Mattson who frequently walks his dog. Some of them had a role in Holly's life. An anonymous call to the police indicates that Holly's travel bag could be found at Brandon's house. And it was, so Brandon is suspended and can't help out in the investigation. Therefore Avery and Derek help out Wayne investigate as well as college companions Shannon (daughter of Avery's best friend Kate McGillicutty who is dating Wayne), Josh (Wayne's son), Paige, and Ricky Swanson who is newly arrived in town to go to college.
There are, of course, many suspects. The Chief of Police doesn't have any qualms in letting his friends help him out investigating. A sub plot includes Derek's ex-wife and Avery's nemeses, Melissa, who is building a subdivision with cost-cutting measures. Derek calls them shoddy condos and houses. Helping her are Ray and Randy Stenham who are Avery's distant cousins. The reader doesn't see much of Kate or Jemmy and Inky, Avery's two Main Coon cats. There is a lot of pizza consumed in this book. (Avery doesn't cook.) I gave four stars because there in the second half of the book repetition appears and is annoying.
July 5, 2018
Spackled and Spooked takes place shortly after the first book. Avery, a former New York furniture designer has put that job in the past and is now the designer side of a joint renovation business with her now boyfriend, Derek Ellis. In this book Derek purchases their first house to renovate together. The only hitch is that the house was the site of a grisly family murder ten years ago and there is rumors that the house is haunted. Will they be able to renovate or will the ghosts that supposedly haunt the house get them?
My Thoughts:
The cover of the book is adorable! It gives me the mystery vibe as well as the fixer upper vibes. I think that it suites the book well. Since this is the second book in the series I am safe to say that the authors mystery style is slow burn. She is really good at it though. The main character, Avery Baker is fluid from the previous book in being relatable. Although Derek is her boyfriend, Avery really is the star of the show. The book is good with great character development, world building, and plot.
Avery goes through some insecurities in the book regarding her relationship with Derek because of Melissa, his former wife. She handles with grace and to my complete happiness she actually talks about it with Derek. I like it when authors write their female leads better than whining stereotypical teens. Derek shows reveals his own insecurities when he finds out that Avery's mother is coming for a visit. Along with their development we also get a few more characters added to the mix and I can't wait to see if there are any scenes with Irina and Melissa.
In this book we are introduced to a few more locations which gives you a bit more insight for the town. We got a new age pizzeria named Guido's and Nickerson's antique shop. Both places I think will be regular hot spots for Avery in future books.
The plot was really good for this book. Avery and Derek get their first house together and it has some baggage. That baggage is a ten year old family murder that was committed in the house. Plus to boot there is a skeleton of a newer body discovered day one of renovating. Avery and Derek work together along with the chief of police to discover what had happened. To make everything just a bit scarier for her she is starting to believe the rumors that the house is haunted because she can hear screams and footsteps in house when no one else is there.
Good news though! No ghosts just some really good theatrics and wiring from the murderer of the skeleton to keep people from entering and buying the house. Sad part is the reason that the person was killed for. I liked that it made sense though. A lot of books will have where the reasoning behind something is basically "nothing". This was a crime of passion and it was done well. The only downside though is that there was a plot bunny released where Avery is involved in an accident to possibly kill Derek or her? It was strange because it was kind of like the bunny released and it ran away never coming back to the plot burrow. But I would say that was the only downside to this book! It's a great book. It has great DIY instructions at the end so that you can copy what Derek and her did in the renovations. I give it a 4.5 stars out of five stars and I do recommend you check out this book.
My Thoughts:
The cover of the book is adorable! It gives me the mystery vibe as well as the fixer upper vibes. I think that it suites the book well. Since this is the second book in the series I am safe to say that the authors mystery style is slow burn. She is really good at it though. The main character, Avery Baker is fluid from the previous book in being relatable. Although Derek is her boyfriend, Avery really is the star of the show. The book is good with great character development, world building, and plot.
Avery goes through some insecurities in the book regarding her relationship with Derek because of Melissa, his former wife. She handles with grace and to my complete happiness she actually talks about it with Derek. I like it when authors write their female leads better than whining stereotypical teens. Derek shows reveals his own insecurities when he finds out that Avery's mother is coming for a visit. Along with their development we also get a few more characters added to the mix and I can't wait to see if there are any scenes with Irina and Melissa.
In this book we are introduced to a few more locations which gives you a bit more insight for the town. We got a new age pizzeria named Guido's and Nickerson's antique shop. Both places I think will be regular hot spots for Avery in future books.
The plot was really good for this book. Avery and Derek get their first house together and it has some baggage. That baggage is a ten year old family murder that was committed in the house. Plus to boot there is a skeleton of a newer body discovered day one of renovating. Avery and Derek work together along with the chief of police to discover what had happened. To make everything just a bit scarier for her she is starting to believe the rumors that the house is haunted because she can hear screams and footsteps in house when no one else is there.
Good news though! No ghosts just some really good theatrics and wiring from the murderer of the skeleton to keep people from entering and buying the house. Sad part is the reason that the person was killed for. I liked that it made sense though. A lot of books will have where the reasoning behind something is basically "nothing". This was a crime of passion and it was done well. The only downside though is that there was a plot bunny released where Avery is involved in an accident to possibly kill Derek or her? It was strange because it was kind of like the bunny released and it ran away never coming back to the plot burrow. But I would say that was the only downside to this book! It's a great book. It has great DIY instructions at the end so that you can copy what Derek and her did in the renovations. I give it a 4.5 stars out of five stars and I do recommend you check out this book.
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June 10, 2020Spackled and Spooked is the 2nd Do-it-Yourself Mystery by Jennie Bentley and I feel it was a great story. The characters were well written and I love Jennie Betley's writing with all her twists am]nd turns that keep you guessing almost until the end of the book.
Avery and Derek of the Waterfield R & R bought the old Murphy house in which Brian, the husband killed his wife, Peggy, and his in-laws but was unable to kill his son, Patrick who ran when he saw the gun in his father's hand. Lionel Kenefick, who was friends with Patrick Murphy told Avery and Derek that the house was haunted and he heard screaming coming from the house. This completely contradicts what the next-door neighbor, Venetia Rudolph said while talking with Avery. While in the house working one day Avery heard footsteps and thought it was Derek but he wasn't back from the hardware store yet. Kate thought maybe it was a ghost but Avery doesn't believe in ghosts. While under the house to fix the kitchen floor Derek finds a human bone in the crawl space, so they have to call Wayne Rasmussen, Chief of Police. This house may never sell!
Brandon Thomas, the CSI Officer starts digging up the bones so they can identify who the person is. The bones belong to an old girlfriend of Brandon's, Holly White. Daphne the K-9 Trooper and her canine partner were looking to see if there were any more bones and the dog found something at Venetia Rudolph house. Poor Ms. Rudolph is dead and looks like some killed her. While investigating the murder of Venetia, Wayne gets an anonymous tip telling him to look in Brandon's shed for Holly's book bag. With Brandon off the case, Avery, Derek, and Kate try to help with the investigation. Can they help prove that Brandon had nothing to do with the killing of Holly or Venetia?
Avery and Derek of the Waterfield R & R bought the old Murphy house in which Brian, the husband killed his wife, Peggy, and his in-laws but was unable to kill his son, Patrick who ran when he saw the gun in his father's hand. Lionel Kenefick, who was friends with Patrick Murphy told Avery and Derek that the house was haunted and he heard screaming coming from the house. This completely contradicts what the next-door neighbor, Venetia Rudolph said while talking with Avery. While in the house working one day Avery heard footsteps and thought it was Derek but he wasn't back from the hardware store yet. Kate thought maybe it was a ghost but Avery doesn't believe in ghosts. While under the house to fix the kitchen floor Derek finds a human bone in the crawl space, so they have to call Wayne Rasmussen, Chief of Police. This house may never sell!
Brandon Thomas, the CSI Officer starts digging up the bones so they can identify who the person is. The bones belong to an old girlfriend of Brandon's, Holly White. Daphne the K-9 Trooper and her canine partner were looking to see if there were any more bones and the dog found something at Venetia Rudolph house. Poor Ms. Rudolph is dead and looks like some killed her. While investigating the murder of Venetia, Wayne gets an anonymous tip telling him to look in Brandon's shed for Holly's book bag. With Brandon off the case, Avery, Derek, and Kate try to help with the investigation. Can they help prove that Brandon had nothing to do with the killing of Holly or Venetia?
June 16, 2024
Former textile designer, Avery Baker, and her carpenter boyfriend, Derek Ellis, have decided to go into the home renovation and design business together in the small coastal town of Waterfield, Maine. Although their first fixer upper house came with a low purchase price, it also came with a dark history, one that Avery and Derek are hoping the local townspeople will forget when it comes time to put it back on the market. Unfortunately, their renovation plans are soon put to a stop, when the house's past contains even more than they realized.
I really enjoyed the plotline in this book, as Avery and Derek do all they can to solve the mysteries unfolding in their renovation investment. There are plenty of suspects and good questions asked and debated between them, their friends and the local police force. It will also be interesting to see how Avery handles her first winter in Maine in future installments of this series, as she has only recently moved to this northern state, and her new friends have warned her to prepare herself for the upcoming frigid temperatures!
I really enjoyed the plotline in this book, as Avery and Derek do all they can to solve the mysteries unfolding in their renovation investment. There are plenty of suspects and good questions asked and debated between them, their friends and the local police force. It will also be interesting to see how Avery handles her first winter in Maine in future installments of this series, as she has only recently moved to this northern state, and her new friends have warned her to prepare herself for the upcoming frigid temperatures!
August 11, 2025
This is the second book in the “A Do-It-Yourself Mystery” series. While it shares many of the cozy mystery tropes, this book was just okay. It’s narrated in third person and set in the charming town of Waterfield, Maine. The protagonist, Avery, inherits her great aunt’s house and decides to stay after moving there. In the first book, she hires Derek to renovate the house, and in this book, they’ve become a couple and have started a remodeling business where Avery is the designer. Plus, Avery’s remodeling skills are limited to wallpaper removal and she admits her design taste is not the normal. Their first project is to renovate the town’s haunted house. While working on the foundation, Derek discovers human remains, and Avery becomes involved in the investigation to get back to work, putting herself in danger. However, this book has too much going on outside of the mystery. The series is marketed to people who love HGTV, but I’m not sure there are enough remodeling descriptions to qualify that claim.
August 15, 2017
I have really mixed feelings about this book, while I enjoyed it there were several things that just annoyed me. One was the lack of diversity of characters, except for one older woman who is murdered and a baby who was in a woman's arms, everyone in the story was college or middle aged. There is no diversity in anything including economic status, race, just white middle class, middle aged people. The second is inaccuracies in small details and in time lines. Events often took far less time then they would have in real life, while I would have just skipped over some of that when it happened repeatedly it just made the book feel unrealistic. And finally there were the plain stupid comments, "You mean its colder here in Maine than in NYC!" In summary Jennie Bentley knows how to pace a story, create an interesting story line and viable characters, but she needs to better edit the small details.
June 15, 2024
Avery and her boyfriend, Derek, have purchased a home to flip. Unfortunately, it was the scene of a domestic murder several years ago, so they need to overcome that stigma. There are also rumors the house is haunted, but neither Avery nor Derek believe in the paranormal. That may change when Avery is alone in the house and hears footsteps coming down the hall. As work continues on the house, Derek discovers a human bone in the crawlspace beneath the house. Soon their work is brought to a halt when the police come to investigate. Avery joins the locals in speculating about the victim, and when another murder occurs in the neighborhood she is convinced the two crimes are connected.
Interesting story, with just enough of a creepy factor to keep me on tenterhooks. Characters were fully realized, and there were some intriguing plot twists. Very good, four stars
Interesting story, with just enough of a creepy factor to keep me on tenterhooks. Characters were fully realized, and there were some intriguing plot twists. Very good, four stars
September 8, 2021
The second in the Do-It-Yourself Mystery series has Avery and Derek flipping the local haunted house, where a triple murder and suicide took place several years ago.
Overall, this was fun and I will definitely continue reading. But I have issues. The identity of the skeleton was fairly transparent early on. The culprit, also easily guessed. Even the other surprise I guessed fairly early too. And I'm not one who generally figures this stuff out ahead of time. This author, I hope, will do a better job in the future of not making everything so easily guessed. This was the problem with the first one too. Then, I have a small nitpick. Look at the book cover. Why does it look like someone is painting two-colored stripes with one brush? Bah!
Overall, this was fun and I will definitely continue reading. But I have issues. The identity of the skeleton was fairly transparent early on. The culprit, also easily guessed. Even the other surprise I guessed fairly early too. And I'm not one who generally figures this stuff out ahead of time. This author, I hope, will do a better job in the future of not making everything so easily guessed. This was the problem with the first one too. Then, I have a small nitpick. Look at the book cover. Why does it look like someone is painting two-colored stripes with one brush? Bah!
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June 15, 2023Another nice cozy in this series. Avery and her new handyman boyfriend, Derek, have purchased a house to renovate and resell. Unfortunately, it may be haunted from the murders that took place there almost 20 years ago, and it doesn't help that they have just found a skeleton in the crawl space.
The mystery parts of the story weren't difficult to solve but I enjoyed the book because of the "localisms" of the Maine setting, the characters have a nice banter, and the renovation difficulties seem pretty accurate.
Very enjoyable, and I look forward to the next installment.
The mystery parts of the story weren't difficult to solve but I enjoyed the book because of the "localisms" of the Maine setting, the characters have a nice banter, and the renovation difficulties seem pretty accurate.
Very enjoyable, and I look forward to the next installment.
June 17, 2024
The cover and packaging promises this isn’t going to be anything other than what it is, but with the large press behind it I guess I expected more. Or less, maybe. Less of the characters over justifying doing things that advanced the plot or delayed the plot. Less over obvious opening progression of reveals. And DEFINITELY less of the characters talking about who the murder suspects were in public, multiple times.
The real mystery for me upon completing this book is how many readers later regret putting up a grocery bag wall in the super high humidity environment of a bathroom.
The real mystery for me upon completing this book is how many readers later regret putting up a grocery bag wall in the super high humidity environment of a bathroom.
January 12, 2018
Avery Baker and Derek Ellis, partners in a home renovation and restoration business, get a good price on a home where a murder occurred 20 years ago. Soon after starting demolition they hear footsteps and screams but no physical beings are there. Then when they start digging in the crawl space to shore up the foundation they come across human bones. The regular cast of secondary characters help the local police chief. A solid mystery.
February 6, 2018
I really like this series! This is book #2. This has everything I love in a cozy mystery- an awesome intriguing mystery, interesting likeable characters, romance & friendship. Avery & Derek buy a house to renovate but people died in it years ago. There are noises while they are working on it, and then they find bones in the crawl space. Someone is unhappy they found the bones but who? Avery & Derek & friends need to find out who is trying to scare them off.
April 18, 2020
Avery Baker is new to the small town of Waterfield, Maine. She lives comfortably in the house she inherited and restored while beginning a new renovation business with her boyfriend, Derek Ellis. The two begin to renovate a house that has been empty nearly two decades after the previous owners died under unfortunate circumstances. Though the house may be haunted, the pair jump in feet first. They aren’t on the job long before trouble pops up, beginning with unlevel floors.
This is the second book in A Do-It-Yourself mystery series. I enjoyed the first book in the series and the second book did not disappoint. This book could stand alone, but I can’t read a series out of order and I recommend you begin with the first book. The new characters in this story were interesting. I quickly had suspects, even before the victim was identified. The story moved at a steady pace until we learned the identity of the victim. After that, things seemed to move quickly. I recommend this book and look forward to the next in the series.
This is the second book in A Do-It-Yourself mystery series. I enjoyed the first book in the series and the second book did not disappoint. This book could stand alone, but I can’t read a series out of order and I recommend you begin with the first book. The new characters in this story were interesting. I quickly had suspects, even before the victim was identified. The story moved at a steady pace until we learned the identity of the victim. After that, things seemed to move quickly. I recommend this book and look forward to the next in the series.
March 12, 2025
Finished a "cozy mystery" I discovered this series last summer. They are from around 2008. This lady moves from NYC to a small costal town in Maine, inherits an old house with a bunch of cats, and of course falls in love. She works as an interior designer, while her boyfriend rennovates flipper houses. And somehow they just always stumble across these murders and mysteries. This is really simple and light hearted and just a feel good read. This was book 2 out of 8.
December 21, 2018
Not as interesting as the first book in the series, but still a good read. I did guess the killer and the other major plot development, as well as whose body it was early on, which is unusual for me.
August 3, 2025
Interesting concept with some likes or characters. Unfortunately for me there were too many characters, and you needed to know too much from the first book about some of them. I’m not sure I’ll keep reading this cozy murder series.
March 4, 2017
What a great new series. Also has DIY PROJECTS in the back of the book.
August 6, 2017
A good, quick cozy with a fairly standard and predictable plot.
January 9, 2018
Good cozy mystery series to read in the winter when you want to stay in bed all day.
January 13, 2018
Great 2nd book to the series. I am really enjoying these
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