Measure Twice, Murder Once

Nailed It Home Reno Mysteries #1

by Barbara Barrett

It’s bad enough when your business partner buys a property without consulting you, but when she accidentally acquires a brothel, it’s enough to make Rowena Summerfield want to throw away her hammer. Still, the house is a bargain, and maybe it’s just what Ro and her daughter need to turn around their home renovation business.

As Ro, a former homicide detective, comes to terms with the deal, she gets a shock when the former owner—and madam—turns up dead. Soon someone from Ro’s past shows up at the work her ex-partner, who needs a temporary sidekick to help him solve the case. Reviving their investigative team isn’t easy, especially when Herc gets jealous of the hunky deli owner who takes an interest in widow Rowena. Until now, she was fine with one man in her life—her cuddly cat, Jason.

Ro and Herc discover the previous residents of the house, including the victim’s daughter, have less than fond memories of their former boss. The bordello’s old customers have a lot to lose if their secrets surface, and the unhappy neighbors still bear a grudge. As the sleuths dig deeper, they unearth a flimsy foundation of anger, greed and fear framing the walls the suspects have built around themselves. Can Ro and Herc find the culprit before someone plays another deadly trick?

66,981

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Amazon, Ebooks

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 2, 2022

About the author

I characterize myself as a contemporary culture junkie. Translated: I changed my undergraduate major from anthropology to American history when I learned I'd have to do field work (no air conditioning) to obtain my graduate degree, but I never lost my interest in observing current lifestyle trends. I'm a TV addict. Sitcoms are my real passion, sitcoms done well, with ensembles that click and witty writing that never fails to amuse. I love to bake chocolate chip cookies and spend my spare time playing Mah Jongg.

In my former life I was a human resources analyst, so the jobs of my heroes and heroines almost become secondary characters in my contemporary romance novels.

I was married on D-Day, June 6 (my degree's in history, remember), and have two incredible grown children and eight grandchildren who make life worth living. I spend my winters in Florida (my office allows a view of four palm trees) and my summers in my home state of Iowa. To learn more about my books, please visit my website at http://www.barbarabarrettbooks.com.

Reviews

[Eirlys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

Rowena, an ex-detective, and her daughter started a business renovating houses. The house had a past and Ro got involved in a murder . Great characters and storyline.

[Ell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Measure Twice, Murder Once is full of believable characters and interesting storylines. It centers around Rowena, a retired detective, and her divorced daughter. The pair have started a home renovation business and purchase a home that turns out to be a former bordello. The former owner was anxious to sell and sold quickly for a low price. Her haste to distance herself from the brothel becomes clear when after the purchase, her dead body is found. Ro and her daughter work to unravel the secrets and motives that led to the homicide in order to restore the integrity of their purchase.

Another reviewer remarked that this book is devoid of the usual excessive bland descriptions found in some cozies, and I agree. There are some authors I can no longer read because the bland excessive descriptions to increase wordcount dull an otherwise interesting plot. Measure Twice, Murder Once is an enjoyable cozy that’s both engaging and well-paced.

[David Navratil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really do not think this should be sold as a "Cozy Mystery" or assumed by the reader that it is!
I fell for the good rating, nice cover & book 1 of a series thinking this was.
This is a good mystery about a mother and daughter who buys houses, repairs them and resells them.
The daughter buys a former "Bordello" and a few days later the "Madam" who use to run the house turns up dead.
The book was still a cozy mystery until interviews with some of the former ladies working at the house went into a little more detail of their jobs then was needed!
I have read about 60 Cozy Mysteries and this is the 1st time I've seen phrases such are used in this book.
I still gave it a 4 for the mystery part and lots of suspects but you be the judge if this is a Cozy Mystery or just on the edge of Cozy or Regular Mystery! David N.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: Flipping properties is a risky business at the best of times. Finding just the right place and turning it into something desirable is a chancy affair. But when your business partner, who also happens to be your daughter, buys a property that you have never seen, the anxiety level increases. And then, after the ink has dried, you discover the property had been a brothel, well, let us just say it complicates things one thousandfold. Then, when the former madame is murdered the risk factor goes off the charts.

Former cop Ro now must contend with the renovations, assuage the neighbours who disliked having a house of ill repute on their doorsteps, figure out how to market said tainted house and find the killer. As she digs deeper into the investigation any idea of a madame with a heart of gold vanishes. The deceased was a nasty piece of work and her ex employees all have a good reason to have wanted her dead. But is it possible that one of them, or one of her former clients, had an extra reason.

Four purrs and one paw up.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed meeting Ro, Val, Herc and all their friends so much I just had to buy the next book. This was a really unique business and job for a cozy main character since Ro’s formerly a detective but currently worked with her daughter in a home renovating business. When daughter Val snapped up a bargain, the girls had no idea what secrets that place held until all the neighbors started talking.

I think the ladies did a great job of turning the place into a home that someone was gonna be very proud to own, and they managed to calm down the neighbors as well as make a few new friends. I loved how Ro and Herc worked together when she was pulled into duty as his detective partner for the murder case. The woman who’d owned the house previously was murdered, and there was an entire laundry list of who could’ve done her in. But the Ro/Herc team came through with an exciting although a bit embarrassing showdown, they did get their perp.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Measure Twice, Murder Once by Barbara Barrett is the first book in the Nailed It Home Renovation Mystery series. Seems Rowena Summerfield's daughter and business partner bought a former brothel. The price was right but will its reputation lead to a loss? Ro and her daughter Val have a renovation business called Nailed It. An earlier mistake by Val led to a loss so Ro wanted this project to go well. Shortly after the sale the former owner and madam is murdered. Ro, as a former homicide detective, helps her former homicide partner investigate the murder. I enjoyed this storyline. It's a little different: mother/daughter renovation team, and a former homicide detective called back to temporary duty. The investigation kept my attention and I found the characters to be likable. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a terrific road accident sidelined Detective Rowena "Ro" Summerfield, she left the police force and built a new home renovation business with her daughter. Their latest project has hit a bump - the neighbourhood is concerned that the former brothel is merely getting a facelift to be used again as a cathouse. It isn't easy to allay the other homeowners' concerns, but Ro navigates that hurdle only to find that the old madame has been murdered. Ro's ex-partner tags her into his investigation as they follow the clues into the seamy world of prostitution.

Measure Twice, Murder Once is a modern take on the cosy genre. I immediately felt comfortable with the main character and was wrapped up in her story. Since Ro's past is not fully uncovered in this first book, there is the promise of more revelations to come. I am anticipating another enthralling read in book two.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in series. A medically retired homocide cop starts a home renovation company with her daughter. Her daughter tells mom she has gotten a great deal one a house in a nice neighborhood but it needs a lot of work, but, because of the low price they should make a good profit. She goes to investigate the house and finds many rooms with en-suite and immediately becomes suspicious this was a bordello, a visit from a neighbour Demanding if to know if they were going to revive the cat house confirms her suspicion. When her former partner’s new partner goes out on family leave she is enlisted to resume her old duties as a consultant to assist on a murder case. The victim: the former owner of the cat house. A good mystery, interesting characters. I shall look into getting the next in series.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to a new cozy mystery series. Measure Twice, Murder Once is about a former homicide detective, turned home renovation designer, named Ro. She's in her mid/late 50s and has overcome some hardships while raising her daughter, who is in her mid 30’s and her partner in the home renovation business. Their latest house once belonged to madam who ran a brothel out of the house. The madam has been killed and Ro’s homicide detective ex-partner, Herc, asks for her help tracking down suspects. It’s a good mystery with plenty of suspects, and Ro and Herc feed off each other’s strengths like old times. It’s an easy going, entertaining, and enjoyable cozy. Very even paced. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Amary Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrigue and romance
Ms. Barrett writes with believable characters and scenarios.
Detective Rowena Summerfield retires after an on the job injury and starts a second career in renovation with her daughter, Val. The pair buy a former bordello and Ro is dragged into the investigation...with her former partner. We follow along through their investigation, through the boring questions and the enlightening answers. As suspects are added and eliminated, Ro picks up an admirer. I recommend this fun and qiock moving tale.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse gratis and offer my opinion the same.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Barbara Barrett and Backlit PR for the copy of Measure Twice, Murder Once. This is my personal review.
I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It was a twist on cozy mysteries that I liked a lot. Rowena is a retired detective who along wither daughter run a home renovation business.
They got a great deal on a house to do renovations on and they found a very interesting reason why the deal was so good, and the owner was eager to sell to them. The house used to be a bordello. When they started renovations, they discovered a lot more than they anticipated.
This is a good start to a new cozy series. I look forward to reading more.

[Lorraine O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too many suspects & a mean, nasty, vindictive formerly alive person.

Story draws you right in. It is so implausible that you have to keep reading so you can figure out where the author is heading with it. I gave it 4 stars because the author inferred that something wasn't sitting right with her when they caught the killer. She was right, there was no way this was done by only 1 person. Others were involved but I won't give specifics and ruin it for someone else. Tremendously disappointing ending due to it being unfinished. The author may contact me if she wishes to discuss it. Retired, I can pencil you into my schedule.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a first

My first cozy about a madam and house of ill repute. Love home renovation shows so this definitely caught my eye and the idea they bought a brothel is hilarious. Of course, as a woman in her 50s, I probably wouldn't have been amused in real life so I can definitely relate to Ro. A retired police officer hurt in the line of duty, now working with her daughter, gets pulled in to help her ex partner solve a murder. The murder of the madam for the house she just bought. Being back in the midst of solving crimes was exhilarating but not when a killer catches you by surprise.

Good start to the series.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remodeling a former brothel!

Rowena, Ro, and her daughter Val own a home renovation company called Nailed It Home Reno’s in Shasta, Florida. Ro buys a large house to renovate without checking its Val first and it turns out the house is a former brothel - lots of bedrooms with attached bathrooms. It’s a fun mystery until someone is killed. So Ro temporarily partners with Herc, her police buddy from the past to solve it, as his regular partner is out of town. A fairly quick and enjoyable read. I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series. The main character is Rowena. Rowena and her daughter own a business that renovates old homes and then sells them. Rowena used to be a detective in homicide until a car accident meant desk duty and she didn't want that. As they inspect their latest home , Rowena realizes it use to be a bordello. Then her old partner shows up because the woman who ran this house has been murdered. Now her old partner wants her to be his partner on the case and when she does....things start to get interesting. Can Rowena figure this out before it is too late ?

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rowena (Ro) Summerfield and her daughter Val own a home renovation company called Nail It Home Reno in Shasta, Florida. When Ro and Val purchased a home that was a brothel the previous owner a madam turns up dead. Ro is a former homicide detective and teams up with her partner Herc to try to solve the murder. I really enjoyed this phenomenal cozy mystery fiction novel. I received this free e-book an am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story captured my interest at the beginning but it started to lag before the half way mark. Considering this is a construction based mystery there isn’t a lot of it in the story and the author clearly has very little knowledge about it (drywall is not the next step after demo). I found the writing mediocre, the investigation lacking (jumbled and repetitive)and many of the characters flat and unpleasant. I won’t be reading anymore from this series.

[Sharon Spindler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

Other than the expected grammatical errors that I see in most literature these days, this was a pretty good read. The subject matter was a little strange , but was handled sympathetically and actually contributed to the interest of the plot. I would recommend this writer to others.

[Lisa]

Rowena used to be a homicide detective, and she can't quite get it out of her system, even after she medically retires and starts a renovation business with her daughter. When her daughter purchases what used to be a brothel, Ro is skeptical, but they make it work...mostly because Ro winds up solving the murder of the former owner.

[Dawn Ireland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The transition from home Reno/interior design to a detective was awkward

Not only was the transition awkward, Ro didn’t contribute much to Herc’s investigation. She was more of a tag-along than someone who had a former career as a detective. The ending dragged on, and wasn’t satisfying at all.
.

[Sandra Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

First book by this author, I have read.
Retired police detective, in the line of duty, and her daughter start a home business. They rehab houses.
Her old partner, at the police department, has her come back on as an consultant. Since his partner is off handling personal business.
They do what is needed, to get to the inevitable conclusion.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever cozy mystery. Nicely paced and without the typical excessive descriptions and repetition of some cozies. Likeable characters. Intriguing premise. It kept me guessing. A smidgeon of romance. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start for a new cozy series, I liked the originality of the plot and the well written characters.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing, there's a lot of humour and the plot flows.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Michelle Debnam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew that buying and renovating an ex brothel could lead to murder but thats exactly what happens when Mother and Daughter renovating team get the chance to snap up a property before it goes on the market

[Shirley Clipson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't quite nail it for me

Good but didn't really capture the imagination, the best thing I can say about Rowena is at least she'd been in the job previously and knew what to look for and not a Jane Marple wannabe.

[J Shu · Rating 3 out of 5]

4/24. Rowena Summerfield, a former detective, and her daughter Val own a property renovation and design company. Val gets a deal on a house with a less than desirable history. Then the house's former owner is found murdered. Can Ro help the detective she used to partner with solve the crime? Fun.

[Krisbay1417 · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute read

I enjoyed this book as a light read, received it on a fill your kindle deal.
The story was interesting, as were the characters. The book wraps things up at the end and didn’t leave me hanging. 4 stars

[Lori Herbst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced plot with a unique mystery and twist. Likable characters, especially Rowena. Good rapport with her ex-partner and her daughter. Great scene setting, too.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Investors

This book is all about investing in life in one way or another. The two main characters are great. It's a fun mystery to follow.

[Lisa Stritzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murderous Revenge

This was a good read. Give this book 2 thumbs up. Started out a little slow but as you kept reading this book, the more you did not want to put the book down.