Batten Down the Belfry

House-Flipper Mystery #4

by Diane Kelly, Courtney Patterson (Narrator)

Here is the church, here is the steeple…

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck have successfully flipped houses, but this is the first time they’ve attempted to renovate a house of worship. Still, the colorful stained glass in the country church has caught Whitney’s eye, and she’d love to breathe new life into the abandoned building. What’s more, the place has perfect acoustics. Could the worship hall be reborn as an entertainment venue with its parsonage repurposed as a pre-show bistro?

Open the doors, and see all the trouble.

The owner of the horse farm next door has asserted a legal claim to the church property, rendering their title uncertain. If that’s not bad enough, while rehabbing the church, Whitney’s cat Sawdust discovers a bombshell in the bell tower—the body of the man who’d delivered their beautiful new replacement windows. What transpired in the spire? Who rang the man’s bell and why?

The steeple is keeping its secrets and, when a second body turns up, things become even less clear. Can Whitney help Detective Collin Flynn solve the crimes before someone else is sent to meet their maker?

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

Audible Audio

First published March 1, 2022

About the author

Award-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.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. I recently read and reviewed the first three books and this is my review of book four. Batten Down the Belfry continues to feature Whitney Whitaker, her cat Sawdust, Whitney’s cousin Buck Whitaker, and Detective Collin Flynn. The author continues to bring a mix of murder, police and amateur investigations, cute animals, some humor, and the beginnings of a couple of romances.

Whitney and Buck are flipping houses together. Their latest project is a church and parsonage that have been abandoned for several years. The colorful stained glass has caught Whitney’s eye. Could the church be turned into an entertainment venue and the parsonage a pre-show restaurant?
Of course, things don’t go smoothly. The owner of the horse farm next door claims to have a legal claim to the property, making their title uncertain. Then Sawdust discovers a body in the bell tower. When a second body turns up, is this the end of the church renovation?

Whitney is inquisitive, 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. She’s also somewhat pushy and nosy or as she prefers; inquisitive and assertive. 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. Buck is amiable, an excellent carpenter, and responsible for the structural aspects of the renovations. Collin is determined, smart, and perceptive. He’s not good at compartmentalizing and has an erratic work schedule that makes relationships difficult. He also doesn’t jump to conclusions, but follows the evidence. He’s dedicated to his work and runs to reduce stress.

The author is a great storyteller and managed to pull me into the narrative quickly. The main female protagonist is strong and independent and she has a great supporting cast of family and friends. The world-building was well-done and the story is sprinkled with light humor. My biggest quibble is that Collin tends to overshare investigation information with Whitney and even take her on interviews with persons of interest to the case. This felt unrealistic. As always, the renovation information is interesting and adds realism to the story. The ending is satisfactory and wraps up the threads nicely.

Overall, this is a fun, light, entertaining, and enjoyable cozy mystery with great characterization. It has just the right amount of mystery, renovation, romance, and creative twists. 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 March 1, 2022.
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My 4.16 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batten Down the Belfry by Diane Kelly is the fourth book in the cozy House-Flipper Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries each of these books in the series could be read as a standalone if choosing to do so as the mystery within is fully solved during the book. There is of course some character development carried over book to book for those fans following in order from the beginning.

In the House-Flipper Mystery series Whitney Whitaker had been working as a property manager to pay the bills while she had been living in her parents pool house with her cat, Sawdust. Real estate and renovating were really Whitney’s passions so whenever she got the chance she was diving into the house flipping business with her cousin Buck.

This time around Whitney her cousin Buck have purchased and old church that has been sitting empty for years. When they arrive at the property though they find they aren’t quite welcomed by the new neighbor who thinks he owns their land. As Whitney and Buck wait for court date to settle the dispute they begin work regardless but unfortunately a delivery driver ends up murdered in the building while they are away leaving Whitney to figure out just what happened.

The House-Flipper Mystery series is another that I have followed from the beginning and have really enjoyed so far. This one goes right along with my love for all things HGTV, cute kitty cats and a quirky fun story to get me laughing. Cute Sawdust the kitty gets his own point of view often stealing the show which I love. Whitney also has a detective boyfriend helping solve the cases which I also enjoy. This fourth book in the series landed at four and a half starts for me so I’ll definitely be on the look out for book five.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Natalia R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to the series.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars rounded up.

I enjoy Diane Kelly's cozy mysteries so didn't hesitate to jump in on the fourth book in this series when it became available through NetGalley. It is easily read as a stand alone as most of the past details are filled in.

What a fun plot idea--the main characters, Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck, are house-flippers! One of my daughters and her husband bought a 100-year-old farm house that had been flipped and it's a great home. I thought it would be interesting to read about the process.

In this outing, Whitney and Buck have just closed on a parcel with an old church and parsonage on the outskirts of Nashville, TN, when a cantankerous neighbor shows up, claiming he owns the property by 'an adverse possession' claim (squatter's rights) he filed years ago. The sheriff is called, documents examined and a standoff is declared until it can all be decided by a judge.

Meanwhile Whitney and Buck look the buildings over and come up with a unique idea--to turn the church and parsonage into a playhouse and eatery! And it's full steam ahead for those two!! Whit contacts a stained glass artist to design some replacement windows for the old church and they are soon delivered. But before they can be installed, the cousins discover a body in the church belfry! The Metro Nashville police are called, the cousins are questioned, and Collin, a homicide detective with the Nashville police who happens to be Whitney's boyfriend, arrives on the scene. They are all flummoxed by the man's murder. Why was he there? Was it a drug deal that went badly?

Later, just as the installation of the windows is about to be completed, the stained glass artist shows up claiming the wrong windows have been delivered and she needs these back. They look right so what the heck is going on? Once the windows are switched, the playhouse project moves forward quickly and smoothly. The cousins involve some talented friends, including Colette, a great chef who is Whitney's best friend and roommate, and whose dream it has been to run a restaurant. She comes up with some great-sounding recipes, three of which are included in the novel. (Yay!)

As far as the investigation goes, Collin becomes rather stymied and allows Whitney to help out by asking a few probing questions. But things get more complicated when she spots another dead body...

This is a pleasant and entertaining cozy mystery with likable characters. The mystery plot is complicated and keeps the reader guessing. I enjoyed the Nashville setting and hearing about places we've visited like the Belle Meade Plantation with its history of successful thoroughbred horse breeding. There is also a winery on site with wine sampling and I can recommend their delicious blackberry wine. (Fortunately they do mail order shipments so it's not necessary to drive back there for more.)

I received an arc of this new cozy mystery via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. What a delight to see that this book is dedicated to her friend, Kerrin Parris, who also happens to be my friend on Goodreads. Cute cover design too.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batten Down the Belfry the 4th instalment in the House Flipper Mysteries series by Diane Kelly. This is 2nd book I have read in the series, and it can be read as a standalone.

Here is the church, here is the steeple…

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck have successfully flipped houses, but this is the first time they’ve attempted to renovate a house of worship. Still, the colorful stained glass in the country church has caught Whitney’s eye, and she’d love to breathe new life into the abandoned building. What’s more, the place has perfect acoustics. Could the worship hall be reborn as an entertainment venue with its parsonage repurposed as a pre-show bistro?

Open the doors, and see all the trouble.

The characters of Whitney, Sawdust (cat), Buck, Collin and Collette are ones I have really come to love. I also enjoy the setting of Nashville, Tennessee. This time around they are flipping an abandoned church and the concept they come up with is really cool and somewhere I would want to go to. I also like where the characters are heading in their personal lives. Overall I really like this series and it’s on my must read list.

The mystery is interesting and had lots of twists which kept me guessing. I had no idea who the killer was till Whitney did.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St.Martin Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[BonnieM☂️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batten Down the Belfry was a fun read. The main character, Whitney Whitaker and her cousin, Buck Whitaker rehab and flip houses as a business. They have bought an old church on five acres of land. When they arrive at the church they find horses grazing on their property. Their neighbor, Nolan Sibley says that he owns the church and the land. They end up going to court to straighten out who owns the property. The supporting characters add to the story. While they wait for the court date they decide to start rehabbing the church, which they plan to make into an entertainment center. The stain glass windows need to be fixed so Whitney finds a woman named Laurel Cromwell who is an artist who can repair the windows. This is where the story takes the reader on an adventure of intrigue. When the glass windows are delivered the delivery man, Gerald Woodruff is found murdered in the Belfry tower. Soon after Laurel comes and tells them that she has delivered the wrong windows and needs these windows returned. Whitney's boyfriend, Collin Flynn is a homicide detective who is assigned to this murder case. Whitney's roommate, Colette, is dating Buck and is a professional chef. The rectory they decide to make into a bistro restaurant which Colette will be the chef there.

Whitney and Buck go to court and win their case. Upon returning to the church they go to the belfry and upon looking out they see Nolan dead on his horse farm property. They think the two murders are related and Whitney decides to help her boyfriend find who killed the two men. This is where the story takes two paths. One has to do with questionable drugs and the other is money laundering.

I will let the reader find out where the story line goes and who murdered the two men.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitney always has creative ideas for the real estate flips done by her and her cousin. This time they are turning an old church into an entertainment venue. The trouble is the dead bodies.

In a fun twist we get chapters from Whitney's perspective and a few from her cat Sawdust's perspective. The flip is creative and the mystery original. This is the fourth book in the House Flipper series but could easily be read as a stand-alone. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whitney and her cousin Buck have flipped houses before, but now they’re renovating an old church. When two murders take place near the old church, Whitney wants to help solve the cases. Her boyfriend is the homicide detective, so she soon is looking for clues.

Batten Down the Belfry is the fourth book in the House Flipper mystery series. This book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend starting with the first book in this series, Dead as a Doorknocker.

Whitney and her family and friends are likable characters. The setting is charming. The mystery is entertaining. Batten Down the Belfry is an enjoyable cozy mystery, and I look forward to reading more of this series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

It looked like Whit and Buck had scored themselves another nice property, and with all the ideas they collectively had for it, it promised to be a good profit and future moneymaker for them. Only the one little problem of the body in the bell tower needed to be addressed first. And if that wasn't bad enough, there was another death on the property after that.

I loved the idea Collette came up with for having a cafe to go along with the theater venue building. It was cute how she and Buck were getting closer. I like where Whitney and Collin are in their relationship. He finally realized she's useful to investigations, and it doesn't do any good to tell her to keep away anyhow.

The showdown was crazy exciting! Sawdust got to play a part, and that old bell in the church definitely came in handy! The very ending was so sweet and now I can't wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC provided by St. Martin's via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. This book comes out March 1, 2022.

[Sonia With an I · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batten Down the Belfry by Diane Kelly has Whitney Whitaker and her cousin, Buck purchasing an old church and parsonage. After finalizing the purchase, Whitney and Buck go out to admire their acquisition and decide how they are going to transform it. Shortly after they arrive, their neighbor, Nolan Sibley shows up with a cattle prod in his hand. He claims to own the property through adverse possession and wants them to skedaddle. The only way to settle this land dispute is through the courts. While waiting for their hearing, Whitney and Buck begin the remodel. They are going to turn the old church into performance venue. The old parsonage will become a café where Colette, Whitney’s roommate and Buck’s girlfriend, will serve her epicurean delights. There project goes south when a man is found at the bottom of the stairs leading to the belfry. He is pronounced DOA on the way to the hospital. Before long, a second body turns up nearby. Are the two deaths tied together? Whitney sets out to get answers with help from her sidekick Sawdust. Batten Down the Belfry is the fourth A House-Flipper Mystery. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading all the books in this engaging series. I thought Batten Down the Belfry was well-written with developed, relatable characters. I like Whitney Whitaker who is down to earth. She is friendly and works hard flipping buildings. Buck Whitaker, Whitney’s cousin and business partner, is a nice guy who is dating Whitney’s roommate and friend, Collette. Sawdust, Whitney’s cat, steals the show with the chapters from his point of view. He is a cutie. Sawdust’s chapters will have you laughing and going “ahhhhh.” I enjoy the author’s descriptions of Nashville and how she incorporates history of the city (an example is details about the Belle Meade Plantation). The mystery was well thought it. I like how everything tied together into one fun whodunit. The mystery has unusual elements which I enjoyed. There are twists and unexpected revelations that I found delightful (I just love a challenging whodunit). There is a great reveal, and all the details are provided at the end, so I did not have any lingering questions. I just love how one character met his maker. It was very fitting. Whitney and Buck transformed a church into a performance venue. I liked reading about the various details and the work they did to accomplish the task. They also turn the parsonage into a café with Collette as the chef. I like the name Collette came up with for the café. I cannot wait to read the next A House Flipper Mystery. Batten Down the Belfry is an entertaining cozy with a land clash, a thoroughbred tyrant, a clever kitty, a bonging bell, a converted church, a disordered delivery, a messy murder, and a curious carpenter.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long been a fan of the “A House-Flipper Mystery” series, and with book four, Batten Down the Belfry, my enjoyment and admiration for the series and the author have grown. An old church, a bell tower, stained glass, a bistro, and all of the delightful characters of this series create a mystery that will take readers from interested to obsessed.

Whitney and Buck love the idea of renovating an old church. They want to use the bell tower to attract entertainment to their doors and create a place that will have an audience thrilled and willing to spend their hard-earned dollars. To complete the look, they add stained glass windows that reflect music, art, theater, and everything that will give the idea of entertainment at its finest. Add the parsonage-turned bistro; they have everything an artist or an audience could want. If it weren’t for the bodies that keep turning up, it would be perfect. To top it off, the local horse rancher next door has claimed the property and is trying every dirty trick in the book to take Whitney and Buck’s property for his own.

Characters in this series have always been exciting and the kind of people you would like to get to know. Each has a distinct personality that compliments each other and each situation. This time the victim is a stranger, but as he died on Whitney and Buck’s property, you know instantly that the hunt for the killer will not be left up to the authorities. Evidence is slim, but it’s there waiting to be uncovered. I adore the bell tower, and adding the stained glass windows with an artistic theme is delightful. The scene of the crime is the Church. This contains and restrains the locations but gives readers a nice idea of what the area looks and feels like. The killer isn’t hard to figure out, but the twist that comes along with the investigation will have readers putting on their thinking caps.

Whitney, as usual, places herself in danger, having more guts than brains at times, it seems. Buck does what he always does, backs Whitney and tries his best to keep out of trouble. In Batten Down the Belfry, we enjoy a new side of Buck we didn’t see coming. Readers will be awed by the bell tower, the stained glass, the bistro, and even the horse ranch. This book has an eye toward keeping the reader guessing, adding more mystery than investigation, and making sure that readers are left breathless.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cousins Buck & Whitney are back in another exciting addition to this series.
Whitney and her cat Sawdust are a great duo, I love how the author adds his point of view throughout the story.
Buck and Whitney are preparing to flip another project, this time it's a church, and it sounds absolutely beautiful.
Unfortunately, the neighbor next door feels he's the rightful owner, and his nasty attitude causes conflict for the cousins.
This is an easy to read series, filled with colorful characters and laugh out loud moments.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Amanda McGill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm against the majority of reviewers, but I really didn't care for the novel.

I'm always a sucker for a cat on the cover of books and I thought it would be fun to read about a house flipper. Even though I hadn't read the previous novels, I didn't feel that I was missing out on who the characters were and how they interacted.

It felt the novel was just too long. There were a lot of unnecessary information that I kept skimming over. I won't be continuing on with this series.

Thank you to Netgallery and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitney Witaker and her cousin Buck's next house flipping project is converting an old church and parsonage into a new music venue and restaurant in Nashville. But the horse breeder next door believes that he owns the property and has been letting his horses roam there. He's not a very nice man given that he is a little too free with his cattle prod for Whitney's taste. That means that Whitney and Buck have to go to court, and Whitney is concerned about investing too much in the property until they are sure that they own it.

When a delivery man bringing some custom stained-glass windows to the site is murdered, Whitney and her cop boyfriend are on the case. And when the horse breeder also dies, Whitney's suspicions grow even more. Her investigations have her looking at the delivery man's possible involvement in selling drugs, the horse breeder's head hand possibly illegally selling stud services, and the stained-glass artist's possible connection to money laundering.

This was a fun story with lots of interesting details about house flipping. I liked the characters and thought the plot was nicely twisty. The recipes at the end of the book also look good.

[Caitlin Gonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Here is the church, here is the steeple…

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck have successfully flipped houses, but this is the first time they’ve attempted to renovate a house of worship. Still, the colorful stained glass in the country church has caught Whitney’s eye, and she’d love to breathe new life into the abandoned building. What’s more, the place has perfect acoustics. Could the worship hall be reborn as an entertainment venue with its parsonage repurposed as a pre-show bistro?

Open the doors, and see all the trouble.

The owner of the horse farm next door has asserted a legal claim to the church property, rendering their title uncertain. If that’s not bad enough, while rehabbing the church, Whitney’s cat Sawdust discovers a bombshell in the bell tower—the body of the man who’d delivered their beautiful new replacement windows. What transpired in the spire? Who rang the man’s bell and why?

The steeple is keeping its secrets and, when a second body turns up, things become even less clear. Can Whitney help Detective Collin Flynn solve the crimes before someone else is sent to meet their maker? (Fantastic Fiction synopsis)

I have read other series by Diane Kelly, and really enjoyed her writing. Unfortunately, this is the first in her House-Flipper series that I have read. My absolute favorite thing that Diane Kelly does is how she writes chapters in the animal’s POV. It gives a new perspective to the story, but also gives the author and the characters a more loving personality that I think flows through the novels.

Whitney is, unfortunately, not one of those amateur detectives that I like. As a working, independent woman I liked her, but when she became the detective I was annoyed. She doesn’t appear to think before she acts which puts herself and potentially others in danger. Up to the end, I did like her and her cat Sawdust. I liked that she worked with her cousin, and that she was a tom boy with some girly tendencies.

The mystery was interesting, and seemed to smooth out towards the end. I wasn’t surprised by one of the murders while the other I felt was appropriately complex.

Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batten Down the Belfry is the fourth installment in the House-Flipper Mystery series featuring Whitney Whitaker, her cat Sawdust and cousin Buck. Coming off the successful flip of a ramshackle motel into luxurious condos the duo has now purchased a country church and parsonage. Whitney comes up with the idea to turn the church into an arts venue - concerts, plays, etc. and her roommate Collette (who is now dating Buck) will run the parsonage turned restaurant.

But, Nolan Sibley the horse breeder next door is claiming that he owns the land and buildings due to his filing for adverse possession. Neither Whitney or Buck like the man - and they especially don't like the way he uses the cattle prod on his horses.

Whitney hires a woman to create stained glass windows for the church and when the delivery man turns up dead, she and Buck are unwittingly exposed to a jewel smuggling operation. So, they team up with Collin Flynn, Whitney's boyfriend and homicide detective to track down a killer. When Nolan is found dead in his pasture everyone must work quickly to salvage the flip.

The return of series regulars, two adorable cats and an interesting murder plot that weaves in jewels and horse breeding, combined with warm and friendly relationships make for a fun addition to the series.

I received an advanced copy of Batten Down the Belfry from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is one of my favourite "cozies" out there. I like how it continues to explore aspects of Whitney's and Buck's jobs that I know very little about, while also finding fun ways to make room for both the cat - Sawdust - and a murder or two.

The cast of supporting characters are all very nice and I just feel very good while spending time with these people. It's in many ways a perfect cosy mystery. I enjoyed it very much!

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fourth Book in the House-Flipper Mystery Series

Whitney Whitaker and her cousin, Buck, are flipping real estate in Nashville. So far they are doing pretty good. In this adventure, the two have purchased a property with a church and a parsonage on it. They have decided to turn it into an entertainment venue with the parsonage serving as a bar/restaurant.

Fresh from closing the deal, they arrive to find horses living on the land around the church and even one inside! And this is where we meet the neighbor. A real charmer, this one. He carries a cattle prod with him if that tells you what type of man he is. Telling them the land is his and sending them to court where the issue will be settled.

In the meantime, they get to work. The demo is in full swing and the stained glass windows are delivered. As Buck and Whitney haul them to the parsonage for safekeeping, Sawdust, who also narrates the story, is witness to a violent encounter inside the belfry! Oh to be a talking cat. Just as we were sure who did the deed, we are very wrong.

I love this series. Sawdust is a very good narrator and very observant. If you are an HGTV lover, this series is for you. There is a lot of friendship, family, good design, and a murder or two. What more could you ask for?

NetGalley/ February 22nd, 2022 St. Martin’s Press

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[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read, loved this flip, and this mystery, it was quite intriguing, and I had a great time reading it!

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th installment in the "House Flipper" Mystery series by cozy author Diane Kelly. The author knows how to write enticing cozies and is a favorite author of mine. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

The two cousins that are protagnist are Buck and Whitney. Whitney has a charming cat named Sawdust that is a fun addition to this series. The author knows cats and all their charms . Sawdust is a main charcter of this series that is catnip for all cozy cat lovers. The house flipping cousins have purchased a old church for their latest project but a neighbor is opposed to their project. When two murders occur they are on the case to determine if they are being set up or are in danger. Sawdust has laugh out loud moments as always . The sleuth kept me guessing to a pleasing conclusion. The charcters and cat are all likable and add to the setting. A winning addition to this series and another purrfect book from Diane Kelly.

[Amary Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another installment in the wonderful reno series.
The Whittaker cousins have found another project, an abandoned church and parsonage. Arriving at it right after the closing, they're confronted by horses, loads of manure and someone insisting they're trespassing.
They contact their title company to figure it all out and continue to work on the property. A delivery man turns up dead in the belfry and Whitney is at a loss as to why. When they win at court because the man insisting the property was his didn't show, they were elated......until they found him dead by his barn.
Ms. Kelly's tale of intrigue is fast moving, dotted with romance and humor along with a lot of suspense. Whitney and her police detective boyfriend Collin chased down any lead they came across, no matter how far fetched, and some seemed very far fetched.
This book was a delightful escape that I finished in less than a day, I was that engrossed. I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse gratis and offer my opinion in the same spirit.

[Bobbie Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of BATTEN DOWN THE BELFRY (Book 4 of the House Flipper Mysteries), by Diane Kelly, in exchange for an honest review. Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck have purchased a church as their next flip. They don’t quite know what they’re going to do with the property, but they’re eager to start. However, the adjoining horse farm has been using the property as grazing grounds for their horses and has, therefore, filed a claim of adverse possession and ownership. So, the trouble begins. With a vision in mind, the Whitakers begin their renovations with repeated interference by the horse farm. However, trouble becomes mayhem when a delivery man is murdered in the belfry. Poor Sawdust has an affinity for finding dead humans. Whitney, with the assistance of Detective Collin Flynn, works to uncover the killer before murderous scandal sabotages another project.

I love this series. I recommend it to fans of humorous cozy mysteries.

[Betty Cruikshank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read in this series but I did not need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one. I will definitely look for more books by Diane Kelly.

Whitney Whitaker and her cousin, Buck, have partnered to flip houses and have just closed on an old church and parsonage. Their first day on their property, they find it full of horses and horse manure and owner of the horse farm next door states that he is the rightful owner by the power of adverse possession. While they go to court to prove their claim, Buck and Whitney begin work to turn the church and home into an entertainment venue and restaurant.

After the delivery of a shipment of custom stained glass, Whitney’s cat, Sawdust, discovers the body of the delivery driver in the church steeple. Whitney’s friend, Detective Collin Finn, is on the case and Whitney looks for clues to help him find the killer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reading copy.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whitney and her cousin Butch are house-flippers. When they buy an old church and plan to convert it to a music venue, they run into trouble with the owner of the horse farm next door, who claims that he owns the property. Then the stained glass windows they order turn out to be meant for a glass dealer in Bucharest. While things fall into place very easily for the restaurant they plan for the former parsonage, which they also own, two murders put them on the wrong lists for the local police, despite Whitney's boyfriend being a police detective. When I find myself wanting to shout to a fictional character, "Can't you see it's the (spoiler)?" or "Don't go in there, you fool!" it's usually a bad sign, and my mental shouts were almost constant, as Whitney seems to go out of her way to get into trouble.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by St. Martin’s Press and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


An exciting cozy mystery with twists and turns!

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested this when I saw it on NetGalley; I read the first book, Dead As A Doorknocker, a few weeks ago, so it was nice to have that background when I started this one. Buck, Whitney and Sawdust are back, this time they've just bought an old, disused church and parsonage with plans to turn it into a playhouse and café entertainment value. But trouble begins before they can even swing a hammer when adjacent property owner Nolan claims he owns the property, a delivery man is found dead after delivering stained glass windows, and then Nolan himself is found dead. Are the deaths related? Whitney and Sawdust go to work to find a murderer.

I loved the first book and this one was even better, and I would say this can be read as a standalone or an entry into the series, as there were very few references to the earlier books. I love the little bits of humor and absurdity, from finding a horse standing in the middle of the church to Sawdust's thoughts about kitty friend Cleo and the playhouse and cafe idea was amazing, definitely a place I'd love to check out!

The plot really shone in this one, I loved that the plot wasn't one seen often in a cozy - I won't expand on that, as it would definitely clue readers in to where to look, so there weren't a lot of clues pointing at anyone in particular. A lot of it came down to observation, sleuthing and interviewing, but there was enough there for me to chew on as I read and I didn't guess the culprit until the conclusion (where hero cat Sawdust saves the day yet again!) Delightful from start to finish, this is definitely a great cozy series for young and old.

[Lisa | Lady_Logomancer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun installment with Whitney, Buck, Colette, Collin and Sawdust!

Whitney plans to flip an old church into a theater and it should have been easy, right? But of course they find a body and Whitney just can’t help trying to find out whodunnit.

This book series is always refreshing because Whitney is very smart and capable. She isn’t a nosy business, she really just wants to figure out what happened!

I liked this story, it has horses (a personal favorite) and a tricky mystery. My only complaint is that a lot of the ending was exposition. Sometimes you really need to break up all that information with a conversation or an interaction.

There’s also some fun recipes!

I continue to enjoy this series. I look forward to more.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batten Down the Belfry by Diane Kelly is the fourth book in her House-Flipper Mystery series. A murder investigation becomes personal for amateur detective Whitney Whitaker when a delivery driver is found murdered in the belfry of the old church Whitney and her cousin Buck are renovating to become a community theater. I liked how Whitney went about investigating smartly enough by cluing in her boyfriend Detective Colin Flynn along the way. The storyline is intriguing with action and suspense and fast pacing. This was a fun cozy mystery to read.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitney and Buck are ready to flip another property. After closing on an old country church, they head to the new property to get started and are greeted first by some neighboring horses and then by the owner of said horses. But the horse owner claims that he also owns the land on which the church sits. What a start to a new project!

As Whitney and Buck focus on rehabbing the property, they continue with deliveries and repair and a delivery man is found dead in the church belfry. Only Sawdust saw what happened and he can’t mew what he saw to the police. When a second body is found, Whiney is even more curious because the man she thought might have killed the delivery man is now dead himself. Can she help Collin solve the case and open their brand new business without any more deaths? Whitney hope she will be around long enough to find out.

This is a fun cozy series with an adorable kitten that you just want to snuggle up with. I love the property they are rehabbing this time, a flipping failure I guess you’d call it. ;) Can’t wait to see what Whitney and Buck get caught up in their next project.