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Fixer-Upper Mystery #10
Dressed to Drill
Contractor Shannon Hammer’s new project, renovating an old church, reveals some old sins when a body is found on the premises in the latest Fixer-Upper Mystery from the New York Times author Kate Carlisle.
While Shannon Hammer is thrilled to attend the premiere of the movie based on her boyfriend Mac’s latest book, she can’t wait to trade her killer heels for work boots and start her next renovation project in Lighthouse Cove: a quaint Victorian church that has seen better days. And will see them again—as a museum—if Shannon, her talented crew, and her sister Chloe have anything to say about it.
But on the first day of demolition, work comes to a screeching halt when they stumble on the body of a beautiful young woman in one of the chapels. Who killed the assistant art director? Suspects crawl out of the woodwork as fast as Shannon can restore it. The church is hiding a century of secrets from the days that smugglers wreaked havoc on the California coast. But it’s a more recent secret that someone killed to protect. Shannon and Mac will use every tool in their toolbox to nail down the truth before any more lives are sacrificed.
While Shannon Hammer is thrilled to attend the premiere of the movie based on her boyfriend Mac’s latest book, she can’t wait to trade her killer heels for work boots and start her next renovation project in Lighthouse Cove: a quaint Victorian church that has seen better days. And will see them again—as a museum—if Shannon, her talented crew, and her sister Chloe have anything to say about it.
But on the first day of demolition, work comes to a screeching halt when they stumble on the body of a beautiful young woman in one of the chapels. Who killed the assistant art director? Suspects crawl out of the woodwork as fast as Shannon can restore it. The church is hiding a century of secrets from the days that smugglers wreaked havoc on the California coast. But it’s a more recent secret that someone killed to protect. Shannon and Mac will use every tool in their toolbox to nail down the truth before any more lives are sacrificed.
312 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 2, 2023
185 people are currently reading
797 people want to read
About the author
Kate Carlisle
97 books2,817 followersGolden Heart and Daphne du Maurier Award winning author Kate Carlisle spent over twenty years working in television production as an Associate Director for game and variety shows, including The Midnight Special, Solid Gold and The Gong Show. She traveled the world as a Dating Game chaperone and performed strange acts of silliness on The Gong Show. She also studied acting and singing, toiled in vineyards, collected books, joined a commune, sold fried chicken, modeled spring fashions and worked for a cruise ship line, but it was the year she spent in law school that finally drove her to begin writing fiction. It seemed the safest way to kill off her professors. Those professors are breathing easier now that Kate spends most of her time writing near the beach in Southern California where she lives with her perfect husband.
A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She loves to drink good wine and watch other people cook.
Despite the appearance of overnight success, Kate's dream of publication took many, many years to fulfill.
A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She loves to drink good wine and watch other people cook.
Despite the appearance of overnight success, Kate's dream of publication took many, many years to fulfill.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
May 5, 2025
2023 has been the year of suspenseful thrillers when it comes to my reading queue. I've always been a fan but never rushed out to pick up new authors; the same cannot be true for cozy mysteries, which are always in my reading queue. When Kate Carlisle's latest release, Dressed to Drill from the Fixer-Upper Mysteries, appeared on NetGalley, I quickly grabbed it. It hit my reading queue this week and it was the perfect book to read on my 90-minute commute back and forth to NYC this week. Shannon and her crew are wonderful characters who offer comedy, drama, and great life advice. Set in California, this installment takes us from the LA premier of Shannon's boyfriend's latest movie back to their small seaside where she is renovating a church that's being converted into an art gallery. Only they find a body inside the church one morning, which becomes the central focus of the mystery. Revolving around the family who owned/ran the church, some of the new art folks, and a new hire on Shannon's construction team, red herrings and viable clues are abundant. I guessed completely wrong, which is unusual, and part of me is still a little surprised / confused at the path this story went down... but it was still entertaining and kept me invested in the series.
March 24, 2023
"Dressed to Drill" the 10th instalment in the "Fixer Upper" Mystery series by Kate Carlisle. I really enjoy both of Kate Carlisle’s mystery series but I think this one is my favourite. Contractor Shannon Hammer’s new project, renovating an old church, reveals some old sins when a body is found on the premises …
As I have said before the setting of Lighthouse Cove on the northern coast of California is so beautiful and this time Shannon is renovating a really old church with secrets, but she also visits the tiny homes for veterans site. (I think there will be another story set there)
I love Shannon and Mac together and seeing how their relationship has progressed and in this instalment we get to see Mac and his friends as they go to the premier of his movie. I also really enjoy the interaction with Shannon and Chloe and am happy Chloe returned to the cove. I love all the side characters with exception of Whitney who we are meant to not like.
Overall the mystery was interesting and well plotted, and had lots of suspects.
I feel like the characters are taking on some life changing events and I cant wait for the next book to see how things have progressed.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As I have said before the setting of Lighthouse Cove on the northern coast of California is so beautiful and this time Shannon is renovating a really old church with secrets, but she also visits the tiny homes for veterans site. (I think there will be another story set there)
I love Shannon and Mac together and seeing how their relationship has progressed and in this instalment we get to see Mac and his friends as they go to the premier of his movie. I also really enjoy the interaction with Shannon and Chloe and am happy Chloe returned to the cove. I love all the side characters with exception of Whitney who we are meant to not like.
Overall the mystery was interesting and well plotted, and had lots of suspects.
I feel like the characters are taking on some life changing events and I cant wait for the next book to see how things have progressed.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 9, 2023
Although I came a little late to the party, I've read and thoroughly enjoyed four books in this cozy series - this is the 10th - featuring building contractor Shannon Hammer (it's hokey, but yes, that really is her last name). This one, honestly, is my least favorite of the bunch - but it's still entertaining, in large part because of Shannon's wonderful live-in love, successful writer Mac Sullivan (put another way, should he ever decide to dump Shannon, I certainly wouldn't turn him away if he knocked at my door).
Anyway, after spending some time with her sister Chloe, a TV home renovation show host and producer, Shannon and Mac return to northern California and their Lighthouse Cove home, where Shannon's team is starting a major project involving a local church that's 160-plus years old. It's been in use until just recently, when the congregation relocated to new quarters; now, it's slated for use as a museum. But no sooner than restoration preparation begins, it stops - with Shannon's discovery of a dead body in one of the small chapels inside the building. The chief of police may be Chloe's boyfriend, but he insists that Shannon - who's got a history of finding dead bodies and getting way more involved in investigations than civilians are supposed to - keep her nose out this time. The dead young woman is a key worker at the church, and both Shannon and the chief have good reason to believe the killer is someone they all know. But who did the dastardly deed? And why?
As always, the story is fleshed out with details of the investigation and the church renovation project (the latter a little too much so to suit me - I may not be familiar with all the proper terms for major parts of a church, but I really don't need instruction on how to spell them). But overall it's a don't-want-to-put-down adventure, right up to an ending that makes me even more eager than usual to read the next book. And for those who might be concerned, all the books, including this one, stand alone well enough for new readers to jump in at any time. As for me, it's always a pleasure to find a cozy heroine who isn't a ditsy paranoid female who never listens to reason, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy once again.
I will say, however, that I was left with a few questions, most notably what denomination the church was. Here and there the word Catholic appeared and several of the interior features like Stations of the Cross, ornate vestments and chalices and Virgin Mary icons were mentioned. But the many-year church leader is called "Reverend," not "Father" and he's married (as was his predecessor) and I'm pretty sure the Catholic Church still considers spouses a no-no. I'm leaning toward Episcopal, but inquiring minds really want to know.
Anyway, after spending some time with her sister Chloe, a TV home renovation show host and producer, Shannon and Mac return to northern California and their Lighthouse Cove home, where Shannon's team is starting a major project involving a local church that's 160-plus years old. It's been in use until just recently, when the congregation relocated to new quarters; now, it's slated for use as a museum. But no sooner than restoration preparation begins, it stops - with Shannon's discovery of a dead body in one of the small chapels inside the building. The chief of police may be Chloe's boyfriend, but he insists that Shannon - who's got a history of finding dead bodies and getting way more involved in investigations than civilians are supposed to - keep her nose out this time. The dead young woman is a key worker at the church, and both Shannon and the chief have good reason to believe the killer is someone they all know. But who did the dastardly deed? And why?
As always, the story is fleshed out with details of the investigation and the church renovation project (the latter a little too much so to suit me - I may not be familiar with all the proper terms for major parts of a church, but I really don't need instruction on how to spell them). But overall it's a don't-want-to-put-down adventure, right up to an ending that makes me even more eager than usual to read the next book. And for those who might be concerned, all the books, including this one, stand alone well enough for new readers to jump in at any time. As for me, it's always a pleasure to find a cozy heroine who isn't a ditsy paranoid female who never listens to reason, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy once again.
I will say, however, that I was left with a few questions, most notably what denomination the church was. Here and there the word Catholic appeared and several of the interior features like Stations of the Cross, ornate vestments and chalices and Virgin Mary icons were mentioned. But the many-year church leader is called "Reverend," not "Father" and he's married (as was his predecessor) and I'm pretty sure the Catholic Church still considers spouses a no-no. I'm leaning toward Episcopal, but inquiring minds really want to know.
June 14, 2023
Couldn’t get past the religious inaccuracies
I generally enjoy this series for a light read, but this time I couldn’t get past the religious inaccuracies. The book tried to make this a remake of a Catholic Church (I think), but the references were all wrong, starting with the name of the church (not after a saint or a Catholic teaching) and the fact that the “priest” is married. If it was supposed to be about a Protestant church, then the references to saying mass, the sacristy, vestments, etc. were all wrong. I wish the author picked one religion and stuck with it rather than creating a mishmash that grated on the nerves, even considering literary license.
I generally enjoy this series for a light read, but this time I couldn’t get past the religious inaccuracies. The book tried to make this a remake of a Catholic Church (I think), but the references were all wrong, starting with the name of the church (not after a saint or a Catholic teaching) and the fact that the “priest” is married. If it was supposed to be about a Protestant church, then the references to saying mass, the sacristy, vestments, etc. were all wrong. I wish the author picked one religion and stuck with it rather than creating a mishmash that grated on the nerves, even considering literary license.
January 25, 2023
Carlisle brings more mystery and good feelings in Dressed to Drill. The newest Fixer Upper mystery has Shannon and company renovating an old church to turn it into a museum. But a dead body will halt their progress and send Shannon on a new hunt for a killer.
The mystery here was good, but am I the only one that gags a little at how rah rah all of Shannon's team is? I mean, I'm not looking for interpersonal conflict with them, per se, but how many times do we have to hear about how proud Shannon is of her amazing team? This series feels much different from the Bibliophile series to me in that way. 🤷♀️
Release Date: 5/2/2023
The mystery here was good, but am I the only one that gags a little at how rah rah all of Shannon's team is? I mean, I'm not looking for interpersonal conflict with them, per se, but how many times do we have to hear about how proud Shannon is of her amazing team? This series feels much different from the Bibliophile series to me in that way. 🤷♀️
Release Date: 5/2/2023
May 20, 2023
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Things are going great for Shannon and Mac. They just walked the red carpet for the movie premiere based on Mac’s latest book. While she had a good time she is anxious to get home to start her new project. A Victorian church that needs a lot of updates and TLC so that it can be reopened as a museum.
Her entire crew plus a new hire is excited to get started on the renovations but they make an eerie discovery on the walk-through to firm up the project schedule. A door to a chapel was hard to open. When they finally get it open, they see that the dead body of the young assistant art director had been blocking the door. Shannon is devastated by the discovery and she soon realizes the old church is full of secrets, secrets that bring forth several suspects. It’s time for her and Mac to drill down on all the clues to hammer out the real killer before they strike again.
It won’t take long for new fans to fall hard for contractor Shannon Hammer and her beau author Mac Sullivan. Fans like me who have loved this series from the start will be delighted as Shannon and Mac’s story continues.
I love the way the characters in this series keep growing and evolving in such good and realistic ways. Ms. Carlisle has created such strong women in Shannon and Chloe along with their male counterpoints Mac and Eric. I am really happy that Chloe can be in Lighthouse Cove much more often. A wonderful supporting cast supports these key characters. With each story that supporting cast gains more depth. The author also introduces book-specific characters that evolve nicely over the course of the story.
The Victorian church setting this time was so interesting. Stained glass windows always gain my attention and the author’s detailed description of those and all the other nooks and crannies of the church put me right there. I was able to visualize everything so clearly.
The way the mystery developed was so well-written and plotted. It was clear that someone associated with the church or heaven forbid someone on Shannon’s crew was the killer. A really unique clue really blows open the possibilities of who could have committed the crime and some great twists move the story along. I appreciate the way Shannon works closely with Police Chief Eric even when she knows her findings could slow down or shut down her project. I also like the way she negotiates with him so that doesn’t happen often. Their close relationship also means she calls him when all the clues start to fall into place. The reveal surprised me a lot. It was like an entire toolbox dropped on my foot as everything came to a head. Ms. Carlisle did an excellent job of diverting my attention.
Dressed to Drill is a terrific mystery with a fast pace and sensational characters set in a place that will be so awesome when all Shannon’s renovations are completed. After that mystery is wrapped up the readers are treated to an awesome epilogue. There are bright things ahead in Lighthouse Cove and I can’t wait to find out how it all comes together and plays out.
Things are going great for Shannon and Mac. They just walked the red carpet for the movie premiere based on Mac’s latest book. While she had a good time she is anxious to get home to start her new project. A Victorian church that needs a lot of updates and TLC so that it can be reopened as a museum.
Her entire crew plus a new hire is excited to get started on the renovations but they make an eerie discovery on the walk-through to firm up the project schedule. A door to a chapel was hard to open. When they finally get it open, they see that the dead body of the young assistant art director had been blocking the door. Shannon is devastated by the discovery and she soon realizes the old church is full of secrets, secrets that bring forth several suspects. It’s time for her and Mac to drill down on all the clues to hammer out the real killer before they strike again.
It won’t take long for new fans to fall hard for contractor Shannon Hammer and her beau author Mac Sullivan. Fans like me who have loved this series from the start will be delighted as Shannon and Mac’s story continues.
I love the way the characters in this series keep growing and evolving in such good and realistic ways. Ms. Carlisle has created such strong women in Shannon and Chloe along with their male counterpoints Mac and Eric. I am really happy that Chloe can be in Lighthouse Cove much more often. A wonderful supporting cast supports these key characters. With each story that supporting cast gains more depth. The author also introduces book-specific characters that evolve nicely over the course of the story.
The Victorian church setting this time was so interesting. Stained glass windows always gain my attention and the author’s detailed description of those and all the other nooks and crannies of the church put me right there. I was able to visualize everything so clearly.
The way the mystery developed was so well-written and plotted. It was clear that someone associated with the church or heaven forbid someone on Shannon’s crew was the killer. A really unique clue really blows open the possibilities of who could have committed the crime and some great twists move the story along. I appreciate the way Shannon works closely with Police Chief Eric even when she knows her findings could slow down or shut down her project. I also like the way she negotiates with him so that doesn’t happen often. Their close relationship also means she calls him when all the clues start to fall into place. The reveal surprised me a lot. It was like an entire toolbox dropped on my foot as everything came to a head. Ms. Carlisle did an excellent job of diverting my attention.
Dressed to Drill is a terrific mystery with a fast pace and sensational characters set in a place that will be so awesome when all Shannon’s renovations are completed. After that mystery is wrapped up the readers are treated to an awesome epilogue. There are bright things ahead in Lighthouse Cove and I can’t wait to find out how it all comes together and plays out.
May 3, 2023
Shannon is excited about her upcoming renovation project. Her crew and her will be taking on an old church which they plan to turn into a museum. Her sister Chloe is in town and plans to help where she is needed. On the first day of demo that happiness turns into shock when they find the body of a young woman in one of the chapels. It turns out that she is the assistant to the art director who is over the plans set for the museum. Shannon doesn't want to have to put the restoration on hold for to long so she jumps into investigating. She soon learns that the church holds many secrets, could one of them be a cause for murder? Follow along as Shannon delves into all the secrets, will she find a killer before someone else ends up dead?
May 19, 2023
I'm so jealous of Shannon Hammer! It's absolutely irrational, but I am so jealous of her job and all the really amazing building projects that she gets to be a part of. LOL, ok so they all come with a side dish of murder, but seriously, can I grow up to be her anyway??? Shannon has her crew ready to get to work renovating an old Victorian church into an art galleria/museum when a body is found and the suspects are many! Add in surprising discoveries and personal drama for an entertaining read that once again makes me exclaim that this is the best book of the series! I totally mean it when I say that, then the author weaves the next amazing tale and I am saying it all over again! I am now waiting on pins and needles or should I say nails and screws, for the next Shannon Hammer book to be born!!! If you love a good cozy mystery with relatable characters that involve a lot of home and building reno that will make you drool, then this is absolutely the series for you! Join me in the lovefest!
July 19, 2023
I love the projects they take on in this series. My only complaint is that I don’t get to see the before and after shots. Solid mystery and loveable characters. There is a tendency in cozy mysteries to pair everyone up and make everything overly cutesy and there are some moments in this book that make me cringe because of this but the rest of it is so engrossing that I let it go. Looking forward to the next one.
April 27, 2023
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: Fixer-Upper Mystery #10
Publication Date: 5/2/23
Period: Contemporary
Number of Pages: 304
Whoosh! What an exciting read – there is never a dull moment in the book – and the last few pages are the most perfect yet! On the heels of attending the premier of the latest movie based on one of Mac’s books, it is time for Shannon to put on her steel-toed work boots and get started on the massive renovation of a beautiful Victorian church. The church congregation has moved to a new sleek new location and the now empty, centuries-old church will be made into a museum by Shannon and her crew. Everyone is excited to get started – until they almost immediately find a body and the police shut down the job until forensics could finish their examination.
When Shannon found the body, she noticed several ‘odd’ things – and immediately began checking them out while she waited for the police. The police chief, who is engaged to Shannon’s sister, Chloe, quickly berated Shannon for messing around with the crime scene – even though he appreciated her insights. As the crew is allowed back to work, they meet many of the former congregation – and Shannon realizes that they are hiding a secret of some sort – or maybe more than one secret. Was it a secret worth killing over? Then, another murder – how are the two murders connected? Shannon and Mac are determined to find out who committed these heinous crimes before their project gets shut down – and to get justice for the victims.
With a whole congregation full of suspects – along with the staff at the church, there is enough to keep them busy. Who could possibly wish to harm those lovely people? What secrets could be worth that? The victims weren’t really related – one was an employee of the church – and the other was an employee of the museum – what could they have in common?
Shannon, Mac, her crew, her gaggle of girlfriends, and, of course, the local police definitely have their work cut out for them. Luckily they are up to the task. The culprit may surprise you – and the reason may have your jaw-dropping.
It was a fun, fast-paced read and was, as always, excellently written and plotted. Then, as I mentioned earlier, those last few pages are to die for. You’ll love it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: Fixer-Upper Mystery #10
Publication Date: 5/2/23
Period: Contemporary
Number of Pages: 304
Whoosh! What an exciting read – there is never a dull moment in the book – and the last few pages are the most perfect yet! On the heels of attending the premier of the latest movie based on one of Mac’s books, it is time for Shannon to put on her steel-toed work boots and get started on the massive renovation of a beautiful Victorian church. The church congregation has moved to a new sleek new location and the now empty, centuries-old church will be made into a museum by Shannon and her crew. Everyone is excited to get started – until they almost immediately find a body and the police shut down the job until forensics could finish their examination.
When Shannon found the body, she noticed several ‘odd’ things – and immediately began checking them out while she waited for the police. The police chief, who is engaged to Shannon’s sister, Chloe, quickly berated Shannon for messing around with the crime scene – even though he appreciated her insights. As the crew is allowed back to work, they meet many of the former congregation – and Shannon realizes that they are hiding a secret of some sort – or maybe more than one secret. Was it a secret worth killing over? Then, another murder – how are the two murders connected? Shannon and Mac are determined to find out who committed these heinous crimes before their project gets shut down – and to get justice for the victims.
With a whole congregation full of suspects – along with the staff at the church, there is enough to keep them busy. Who could possibly wish to harm those lovely people? What secrets could be worth that? The victims weren’t really related – one was an employee of the church – and the other was an employee of the museum – what could they have in common?
Shannon, Mac, her crew, her gaggle of girlfriends, and, of course, the local police definitely have their work cut out for them. Luckily they are up to the task. The culprit may surprise you – and the reason may have your jaw-dropping.
It was a fun, fast-paced read and was, as always, excellently written and plotted. Then, as I mentioned earlier, those last few pages are to die for. You’ll love it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 23, 2023
When another one of Mac's books is made into a movie Mac and Shannon travel to Hollywood for the premier. While there Shannon sees another side of Mac's life that makes her question their relationship. When back home Shannon starts a major renovation turning a church into a museum. When she finds the museum coordinators assistant dead there are no lack of suspects, secrets and unusual behavior.
Another great book by Kate Carlisle. I love Shannon and Mac. As usual this book was full of great characters a story line that flowed well and a mystery that will keep you guessing.
Another great book by Kate Carlisle. I love Shannon and Mac. As usual this book was full of great characters a story line that flowed well and a mystery that will keep you guessing.
September 29, 2023
4.5 stars on platforms that allow for such
Is there anything more gratifying than a next-level-good installment in an already favorite series? If there is, I haven't encountered it yet. This latest visit to Lighthouse Cove was really captivating. Once I got going, I did not want to put the book down, which truly is indicative of what one wants from a cozy mystery (one being me, anyway).
What I liked about Dressed to Drill:
Mac - Honestly, what a stand-up dude. I appreciated his full honesty. I realize he's written to be fictionally perfect, but really, he's not just all the usual superlatives (handsome, brilliant, successful, wealthy, devoted, romantic), he is also witty, entertainingly devious, genuinely thoughtful, and as I mentioned, honest. I love these "little qualities" about him even more than the "bigger" ones.
Fun settings outside of our main location - I loved the change of scenery to open the book, without having to spend the whole book somewhere else. I also was obsessed with our renovation location of an old church this time. Oh my gosh, this was the perfect new setting for this mystery to unfold, with so many possibilities to work into the plot.
This book was structured to perfection - The pace was perfect. Not a moment lagged. Not a detail was poorly timed. I was engaged from start to finish. On top of that, there was an excellent array of suspects and motives to keep me guessing, and the final reveal was splendidly executed. Additionally -- and hopefully no one considers this a spoiler? -- I always applaud when a cozy author can have their big, intense climax without it always including the protagonist with their life on the line. It feels more believable somehow (since being involved in murder cases for victim after victim leaves you in a willing suspension of disbelief, book after book) to have the protagonist not always be the one to find the body or find themselves directly entangled with the murderer at the big revelation.
Well-researched content - I feel this deserves its own unique point, because Kate did a commendable job researching proper terminology for both the church building and its contents, while still having Shannon talk about these things with the hesitance of someone for whom this language is unfamiliar. Being someone who not only attends church, but is well versed in the language of it, her accuracy and attention to detail was appreciated.
What left me conflicted:
Shannon - Listen, I love Shannon. I do. I still want to be friends with her. But I have about reached my limit with her being insecure in her relationship.
I'm unsure if there was a dangling thread -I can't decide if we needed more detail about a particular piece of the church's "structure" (for instance why was it really there??) as well as the curious amount of expensive religious pieces that had been accumulated -- was there something else going on there or was it really just a case of "hoarding born of more than a hundred years of worship in that church building"? I just felt like I wanted a bit more resolution on those two matters, although neither of them would have changed the actual outcome of the case.
I cannot wait for there to be another installment in this series, especially with that ending!! I absolutely adored the way Kate concluded Dressed to Drill, which has me even hungrier to know what happens next to our friends in Lighthouse Cove!
Is there anything more gratifying than a next-level-good installment in an already favorite series? If there is, I haven't encountered it yet. This latest visit to Lighthouse Cove was really captivating. Once I got going, I did not want to put the book down, which truly is indicative of what one wants from a cozy mystery (one being me, anyway).
What I liked about Dressed to Drill:
Mac - Honestly, what a stand-up dude. I appreciated his full honesty. I realize he's written to be fictionally perfect, but really, he's not just all the usual superlatives (handsome, brilliant, successful, wealthy, devoted, romantic), he is also witty, entertainingly devious, genuinely thoughtful, and as I mentioned, honest. I love these "little qualities" about him even more than the "bigger" ones.
Fun settings outside of our main location - I loved the change of scenery to open the book, without having to spend the whole book somewhere else. I also was obsessed with our renovation location of an old church this time. Oh my gosh, this was the perfect new setting for this mystery to unfold, with so many possibilities to work into the plot.
This book was structured to perfection - The pace was perfect. Not a moment lagged. Not a detail was poorly timed. I was engaged from start to finish. On top of that, there was an excellent array of suspects and motives to keep me guessing, and the final reveal was splendidly executed. Additionally -- and hopefully no one considers this a spoiler? -- I always applaud when a cozy author can have their big, intense climax without it always including the protagonist with their life on the line. It feels more believable somehow (since being involved in murder cases for victim after victim leaves you in a willing suspension of disbelief, book after book) to have the protagonist not always be the one to find the body or find themselves directly entangled with the murderer at the big revelation.
Well-researched content - I feel this deserves its own unique point, because Kate did a commendable job researching proper terminology for both the church building and its contents, while still having Shannon talk about these things with the hesitance of someone for whom this language is unfamiliar. Being someone who not only attends church, but is well versed in the language of it, her accuracy and attention to detail was appreciated.
What left me conflicted:
Shannon - Listen, I love Shannon. I do. I still want to be friends with her. But I have about reached my limit with her being insecure in her relationship.
I'm unsure if there was a dangling thread -I can't decide if we needed more detail about a particular piece of the church's "structure" (for instance why was it really there??) as well as the curious amount of expensive religious pieces that had been accumulated -- was there something else going on there or was it really just a case of "hoarding born of more than a hundred years of worship in that church building"? I just felt like I wanted a bit more resolution on those two matters, although neither of them would have changed the actual outcome of the case.
I cannot wait for there to be another installment in this series, especially with that ending!! I absolutely adored the way Kate concluded Dressed to Drill, which has me even hungrier to know what happens next to our friends in Lighthouse Cove!
January 25, 2023
From the moment I began Dressed to Drill, I knew I'd need to read it in one sitting.
Shannon is a strong, confident character, and I had so much fun reading about her adventures in this latest book.
Shannon and her crew are getting ready to renovate a church, but things never go quite as planned.
Murder, lies, hidden tunnels and so much more bring this fantastic story to life.
This is a great weekend book that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
#DressedtoDrill #NetGalley
Shannon is a strong, confident character, and I had so much fun reading about her adventures in this latest book.
Shannon and her crew are getting ready to renovate a church, but things never go quite as planned.
Murder, lies, hidden tunnels and so much more bring this fantastic story to life.
This is a great weekend book that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
#DressedtoDrill #NetGalley
May 7, 2023
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With ten books in the Fixer-Upper Mystery series, Kate Carlisle shows no signs of stopping! As one of my favorite Cozy Mystery series, I was very excited about diving into this book.
This time, Shannon Hammer is attending a movie premiere that is based on her boyfriend’s latest book. I have loved seeing how this relationship has bloomed and grown throughout the series. It’s one of my favorite things about this series in addition to the mysteries that each book has. I think a lot of readers come for the mystery plot, but I truly believe that they keep coming back for more because of their love for the characters.
Disaster puts a halt on Shannon’s demolition plan when the assistant art director is found dead in one of the chapels. Now, Shannon and Mac must catch a killer before more lives are taken.
Shannon has become one of my favorite amateur sleuths due to the fact that she is curious but never actively puts herself in unnecessary danger. She’s smart, which I can’t help but love. There are other heroines that put themselves in trouble, but Shannon and Mac are an amazing team, proving that they are the perfect match not only in love but partnership too.
If you haven’t read this series yet, then you’re definitely missing out. There’s a lot of fun to be had with Kate Carlisle and the Fixer-Upper Mysteries series. When it comes to Shannon Hammer, you won’t be disappointed!
With ten books in the Fixer-Upper Mystery series, Kate Carlisle shows no signs of stopping! As one of my favorite Cozy Mystery series, I was very excited about diving into this book.
This time, Shannon Hammer is attending a movie premiere that is based on her boyfriend’s latest book. I have loved seeing how this relationship has bloomed and grown throughout the series. It’s one of my favorite things about this series in addition to the mysteries that each book has. I think a lot of readers come for the mystery plot, but I truly believe that they keep coming back for more because of their love for the characters.
Disaster puts a halt on Shannon’s demolition plan when the assistant art director is found dead in one of the chapels. Now, Shannon and Mac must catch a killer before more lives are taken.
Shannon has become one of my favorite amateur sleuths due to the fact that she is curious but never actively puts herself in unnecessary danger. She’s smart, which I can’t help but love. There are other heroines that put themselves in trouble, but Shannon and Mac are an amazing team, proving that they are the perfect match not only in love but partnership too.
If you haven’t read this series yet, then you’re definitely missing out. There’s a lot of fun to be had with Kate Carlisle and the Fixer-Upper Mysteries series. When it comes to Shannon Hammer, you won’t be disappointed!
June 26, 2023
Shannon takes on a new project (church into an art museum). The book is all over the place-onsite at Chloe's set, back, Mac leaves for a day or two, people come/go/have no idea who is where at times (the characters "Where is so & so? Haven't seen her for days") over & over. Just disjointed. And once the first body is discovered (yes, more than one), it's almost as if it's a lark "Ohh let's play Scooby Doo & try to figure out who did it-YAY!". Just a weird book. Ends fine, killer is revealed, and of course you can figure out the plot of the next book just by reading (ie. Shannon is now suddenly so jealous of the movie star for Mac's new book, who is conveniently now getting divorced). 2 stars, maybe 1.5
August 13, 2023
I have enjoyed this series, but I may be done. The junior high behavior was over the top this time-between always having an issue with Whitney and her friends acting dumb because Chloe said the word “butt.” Really? There also seemed to be a lot of descriptions of food.
February 6, 2023
What’s something that has brought you joy lately?
The other day my daughter lost her first tooth! It was such a pivotal moment that we’ve been waiting for. She was so very excited. We have these special treasure chests from the dentist and she just was giddy. It was adorable and it was such a bittersweet moment for me as a parent.
This is the newest Fixer-Upper Mystery. Shannon is excited to get started on her newest remodel project. On the first day of demolition, work suddenly stops when a body is found on site. Shannon and her boyfriend set out to figure out what is going on and who murdered the young girl, but they must hurry before another murder takes place.
Every once in a while I enjoy a nice cozy mystery to break up some of my heavier reads and this book delivered. It was cute and quaint and delightfully fun. Having never read a book in this series, I was excited to see the main character, a women, working in construction. One of my dearest friends in a female general contractor, and its tough! I adored the setting of this book. The town of Lighthouse Cove just sounds picturesque, and I wish I were there. All the characters were well developed and added to the story in a wonderful way. This was a truly enjoyable read.
Transport yourself to the lovely Lighthouse Cove on May 2nd.
Thank you to the publisher Berkley Publishing, @berkleypub, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The other day my daughter lost her first tooth! It was such a pivotal moment that we’ve been waiting for. She was so very excited. We have these special treasure chests from the dentist and she just was giddy. It was adorable and it was such a bittersweet moment for me as a parent.
This is the newest Fixer-Upper Mystery. Shannon is excited to get started on her newest remodel project. On the first day of demolition, work suddenly stops when a body is found on site. Shannon and her boyfriend set out to figure out what is going on and who murdered the young girl, but they must hurry before another murder takes place.
Every once in a while I enjoy a nice cozy mystery to break up some of my heavier reads and this book delivered. It was cute and quaint and delightfully fun. Having never read a book in this series, I was excited to see the main character, a women, working in construction. One of my dearest friends in a female general contractor, and its tough! I adored the setting of this book. The town of Lighthouse Cove just sounds picturesque, and I wish I were there. All the characters were well developed and added to the story in a wonderful way. This was a truly enjoyable read.
Transport yourself to the lovely Lighthouse Cove on May 2nd.
Thank you to the publisher Berkley Publishing, @berkleypub, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2023
Another interesting ride with Shannon, Mac and company. This time Shannon and the crew are remodeling an old church, in town, into an art museum, quite a large but fascinating project until the assistant museum director in found murdered in a small chapel. Although she plans on leaving this to Eric, she cannot stop stumbling on weird things in the church, that makes her look at the former church members and museum personal a little differently. Who in the Godly group is capable of murder? You won't look at an old church the same after this!
September 12, 2025
Mi sto affezionando ai personaggi di questa serie! Il giallo in questo libro mi è risultato abbastanza ostico da risolvere, anche se avevo ipotizzato un paio di cose che sono risultate vere. Mi piace come la protagonista avverta sempre il capo della polizia delle sue scoperte o dei suoi sospetti; e lui le dà retta, ma d'altra parte sono quasi cognati e sicuramente amici. Ho detto che mi piacciono i personaggi principali, no?
May 24, 2023
I’d forgotten how much I liked this author’s writing since I devoured everything she had out at the time. This mystery was twisty and I missed some key hints to solving it, but it felt too short which meant that it was a good read.
April 29, 2024
This was SUCH a fun renovation project; old churches being turned into something new and fun is one of my favorite things to see when traveling, and I think the idea of this art museum sounds fabulous. There is ALWAYS drama at a church and this one was certainly no exception. There were plenty of suspects, but at the same time no true suspect because the motive just didn't seem to exist. I enjoyed the dramatic reveal and all the descriptions of both the reno and the snooping along the way. Also I love Shannon and Mac so much and getting to see their relationship grow and the comfort it brings was so lovely.
Note: I really enjoy this series on audio!
Note: I really enjoy this series on audio!
August 20, 2023
Last book in the series until the next one comes out. I will miss the characters!
September 10, 2023
My favorite book of series so far!
I just did not understand the title and how it related to story.
I just did not understand the title and how it related to story.
June 14, 2023
Religiously scary
Refurbishing an old church into a museum turned into a few old secrets and murder to boot. It got scary as Shannon discovered a secret tunnel and just couldn't help herself exploring.
Refurbishing an old church into a museum turned into a few old secrets and murder to boot. It got scary as Shannon discovered a secret tunnel and just couldn't help herself exploring.
August 2, 2023
I really enjoyed this book.
March 16, 2023
Dressed to Drill, Fixer-Upper Mystery #10, brings back the wonderful characters that pull me to the series and adds a new one who fits right in. I love that Kate Carlisle's characters' lives are dynamic as much as I love the complexity of the mysteries which are always tantalizing and frustrating because it takes me forever to figure out who "done it". That frustration is a plus in my book.
Spending time with the construction crew is always a bonus whether they are discussing murder or the work they are doing on the church that is being transformed into a museum. It was fun watching Shannon's friends back her up on the investigation more than usual, or at least that is how it felt to me.
While there is a stress element in the relationship between Shannon and Mac, it is well handled with the couple acting like adults instead of lovesick teens as we too often see. I like them as a couple and want their relationship to continue to develop.
There was one issue that ran throughout the series that I hope has been cleared up before the release. There are frequent references to Catholic rituals and other indications that the Lighthouse Church is Catholic, but the "head of the church" is married and there are other elements that do not fit.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Cozies for allowing me to enjoy an ARC of Dressed to Drill and allowing me to share my excitement with my friends.
#Netgalley #KensingtonCozies #KateCarlies #Fixer-UpperMyseryseries
Spending time with the construction crew is always a bonus whether they are discussing murder or the work they are doing on the church that is being transformed into a museum. It was fun watching Shannon's friends back her up on the investigation more than usual, or at least that is how it felt to me.
While there is a stress element in the relationship between Shannon and Mac, it is well handled with the couple acting like adults instead of lovesick teens as we too often see. I like them as a couple and want their relationship to continue to develop.
There was one issue that ran throughout the series that I hope has been cleared up before the release. There are frequent references to Catholic rituals and other indications that the Lighthouse Church is Catholic, but the "head of the church" is married and there are other elements that do not fit.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Cozies for allowing me to enjoy an ARC of Dressed to Drill and allowing me to share my excitement with my friends.
#Netgalley #KensingtonCozies #KateCarlies #Fixer-UpperMyseryseries
January 27, 2023
Dressed to Drill, the tenth book in the Fixer-Upper Mysteries series by Kate Carlisle, doesn’t waste a moment’s time in piquing your curiosity and grasping hold of it until the last page is turned. Ms Carlisle once again transports her readers into the intriguing world of mystery, mayhem, blueprints, and construction plans…aka Shannon Hammer’s milieu.
With a compelling cast of characters and the picturesque ocean-side setting of Lighthouse Cove and its 160-year-old historic church, the twists and turns, red herrings, and the complete misdirection of the story keep the pages turning as the culprit’s reveal comes to a shocking conclusion of the secrets that the church’s sacristy holds.
As the series progresses, Ms Carlisle expertly keeps the plots fresh and unique...as well as Shannon and Mac’s relationship front and center; thereby creating a heartwarming investment in their future. And she does not disappoint on so many levels in whetting the reader’s appetite when it comes to what the next excitement awaits Shannon et al.
This ARC book was complimentary and provided by NetGalley and the Publisher. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
With a compelling cast of characters and the picturesque ocean-side setting of Lighthouse Cove and its 160-year-old historic church, the twists and turns, red herrings, and the complete misdirection of the story keep the pages turning as the culprit’s reveal comes to a shocking conclusion of the secrets that the church’s sacristy holds.
As the series progresses, Ms Carlisle expertly keeps the plots fresh and unique...as well as Shannon and Mac’s relationship front and center; thereby creating a heartwarming investment in their future. And she does not disappoint on so many levels in whetting the reader’s appetite when it comes to what the next excitement awaits Shannon et al.
This ARC book was complimentary and provided by NetGalley and the Publisher. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
May 4, 2023
Dressed To Drill is the tenth book in the A Fixer-Upper Mystery series by Kate Carlisle.
Shannon and Mac have returned to Lighthouse Cove from their trip to Hollywood to see the movie premier adapted from a recent novel of Mac’s. Shannon is glad to be home and exchanged her high heels for work boots with her construction crew to start renovating an old Victorian Gothic church. When the work is completed, it will become an art museum. She finds many church items the previous church hasn’t taken when doing a walk-through to plan a work schedule. Shannon asks for help from the earlier church members, fearing they may get damaged. Shannon decides to start packing some items in one of the small chapels, but the door won’t open. She gets a couple of workers to open the door. Once the door is open, the body of Sarah Spindler, assistant art director for the art museum; Spindler had died from massive head trauma. While the area Shannon was working is closed off as a crime scene, she can work in other locations and start talking with those members of the former church or individuals there to help pack items of the former church. Police Chief Jensen will warn Shannon about getting involved in any investigation. Shannon and Jensen have worked together reasonably well in the past. Besides his girlfriend, Chole is Shannon’s sister, and he knows she will watch out for her sibling. Shannon will soon find that there are several suspects. Shannon will find papers and receipts that show that some misdeeds that took place nearly a generation ago may have come to light and caused the murderer to act so that these misdeeds will remain a secret. Of course, Shannon will be able to rely on Mac to be there to bounce her theories off of.
Ms. Carlisle's writing is so descriptive that you feel you’re standing beside Shannon. Including what work is being done and how it is always a plus. She doesn’t overdo the information. The story is well-written and moves at a swift pace. The characters are well-developed, engaging, and friendly. Well, except for Whitney. For me, there is usually a character that I love to hate. There were enough red herrings that I kept guessing until the end of the book when the murderer was revealed.
I can’t wait for the next book about Shannon’s next project in this series.
Shannon and Mac have returned to Lighthouse Cove from their trip to Hollywood to see the movie premier adapted from a recent novel of Mac’s. Shannon is glad to be home and exchanged her high heels for work boots with her construction crew to start renovating an old Victorian Gothic church. When the work is completed, it will become an art museum. She finds many church items the previous church hasn’t taken when doing a walk-through to plan a work schedule. Shannon asks for help from the earlier church members, fearing they may get damaged. Shannon decides to start packing some items in one of the small chapels, but the door won’t open. She gets a couple of workers to open the door. Once the door is open, the body of Sarah Spindler, assistant art director for the art museum; Spindler had died from massive head trauma. While the area Shannon was working is closed off as a crime scene, she can work in other locations and start talking with those members of the former church or individuals there to help pack items of the former church. Police Chief Jensen will warn Shannon about getting involved in any investigation. Shannon and Jensen have worked together reasonably well in the past. Besides his girlfriend, Chole is Shannon’s sister, and he knows she will watch out for her sibling. Shannon will soon find that there are several suspects. Shannon will find papers and receipts that show that some misdeeds that took place nearly a generation ago may have come to light and caused the murderer to act so that these misdeeds will remain a secret. Of course, Shannon will be able to rely on Mac to be there to bounce her theories off of.
Ms. Carlisle's writing is so descriptive that you feel you’re standing beside Shannon. Including what work is being done and how it is always a plus. She doesn’t overdo the information. The story is well-written and moves at a swift pace. The characters are well-developed, engaging, and friendly. Well, except for Whitney. For me, there is usually a character that I love to hate. There were enough red herrings that I kept guessing until the end of the book when the murderer was revealed.
I can’t wait for the next book about Shannon’s next project in this series.
June 13, 2023
While not as good as the previous novels, the characters are familiar and friendly. Time has moved on and the newest project is underway along with the discovery of another body. Good ending.
Shannon however has been redesigned into a thirteen year old girl with a romantic crush on her boyfriend Mac. She manages her own construction company but she moans about being away from him for less than twenty four hours, swoons over his kisses and gets jealous if he mentions a beautiful woman. Come on! High school is over!
Shannon however has been redesigned into a thirteen year old girl with a romantic crush on her boyfriend Mac. She manages her own construction company but she moans about being away from him for less than twenty four hours, swoons over his kisses and gets jealous if he mentions a beautiful woman. Come on! High school is over!
May 26, 2023
I have really enjoyed all the books in this series … except this one. I found it disappointing.
Disappointed that there was minimal character development, disappointed that much of the book was “filler” telling about projects/incidents in previous books and disappointed that the book left many unanswered questions.
I do realize that some readers might begin with this book and some of the backstory needs to be repeated to ground the new readers, but this time I think it was overdone.
Disappointed that there was minimal character development, disappointed that much of the book was “filler” telling about projects/incidents in previous books and disappointed that the book left many unanswered questions.
I do realize that some readers might begin with this book and some of the backstory needs to be repeated to ground the new readers, but this time I think it was overdone.
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