Remodeled to Death

Susan Henshaw #9

by Valerie Wolzien

OH, THOSE LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER IN SUBURBIA, WHEN THERE'S ALWAYS TIME FOR A MURDER OR TWO.
With the kids away, Susan and Jed Henshaw are in the mood for a lazy, romantic August. Then the pipes in an upstairs bathroom burst and water inundates the floors below. Suddenly their cozy twosome is joined by a dozen plumbers, plasterers, and carpenters, who leave the house looking worse than the water damage.
The only bright spot is that they won't have to deal with the town's hated building inspector, for the excellent reason that he has just been murdered. And most people in Hancock say they'd like to shake the hand of the man who did it. Susan has enough problems without trying to nail Simon Fairweather's killer; but she just can't resist, especially since chances are good that the murderer is actually at work in her bathroom....

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy

250 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

About the author

Valerie Wolzien is the author of the Susan Henshaw suburban mysteries and the Josie Pigeon seashore mysteries. Ms. Wolzien lives in an old house overlooking the Hudson River. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached online at valerie@wolzien.com.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly my favourite title - certainly in the top 3 - but in common with a few other of the books in this series I didn't find the identity of the killer to be very convincing! Otherwise though I enjoyed this one, well written and lots of great detail about the woes of dealing with remodeling! I've never been too crazy about Chrissie and Chad (especially Chrissie) so it was also nice that they were off-site so to speak for this one. I also liked the tie-in with Josie Pigeon the heroine of the other series that Wolzien wrote.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has two different series. Her 2md series is about a woman contractor and her company. When I first saw the title I thought it was terrific to find a new Josie Pigeon book, and realized it was Susan Henshaw needing home repair. It was wonderful though because Josie made a cameo in this book. So many details that did not give away who did it, or unanswered clues until the very end and I was delighted and surprised. One of her best books still, although I think they have all gotten 5 star from me.

[Jewett · Rating 4 out of 5]

l like the people, the animals and the plot. Having lived in a house as it was being built, I also appreciate the problems. Even when I was living in a complete house, my husband remodeled frequently so all these problems seem very real.

[Annie Macdonald]

Love, love this series. The characters are funny and interesting the stories varied. Iam happy that this series is about people Not struggling thru life to make a dollar and have personal issues. I read to be entertained ..Im sick of angst.. Well done

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish she would start writing again

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific book by Valerie Wolzien. Susan Henshaw books are so entertaining and fun to try to solve the mystery.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

#9 in the Susan Henshaw mystery series set in a small New England town. With the kids away, Susan and Jed Henshaw are in the mood for a lazy, romantic August. Then the pipes in an upstairs bathroom burst and water inundates the floors below and it opens the opportunity for Susan to remodel, so soon they are up to their ears in workers from the construction firm they hired. Susan has worked with the town's chief of police to solve murders in the past and he again seeks her help and the town's very unpopular building inspector has been murdered.

It is nice mystery with a lighter tone while the Susan character can be a bit disconcerting at times.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story about the horrors of remodeling especially after a broken pipe causes tons of damage. It really didn't go into all the headaches and trauma of remodeling but of course the home owner, Susan Henshaw, has to help the police solve the murder of the building inspector. Everyone hated him so there is no end to the list of suspects. But who done it???

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this entry in the Susan Henshaw series. There was a crossover with Wolzien's Josie Pigeon series that I liked. I enjoyed the remodeling and the construction crew characters that were around. This book seemed fast paced and I was totally surprised at the outcome and who the murderer was.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

another good mystery with susan henshaw as main character

[Betsy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too much fill in and not enough mystery. Dull main character.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susan solves murder of building inspector.
Bathroom remodeling.
Cute.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellently crafted, readable book. The resolution of the crime, the "reveal," was not as convincing as I would like but overall a very good book in the lighthearted mystery genre.