Customer Reviews

Fatal Fixer-Upper (A Do-It-Yourself Mystery)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jennie Bentley writes, "If Derek--six feet tall, with melting blue eyes, sun-streaked hair, snug jeans and a toolbelt riding low on his hips--can't make it interesting, then I don't know what to tell you."

If you surmise, however, that this novel is "chick lit" or a sappy romance novel, you would be wrong. It's an ingeniously plotted murder mystery with several prime suspects and a nail-biting conclusion.

Avery Baker, 31, receives a letter from Inga Morton, her 98-year-old great-aunt, summoning her to Waterfield, a village on the Maine coast. The letter concludes, "It is time for secrets to be told, for the truth to come out, and wrongs to be put right."

When Avery arrives in Waterfield, she learns that her great-aunt is dead and a professor at nearby Barnham College is missing. Something is mephitic in the state of Maine.

According to a local legend, items belonging to Marie Antoinette, the last queen of prerevolutionary France, were smuggled into Maine. Could these priceless artifacts be the source of foul play?

To move to a strange place, find a need to hire a handyman, and discover that he's not only competent but also handsome? That's what happens to interior designer Avery Baker when she moves into her recently-deceased great-aunt's place along the coast of Maine. Of course, she's not sure she will want to keep the old Victorian house once it's renovated. Avery gets more than one signal that someone in this small town doesn't want her to stick around for very long. And a local Realtor is also making herself a constant irritant, circling for a sale.

But besides finishing the house with the help of Derek Ellis' strength and expertise, Avery would like to discern whether or not her Aunt Inga's death was really accidental. And where is that young professor who interviewed the nonagenarian just before her fall down the stairs? His simultaneous disappearance surely is no coincidence.

"Fatal Fixer-Upper" is an expert prelude to a new Maine mystery series. It's a substantial yet fast-paced, entertaining read.

Textile designer Avery Baker is based in New York City working for Aubert Designs when a letter arrives from an aunt she never heard of living in Maine. Her aunt asks her to come visit her so that truths and wrong doings see the light of day. Avery is intrigued by the note, but has doubts about going until she finds her lover in bed with his receptionist. The house in Maine is in terrible condition, but Avery who inherited her late aunt's estate hires Derek Ellis to renovate the house she can get a better price for it.

Before arriving she had received an anonymous letter warning her to stay away from her late aunt's home. On her first day in her new home, Avery sees someone broke in and destroyed the crockery and dishes. She soon finds a picture of a tapestry in her aunt's home, but it is missing. Avery discovers a fainting couch meant for Marie Antoinette if she had gotten out of Paris alive. Professor Wentworth was a frequent visitor of her late aunt; Avery believes his disappearance is tied to those truths her aunt's letter mentioned that someone wants remained hidden. Her inquiries bring her to the attention of killer colder than a Maine wintry night.

Readers will find that this first book in a new series a delight and are happy that they found a great whodunit and tips on rehab a house. The heroine is spunky, talented and obstinate; as she refuses to allow anyone except Derek change her mind once she decides something. Fans will enjoy this fine cozy as readers and Avery know someone wants her to leave; dead if necessary.

Harriet Klausner

I won't give you a play by play of the book since Harriet has already done a great job. I will just add that if book two and three of this series are as much fun to read as the first (and if we keep getting to read about Derek), this is going to be a long running series. Ms. Bentley has put together a terrific cast of characters, with wit and intelligence. Gives a whole new perspective to DIY. Can't wait for the second book. Keep them coming Jennie!

Figured out who-dunnit fairly quickly, and why, but it was still an entertaining read. I enjoyed all the main cast of characters and how they interact with each other. Plus the Do-it-yourself tips are simple enough and give me the idea that I actually COULD do it myself. It's a good rainy afternoon read.

Looks like I'm in the minority here:) oh well . . just couldn't warm to Avery at all! I felt she had no depth or warmth - don't know exactly what it was, but couldn't have cared less about her - so much so I quit the book 3/4 in! All the elements were there - I just felt the book was lacking. And the so-called hunky fix-it guy was just as boring as Avery.

I will admit, yes I'm a sucker for super cute cozy mysteries; they envelop me in a world of "Who did it? Why? What's going on?" and they have a slightly old fashioned charm to them that regular fiction lacks. They usually revolve around small towns and nosy neighbors, random weird characters that make me giggle and of course the crime, figuring out who did it is quite delicious and fun and there's nothing better than turning into a Sherlock Holmes for the duration of the book.

This might be the author's first novel but it's really wonderful. Light and fun but whimsical and very smooth, it had enough charm to keep me glued to the pages until I finally finished it in unmentionably late hours of the evening ( actually not too long ago) and it made me crave for more of Avery, but for that I will have to wait till next spring.

When a textile designer living in New York finds out that her aunt in Maine is dying to spill some family secrets, she finally decides to take a trip but all is too late. The older Aunt Inga has passed away right before she arrives but lo and behold, the house is left in Avery's name alone with all of its possessions. At first she is heartbroken but later feels an air of uncertainty, someone wants her to stay away form the house and its furnishings and keeps meddling with the property. Is the place more valuable than she though and was the aunt's death an accident or cold blooded murder? It seems that everyone form her friends in Maine to relatives and other acquaintances seem suspicious, each possibly having a motive, not to mention the legends of missing furnishings belonging to Marie Antoinette, could her Aunts old fashioned stuff be mixed with priceless antiques? Read and find out and enjoy the crisp and refreshing new voice of Jennie Bentley, she's a sassy lady with tons of charm and talent. There are plenty of ex-boyfriends, meddling relatives, family secrets, cute potential love interests, suspicious and shady characters and tons of clues. The book was also a breeze to read, not something that I had to labor over (always a plus).

Lovely mystery with many twists and turns, I figured a part of it out ( by luck! ) but I simply loved the entire book and it had the perfect balance of mystery, even a tiny bit of romance ( nothing blah) and lots of clues and fund home renovating tips, cant wait for the next one!

- Kasia S.

I'm a huge cozy mystery fan and a DIYer so I thought this series would be perfect for me. But I'm half way through the book and I find the actions of the main characters, Avery and Derek annoying and off-putting. Derek seems ENTIRELY too full of himself. He spends most of the book (at least the parts I've read) sauntering from room to room while either smirking at some inane comment Avery made or sneering at the idea that someone would want to renovate a house any other way but his despite the fact that he has less than 5 years professional experience.

Avery on the other hand has no spine, couldn't spot the guilty party if they were holding a sign and seems to spend an unusual amount of time worrying about whether or not cat hair on the loveseat in her living room will stick to the "posterior" of whomever comes to visit. Not sure if I'm going to finish this book or just skip to the ending that I've already figured out but after seeing it's vastly overrated 4 ¾ star rating I felt the need to add my two cents (and 2 stars) in the hopes of saving someone else the $8.

The only good parts about this book are the description of the B and B as well as the quaintness of the town. My suggestion, if you want to read this book - get it from the library. Not worth buying in my opinion.

This was one of the most fun cozies I've ever read. What makes it especially intriguing is the clever way in which the author weaves in the historical facts about Marie Antoinette. It was an absolutely terrific read, and it kept me spellbound until the end. I can't wait for the sequel.

It is always a good thing when a new cozy mystery comes available.
The cover intrigued me enough to pick this one up.
Avery and Derek are quite a pair. Trying to renovate her Aunt's house and at the same time solve a mystery or two. This is a great new cozy mystery book to curl up with during a cold winter night. I liked this book for its cute characters,with their witty banter ,and the love of Victorian houses helped too.