If Walls Could Talk: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery (Haunted Home Repair Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Juliet Blackwell (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 7, 2010 | Series: Haunted Home Repair Mystery (Book 1)

Melanie Turner has made quite a name for herself remodeling historic houses in the San Francisco Bay Area. But now her reputation may be on the line.

At her newest project, a run-down Pacific Heights mansion, Mel is visited by the ghost of a colleague who recently met a bad end with power tools. Mel hopes that by nailing the killer, she can rid herself of the ghostly presence of the murdered man-and not end up a construction casualty herself...

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 326 pages
• Publisher: Obsidian; Reissue edition (December 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451231813
• ISBN-13: 978-0451231819
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1.2 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,710 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Juliet Blackwell has been fascinated with witchcraft, alternative healing, and spirits of all kinds ever since she was a child. As an anthropologist, she studied systems of physical and mental health care all over the world.

Blackwell is the New York Times bestselling author of the Witchcraft Mystery series, which features a misfit witch with a vintage clothing store in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury neighborhood. The series includes Secondhand Spirits, A Cast-off Coven, Hexes and Hemlines, In a Witch's Wardrobe, and Tarnished and Torn (to be released July 3, 2012).

The Haunted Home Renovation series --in which Mel Turner, a restorer of historic homes, finds ghosts behind the walls-- includes If Walls Could Talk, Dead Bolt, and Murder on the House.

Under the pseudonym Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover's Mystery series with her sister Carolyn--including the Agatha-nominated Feint of Art. Arsenic and Old Paint is the latest in the series.

A former anthropologist and social worker, Juliet has worked and studied in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France. She now lives in a happily haunted house in Oakland, California, where she is a muralist and portrait painter. She served two terms as president of Northern California Sisters in Crime, and sat on the board of Northern California Mystery Writers of America.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I liked it, and would read the next one. December 18, 2010

By der Frosch

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This novel was pretty well-written, the characters are interesting. I think people who are familiar with the Bay Area will appreciate the novel and its settings. The pace slowed down a bit to overly discuss the home rennovations, but I enjoyed reading about it. It seemed very well-researched in that line of work. I wished there was a more supernatural element to it, but the mystery itself played out well. I'm not sure I followed the main character's line of thinking as far as the ghosts were concerned, and getting to the bottom. She seemed to be the type of person who would make more use of her unique situation, not to mention she would probably be a little more facinated than nonchallant. I think it went a little long on a tangent not relating to the mystery in a couple of areas where the main plot really needed to get down to business. I think the series will grow and be very enjoyable. I look forward to the next book.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I LIKED IT!!!! December 7, 2010

By Lori Caswell TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Melanie Turner moves home after her mother's death to take over her father's construction business restoring historic homes and in a very short time has become pretty well-known for her work in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Her next project is a run down mansion in Pacific Heights. She agrees to take the job after one of the owners dies in the house during a crazy do-it-yourself demolition of the house.

While working out the specifications at the house she is visited by the ghostly presence of the man who died. He continues to follow her everywhere and she finally realizes the only way to get rid of this ghost is to solve his murder. The only clue she has is a box she found hidden in the walls of the house. Mel needs to build a case to find the killer before she finds herself nailed by them too. She also needs to help her ghost rest in peace.

I LIKED IT!!!!

A really good start to what looks to be a hauntingly wonderful series. Having worked construction myself I know what damage power tools can do and the last thing you need is a bunch of drunks doing your demo, so I can totally relate to this story and know I will truly enjoy the series. Ghosts really aren't my usual forte, but it is stories like this that can totally change my point of view. Mel Turner and her family have grabbed my attention and they are the stars, the ghosts are the supporting quirky characters every good cozy needs. Plus Mel's family is not your typical family next door and Mel's past is pretty diverse, so the author has plenty of room to take us in many directions as the series continues. I really look forward to the next installment of Haunted Renovation.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received these books free from Obsidian, a Division of Penguin Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read June 20, 2011

By Book Reader

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the fourth book I've read by Juliet Blackwell. It was a fun read, and I finished it quickly. I will note that I enjoyed the Witchcraft Mystery books more, and can hardly put them down. Haunted Home mysteries are more realistic (mostly mystery, with ghosts, hence "haunted home"), Witchcraft mysteries are more fantasy-based (witches and magic), which makes them unique and interesting to me.