Customer Reviews

Plaster and Poison (A Do-It-Yourself Mystery)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
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Others have told enough about the story line in this book. I just want to mention that you really do need to read the books in this series in order. Sometimes the order doesn't matter; in these Avery and Derek novels, the books build on the previous ones, and order is very important.

This is a Cozy in which the starring female does not do dumb things time after time. The characters are all well developed--no one dimensional characters. It is an interesting and exciting book, and I recommend it highly.

After inheriting her great Aunt Irene's home in Waterfield, Maine, New York designer Avery Baker decides to settle in the small-town. Her decision has a lot to do with Derek Ellis, who she has come to care about while renovating her new home; he reciprocates her deep regard. Avery joins Derek in his business Waterfield Renovation & Restoration. They are between jobs so when her best friend Kate asks her to redesign her carriage house that adjoins her B&B so she and her fiancé Wayne can reside there, Avery agrees.

Kate is also worried about her daughter Shannon; Avery and Derek understand why as they have observed her with an older man on several occasions. One day at the carriage house, they find the body of the man seen with Shannon. He turns out to be her father who came to Maine to see his daughter after learning from the newspaper she was coming into a nice inheritance. The death casts suspicion on Shannon, Kate and Wayne who is the Chief of Police. Avery investigates in hopes her new friend's wedding can take place without a hitch. Derek's assistant Beatrice disappears without a word to anyone. She was last seen at her place of work which also happened to be the abode of Shannon's late father. Avery assumes the vanishing and the homicide are linked, but has no idea how.

The third Do-It-Yourself mystery (see Spackled and Spooked, and Fatal Fixer-Upper) is a delightful small-town Maine amateur sleuth with crimes that seem unrelated on the surface, but scraping at the grime leads to some interesting results. Avery is a caring person who risks her life trying to solve the whodunit with less information available to her than the cops possess. Although her reasoning for sleuthing is shaky, her inquiry is solid and entertaining as Plaster and Poison is a pull no punches mystery.

Harriet Klausner

plaster and POISON by Jennie Bentley
Jennie Bentley has
"constructed" another fine mystery!!
Release Date March 2, 2010.

Avery has left her big city life behind and has joined her new boyfriend Derek in his home renovation business in Waterfield Maine.

In the third installment of her Do-It-Yourself Mysteries,
plaster and POISON,
B&B owner Kate McGillicutty and Police Chief Wayne Rasmussen are tying the knot, but an issue soon arises as to where the couple will live after the wedding. The Chief refuses to live at the B&B because he doesn't want people seeing him run around in his underwear and they can't move to his place because Kate needs to be close to the B&B. They come up with a plan to move into the carriage house next to the B&B, but it will need major renovation before they can move in. They hire Derek and Avery to turn it into their romantic retreat in a scant two months before their New Year's Eve wedding. The project is moving right along until one morning when Derek and Avery find a body in the new master suite. Thankfully the carpet had not yet been laid. Unfortunately the murder victim is someone Kate knows very well, and all their wedding and carriage house plans are in jeopardy.

There is also a very interesting side story in this book. While Derek and Avery are tearing things apart for the remodel they come across some initials encased in a heart carved into one of the boards. The carriage house was originally built in the early 1900's and the initials must have been carved then. Avery is very curious about who those initials belong to, so in addition to trying to find a murderer, she also trying to track down any information she can about the two people in love from long ago.

Add to this Avery's mom and stepfather come to Maine for the holidays from SUNNY California, and Derek's stepsister has left her husband and moved back home. Put this all together and you have all the materials needed to build another great story.


I really love this series. They are wonderful cozy mysteries that will keep you turning page and after page. Each book also includes some DIY project following the story. Jennie, I can't wait to see where you will take Avery and Derek next. Is it the 1783 center-chimney Colonial on Rowanberry Island?

Add together In-laws, newlyweds to be, gold digging relatives and you get murder.

***
Author Jennie Bentley once again mixes home repair and murder in the third book in her the "Home-Renovation and Design Tips" mystery series. Designer Avery Baker and home renovator Derek Ellis find surprises as they work to transform an old carriage house into a romantic home for soon-to-be newlywed friends, that is, if murder doesn't bring everything to a screeching halt first.

this is book 2 of the series and I love them, they keep you interested and you will want to read it all in one day (which I did) could not wait to get to number 3. I am now on number 4 and will be waiting for 5 to arrive by mail
Love this series great books

This is a great mystery. If you have read the other Do-It-Yourself mysteries you don't want to miss this one. If you have not read the others I suggest you get them.

This mystery is a great one and has a lot of things going for it. It's got several plot lines (little mysteries) going and a lulu of a climax. I've read it twice and think the author should have gotten an award for this book.

Avery has such a winning personality, I feel as though she is a family friend. I look forward to her next adventure and to her wedding.

I really like the Derek and Avery characters. Of course, there is more murder and intrigue involved in this book, as opposed to Remodeling. This time it is Kate's turn to be in the spotlight (the owner of the B&B).

Jennie Bentley mysteries are an auto buy for me.
Partly, because of her beautiful covers,and partly because of the cats.
This is her third book, in this "Home Renovation and Design" series.
I have to say, it was one of my favorites.
The main characters, Avery and Derek,keep me on my toes.
It seems whenever Avery finds a house to renovate, bodies seem to show up.
This time it is in a Carriage House. The way she describes the house and renovating, are wonderful.
I'd buy it in an heartbeat.
The mystery revolves around finding out "who done it."
Avery has plenty of help. Her mother, Derek, Melissa, Derek's ex wife,Wayne, the police chief, all help in solving this murder.
Just what Avery needs,opinions from every one.
All thinking their explanations, are the right ones.
Don't worry, "Tink" never quits renovating, or solving a murder.
This cozy was just what I needed for a relaxing night.
I do recommend reading the books in order.
Enjoy!