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Death by Demo - (A Home Renovation Mystery) by Callie Carpenter (Hardcover)
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About this item
Highlights
- Perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Diane Kelly, after her ex-husband tears down their marriage, the last thing Jaime wants is to renovate a worn-down historic home.
- About the Author: Callie Carpenter grew up with an architect father who was more than happy to share his love of woodworking with his daughter.
- 229 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Mystery & Detective
- Series Name: A Home Renovation Mystery
Description
About the Book
"Perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Diane Kelly, after her ex-husband tears down their marriage, the last thing Jaime wants is to renovate a worn-down historic home. But when a body is discovered behind a wall, she realizes she'll have to catch the killer before she builds herself up again. Jaime and Henry were the perfect couple with the perfect life; together, they ran one of the most successful construction and interior design companies in all of Charlotte, North Carolina. But when Jaime catches her charismatic husband in an affair, she realizes her husband is not the man she thought she married. The divorce is equally gutting--due to an ironclad prenuptial agreement, Jaime receives only one thing: a historical house in disrepair. Knowing that any renovation she attempts will be tedious and costly, Jaime starts to believe that things can't get much worse--until she finds a dead body in the house. The body is found behind a recently renovated wall--and this leaves Jaime with more questions than answers. Who killed this person and why? Could it have been the previous owners, someone who snuck in while nobody was looking, or Henry? Furious that the house is now a crime scene, which further delays all renovations, Jaime decides to investigate the murder herself, DIY-style. Together with the new resident cat she calls Demo and the handsome and friendly hardware store owner who happens to be her neighbor, Jaime is ready to use all the tools in her toolbox to catch the killer. Jaime needs to renovate this house if she wants to move forward with her life, but will this murder investigation leave her in ruins--or worse?" --Book Synopsis
Perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Diane Kelly, after her ex-husband tears down their marriage, the last thing Jaime wants is to renovate a worn-down historic home. But when a body is discovered behind a wall, she realizes she'll have to catch the killer before she builds herself up again. Jaime and Henry were the perfect couple with the perfect life; together, they ran one of the most successful construction and interior design companies in all of Charlotte, North Carolina. But when Jaime catches her charismatic husband in an affair, she realizes her husband is not the man she thought she married. The divorce is equally gutting--due to an ironclad prenuptial agreement, Jaime receives only one thing: a historical house in disrepair. Knowing that any renovation she attempts will be tedious and costly, Jaime starts to believe that things can't get much worse--until she finds a dead body in the house. The body is found behind a recently renovated wall--and this leaves Jaime with more questions than answers. Who killed this person and why? Could it have been the previous owners, someone who snuck in while nobody was looking, or Henry? Furious that the house is now a crime scene, which further delays all renovations, Jaime decides to investigate the murder herself, DIY-style. Together with the new resident cat she calls Demo and the handsome and friendly hardware store owner who happens to be her neighbor, Jaime is ready to use all the tools in her toolbox to catch the killer. Jaime needs to renovate this house if she wants to move forward with her life, but will this murder investigation leave her in ruins--or worse?Review Quotes
Praise for Death by Demo
"Original, clever, entertaining."
--Midwest Book Review "Well-written, nicely plotted, with great insights into the renovation industry . . . Cozy readers will delight in this discovery."
--First Clue "A lot of fun."
--Red Carpet Crash "A fun, new entry into the always-popular home renovation subgenre of cozy mysteries. The plot is solid, the characters appealing, and the setting charming. Callie Carpenter has built a strong foundation for a robust series with this clever debut novel."
--Jennie Bentley, New York Times bestselling author of the Do-It-Yourself Home Renovation Mystery series "With a well-crafted plot and engaging characters, this new addition to the genre promises to entertain cozy mystery lovers and fans of home renovation shows."
--Sarah Fox, USA Today bestselling author "Callie Carpenter nails it with this delightful debut in her Home Renovation Mystery series, introducing an intrepid contractor heroine who proves equally adept at solving mysteries and bringing new life to old homes. I can't think of a more enjoyable way to take a break from HGTV!"
--Ellen Byron, USA Today bestselling author of the Cajun Country Mysteries. "An entertaining small-town cozy mystery with plenty of suspects . . . I thoroughly enjoyed the home renovation contractor tips, and the red herrings kept me guessing until the end."
--Kathleen Bridge, National Bestselling author of The Hamptons Home and Garden Mysteries "Callie Carpenter crushes her debut, Death By Demo. With a heroine that will drill deep into your heart, and a solid mystery with a tension-packed conclusion, this dynamite Home Renovation Mystery is a series to follow!
--Korina Moss, Agatha Award-winning author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series
"Death by Demo is a real page turner! Cozy fans will root for amateur sleuth Jaime Moore as she uses every tool in her toolbox to nab a killer and rebuild a life for herself. Callie Carpenter nailed this series debut!"
--Kate Lansing, award-winning author of The Colorado Wine Mysteries "With its breezy style, creative plotline, and likable cast of characters--including a charming stray cat--Death by Demo is a must-read for cozy mystery fans."
--Diane Kelly, award-winning author of the Mountain Lodge Mystery series "The perfect intersection between a cozy mystery and a home renovation with none of the heavy labor or mess . . . Grab a glass of Sweet Tea and a comfy seat and soak in the charm of this Southern-style cozy."
--Valerie (V. M.) Burns, author of the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series "A great series debut! Death by Demo is a clever combination of home renovation and murder that will appeal to DIY fans and armchair sleuths, alike."
--Anna Gerard, author of the Georgia B&B Mystery series
About the Author
Callie Carpenter grew up with an architect father who was more than happy to share his love of woodworking with his daughter. She has a (mostly unused) bachelor of science degree in geology, one husband, and two cats. When Callie isn't writing, she's working at her day job, reading, yanking weeds out of her garden, or planning her next home renovation project.Dimensions (Overall): 8.35 Inches (H) x 5.59 Inches (W) x 1.1 Inches (D)
Weight: .7 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 229
Series Title: A Home Renovation Mystery
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Mystery & Detective
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Theme: Women Sleuths
Format: Hardcover
Author: Callie Carpenter
Language: English
Street Date: December 5, 2023
TCIN: 88767426
UPC: 9781639105625
Item Number (DPCI): 247-49-9214
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.1 inches length x 5.59 inches width x 8.35 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.7 pounds
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3.0 out of 5 stars with 1 reviews
0% would recommend
1 recommendations
A lackluster tale!
3 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
- 1 year ago
Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter has Jaime starting over after catching her husband in flagrante delicto. Unfortunately, Jaime was a young, lovesick idiot who signed an ironclad prenuptial agreement (she refused to listen to reason). Her ex-husband is gracious enough to give her a rundown Queen Anne Victorian. The first whack with Jaime’s new sledgehammer reveals a dead body which shuts down Jaime’s renovation. Jaime is not given a time when she can get back into the house. She decides to conduct her own investigation. Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter is the debut of A Home Renovation Mysteries. I found Death by Demo to be easy to read. Jaime is a likeable character (for the most part). I did not like that she made the cliché mistake of falling in love and getting married out of high school (I made the same idiotic error). Jaime also signed a prenup without reading it or having it checked out by a lawyer. I have read a couple of cozy mysteries recently with similar storylines (recently divorced main characters thanks to cheating ex-husbands). I did not understand how her ex-husband ended up with the business that they started together (did she sign away her rights to half the business as well). I liked the cat, Demo that Jaime found in the shed at the house. The mystery was straightforward. There is a small suspect pool. There are clues to help readers solve the crime (they are repeated endlessly). Jaime’s best friend sets up a spreadsheet, so Jaime knows which tasks to complete plus it lists the suspects and clues. Some readers may be surprised by the twist (avid cozy mystery readers will not be). The whodunit is neatly wrapped up at the end. There is too much repetition in the story. Jaime’s prenup, being wild in love, finding her ex-hubby with another woman, and the condition of the house are just a few of the details repeated endlessly. I found Death by Demo to be lackluster. It needed action and pizzazz. Death by Demo is a cat cozy with a Victorian reno, an uncovered victim, a nice neighbor, a helpful friend, a sledgehammered shed, and a friendly feline.