I've enjoyed several of these Fixer-
Upper Mystery stories which revolve around Shannon
Hammer, a building contract who works in Lighthouse Cove, California.
Shannon keeps busy in this latest adventure when her younger sister
Chloe, who left town some years ago, returns.
With a show called Makeover Madness on the popular Do-It-Yourself
Network, Chloe, who left to find herself, is a minor TV star. But there
will soon be A WRENCH IN THE
WORKS. Chloe is full of her news, about her show which is coming
to Lighthouse Cove to film the restoration of a neglected Victorian
mansion, along with her cranky, unprofessional producer, Bree Bennett.
Seems Chloe gets fired every other week, none of it permanent. At
least she has a design book out under her own name.
First, Shannon feels inadequate when facing the prospect of a film crew
and her glammed-up sister. All she's needed for years has been jeans
and flannel shirts with work boots. I chuckled as I'm a practical, no
make-up lady too. But with lights, close-ups, and attention to detail on
the people as well as the home décor, our hardy builder doesn't want to
let the family down. Next, Shannon meets Blake Bennett, her sister's
co-presenter and producer Bree's ex-husband. Oh dear - no wonder
the temper tantrums occur. I think this would be the worst show to
work on!
Early in the morning as the crew arrives, coffee and doughnuts readily
available, and the lighting is just right, things seem to be off to a good
start. But shooting can't begin because a dead woman is discovered in
the mansion. All the arguments behind the scenes come back to haunt
the show as the Lighthouse Cove police have a murder investigation on
their hands. I found the scene was really well set and like the crew, I
was keen to get filming, then had to apply mental brakes at the tragic
discovery.
Shannon knows some of the police from her school days and others
from around town - she's stumbled upon a few murders by now, with
her wide circle of contacts and locations. But the TV folks are
strangers. Except for Chloe, who couldn't possibly be a suspect, could
she? Perhaps the wooden siding isn't the only place where the rot set
in...
Kate Carlisle keeps us guessing artfully in A WRENCH IN THE WORKS. I enjoyed all the nuances,
including Chloe's meeting old enemies in town, and Shannon's ex-SEAL
buddy. Fans of the series will be pleased to grab this book, and not just
for the details of cleaning old paint out of spoon carvings with a
blowtorch - though that's pretty cool too.
Contractor Shannon Hammer has to dig through murder
suspects in the latest Fixer-Upper Mystery from the New
York Times bestselling author of Eaves of
Destruction and Once Upon a Spine.Don't miss the Hallmark Movies & Mystery Originals
starring Jewel, based on the Fixer-Upper Mystery series!
Shannon Hammer's younger sister Chloe left Lighthouse Cove
after high school to make it big in Hollywood. And she did
it! For several years now, Chloe has been the co-host of a
popular home repair show on the Do-It-Yourself Network. Now,
after ten years, Chloe returns to Lighthouse Cove with her
crew and co-host to film several shows featuring her sister
Shannon, along with some special mini-segments on Victorian
style and design.
But Shannon realizes quickly that things are not exactly
blissful in TV land. Her sister's handsome co-host is being
stalked by someone who turns out to be his estranged wife,
Erica--who also happens to be the executive producer of the
show. Erica's got a knack for stirring up sticky situations
and when she's found dead, Chloe and the entire crew are
under suspicion.
Shannon soon discovers the real reason why Chloe was so
eager to move away from Lighthouse Cove all those years ago.
Can Shannon figure out if that ten-year-old secret is
connected to Erica's death? And can she track down the real
killer before her beloved sister becomes the next victim?
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