Fatal Fixer-Upper (Do-It-Yourself Mystery Series #1)

Fresh and invigorating, wonderful new voice in the world of cozies

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.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Readers will find that this first book in a new series a delight

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

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyable!

A light, enjoyable whodunit read!

Just a fun read.

Some how I thought there would be more cats... but still a fun and fast read.

Fatal Fixer-Upper

This was much more a real mystery than a cozy where the everyman detective stumbles over a body in the first couple chapters. Avery arrives in Maine to discover that her Great Aunt Inga has recently passed and she is the sole heir to Inga's rambling old home and belongings. Avery decides to fix up the house before trying to sell, and enlists the aid of recommended handyman Derek Ellis. Interesting tidbits about design and a historical rumor of Marie Antoinette's belongings landing in the area bring a lot of interesting detail to this book. There is a great small town vibe here, and really good secondary characters to round out the story.

No Home Repair Projects Run Smoothly

Designer and Renovator peel back layers to expose a historic gem and not to mention a murderer. *** First entry in a new home-renovation and design-tips mystery series, author Jennie Bentley introduces Avery Baker, a designer from New York to Derek Ellis, a home repairman who is really handy with his hands. When Avery's mother encouraged her to find out what Inga Marie Morton, an aunt she only met once wanted, the last time she expected when she arrived in Maine was to find her aunt dead with her the sole beneficiary. Mixed in her ex-boss/ex-boyfriend, mysterious antiques stolen years ago with Derek's pushy ex-wife realtor who would like nothing more that to get Avery to sell the house at a steep discount, to the two resentful cousins who did not inherit and you get a home repair project that may never end. Unlike most renovation projects, Bentley employs a cast of strong characters, steps up the timeline and wraps up loose ends on time.

Not so great as everyone said it was!

Started out OK, but by the end of the book I was tired of the silly heroine, the even more unbelievable cast and the lame plot and subsequent outcome, which I had guessed from about 40 pages in. Sorry now that I bought this as well as the follow up. Wasted money in my eyes!

Remodelling with a twist of death. Romance which is romantic and kindred.

This was a nice read. I'm not big on mushy love romance books but this one had just the right real life dream of Mr. Wonderful and falling in love slowly. The mystery is the ringer that gets me to buy but it is the plot and the expertise that keeps me buying. Avery is out there with her ideas of design but I can envision smaller scale of what she presents; which is where Derek reins Avery into period. Keep the cats involved!

Fatal Fixer-Upper has been chosen by the Fenton, Mo. Barnes and Noble Fiction/Mystery Book club for May 2009. I have already read the book this month.

I truely enojoyed the characters as they seem life like and one can relate to them and their many miss-haps. The plot seems more original then other mystery books and the author has an easy style of writing. This is a fairly easy read but the book holds one's attention. I did not figure out "who did it" until close to the end. Good book for books clubs because it is not heavy duty and would be good on a snow/rain day.

so cute

I enjoyed reading this, fun, good ideas.

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