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

by Jennie Bentley

Overview

First in a series about a designer—and a handsome handyman—tackling fixer upper homes and mysterious murders. A must-read for lovers of HGTV’s home renovation shows.

To Avery Baker, the idea of preparing her aunt's crumbling and cluttered home for sale is overwhelming. So when someone offers to buy the place as is, Avery's relieved. Until she learns it's worth more than she thought—that is, with a few repairs here and there...

With help from hunky handyman Derek Ellis, Avery starts learning the ABC's of DIY. But when a designer-turned-renovator finds clues that lead to a missing local professor and then her own life is threatened, Avery wonders if she can finish the house—without getting finished off in the process.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780425224571
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/04/2008
Series:	Do-It-Yourself Mystery Series , #1
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	4.10(w) x 6.70(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jennie Bentley is the New York Times bestselling author of the Do-It-Yourself Mysteries. The Prime Crime home renovation series features textile designer Avery Baker and her handyman boyfriend, Derek Ellis, who renovate houses in Maine. She also writes under the name Jenna Bennett.

Editorial Reviews

"A terrific new series."—Diana Killian, author of Death in a Difficult Position

"Original, adorable, fast-paced and fun...Jennie Bentley is a charming new voice."—Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of Say No More

From the Publisher

Like an ornate Victorian house, Bentley's debut mystery is built on a solid foundation but winds up laden with gewgaws and light on practical basics. New York textile designer Avery Marie Baker inherits a run-down New England manse from a reclusive aunt who died under mysterious circumstances. Avery "is little and cunning and pouts a lot," and she's about as bright as her boy friend's crowbar. She instantly suspects dislikable people of having a hand in her aunt's death, while completely missing blatant clues pointing to the killer. Avery soon winds up in predictable anticlimactic peril, waiting for buff handyman Derek Ellis to rescue her. The characters and the town are charming, but without any real suspense-except whether Avery can convince Derek to let her mosaic tile the kitchen counter-there's no substance to the mystery. (Nov.)

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