Batten Down the Belfry: A House-Flipper Mystery

by Diane Kelly

Overview

Batten Down the Belfry is the fourth in the delightful cozy mystery series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville, Tennessee—where the real estate market is to die for.

Here is the church, here is the steeple…

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck have successfully flipped houses, but this is the first time they’ve attempted to renovate a house of worship. Still, the colorful stained glass in the country church has caught Whitney’s eye, and she’d love to breathe new life into the abandoned building. What’s more, the place has perfect acoustics. Could the worship hall be reborn as an entertainment venue with its parsonage repurposed as a pre-show bistro?

Open the doors, and see all the trouble.

The owner of the horse farm next door has asserted a legal claim to the church property, rendering their title uncertain. If that’s not bad enough, while rehabbing the church, Whitney’s cat Sawdust discovers a bombshell in the bell tower—the body of the man who’d delivered their beautiful new replacement windows. What transpired in the spire? Who rang the man’s bell and why?

The steeple is keeping its secrets and, when a second body turns up, things become even less clear. Can Whitney help Detective Collin Flynn solve the crimes before someone else is sent to meet their maker?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250816030
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/01/2022
Series:	House-Flipper Mystery Series , #4
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	25,891
Product dimensions:	4.60(w) x 6.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

DIANE KELLY is a former state assistant attorney general and tax advisor who spent much of her career fighting, or inadvertently working for, white-collar criminals. She is also a proud graduate of the Mansfield, Texas Citizens Police Academy. Diane combines her fascination with crime and her love of animals in her stories. Diane now lives in North Carolina, where she spends her days catering to her demanding cats or walking her dogs in the region’s beautiful woods. She is the author of the Tara Holloway series, the Paw Enforcement series, and the House Flipper series. Getaway With Murder is the first in the Mountain Lodge series.

Editorial Reviews

"A twisty tale of innocent victims, petty criminals, and devious masterminds as Whitney has to untangle the truth behind who killed the affable delivery guy with a hidden past" —Criminal Element

Praise for the House Flipper series:

"[Diane] is beloved for her delightfully fun amateur sleuth sagas."—Woman's World (A Book Club Pick of the Week)

"A cat, a can-do heroine, and a corpse in the flower bed. You're going to laugh."—Christie Craig, New York Times bestselling author of the Texas Justice series

“[A] heroine who is as good with a hammer as she is with a one-liner. Whitney and her adorable scaredy-cat Sawdust are a welcome addition to your home and bookshelf."—Kellye Garrett, Anthony, Agatha, and Lefty Award Winning Author of the Hollywood Homicide series

"This is a pleasant and comfy read, particularly for dedicated HGTV fans familiar with the concept of flipping houses."—Mystery Scene Magazine

"[A] well-written mystery, interesting characters and a cat that shares feelings."—Red Carpet Crash

"The author does a fine job sussing out crazy characters, frenetic fans, and more in this finely tuned plot. Ms. Kelly definitely knows the winning recipe of cozy mysteries. I absolutely love her stories! Murder With a View is a perplexing page-turner!"—Romance Junkies

Praise for Diane Kelly:

"Humor, romance, and surprising LOL moments. What more can you ask for?"—Romance and Beyond

"Brimming with intelligence, a devious plot and plenty of imagination."—Romance Junkies

"Outstanding!"—Night Owl Reviews

"Tara Holloway is the IRS's answer to Stephanie Plum-smart, sassy, and so much fun."—New York Times bestselling author Gemma Halliday

"Chock-full of fun and energy."—Romance Reviews Today

"Smart and laugh-out-loud funny."—New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins

From the Publisher