Whitney Whitaker, carpenter/property manager, was excited about a lucky break into the world of real estate flipping but one fire and a murder later she was not feeling so lucky.

A unique and fun twist to this story are the brief chapters written from the viewpoint of Sawdust the cat. The human characters are a likeable group too and I look forward to getting to know them better in coming editions of the House-Flipper Mystery series.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this story. The opinions are my own.

This is the first in a brand new series. In this book Whitney Whitaker is attempting to flip her first house, with the help of her cousin, Buck. Whitney soon realizes that the person she bought the house from omitted some key problems with the house. After one problem after another arises, the last thing Whitney expects is for her cat, Sawdust, to find a body in the garden in front of the house. The body is the previous owner of the house. The police immediately suspect Whitney because of the argument she had with him over the sale of the house. Whitney starts to investigate because with her as a suspect and the body being found in the front yard it is making it hard to resell the house.

I think this was a great first book in the series. The characters were enjoyable and felt very natural. I loved the few chapters were we were told Sawdust's point of view. I will defiantly be reading the next book.

I received this book from net galley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Light and undemanding series debut about carpenter, property manager and future real estate agent Whitney Whitaker. Whitney gets a rare opportunity to buy a refurbishable property at a bargain price and flip it for a profit after doing some renovations.

She and her cousin and renovation partner Buck are excited about this deal, until everything begins to go wrong. The first night Whitney and her cat Sawdust barely escape a fire that reveals that the property had old and faulty wiring -- despite passing a building inspection. Whitney suspects the inspector has taken a bribe to overlook the house's problems. Unfortunately, a dead body also comes with the deal, a former business associate who has been bludgeoned and hastily planted in the flower bed at her new house and project. Since one of Whitney's tools is the murder weapon, she becomes a suspect.

This is certainly readable, but there's not much character development and there is a lot of looseness and lack of continuity in the plot. Then again, it is a series debut and this is a congenial set of characters and a good setting. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love cozy mysteries and I am always looking for new authors to read. This was a great start to series and I am looking forward to seeing more from this series.

Whitney Whitaker, currently works as a property manager (Home & Hearth Realty) and a carpenter (Whitaker Woodworking), saving money by living with her parents.
Studying to take her real estate license exam, Whitney wants to flip houses – that is buy a house that needs work cheap, fix-it up and sell the renovated property for a nice profit.

Whitney gets her first break when she evicts three college students from a house she manages for Home & Hearth’s client Rick Dunaway. The house is a wreck and Dunaway offers the property to Whitney at a discount if she can close quickly. Since Whitney doesn’t have enough money, she convinces her cousin Buck to partner with her and after getting a home inspection, they buy the house.

Trouble begins immediately when one of the evicted college students eggs the house and then is suspected of arson. Whitney and her cat, Sawdust, have moved into the house to keep an eye on the materials and tools while doing the renovations. The first night a fire destroys part of the second floor and roof at the back of the house. Sawdust and Whitney barely make it out alive. The arson investigation reveals the fault is old, out of code electrical wiring that the fire inspector believes should have been caught by the home inspector.

After she remembers seeing a strange encounter between Dunaway and Bobby, the inspector, Whitney challenges Dunaway who agrees to pay the insurance deductible for the fire insurance claim. Working on the house while waiting for Dunaway to deliver the check, Whitney finding gives up only to find the check when she opens the front door to leave. Dunaway’s car is parked on the street, but she can’t find Dunaway anywhere.

Whitney returns the next day with Sawdust and is working in the yard when her cat digs up a finger in the flower bed. Turns out Rick Dunaway has been murdered and buried in the front yard. Naturally, Whitney is considered the prime suspect due to the argument she had with him over the electrical wiring and possibility of fraud on his part.

There are other suspects: a rival real estate developer Thad Gentry who wants to buy the house Whitney purchased; Presley, Dunaway’s assistant who wanted to manage the properties in-house to learn the business; Bobby Palmer, the home inspector who may have colluded with Dunaway; Jackson, the college student and evicted resident who has a record for violence; and Lance Abbott, Dunaway’s business partner. And then there is the new police detective Collin Flynn who has never solved a murder before which makes Whitney nervous about his experience and ability.

This new series (House-Flipper Mysteries) debut by Diane Kelly is a well-crafted mystery using twists and red herrings that serve to keep the story apace. The characters that populate the Nashville setting are warm and relatable and dialogue and relationships are realistic. The tension Ms. Kelly maintains throughout is just right while managing to generate an engaging story.

However, the method Ms. Kelly employs to break suspense with humor is as impressive as it is effective: Sawdust is featured in his own chapters, commenting on life from his perspective. For instance, a fur-eating floor demon that comes to life each afternoon searching for prey as it glides along the floor picking up dirt and debris terrifies Sawdust. Then there’s the ceiling demon, a “horrifying, screeching monster” that drives Sawdust to hide in the closet. Whitney’s interaction with Sawdust is heartwarming and Sawdust’s observations on his life with Whitney tug at the emotions.

Dead as a Door Knocker is a five star cozy mystery debut.

My favorite part of this whole book was when Sawdust was talking. I found this book to be slow. I also figured out who the killer was right when we meet him. Also why is Detective Flynn so short. This book is the first in a series and it sets up the books to follow. This book is slow as you are getting to know all the people in the story. I was expecting so more excitement in this first book. We can only hope this series gets better with each book.


*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

I enjoyed reading this book very much. It was enjoyable and a fun read. The characters had colorful personalities and kept me smiling from beginning to end.

If you love a good cozy mystery, this is one for you. A fast no frills read typical of the genre. It's okay not great.

After following this author’s other successful series, I expected nothing less than perfection...right out of the gate...she did not disappoint. This series has all the elements necessary to make it another successful one...relatable characters with uniquely multilayered personalities and a story premise that’s current, intriguing, and attention grabbing.

With Whitney, et al, you’ve got just that with the potential for stories that’ll entertain as well as endear you to its characters. I truly look forward to what else in store for her and Sawdust.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I enjoyed this book but I found the chapters from Sawdust the cat pretty pointless. I think the book would be a smoother read without them.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

Whitney Whitaker is a property manager and carpenter in Nashville, TN. When one of her developer clients wants to off load a house, she jumps in to buy it, intending to fix it up and flip the property. The project is difficult from the start. First, bad wiring causes a fire, quickly followed up by Whitney finding a dead body buried in the flower bed. Her house flipping days might be over before they even really start!

I enjoyed this first book in the House-Flipper Mystery series. Whitney is an interesting and intelligent main character. Her cat has the cutest name ever -- Sawdust. I liked the setting, the background theme and the side characters in this new series. Cute, creative idea! I felt sorry for Whitney.....she wants to build her business, expanding into renovation projects....but gets waylaid by fire and dead bodies. Yikes! What a way to start a new business venture!

This is the first book by Diane Kelly that I've read. She also writes the Paw Enforcement and Tara Holloway mystery series. I'm definitely going to read more by this author. I like her writing style and the mix of humor and mystery.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Whitney is all set to have her dream come true when unfortunately, a body is found in a house she recently purchased and then she becomes the prime suspect only because of a prior altercation. What else is she to do but look for someone who has a stronger motive, thus begins her foray into amateur sleuthing and I enjoyed every aspect of this well-written whodunit that was lighthearted and fresh.

I’ve read previous books by the author and I'm happy to include this in my collection of Diane Kelly books. She writes a mystery that kept me immersed in all that was happening, with engaging dialogue and I especially love Sawdust and the demon he is afraid of. Boy, did I laugh when the demon’s identity was revealed. The author peppered the tale with a few suspects and clues that had me guessing a time or two and then it came to fruition as the drama hit a feverish pitch and I couldn’t stop until the killer’s identity was reveal and it was his downfall that had me cheering. Bonus to me was that Sawdust had his own chapters. Too darn cute. Boasting a lovable cast of characters with a small-town feel, this was a terrific start in this series and I hope it is here to stay for a while. I can’t wait to see what adventures awaits Whitney and Sawdust in this delightfully charming new series.

I love the character development that Diane Kelly gives us, especially of “Sawdust” the cat. Those tiny two page chapters giving us “Sawdust’s” thoughts is absolutely wonderful.

The story is about Whitney Whitaker and her attempt to flip a house and make a little bit of money for herself and her cousin Buck. But what she didn’t expect to find was murder, intrigue, disaster, and maybe bankrupt.

Whitney purchases a home to flip from a client of her Property Management Company. Little did she know that he would take advantage of her by selling her a home that had some major flaws. As those flaws come to light Whitney gets a tad bit angry.

But when a murder happens her little fits of anger start to make it look as though maybe she murdered someone in an attempt to assuage her anger. How far from the truth could that be, she is a wonderful person, or is she?

Diane Kelly develops a plot line that keeps you guessing throughout the book. You along with Whitney think you know who did the murder, but then you are proven wrong. So, who did it? And why is someone still trying to harm Whitney?

The story is very different from anything I have ever read in that it is about a carpenter, a house flipper, a property manager. How interesting a life could Whitney really have. But then we follow her on this harrowing ride to try and prove her innocence and we realize how easily any of us could be accused of something terrible. How would we respond.

I also love the fact that “Sawdust” plays a major role in the story. I know, I know, creative writing class tells you to never tell a story from an animals point of view. But heck, Sawdust is not just any animal. Sawdust is a hero in disguise.

Enjoy the Book!

Clearly, this book is aimed at cat lovers, featuring chapters devoted to Sawdust. I have to confess I am not a fan, either of cats, or of the number of pages devoted to this cat. I also found the book heavy on various aspects of the property management, real estate and home renovation industry. The mystery plot was the saving grace of this book.

This book was so fun to read! I enjoyed it so much! Whitney was smart and hard-working, and she didn't deserve what came her way, but she worked her hardest to get through all the difficult situations, and it's like, go, her!

Man, Whitney-and this house-face a lot of problems! Like, everything that could go wrong, did. And that really sucks! I was rooting for her! Especially since it started off so positive, then everything kept happening! It was a not a good situation, but she kept a good outlook and worked really hard. Very admirable of her!

So this book is similar in some ways to the other series that I've read by Diane Kelly, Paw Enforcement, in that Sawdust narrated some chapters. Which was just hilarious, because there were the various monsters-the vacuum, and the smoke alarm. But he was a brave kitty!

I really enjoyed the combination of home improvement and mystery. It's not something that you'd normally put together. But some of her skills and knowledge in the former helped with the later, which is good, given the stakes!

Loved this book, and I can't wait to see where things go in the future!

Dead as a Door Knocker by Diane Kelly is the first book in the brand new cozy House-Flipper Mystery series. This series takes a couple of my favorite things, renovating real estate and kitty cats, and combines them together so how could I say no to reading this one?

Whitney Whitaker has been working as a property manager to pay the bills for a while now while living in her parents pool house with her cat, Sawdust. Real estate and renovating are really Whitney’s passions so when an opportunity to buy a home in need of her TLC way below market value comes up Whitney finds it hard to pass by.

Knowing she can’t afford the property on her own even wiping out her bank account Whitney brings in her cousin as a partner. After the inspection is done and the paperwork signed Whitney and Buck end up with one problem after another including finding the seller’s body in the flower bed and with Whitney a person of interest in the murder she needs to find the real killer quickly.

Dead as a Door Knocker was such a cute cozy mystery that grabbed my attention right away. Whitney was a likable enough character along with the supporting cast around her but Sawdust steals the show with his own chapters from his point of view, watch out for demons in those! The story was one that took a bit to get to the mystery side but being the series opener I appreciated taking the time to build the characters and story before the suspects started lining up with the murder. All in all 4.5 stars for this new series by Diane Kelly and I will definitely be back for more.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Whitney Whitaker is a 21st century woman holding down a full time job managing rental properties, preparing to take her real estate exam and doing part time carpentry work here and there. She recently evicted some renters from a property they trashed and now she has been offered an opportunity by the owner to purchase the property for less than market value. Ever up for a new challenge she and her cousin Buck decide to share in the purchase of the property, with plans rehab it themselves and flip it for a profit.

Bad luck on the project comes in many forms ranging from threats by one of the evicted renters to major damage to the house to a body in the flower beds. With cousin Buck and her trusty feline companion Sawdust (who relates portions of the story from the “kitty’s eye view”) Whitney perseveres through every disaster while trying to steer clear of the law.

This book could provide a perfect read for those who enjoy the Kate Carlisle fixer upper series - - - or those who love cats and miss the lighthearted antics provided by Lillian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who books.

Dead As A Door Knocker by Diane Kelly was an entertaining beginning to this new series.

I enjoyed meeting Whitney and her family. She is a strong and likable character who never gave up throughout the story. Her cousin, Buck, is adorable with his sense of humor and concern for Whitney. Whitney's friend, Collette, also added some interesting details and warmth to this cozy mystery.

I found the story to be slow to start but it finally picked up about 1/3 of the way into the book and swiftly moved to the reveal with plenty of suspects and twists to keep me guessing. Ms. Kelly has developed the characters well in this book; and I am sure that they will grow more as the series continues. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.

Pretty conventional cozy mystery. If you read Kelly's Paw Enforcement series, you recognize a similar use where she gives the animal some page time. In the Paw Enforcement books Brigit (the dog) sometimes adds pertinent details whereas Sawdust (the cat) doesn't. So, I could do with out those asides.

The setting, characters, action and story were pleasant, went by fast, but pretty standard for a cozy. So, I wasn't wowed, but I'd consider reading the next entry in the series. I'm thinking Whitney's new roommates could add something to the next story.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. 3.5/5

Diane Kelly continues with cozy mysteries only this time the sidekick is a cat instead of a dog (Paw Enforcement). Just as enjoyable, seeing the book through the eyes of a cat is as different as it is interesting. I'm hoping this is just the first in a long series. Even if you aren't a cat lover you should give this mystery a try, very good solid mystery with, hopefully, a romantic interest in the next book. I received an e-book Uncorrected Digital Copy) NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.