This paranormal cozy mystery ticked all of my boxes - a haunted theater with a historical mystery, a tightly paced contemporary mystery and lots of detail about historical renovations. An enjoyable series!

The Last Curtain Call by Juliet Blackwell is a plausible ghost story of Mel, who can see and interact with ghosts and her whole family and friends. The renovation of an old theatre sets off multiple mysteries which Mel manages to solve, while letting the reader in on renovation techniques and lots of San Francisco history.

Set in San Francisco, Melanie (Mel) Turner has taken over her dad's construction business, which concentrates on historic renovations. Mel can see ghosts at the job sites, which often makes things complicated. A house in Oakland, purchased by her fiance, and being renovated by Mel's crew, is also home to a ghost who was a starlet in the 1920s. Turner Construction is bidding on the renovation of an old theater downtown and the ghost knows a lot about this place. Mel finds a group of homeless people living there - they have set up their own neighborhood complete with rules and care for the theater. When Mel tries to put a crew of specialized workmen together, she is met with one negative response after another. Why of all the plum renovation jobs in the city does no one want to work on this project? We have murder and mayhem in every nook and cranny of the theater. This is a cozy mystery with a strong plot and an even stronger female character.

A great series with ghosts and architecture. One of the best parts of the book is the descriptions of the houses in San Francisco. If you have not read any of the books in the series it is okay to start with this book

Mel Turner is excited to try and renovate the Crockett Theatre, an old art deco movie theater in San Francisco. Turner Construction, which Mel co-owns with her dad, has its work cut out for it though.
There’s a cool Wurlitzer organ plus a bunch of ghosts to deal with as well as squatters who have been living in the building for a while. Most are artists, and Mel decides to let them stay for now.
When Isadora Sepety turns up dead in the orchestra pit, the police investigate. Meanwhile Mel discovers that the theater’s former owner died under mysterious conditions. Maybe that’s why she sees a ghost in her own attic that looks as though she belongs in that era.
This book is part of the Haunted Home Renovation mystery series.

This was a nice, relaxing book for an evening's reading. There are ghosts, and bad guys, and bad guys you don't know are bad guys until the end. It's just a fun book.

Last Curtain Call is the 8th book in the Haunted Home Renovation series by Juliet Blackwell but new readers can easily catch up and enjoy the story without having read the previous books. Our main character Mel Turner, ghost busting home renovator, is asked to renovate the historic Crockett Theatre in San Francisco. Mel is definitely interested but hesitates due to some big issues. First, there are squatters who are living in the theatre and something is fishy with the company associated with the renovation. When one of the squatters is found murdered, Mel encounters some truly creepy ghosts, we know that we have a new mystery to solve. Oh and did I mention Mel is also renovating her own home? A home that has its own starlet ghost haunting her attic. Are these ghosts and murders connected?

This fascinating story is filled with some truly creepy scenes and I found it to be one of Blackwell’s scariest in the series. Highly recommend!

The history throughout this book was so interesting. I love seeing Mel renovate her home as well as the theater, and I loved the ghost backstory. Highly recommend!

Great addition to the series, which is one of my favorites in the cozy genre. I also loved the cameo and mention of the leads from Blackwell's other two cozy series set in San Francisco, especially Annie Kincaid from her older Art Lovers Mystery series.

The latest addition to the "Haunted Home Renovation" series from Juliet Blackwell, The Last Curtain Call, may be the best one yet! As someone who has renovated many houses, I can relate easily to Mel and her father. As characters, they are wonderfully human; the dynamic between father and daughter is filled with everything real parents and children experience. As for Lando, Mel's finance, he is protective but not smothering so, and it is obvious that he loves and cares about Mel.

The introduction of new characters is always fraught with pitfalls. Ms. Blackwell is a professional at skirting these types of issues and allowing readers to enjoy and get to know new characters without making them so dislikable as to be affronted. Mixing in the renovation of an old vaudeville era theater gives readers a glimpse into history and murder while keeping them entertained and interested.

The victim is very likable, and it was a shame in some ways to see her die. There weren't too many suspects or motives; most readers will be thrilled when the killer is unmasked. If they haven't figured out who the culprit is before the final chapter, they will be happy to realize that deep down, they suspected the killer all along but didn't know it until the end. Murder, ghost, and renovation/restoration make for a captivating story, and The Last Curtain Call keeps readers on their toes. Adding in a resident ghost to Mel and Landon's new (old) home is delightful, and I hope we get to hear more from this new character in future books. I am overjoyed to recommend this book and the entire series to readers who enjoy ghosts, renovation, phenomenal
characters and electrifying plots filled with action.

This is the 8th book in the " Haunted Home Renovation" cozy series by Juliet Blackwell. This is a charming paranormal cozy series that I always enjoy returning to. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Mel Turner is a contractor that talks to ghosts. She is working on a new project restoring a Old San Francisco theater that is haunted. She is also buys renovating her own house which has several ghosts of its own. When a murder occurs at the theater Mel is sure its tied to her house and her ghostly friends help her investigate.

This is a fun series that has great characters, I love the location of San Francisco and the renovation projects described in each book. A fun series with a well crafted sleuth this is a winning addition to this delightful series.

A starlet ghost from the 20’s? This was such a cool mystery. I loved the characters and the story was well crafted.
Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I do love a good ghost story and one involving a hidden closest and an old theater is way to much pass up! This was a lot of fun and I loved the old Hollywood connections and just the allure of an grand old theater being restored to her heyday. In addition to the main mystery there are all kinds of little threads that I found really interesting.

The characters were entertaining, the mystery elements were intriguing, and the ghostly atmosphere kept me reading without ever getting to spooky. I was in the mood for a ghost story and this delivered with a touch of Old Hollywood glam on top as well as a dollop of family secrets. A fun read and a nice dose of escapism.

Juliet Blackwell’s books have been my frequent go-to recommendations for people looking for a light-hearted but not overly twee cozy mystery. This was my first reading of Blackwell’s Mel Turner series and it definitely won’t be the last. I especially enjoy the fact that Blackwell creates a cross-over with Lily Ivory and the same San Francisco she writes about in that series.

The vibe is similar, and Mel and the Turner Construction clan just as appealing and fun as Lily’s crew. The supernatural element is here, too, with Mel having the ability to communicate with ghosts. Here, the ghost of a woman who died violently in the 1920s prompts Mel to uncover the truth about the woman’s death while simultaneously renovating a grand old theatre also filled with ghosts, both old and new.

Recommended.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

The Last Curtain Call, the long awaited eighth installment in the Haunted Home Renovation Mystery Series, is well worth the wait. The series is great fun with its San Francisco setting, enjoyable characters, well crafted mystery, and ghosts. It is a wonderful, light diversion from the cares of the real world.

Mel Turner’s family owned business Turner Construction has a great reputation for refurbishing historical properties, and she jumps at the opportunity to work on the dilapidated, 1920’s era Crockett Theatre. Things get complicated when one of the theater squatters is murdered, and Mel finds a ghost in the attic of her own new home. The more she investigates, the more connections she is able to make, and the closer she gets to the truth, the more danger she faces…from both mortal and paranormal sources.

I am so glad that Mel and crew are back for a new adventure in The Last Curtain Call. I have missed these characters more than I even realized. I love that Mel is family minded with she and her fiancé currently living with Mel’s father and his best friend. The addition of quirky friends and Mel’s ex-step-son Caleb add lots of interest and variety. Lily from author Blackwell’s Witchcraft Mystery series makes a crossover appearance; it is great fun for readers of both series. The characters specific to this mystery are diverse, and the squatters, and their predicaments, feel especially reflective of the current issues facing the U.S. My favorite new addition to the cast is the ghost of starlet Heidi; I want to know even more about her.

Both the mystery of squatter Isadora’s murder and the fate of Heidi and the theater’s former owner are well thought out and finely executed. I felt invested in the story from the first page to the climactic end. The history of the Crockett Theatre and the theater culture of the past make a wonderful backdrop for the story. The inclusion of the ghosts attached to the theater, especially the long ago murdered usher, seems perfectly feasible. I enjoy the paranormal element and, even if you think you do not like cozies featuring ghosts, highly recommend giving the Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries a try.

The Last Curtain Call is a notable entry in its series and immensely entertaining.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review during its ongoing blog tour*

The Last Curtain Call: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery
By Juliet Blackwell
Berkley
June 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

Turner Construction head Melanie Turner is finally working on her most important project; the remodel of her newly purchased 1911-built home in Oakland, California. Once owned by Mel’s family and gifted to her by her fiancé Landon Demetrius, the couple is now negotiating the relationship-testing challenge of a home renovation. The battle of wallpaper versus paint gets put on pause when Mel’s foreman discovers a hidden room in their attic. While Mel knows that a sealed-off room rarely hides something good, this time she discovers a treasure-trove sure to win the fashion-loving contractor’s heart. That the bounty of 1920s dresses and gowns are accompanied by the ghost of their owner isn’t even all that surprising, as Mel has earned her reputation as a psychic home renovator who frequently talks to ghosts. This time Mel meets the very deceased aspiring actress Hildy Hildecott, who fits into the theme of the day when Turner Construction take on their next project restoring the Crockett Theatre.

The mysterious Xeres Group are investing millions to properly renovate the historical movie theater, but their representative Gregory Thibodeaux is vague with details concerning their reasons and their membership. There are numerous complications involved in restoring the century-old building, not in the least of which are the artistic squatters living within the aging structure. Gregory’s fall down a flight of stairs during their initial tour is quickly overshadowed by a ghostly production that has Mel seeing a spectral audience applauding a very real death. Dramatically draped over the original Wurlitzer on stage is the body of Isadora, one of the residing squatters whose death befits her actress’s namesake. While trying on one of Hildy’s gowns Mel sees a reflection of herself as the actress, only also holding a bloody knife in her hand. Hoping that this isn’t a new aspect of her gifts that may get her even more enmeshed in murders, Mel searches for clues and answers that will put to bed both her visions and the mystery of who is responsible for the killings.

This eighth in the series is perfectly at home in the historical theater setting that is inundated by quirky characters and artistic temperaments. Fans of the author’s Witchcraft Mysteries will be charmed to see that their heroine Lily Ivory makes an appearance, with the witch of Aunt Cora’s Closet vintage clothing store advising Mel on her own haunted gown. Mel’s friends lend assistance as well, although for once her bestie Luz Cabrera is experiencing a bout of uncharacteristic insecurity. It’s a delight to see the normally confident professor insecure in her new relationship with Mel’s acupuncturist, requiring that the two couples go on a double-date that is in danger of being over-planned by the ambitious Luz. This series continues to combine practical investigations with the paranormal in a manner that is surprisingly grounded, especially now that Mel’s loved ones all seem aware and accept her abilities. The discovery of her mother’s journal further expands upon their legacy and gifts, broadening the mythology of the supernatural world. Clever dialogue and humorous situations ensure that readers will enjoy this light-hearted mystery that explores the beauty of San Francisco’s unique and artistic locations

SQUEEEEEE! It's been three long years since a book about Mel Turner came out and I was beyond thrilled to see that the long wait is over! Mel, a home renovation contractor, is hired to work on an old movie theater that appears to be haunted with old ghosts and then a new one shows up as a woman is killed and draped over the theater's Howlitzer.

If House Hunters, Ghost Hunters and the Miss Marple books had a baby, you'd get the Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries. This is one of my favorite cozy series ever and this work in the series does not disappoint. A worthy addition to a great series!

Juliet Blackwell adds a Haunted Home Renovation mystery with The Last Curtain Call. Mel Turner is commissioned to restore an old theater but one of the artist squatters is killed there and Mel senses ghostly activity. Paranormal cozy. Mel sees ghosts and falls over corpses in her spare time. Lots of suspects. Something fishy in the company who has remodeling contract. Something creepy in old theater. Read and enjoy.

A cozy mystery that focuses on a renovation specialist that can communicate with ghosts. This was a fun read, part of a series. The central plot was well developed and had a few surprise twists to keep readers guessing. Overall, the characters are fun and have been well developed.

THE LAST CURTAIN CALL is the eighth book in Juliet Blackwell’s cozy paranormal “Haunted Home Renovation” series. Mel Turner is a professional home renovator and she can see and communicate with ghosts. In THE LAST CURTAIN CALL, Mel has two ghostly situations that may or may not prove to be connected. Her fiancé recently purchased a home for the two of them to live in, but it needs some fixing up first. Everything is running smoothly with the renovation until Mel finds the ghost of Hildy Hildecott, silent film star, in the attic. At the same time, Turner Construction is working on renovating the historic Crockett Theatre. Human squatters and ghosts abound at the theater and a murder of one of the squatters make things even more complicated.

Both ghostly situations are shrouded in mystery and have tantalizing qualities to them. With the ghost in the attic, Mel has extra incentive to figure out what’s keeping Hildy there, since she plans on living in that house eventually and doesn’t want any negative energy invading it. Hildy’s situation also presents an opportunity to go diving into San Francisco’s history to solve a murder from long ago. There end up being more than a few elements of Hildy’s story that are incredibly tragic. The second mystery involves the theater. Mel’s company is hired to fix it up but there are a few things that don’t quite sit right with her. The shadowy Xerxes Group is financing the renovation but it’s hard to pin them down on answers and their motivations and behavior becomes questionable. Also, when one of the squatters is murdered there soon after Mel meets her, things become more unsettling. There is an unnerving quality and a malevolent presence at the theater and Mel must determine if the danger comes from the spirits or the living. I loved the MURDER SHE WROTE meets THE SHINING vibe in THE LAST CURTAIN CALL. I suspected everyone – ghost and human being. In the end, my guess as to the identity of the villain didn’t pan out, but it was fun guessing and following the clues.

THE LAST CURTAIN CALL is a delicious mix of ghostly thrills, complex mysteries, and great storytelling. I enjoyed Mel’s interaction with all the young artists and wouldn’t mind having them turn up in future stories in some way. Mel’s friend Luz provides a good sounding board for her as she plays amateur sleuth, as well as her family, and those scenes with friends and family provide a nice juxtaposition from the spookiness and danger. Inspector Annette Crawford works well with Mel in this installment and has a lot of patience. I look forward to reading the next “Haunted Home Renovation” mystery.