This is the eighth book in the fixer upper series by Kate Carlisle. Shannon Hammer is all set to start work on a new project involving her boyfriend, Mac, and her best friend, Jane. Jane has purchased a part of The Gables, once an insane asylum where Jane mother used to live, and soon to be hotel run by Jane. On the day of the groundbreaking, a group of protestors show up and cause havoc. Then things start happening. Shannon is pushed into a pile of bricks and she finds a dead body in a hidden room.
This is one of my favorites written by Carlisle. I loved the setting of The Gables. I loved the history of insane asylums woven into the story. As always the characters are great. Shannon is a wonderfully smart and relatable character. I loved seeing Shannon's sister in this book and am glad we will be seeing more of her. The mystery was well done. I definitely didn't expect who the killer was, but really enjoyed how it came together.

Another great read in the Fixer-Upper Mystery series. The abandoned asylum had a lot of personality and served as a great setting for the story. Shannon is a strong female lead, but equally important, her boyfriend and the police chief are concerned for her safety without being condescending. Even with the precautions, Shannon does manage to get herself into some dangerous situations, which adds to the suspense. The author kept me guessing all the way to the end, which I always like in a mystery.

As other reviews have mentioned, the murder seemed to happen really far into the book. A lot happens in the first half that felt needed for set-up, but left the ending feeling a bit rushed. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 8th book in the Fixer-Upper Mystery series by Kate Carlisle.
I love this series!
Seeing the developing relationships as they try to solve a series of “accidents” is well done.
The setting was great ... an old asylum! Perfectly creepy.
I can’t wait for the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Premeditated Mortar is the eighth book in The Fixer-Upper Mystery series by Kate Carlisle.

A developer has acquired the former insane asylum located just outside the community of Lighthouse Cove. The developer has renamed it The Gables and plans to turn it into upscale shops and businesses. The Gables consists of seven buildings, and Shannon Hammer’s good friend, Jane, has obtained building seven with plans to renovate it into an upscale hotel, spa, and specialty shops. Jane’s mother had been a resident at The Gables, and she feels that this will be a fitting tribute to her mother.

Shannon has been anxious to begin work, and her crew is ready on the day for the groundbreaking ceremony. Rachel, the developer’s project manager, begins her welcoming speech, a protest breaks out, and a protester charges the platform throws some blood-colored slime hitting Rachel.

As work commences on the renovation, Shannon has a couple of incidents that could have been life-threatening but only resulted in bumps and bruises. She soon feels that somebody was directing the protesters at building seven. Shannon will now lead her investigation to find if anyone is still alive who might have been a resident or a family member of a former resident.
The story was well-written and plotted, and there were a few red herrings that kept me guessing until the end. Most of the characters from previous books were back, and I enjoyed visiting with them once again. The romance continues to bloom for Shannon and Mac, Chole and Eric, and Jane and Niall. Ms. Carlisle also provided a bit of history of care in the mental health facility years ago.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this informative series.

Premeditated Mortar is the 8th exciting addition to Kate Carlisle's Fixer-Upper Mystery series. This series continues to get better and better! Shannon Hammer is a contractor and is looking at renovating a building at a spooky old asylum for her friend Jane's new luxury hotel. Shannon's boyfriend, Mac, is a mystery/thriller writer and he goes along for the tour to get ideas for a future book plus a developer wants him to invest in the project. At the groundbreaking ceremony, a group of protesters cause problems and Mac and Shannon get involved. Someone pushes Shannon into a pit in one of the rooms, but it doesn't slow her down. One of the protesters is killed and it isn't far from where she was pushed. The memories of the asylum for some of the characters give the book more depth. This book was hard to put down and before I knew it, I was at the end. This is a quick moving cozy mystery with likable, interesting characters, a very intriguing cozy mystery, a few romances, a few laughs, and is well written. Kate Carlisle has another winner! #NetGalley #PremeditatedMortar #KateCarlisle #BerkleyPublicity #PenguinRandomHouse

I was given this free e-copy by NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased and honest opinion.

I have not read a Kate Carlisle novel before, but I do believe I will start doing so. This is the eighth novel in her A Fixer-Upper series and I really enjoyed the it. Shannon Hammer owns her own construction company and has just taken on one of the biggest projects of her entire career at the behest of her best friend, Jane. The Gables was once the old state aslyum and holds some truly sad memories for Jane. Now, however, she wants to turn those memories into something beautiful and so the building will become a hotel. On the day of groundbreaking, a group of protestors arrive and want the Gables burned down instead. Matters get worse when Shannon is shoved into a pit full of bricks after finding a hidden room. With no idea as to what's going on, Shannon and her crew continue their work until the body is found. Now Shannon must figure out what exactly is worth being killed over in an old boarded up asylum.

I really enjoyed the research that Kate Carlisle put into the history of the Gables. It is a sad and unfortunate fact that there were places that had such scary histories. There were doctors who believed in the keeping their patients safe and humanely helping them. There were also doctors who tortured those poor souls, and later tried to use science and "greater good" as a means of justification. It is a sign of our own healing that we are able to talk about these events and continue to find ways to correct them, so that no one ever has to go through such horrors ever again.

I enjoyed the characters as well. I liked how they were each finding their own happily ever afters. I might be late to the party but this novel did not make me feel lost. It was obvious that it was not a standalone novel, but the author does a good job of keeping the focus on the Gables and the plot line. The characters' backstories are woven into the narrative. If there is ever a necessary mention of a previous book, it is made, but quickly moved back to the main plot. I'm kinda hoping that something else happend to Whitney, and Tommy gets a true happy ending. But some people actually do like mean girls.

My only negative is that the murder wasn't until well after the halfway point of the novel, and the crime solving and sleuthing was about 3 chapters in total. It was mainly about the history of the place, which I was okay with.

Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars, and will go back to the beginning of the series.

Loved it! I had seen the TV movies based on the series & they were cute enough to want to try a book. The books are even better! The author does an amazing job with her characters & the mysteries. The idea of renovating an old asylum is a perfect setting. I will definitely be reading the earlier books in the series!

Premeditated Mortar is the 8th book in the Fixer-Upper Mysteries written by Kate Carlisle. I've read all the other books in her cozy series and highly recommend them. For some reason, this one didn't connect as much as all the previous ones, but perhaps it was a reader issue and nothing else. I still enjoyed the town setting, character descriptions, and all the interaction among the supporting cast.

Shannon owns a construction company, and she's been hired by a good friend to help renovate one wing of the The Gables, a former institution. The entire property is being revitalized, and Rachel is overseeing the project. Rachel has convinced Shannon's boyfriend, Mac, a famous writer, to help fund it too. When Shannon and Mac do some exploring, they find a mysterious stranger running around the abandoned property. Later on, he shows up as part of a team who oppose the project. Even later on, one of those team members ends up dead. What does the past have to do with this murder, and who in town might be connected to the former medical staff or patients?

I praise the writing style and the background setting. The Gables is a perfect location, and I really enjoyed all the descriptions and scenes that took place there. Mac and Shannon's relationship and her connections with others shine too. For some reason, I struggled with the plot on this one. The murder doesn't happen until well after the 50% mark. We also don't get to know many of the characters and possible suspects, except as vague strangers, until that point too. When the mystery unfolds, it has a strong connection and reasoning, but much of that drama wasn't included early on... so my interest was starting to fade by then. Ultimately, I wasn't excited about the ending.

This is a rarity for Kate Carlisle for me. Perhaps because I'd just started watching the Netflix series Ratched--about a nurse with a strange and wicked way of handling ill patients--I was comparing the two in terms of character development and backstory. I will take partial blame on this one, and I will definitely read the next book as the author is usually highly reliable. That said, I end up around 3 stars... maybe up to 3.5 because of all the other components. But give it a try, yourself. I encourage everyone to read this author for the strong supporting plots alone.

This was a fast and fun read. I have not read any of the previous books in this series but I would definitely read them now.

Shannon Hammer owns a construction company in the small town of Lighthouse Cove, California. She and her BFF Jane are working on rehabbing a former mental institution into high end shops and a hotel. The idea according to Jane, is to take something terrible and make it beautiful. However, during the groundbreaking there are protestors who want to "burn it to the ground" and then someone winds up dead. Shannon is determined to solve the case and keep the project going.

I appreciated how much care the author put into the history of the institution, called The Gables, being rehabilitated here. She addresses the issue of mental health head on and is sensitive to the fact that some of her protestors could be former patients and Jane's own mother was a patient there. The author also discusses how vernacular over time has incorporated some terms that could be offensive. This is done in a delicate and not a soapbox way but is enough to make one stop and think about it. Carlisle even includes that her idea for the Gables is based on a real place that was turned into a hotel.

I adored the main character, her love interest and generally all the people introduced into the story (except the bad guy... no spoilers). This was a fun and easy read and I looked forward to picking up where I left off. I will definitely explore others in the series after this.

Premeditated Mortar by Kate Carlisle is the latest entry in her Fixer Upper series and it is worth the wait!
Shannon is assisting Jane in renovating a wing in an abandoned state hospital for the insane and turning it into a luxury hotel. Shannon finds a boarded up wall and mysterious doors behind it as they begin mapping out the renovations. Not everyone is happy about the hospital at all, much less renovating it into a hotel, restaurants and offices and shops. When a dead body is found, Shannon and Mac go to work trying to find a killer and find out who assaulted Shannon. This book is a fast read, I wish it had been longer but, I couldn't put it down. The plot and story both move quickly and I read it all in one sitting. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Berkley publishing and Kate Carlisle for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest, fair review.

Returning to Lighthouse Cove in Kate Carlisle’s latest book in the Fixer Upper Mystery series, Premeditated Mortar, I know that I’m going to thoroughly enjoy the time I spend with Shannon, Mac, and the rest of the welcomed cast of characters. These are characters you could easily find yourself spending time with, enjoying their multifaceted personalities is part of the package.

With each new mystery, this author shows no complacency with her storylines, they are distinctive and captivating, with the plot twists unexpected, often catching you unawares...at the same time adding additional elemental dimensions to the over all mystery...I have yet to see the the twists and turns coming, nor known prior to the big reveal “who done it”.

Premeditated Mortar is the perfect blend of humor and page turning suspense...the dialogue is smart and engaging, with a smattering of history thrown in...which is one trademark of this author’s stories I thoroughly enjoy. As Shannon and Mac’s relationship continues to evolve, their crime solving partnership has strengthened, each providing a different angle at looking at the pieces of puzzle they’re trying to put together. I’m looking forward to what is in store for this heroine et al.

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

I loved this book. My only complaint was that it was over too quickly. I thought it was a fast read with a nice balance between the family stuff and the murder. I wasn't surprised by who the killer was as they kindof tell you during the course of the book, near the end. I did feel sorry for the killer. #PremeditatedMortar #NetGalley

One reason I found the premise of this book interesting is because we also have a huge, haunted looking, old hospital building near me, that was, once upon a time, used to house patients with mental and emotional disorders. Now that it is long abandoned, rumors of haunting run even more rampant. I wish someone would give it a make over and bring new, more positive life to the complex.
Our heroine, Shannon, has a wonderful relationship with a man who has his own celebrity. I like that they are comfortable and not feeling pressured to rush into a permanent, legal attachment.
Shannon has a non traditional job, being the contractor and head of her team. I appreciated the details about the building and project. It really helps set the scene and tone. She is not afraid to work alongside her team. Sometimes her curiosity does endanger her.
The book deals with past and present crimes, things that are now considered cruel were once thought cutting edge treatments. Others, were ahead of their time.
The protesters are an interesting bunch. I will admit there are two that still puzzle me.
The action kept me turning pages and eager to know what would happen next.

I LOVED this one! Shannon and her crew are renovating an insane asylum. Jane is turning a part into a five star hotel. Shannon and her crew discovers a brick wall that has something behind it. There are a few mysteries in this one. It was a fun mystery!
#PremeditatedMortar #NetGalley

Shannon and her crew are renovating an insane asylum and are excited to do so. Her best friend Jane plans to open a hotel in her section of the huge property. Demonstrators mar the celebration for the ground breaking. An assault on Shannon, followed by the discovery of a body. As Shannon,her boyfriend Mac, and their friends, the police among them, search for information, they find more and more following any lead and gathering some dark information on the former asylum. They figure out the dark past and the depressing present, resulting in solving crimes they were not aware of at the start.
Ms. Carlisle pens a mystery within a mystery studded with romance and a bit of humor. It's a winner.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse and offer my opinion gratis.

"Premeditated Mortar" the 8th instalment in the "Fixer Upper" Mystery series by Kate Carlisle. I really like these mysteries as well as the TV movies. I am hoping there will be more of both.

For me the setting of Lighthouse Cove on the northern coast of California is so beautiful then throw in a victorian former state insane asylum who doesnt get the chills. I also really enjoy when i can gain some knowledge with respect to history and this had it in spades. I even checked out photo of some of the asulums on Kate's website.

There were two mysteries to this story, I felt one being what was behind the brick wall and why was it bricked up to begin with and then the murder. Overall the mystery was interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed.

I feel like the characters are taking on some life changing events and I cant wait for the next book to see how things have progressed.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Premeditated Mortar by Kate Carlisle (Fixer Upper Mystery #8) 4.5 stars

It is that time of year again for another Fixer-Upper Mystery. Mac Sullivan, world famous writer and Shannon Hammer, locally famous building contractor specializing in Victorian home renovation are relaxing and cooking dinner. Their conversation veers towards the Gables, a large property near town. Mac has been asked to invest in the development and Shannon informs him that she will be renovating and restoring one of the buildings for Jane Hennessey. The building will eventually be a new Hennessey Hotel. The Gables was originally an insane asylum built in the late 19th century. A seven building complex designed in a classic Victorian style, with some edgy vibe. Jane has a history with the Gables because her mom was an intermittent patient of the facility for years. During a press conference announcing the development protestors vandalize and disrupt the event. In addition, Shannon is assaulted and pushed over a brick barrier. Dark secrets hide in the walls of the Gables and a figure from its past holds the key to the mystery. A body of a protestor found behind a locked door triggers other events that solves an old crime.

The mystery was engrossing with a few red herrings thrown in the mix. Mac and Shannon are a good team to solve the mystery because their skills are complementary. The supporting characters help to illustrate daily life in Lighthouse Cove away from mystery solving. I really enjoyed the way Mac and Shannon's relationship has progressed since the first book. I look forward to the next book in this series with some crossed fingers that a proposal might be in the offing.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this ARC.

Not everyone thinks it is a good idea to turn part of the Gables, a closed psychiatric facility, into a luxury resort but that's what Jane has hired Shannon to do. Jane's mom was a patient there and she wants the remake to honor her mother. Shannon, who is an ace at rehabbing buildings, along with, of course, solving murders, finds out early on that there's a villain afoot, a villain who goes after her! Know that the murder doesn't happen until fairly well on but that was ok by me because Carlisle did a good job with scene setting and character. Shannon's sister Chloe is a dynamo, her boyfriend Mac (a thriller writer, btw) a good guy, and the rest of the gang resonate as real people. I've only read one of the books in this series but I was ok with this as more or less a standalone as it's pretty much a classic cozy, albeit one which turns a light onto how psychiatric patients were treated in the past in these sort of institutions (two thumbs up for that). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read and I look forward to the next one.

Shannon's taken on a huge restoration project this time, she's renovating a wing of a former asylum to become luxury hotel. Readers may have some assumptions from the locale, and Carlisle avoids the stereotypes. I really appreciated that the book addresses mental health and how certain words (crazy, etc) have become mainstream without thought to what they represent. Discussion of the former patients (it closed 20 years ago) were treated with respect, the heroine's friend's mom was a patient there on and off.
It takes a bit to get to the murder but the tension is high in the meantime with the protesting and odd behaviour of a former doctor who worked there, and finding a mysterious bricked wall in the basement.
Premeditated Mortar is the strongest book of the series for me. We get a satisfying amount of Shannon and Mac time, the mystery has some good twists, and I liked the setting wasn't used as the typical haunted asylum location. It made for a much more original story.

I haven't read any other books in this series so I am coming in blind in the regard as to what the other seven books bring. This book was such an easy, yet fast read that I couldn't stop thinking about when I did put it down.

Shannon is set to help her friend Jane with a renovation in part of an old insane asylum right in their hometown of Lighthouse Cove. Jane and many other locals have connections to this closed asylum and she is excited to turn part of the asylum into something to bring happier memories. Along the way they are meet with protests, a former doctor showing up, as well as former patients. Of course things that happened within the walls of the asylum when it was opened won't stay buried long, as a dead body is found.




I will be sharing this review on Amazon, when it opens up for me to review the book there.