I finally scored an arc by Kate Carlisle. That was a good day when I received the email. I have not read any of the other books in this series, but I have them, I found the premise a little disconcerting, converting a former mental institution into a hotel. Every time Shannon's crews get body, another body is found. I had crushes on Mac and Eric. I thought the animosity between Shannon and Whitney was funny. Doesn't every community need one nasty person to liven things up. I liked the architectural details in the story. The mystery part was decent.

This is the 8th installment in the Fixer Upper mystery series. Shannon is once again helping Jane with a renovation project. This will be a big project for Shannon as the former insane asylum Gables is being converted into a multipurpose property with a hotel (Jane), residences, restaurants etc, however, the project is controversial for some as there are protesters and former patients who have strong feelings about the project. There turns out to be secret rooms and other things found including a body in the wall. Shannon and her boyfriend are on the case and this book hooks you in. As with all the other in the series once I start the book I keep on reading until I finish. This is a quick and delightful read. The mystery is solid and I love coming back to Lighthouse Cove and all the delightful people who live there. I look forward to the next installment in this series. This series is an automatic for me. Highly recommend.

This is the 8th installment in the Fixer Upper mystery series. Shannon is once again helping Jane with a renovation project. This will be a big project for Shannon as the former insane asylum Gables is being converted into a multipurpose property with a hotel (Jane), residences, restaurants etc, however, the project is controversial for some as there are protesters and former patients who have strong feelings about the project. There turns out to be secret rooms and other things found including a body in the wall. Shannon and her boyfriend are on the case and this book hooks you in. As with all the other in the series once I start the book I keep on reading until I finish. This is a quick and delightful read. The mystery is solid and I love coming back to Lighthouse Cove and all the delightful people who live there. I look forward to the next installment in this series. This series is an automatic for me. Highly recommend.

Once again Shannon Hammer takes on a Victorian building restoration, and finds a dead body! I enjoy following along with her as she works through clues to discover who is the murderer. With all mysteries, I like to guess who is culprit, and for once I had the right person...partially. Be sure to read the book to understand what I mean, and to keep up with Shannon and her friends. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

contractors, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, family, friendship, cozy-mystery, small-town

Take a derelict hospital for the insane abandoned in the 1970s, add in a great project to turn the extravagant building into several venues including a world class hotel and spa, then add in a protest group. And a weird former director. And a body or two.
This is the first book in series that I've read but it worked OK as a stand alone.
That whole high school drama thing was nutsy and pretty useless considering the ages of the characters, but it was still a good read.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

I’ve been reading and enjoying the Shannon Hammer series of mysteries for years. I like the vibrant cast of characters…family, friends and frenemies. Coming from a family of structural engineers, I especially like the true to life reconstruction segments. This one involves re-purposing an old mental asylum into a luxury hotel, residences and more. I was especially enthralled with the location. Years ago, I worked in an old state mental hospital that had been extensively remodeled into a Federal hospital. While the one I worked at had been fully updated there were still areas of the old buildings that were a bit spooky as were the stories told by some of the long-time employees.

I recommend this book and the series to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with an unusual plot line and excellent characterization.

I like returning to Lighthouse Cove to solve mysteries with this cast of characters. The held over high school drama was dialed down in this book, thankfully, though I wish the author would do away with it completely. This book had a creepier tone than the previous books in the series, which made me think it would have a Halloween release date, but it won't be out until late November. Overall 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Surprisingly thoughtful and sensitive. I picked thus up expecting another decent mystery and I was certainly not disappointed. What surprised me was the attention to the humanity of people suffering from mental health issues. The author was able to really make that struggle clear and sympathetic, without overwhelming the plot or drawing attention from the action.

What is creepier than an old Insane asylum? Not much except maybe a murderer running around in one. Shannon Hammer has a new contracting job turning an old run down former insane asylum into a 5 star hotel for her friend Jane. Shannon's boyfriend Mac also decides to become an investor in the development. That is where the adventure starts for our mystery loving duo. Between protesters, secret rooms, accidents and murder will Shannon and Mac even survive let alone finish the project? I know people say this all the time but I literally could not put this book down. In fact I was so engrossed I was surprised when it ended. This book is an absolute must read.

I ask, and will continue to ask, why oh why is this series not published in hardcover? This series is fantastic, heads above many other mysteries that are in hardcover. Why keep publishing in PB, when in hardcover it would be better publicized and garner the attention It so richly deserves?
Besides being a great mystery writer ( She Is also the author of the wonderful Bibliophile series with Brooklyn Wainwright) Carlisle is a master at developing characters that feel like people you’d love to have as friends and in your life. Her characters help drive the story and you’re caught up in their lives as you can’t help but care about them as well as the mystery that’s unfolding.
The plot of Premeditated Murder is unique in that it deals with converting an old Victorian insane asylum on a beautiful ocean front property into a five star hotel as well as other new businesses. Taking what was once painful and creating joy from it. Carlisle handles this topic with all the sensitivity it deserves. Jane, whose mother was once a patient there wants to create something beautiful in her honor, but protestors on groundbreaking day disagree and would like the buildings razed to the ground.
I highly recommend this series and what’s also wonderful is you can start with this book And not feel like you’re missing something.