HAMMERS AND HOMICIDE is the first installment in new cozy mystery series, Hometown Hardware Mysteries. Set in the small town of Pine Bluff, HAMMERS AND HOMICIDE real strength is its setting and atmosphere. The town felt quaint and idyllic, with a real 'tightly knit community' feel - from the local hardware shop, to the Womens' Group fundraising calendar sales, to the old derelict theatre in need of a revamp.

It's been a while since I picked up a cozy mystery with an older protagonists (as much as I love my recently single/ recently moved from the big city girls, it was a nice change of pace) and Dawna was likeable sleuth to show us around Pine Bluff. I liked the investigative duo she formed with her daughter, which gave a nice balance of modern aspects like Google searches etc. while letting Dawna herself feel a little more old-fashioned.

I had two problems with HAMMERS AND HOMICIDE that sort of botched the ending for me personally.

One was the reveal of the killer and their motivation. I didn’t buy it as enough of a motive (although of course, motive is in the eye of the criminal, but this one just felt a reach to me) and Dawna agreed. I wanted something more concrete than the killer being ‘unhinged’ enough that something relatively inconsequential is enough to push them over the edge.

Second, was the ghostly assistance in the final conflict. The story has hints of Dawna seeing her deceased husband, but it feels more a ‘real world’ grief type of thing. I’ve no problem with paranormal cozies and supernatural help, but in HAMMERS AND HOMICIDE it felt too much like a Get Out of Jail Free card, instead of having the protagonist do something more direct. I think I’d have preferred if the novel sat more firmly in one camp or the other in the ghostly aspect.

Although the case was wrapped up, there were a few personal business-related problems left hanging for Dawna which I'm sure leaves room for a more recurring plotline in future installments.

3.5 stars, rounded up

Dawna has her hands full trying to run her hardware store after the death of her husband and her adult daughter’s return to town. When she finds a body in her store’s bathroom and the police have her at the top of their suspect list, she and April set out to find out what *really happened.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, as it appears to be the author’s first novel, but I needn’t have worried. Although it suffered from some of the usual (possible) first-in-a-series issues, it was a good story overall and left me wanting to read more about these two women, so I hope this does become a series. The one thing that got on my nerves was the constant references to “my hardware store,” rather than just “my store.” It was established on the first page that she owned a hardware store, so it wasn’t necessary to keep reminding readers of that fact.

I like Dawna and her daughter April, and their relationship reminds me of that with my own daughter – although I’m not sure my daughter would help me conduct an amateur investigation into a murder! The town is filled with the stereotypical small town residents, some who could become good “book friends,” and some who would be best left alone.

Not knowing much about any of the characters, it was hard to figure out who the most likely suspects would be regarding the murder, although there were plenty of possibilities. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something would happen to disprove that theory, and I was surprised when the actual culprit was revealed. The motive wasn’t at all what I’d expected, but it made sense.

If this does indeed become a series, I look forward to reading the next book when it’s released.

A well written cozy mystery!
The protagonist, Dawna Carpenter, is an older sleuth and it was refreshing to find her a “real person”. The author portrayed her well with mannerisms and actions that showed her to be a vibrant, active woman over 50.
Her daughter, April, was her somewhat reluctant sidekick. Determined to keep her mom out of trouble and safe.
I loved the addition of Bob’s spirit, just a touch of paranormal.
The author was able to convey the small town feel with the characters without making it cliched. The descriptions of Pine Bluff and its businesses laid out the town well.
The cast of characters is varied and interesting. Dawna has lived in Pine Bluffs most of her life and knows everyone in the town and everyone knows her.
The story is well plotted and there are enough red herrings to have the reader guessing to the end of the book.
This book ticked all the boxes for me and I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

Right off the hop, I knew that I was going to enjoy this book. Dawna is a great lead, sometimes an older more experienced heroine is just what I need. She’s got some sass & she’ll tell it like it is to other characters which I found really refreshing. She also talks to her late husband Bob, I really loved those conversations. Her partner in sleuthing is her daughter April & that is really unique for a cozy, one I’m very grateful for. The town the author created is perfect, plenty of memorable characters & locales. There’s even the tiniest bit of supernatural added into the mix. Overall this has so many winning attributes I think a lot of readers will enjoy it.

I really hope there’s more books to come, this is a really strong start to a new series!

Read if you like:
* By the Book series by Tamara Berry
* Garden Squad series by Julia Henry
* Marlow Murder Club series by Robert Thorogood

3.5/5 ⭐️
The first in a new cozy series about Dawna, a widow who owns a hardware store. When a property developer is murdered at her store, she decides to investigate so that her store can reopen.

I thought this was a decent first book in the series. I liked the characters but thought the writing was a bit slow at times. I also feel like there were personal storylines that were left hanging without even indication of being resolved in the future (like the loan default situation). I definitely would give any future ones a read though to see where Dawna’s story takes her.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hammers and Homicide is a debut novel for Paula Charles. Main character Dawna owns a hardware store in small town Oregon. One morning a real estate developer is found dead in the bathroom between the hardware store and a boutique next door.
Dawna investigates and brings her daughter April along as she questions locals. The culprit was a bit unexpected.
Dawna is an interesting lady. She has many bad eating habits, she talks to her dead husband, and she might see ghosts.
Hammers and Homicide has all the elements of a good cozy mystery. I enjoyed reading this story and look forward to returning the town for another visit when the next book comes out.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator.
Thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read Hammers and Homicide.

Hammers and Homicide is the first in a new series. A body is found in Dawna Carpenter's hardware store. With the store closed during the investigation the store is in trouble. With the help of her daughter April, Dawna feels she must find the killer herself.

The murder and Dawna's decision to investigate occur early on. It might have been a little too early for me because Dawna's nosing around didn't feel right at first. I do like that she gets her daughter to help.

It was hard to connect with Dawna. I'm sure if her personality is for me. There is a potential secondary romance which is nice. I think a hardware store can lead to some interesting stories but we don't get to see enough this time.

There is a paranormal element to this story. It's hinted at early on and comes up again later. It doesn't really work for me though. However, the setting of Hammers and Homicide is interesting and a Mom and daughter duo has potential.

Paula Charles introduces readers to a delightful and humor-filled world in "Hammers and Homicide," the inaugural installment of her cozy mystery series. The story revolves around Dawna Carpenter, a spirited woman managing her late husband's hardware store in a quaint town. When a body, identified as Warren Highcastle, a land developer eyeing the town's old theater, is discovered in her store, Dawna, along with her daughter April, takes on the role of amateur detectives.

Charles weaves a narrative that not only presents a compelling murder mystery but also captures the essence of small-town life, family dynamics, and the idiosyncrasies of its charming characters. Dawna's quirky traits, from her repeated use of "Good night" to her clumsiness, add a touch of humor to the story.

The mother-daughter bond between Dawna and April provides a heartwarming backdrop to the unfolding events. The novel successfully combines fantabulous storytelling with a cast of likable characters, making it an entertaining and enjoyable read.

As Dawna navigates the challenges of solving the murder, readers are treated to a captivating blend of laughter, familial warmth, and an engaging whodunit that sets the stage for an eagerly anticipated next installment.

Solid start to a new series. There’s a lot of description in this one, laying the foundation for a new series, but in that description is a lot of information that isn’t exactly useful or helpful to the solving of the murder so it tends to bog the story down. I also didn’t really warm to Dawna or her daughter, April; there was a little too much cheesiness in their personalities than I could handle although I did like their relationship on the whole. The teeny, tiny step into the paranormal was interesting but needed to be either fleshed out more or just eliminated; I hope this gets explored more in future books. I enjoyed the setting but there wasn’t anything new and exciting in this book. I’ll read the next one before I decide if I will continue with the series.

This is a fairly standard small town cozy mystery. It’s an easy read but it just didn’t quite work for me. I just never connected with any of the characters and there were several plot points that were left unresolved.

Paranormal Senior Sleuths Cozy Mystery in which a widowed sixty-ish Oregon hardware store owner, who can see ghosts, and her daughter team up to find out who killed a real estate developer.

3/5 stars: This is Charles' debut entry in the Hometown Hardware Mystery series, which is a Paranormal Senior Sleuths Cozy Mystery that takes place in Oregon and features a sexagenarian widowed hardware store owner, who is learning she can see ghosts, and her daughter who partner up to investigate crime. With plenty of twists and turns, Charles' mystery balances the suspects, clues and red herrings deftly and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. I will say that there was a subplot that was left dangling in a very unsatisfying way. I'm hoping it's just a to-be-continued kind of thing and will be tackled in the next book. I have to say Charles' characters are incredibly likable; Dawna's a no-nonsense woman and I really like her relationship with her daughter, April. Their sleuthing dynamic duo is great. This book's only slightly paranormal. Dawna starts seeing ghosts, mainly the essence of her deceased husband and her late cat, Lilac's ghost. I like a good medium character in a Cozy but for me, this book just was a bit too light handed... it either needed to be eliminated or explored much more. Overall, this was a good start to a new series. So if you're looking for a new Cozy Mystery series featuring an amateur sleuth with more salt than pepper in her hair be sure to pick up this book sooner than later.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

A nice start to a new series featuring a mother-daughter investigating team. Dawna has taken over her husband's hardware business after his death and her daughter April has returned to Pine Bluff and is running Dawna's design shop. All is well until Dawna finds Warren, the developer who has been snooping around, murdered in the restroom! Cozy fans know that Warren has angered many people so there are multiple suspects. Can a ghost help? Wait- don't worry- this isn't a paranormal cozy and it isn't woo woo but....It's very classic cozy and Charles has done a good job in establishing her characters (and sketching out those who will undoubtedly appear in future installments). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I’m mildly conflicted about this review. I think the book is fine… and therein lies my issue. It’s not overly exciting/compelling, but it wasn’t bad. I had a bit of trouble connecting to the characters, but the mystery was fun enough. Basically, I wanted more from this book and given the crowded cozy market, I’m not sure this is a series I’ll be continuing.

Dawna Carpenter is facing a new life. The death of her beloved husband, decisions about selling their hardware business, her daughter moving back to town are nothing compared to finding a dead man in her store's shared restroom. Now, she and her daughter have to find a murderer before they become the next victims!

When I look to see if the author has written any other books, when I'm halfway through the book,I know it's going to be one of my favorites. The slight paranormal aspects of the book made it even more enjoyable and. I liked the main characters who were believable and easy to relate to. No rushing into dangerous situations, but the amateur sleuths Dawna and her daughter April are determined to solve the case. Also, I like to read books with older sleuths and this book fits the bill. Humor, mystery, with a !little romance and paranormal make the series a favorite!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I always enjoy to start a new mystery series with the debut installment. Lots of expectations and anticipation. Sadly it was a bit conventional. And the lack of originality made it bland for me.

I gave Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles 5 stars

Recent sexagenarian widow Dawna Carpenter thought running her own hardware store after the death of her husband was hard enough. With her adult daughter, April, moving back into town, and Darlene, the annoying boutique owner next door to her shop poking around, Dawna has her hands full. But when she finds a dead man in the bathroom of her store, with a framing hammer by his side, she’s in way over her head.

The victim, Warren Highcastle, was a land developer who was looking to purchase the old theater in town to build a new hotel. Dawna and April, worried about the implications of the crime scene at the hardware store, put themselves on the case. They soon learn that Warren had made quite a few enemies in his short amount of time in town. As the suspect list starts growing, so too do the threats against Dawna and April. Can Dawna and April nail the killer before they strike again?

-------- REVIEW --------

The first in a new series and also the debut book I think for this author. It was a great book and start to this A Hometown Hardware Mystery series. I didn't know what we would get since it takes place in a hardware store, something I am not very familiar with. But it was a cozy book with many activites fitting for the genre, i.e. gardening, going to the farmers market.

I am a sucker for a mother and daughter sleuthing team, and I really loved the relationship between Dawna and April. I wonder if we will meet her other kids in the future books?

It was a wonderful read and I truly recommend it if you like cozy mysteries.

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0JyY7QrDXi/

Recent sexagenarian widow Dawna Carpenter thought running her own hardware store after the death of her husband was hard enough. With her adult daughter, April, moving back into town, and Darlene, the annoying boutique owner next door to her shop poking around, Dawna has her hands full. But when she finds a dead man in the bathroom of her store, with a framing hammer by his side, she’s in way over her head. Can Dawna nail the killer?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery! I was left guessing until the end but there were definitley enough clues for you to work it out yourself. I found it a quick read, finishing within one day. The small town vibes were immaculate and I loved the mother-daughter relationship, I also liked that there was a realistic amount of involvement from the characters and that they involved the police in their investigations unlike other cozy mysteries. I think the blurb or marketing around the book should mention the supernatural elements included in the plot especially as they're prevalent throughout the story.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of HAMMERS AND HOMICIDE (Book 1 of the Hometown Hardware mysteries) by Paula Charles in exchange for an honest review. Dawna Carpenter has been running her family’s hardware store since her husband’s unexpected death. Also, an unexpected death is the murder of the man Dawna finds in her store’s bathroom. The man was a shady real estate developer who was cheating on his wife with the business owner next door to Dawna’s hardware emporium. With business shut down until the killer is found and with more bodies showing up, Dawna teams up with her daughter to identify the killer, so they can go back to business as usual.

This book had a solid story and seemed to set up a plotline for a future book. I recommend this book to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring hardware, older sleuths, paranormal elements, and willful denial that trouble is looming.

#HammersandHomicide #NetGalley

Hammers and Homicide is easily going into my top reads of 2023 list. It checked all the boxes of what I expected from a cozy mystery. A perfect small-town setting, lovable characters, and of course a mystery that would shake up everything. The main character Dawna was absolutely adorable. The bits where she talked with her late husband were both sad and heart-warming. It accurately portrayed the grief and longing one endures after the passing of a loved one. And it added more depth to Dawna's character and explained why she acted/thought the way she did. I also loved her relationship with her daughter and the way they looked after each other through the series of events.

As for the mystery part of the book, it was well thought out. Never had I ever suspected the culprit would be the person that was revealed at the end. There was a good build-up with all the suspects and more information gradually being revealed about the victims that led to the grand climax. I loved how everything tied up nicely at the end.

My only issue regarding the book would be that it wasn't marketed as a cozy paranormal mystery considering it seemed to be a big theme in the book. I had chalked it up to Dawna's mind playing games with her and maybe that was how the author wanted the reader to perceive her but all the paranormal activities played a major role in solving the mystery at the end. Since it isn't a paranormal mystery, I wish there was a bit more realistic explanation for the happenings in the book.