The first in a new series, this is a good introduction to the characters and the setting. I've not read a cosy mystery where the protagonist owns a hardware store, so that was unique. Also, my parents used to own a hardware store in a country town, so I could relate to the sense of community that comes from such a business.

The mystery is early in the story, which I prefer. Long introductions can be a problem at times, as I always wonder if readers will drop off. And also, early on we meet some interesting town locals, who I assume will become regular support characters in the series. Some quickly make their mark in the book, with strong personalities or quirks. Paula Charles has created the characters with a genuine small town feel. This added to my enjoyment of the book.

I enjoyed following Dawna and her daughter, April, as they investigated the two crimes in this book. Their energy comes through in the pages, and the investigation paved way for other characters to be introduced. It felt like a natural progression in the story.

There are two things that detracted a little from the book. The dialogue felt a bit too stilted at times. This is the debut book by the author, so I think more relaxed dialogue will happen over time. The second is the ghost angle in the book. This isn't a paranormal cosy mystery, so I didn't expect that to be a big part of the book. And for it to play a very prominent part at the end. I didn't really enjoy that element, especially with how it was included in the conclusion of the book. If this were a paranormal cosy mystery, I would feel differently, but I felt like the paranormal aspect was used as an easy out at the end.

A fun read with a genuine small town cosy mystery feel. I think this will find a good reader base, because it does read well and the characters are well developed.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for providing a copy of the book for an honest review. All comments are my own.

In the shared bathroom between her hardware store and the next door boutique Dawna Carpenter discovers the dead body of Warren Highcastle. Because the police close the hardware store - and the neighbouring boutique - until further notice to do a crime scene investigation, Dawna has some time on her hand to do her own investigation.

Started out as classic cozy. But sadly could not keep this up. Overall, there’s more attention to the mother-daughter relationship between Dawna and April than there is to the mystery. There are only two people considered as suspects - not counting friend Bill. A third person is considered, but they don’t know who that is, so in fiction, he’s not likely to be the murderer.

The police chief came off as sort of competent - at least in the eyes of Dawna - until he arrested one of her friends. He read the man his rights - right to remain silent, right to an attorney - and then gets annoyed his arrestee keeps his mouth closed when asked question. What does he think “right to remain silent” means?

Later the police chief tells Darlene, owner of the boutique, off for not immediately responding to the alarm in her shop going off: <em>Had you called right away, we might have caught the person who killed Steve, Miss Lovelace, or even saved his life.</em> To which Darlene had no response.

Her response should have been: “Or I could have been killed right along with him.”

4 stars
Hammers and Homicide is a remarkably well-written cozy mystery book for a first time author. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the main character is an older widow who investigates two murders with her adult daughter. The characters throughout the book are well written and mostly likable. I did not suspect who the killer was either. I love it when I am surprised by an author.

I do have two minor complaints about main character Dawna Carpenter. She has an overwhelming tendency to exclaim Good Night! 50+ times at least which was used in place of cursing which I appreciate, but other phrases should have been used. I am not a fan of the metaphysical beliefs the author used in the story. It is minor, so I overlooked them, hopefully book two will not include either.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

It took me awhile to get into this book, to be honest, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like most first books of a series, it has to introduce characters and setting, you know, all that stuff we know by the third or fourth book without thinking, but I'm liking what I'm seeing so far. The characters, including main character Dawna, are quirky and fit into the small town atmosphere perfectly. Although I found it slow going initially when it was largely only focused on Dawna, once the other characters appeared, things really began to pick up. Dawna's relationship with her adult daughter April is realistic and I loved their back-and-forth banter. They came across like real people, in other words, with a long established relationship. I'm assuming there's some romance in April's future, too, based on comments about JT, the detective investigating the murder in Dawna's hardware store. Well, the shared bathroom of the hardware store and the neighboring boutique shop run by Darlene.

Who killed land developer Warren Highcastle? Why? Although many weren't happy with his bid to buy the old theater, would that be enough to make someone kill him? What was the argument Dawna overheard about? Why was Steve so uncharacteristically late that morning? And, hey, big question. Why was Dawna so invested in finding the murderer that she brought her daughter into her investigation? I have to admit, I did cringe at some of her questions and actions, especially when she....oh, no. Wait. Enough teasers.

A promising start to a new series that I will be following. I liked the characters. I liked the relationship between Dawna and April. Now, true, I wasn't expecting the paranormal aspects but they weren't a real distraction. Kinda fun, in fact. The chapters were relatively short and it was an easy read. And, no, I didn't guess whodunit until the big reveal, either, so it will keep you guessing, not to mention throw in some surprises along the way. Bottom line, a good start and I'm looking forward to watching the quirky, occasionally clumsy Dawna evolve as an amateur sleuth. This should be fun. Thanks #NetGalley and ##CrookedLaneBooks for letting me take this peek into a fun, new series. I think the hardware store will be an intriguing business connection.

A fun, cozy mystery. I enjoyed reading it as a change of pace to my usual thrillers. It was pretty predictable as far as whodunit, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. A 3:5 star read rounded up to 4. It’s a quick read and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fast paced, light and cozy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the copy of this eARC!

This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. It is a fun, enjoyable read. I enjoyed the main character, refreshingly an older person, and getting to know the relationships within the series. I did feel the plot moved a little slow at times, perhaps because it is the first book. I am looking forward to book 2!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles is the delightfully done first book in the Hometown Hardware cozy mystery series. First books in a series can be a mixed bag as the author establishes the characters and setting but I was hooked on this series from the start. I love the fact that the character is older – in her sixties, mourning the loss of her husband, and running the hardware store that they owned. Her relationship with family and friends, particularly her daughter April is well done. One thing that surprised me was the supernatural elements in the book – they were unexpected but very well done and really add to the charm of the book. Although I did figure out who the killer was, I did think the mystery was well done with just the right amount of suspense when the killer was revealed. All in all, I really enjoyed this book.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

A cute, fairly quick read introducing a new series in the cozy mystery genre. I found Dawna herself to be a bit grating at times, and also found things to be a bit overexplained at times while wishing the story moved along a bit more quickly. However, I enjoyed the very mild supernatural elements of this one and would definitely consider reading the next one!

I found Hammers and Homicide, the first book in a new cozy series by Paula Charles, a difficult book to get into and almost gave up on it about a third of the way in.
The mystery itself is interesting, with plenty of suspects, but the minutia surrounding it makes it almost disappear. The author describes a multitude of irrelevant experiences in the main characters past in great detail, no doubt in hopes of building her character, but all that these side stories do is distract from the main plot and drag down the story.
It's as though the author believes every detail of her main character's life has to be explained in the first book, when much could have been parsed out throughout the following books.
I had high hopes for this book, but will not be reading any more of the series.
I received an ARC of #HammersandHomicide from #NetGalley .

Granny with guts. This was a very entertaining read. Dawna was a hoot. I loved how she deputized herself to solve the case. With her hubby from beyond helping her solve the case. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Hammers and Homicide is the first book in this new series set in rural Oregon. Dawna Carpenter has taken over running the town's hardware store after the recent death of her husband. She finds a man murdered in the store and one of her friends is suspected in the murder. Dawna works with her adult daughter April to try and prove his innocence and find out what really happened. The town detective is an attractive man from April's past so some possibility for future romance? There's also a mystery left open for a future plot.
The ghost aspect is lovely. Interesting takes on dealing with grief and loss of a partner.

After being widowed, Dawna Carpenter took over the family hardware shop. Everything seems to be going smoothly, until one morning she finds a dead body in the shop's bathroom. Driven by curiosity, Dawna begins to investigate in the picturesque town of Pine Bluff.

"Hammers and Homicide" is the first volume in what I hope will be a new series: I really liked the characters and the setting of the story. Nevertheless, I would have preferred a tighter narrative pace, but I am still curious to read more by this author.

Thank you #NetGalley for providing the ARC of #Hammersandhomicide for an honest review.

Dawna pulled a weed out of her garden. Dawna went to the hardware store and spilled coffee on Darlene the shop owner next door who rents her place from Dawna. from there on snide comments ensure both as inner monologue and outer. I have absolutely zero cozy feeling from this book at least from what I've suffered through. the indeterminate aged 60-69 Dawna is a very unlikable main character and the cat only gets a glimpse at chapter 3 and introduced better only at chapter 11. I'm not about to call a book cat murder mystery when there's barely any cat content in it.

Need a cozy read that gives you all the cozy feels? HAMMERS AND HOMICIDE is the perfect book for you! It has mystery, an adorable small town, quirky characters, delicious-sounding food, a mother-daughter duo.
Widow, Dawna Carpenter, takes over her deceased husband's hardware store. She never expects to find a developer's dead body in the store's bathroom. She feels a little responsible for the man's death because the body was found on her property.
So, she begins to investigate the murder.

Will she be able to solve the murder?

Thank you Netgalley, Paula Charles and Crooked lane books for the chance to read this advanced reader’s copy.

You will find yourself fully engaged in this wonderful new cozy from beginning to end. I loved the atmospheric setting of Pine Bluff Oregon. Hammers And Homicide is the first book in the new cozy series " Hometown Hardware Mystery.". Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

We are introduced to our protagnist Dawna and her Daughter April. Dawna is a new widow and determined to keep their familly business, a hardware store successful. Her daughter has taken over her Moms furniture restoration business. They are a fun pair sharing witty repartee and many laughs. Together they share a love of their small quaint town with their friends and townspeople.

When a body of a neferious person is found in the hardware store Dawna and April are on the case to save their reputation as well as their friend who is accused of the crime. Soon clues abound and Dawna and April are close to solving this crime

I loved the interwoven paranormal aspect of this cozy. The small town, the wonderful characters are all adding to the fun. This is a wonderful first in series with all the elements we cozy readers adore. Well done to the author.

What an amazing read! Believable plot and characters. Just love the main character. She reminds me a lot of myself. I also talk to my deceased husband a lot. Very relatable and a great read.

One of my favorite things about reading cozy mysteries is finding myself immersed in a quaint community, and Pine Bluff, Oregon does not disappoint.

After the death of her husband, sexagenarian Dawna Carpenter is up for the challenge of running the family hardware store, but she never expected to find a dead body in the bathroom of her store. Along with her adult daughter, April, Dawna sets out to solve the murder.

This was such a fun read! Dawna is charming as a protagonist, and some of her expressions, as well as the mother-daughter banter, had me laughing—good night! The mystery was well-crafted, and I enjoyed solving the murder while meeting many of Pine Bluff’s interesting characters. I look forward to the second book in this series where I foresee financial trouble ahead for Dawna. It seems there’s the matter of an unresolved loan…

Hammers and Homicide is a delightfully fun cozy mystery.

Widow, Dawna Carpenter, takes over her deceased husband's hardware store. She never expects to find a developer's dead body in the store's bathroom. She feels a little responsible for the man's death because the body was found on her property. So, she begins to investigate the murder.

If you enjoy small town cozy mysteries, you'll like Hammers and Homicide.

I loved this cozy! Well developed mystery that flows smoothly along. Dawna's husband Bob has passed away leaving her to run the family hardware store. Lots of twists to keep the reader engaged. Characters are likeable and believable. Thanks #Netgalley and#CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Another brilliant cozy mystery that I really enjoyed from start to finish. I love solving the mysteries and finding out who done it at the end of the book. I will be recommending this author to all my friends and family.