Four-Alarm Homicide is the 6th book in Diane Kelly's House-Flipper cozy mystery series and it works well as a stand alone book. This is the first book I have read in this series and I am looking forward to reading the other books as well. Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck buy, renovate and flip buildings. They buy an old fire station and are remodeling it into a house. Two neighbors, Joanna and Gideon stop by and want Whitney and Buck to look at a run down townhouse because Joanna owns the other half and is worried. Unfortunately this involves 7 difficult siblings. Someone is causing problems for Whitney and Buck. Joanna shows up at the fire station and is having health problems and dies. Whitney and her fiancee Collin are getting married which adds fun to the story. Collin is a police detective and helps out. This was a pleasant cozy mystery with likeable characters and the mystery kept me guessing although I suspected the culprit I wasn't sure. #FourAlarmHomicide #HouseFlipperMystery #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

This was a fun mystery with lots of home renovation detail and some observations from Sawdust. Whitney and her cousin Buck are trying to manage two flips - an old firehouse and a townhouse - as well as fighting sabatoging adult children and meddling neighbors.

This was a fun read. I like Whitney and Buck as well as their friends and the renovation parts were interesting. The murder happened later in the book but I never felt like it was dragging and was entertained from the first page. The mystery was an interesting one and definitely kept me guessing until the end. There were more than a few possible suspects and I really had no idea how it was all going to play out.

This is a slice of life style cozy with lots of side information. The characters are likable with interesting jobs and the mystery was solid. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

I thoroughly enjoyed the adventures of Whitney , Buck and friends and am looking forward to reading more of their adventures. The author made the rebuild so interesting You wish there were photos of the completed firehouse !All of the characters are vivid and you can see them in your friends and neighbors.

This is my second time reading a cozy mystery by this author. She has me hooked on her mysteries and I am going back to the beginning of this series because I enjoyed this mystery so much. This book is a real page turner and not easy to put down. I was lifted up and carried off into the story and trying to solve the mystery. I loved almost all of the characters but there were a few that were hard to like. They had me on the edge of my seat a few times. My favorite characters were Witney, because she is a woman who can compete in a man’s occupation, Buck, Collin and Gideon. I thought the book was educational because I learned how dangerous mercury is if ingested. I loved the authors writing style and the plot of the book. I give this book five stars because I loved reading it.

I recommend this book to readers of cozy mystery. Four-Alarm Homicide is part of a series but I read it as a standalone and didn’t feel confused or lost in the story. This book is scheduled to be released on 4/23/24.

I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#Four-AlarmHomicide #NetGalley

Whitney and her cousin Buck are in the house flipping business, buying then renovating and selling them. They are excited about the opportunities to repurpose an old fire station into a home and have started the renovation when a nearby neighbor asks them to take a look at the townhouse next to hers, as it’s in disrepair and she’s worried about the effect on her house. She and Buck decide to purchase it, and make deals with the 7 siblings who jointly own it. Squabbles, disagreements and vandalism follow from the disgruntled siblings., including the death of the other townhouse owner! Whitney and Detective Collin have trouble finding a site for their wedding and decide to use the soon-to-be-finished firehouse as their venue. A fascinating story as Whitney’s curiosity has her trying to solve the murder. I really enjoyed the well-developed main characters, and learned a bit about renovations. I received a free ARC from Net Galkey and write this review voluntarily.

Whitney and her cousin work together to redo and reimagine properties. In this 6th installment of the House-Flipper Mystery series they are going to turn a 1930's era fire station into a home while keeping some of the original feel.

The things I enjoyed the most in this story:
Unique Twist: The story delivers an interesting twist near the end that will surprise readers.
Sawdust the Cat: The addition of chapters where Sawdust the cat tells her side adds a unique perspective to the story.
Strong Female Lead: Whitney Whitaker is a capable and strong protagonist, working right along beside her cousin.

I have read and enjoyed all the books in this series and look forward to book 7. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are mine.

New adventures for house flippers Whitney and Boone begin in an old fire house and continue when they redo a townhouse. They meet the neighbors and find themselves drawn into the drama. Lots of plot lines in this book, which can be a bit difficult at times, but almost all of them resolve. Love this series and the characters. Life changes for all the main characters ahead. I look forward to more adventures.
I received an ARC of this book in return for a review.

Four-Alarm Homicide is the sixth of the House Flipper Mysteries series but the first that I have read. I had no problems understanding what was going on. This is a fun read with the duo of cousins Whitney and Buck Whitaker working in the business of purchasing, remodeling, and flipping houses and businesses in the setting of Nashville. In this story, they have purchased an old fire station and have plans to turn it into a home. A couple of people in the nearby neighborhood get them involved in purchasing a townhouse as well to reno but things don't go smoothly from that point on. I enjoyed the reno theme and the characters. The mystery was one with twists, turns, and several suspects and an interesting death. Murder or accident? I recommend for those who enjoy cozy mysteries, and it makes me think about going back and reading other books in the series.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

How have I not read this series before?! Four-Alarm Homicide is the sixth book in the House-Flipper Mystery series by Diane Kelly. It will be released on April 23. Thank you St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC! The timing was perfect, coming just as I was finishing up another read I wasn't too happy with, and this one made me very happy.

Whitney and cousin Buck remodel homes and buildings. They have an opportunity to purchase a unique property. An old firestation. Not long after work gets underway another opportunity comes up. Just around the corner is a dual townhouse. One side is lived in and maintained lovingly by Joanna. The other is falling apart after being abandoned by the Bottiglieri siblings. Joanna and her neighbor friend Gideon ask for their help, hoping that after Whitney and Buck buy and fix up the townhouse they will sell it to her. Gideon and other neighbors are also interested. Later, Joanna shows up to the firestation, confused and rambling, where she passes out and dies. Was she simply sick, or did someone kill her? Meanwhile Whitney also has a wedding to plan!

I absolutely love the detail in this. From the purchasing process to the renovation. It was fun and immersive. As with other Diane Kelly books I've read the secondary characters are incorporated really well. You would think they're regulars in the series. They act realistically. No one's perfect but they're all human. At times I got secondhand embarrassment and anxiety from things I can imagine happening in real life. I loved it lol. That also helped towards forming potential suspects.

The mystery was really good. The method of murder is unique and kind of terrifying. There are plenty of things going on to distract Whitney and the reader. I knew where the weapon came from and I guessed who was responsible! I was also right about the motive. The ending wrapped up nicely. There's a lot of heart to the story. Cozy mystery readers are sure to love this book!

Four-Alarm Homicide is incorrectly titled. It should be FIVE STAR Four-Alarm Homicide! This book should be next to the textbook description of can't put it down. Whitney and her cousin Buck have acquired some new properties for their home flipping business. Some neighbors are also interested in rehabbing local historical properties. Toss in some very interesting family dynamics, a murder of one of the neighbors, and Whitney's impending nuptials, and you have an incredible novel to devour. How Ms. Kelly pulls all these plot twists together is a story of its own. So well done. Can't wait for the next one!!

Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Four Alarm Homicide
House Flipper Series #6
by Diane Kelly

Publisher’s Summary
The sixth in the delightful cozy mystery series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville, TN—where the real estate market is to die for.
Some properties are too hot to handle...
Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are hot for a historical property that has just come on the market—a fire station in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood that was built nearly a century ago.
The cousins have just begun the interior demolition work at the fire station when Joanna Hartzell, who lives in a townhouse around the corner, comes by with a plea for help. Joanna owns the right half of her building, which she proudly maintains in perfect condition, while the left side falls into disrepair: the seven adult children who inherited it years ago refuse to lift a finger on repairs. Never one to turn down a challenge, Whitney and Buck manage to acquire the rundown townhouse—though it turns out Joanna is only one of the many neighbors interested in buying the property once they’ve worked their magic.
Then Joanna shows up at the fire station confused and rambling, then collapses, never to recover. Alarm bells go off for Whitney: she suspects something—and someone—evil could be the real cause. Can she and Collin put the clues together and smoke out a killer?
My Thoughts
Four Alarm Homicide is a quick read. House flipper and bride-to-be Whitney Whitaker must solve a murder while trying to finish rehabbing an old fire station and a townhouse. She’s more than up to all three tasks. But she asks so many questions, she comes under suspicion herself. Now she needs to clear her name and finish the fire station in time for her wedding.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series, and I wasn’t lost. The plot kept me guessing, and the murderer’s identity caught me by surprise. The clues were all there, but I didn’t put them altogether. Well-done.
4/5 stars.



ISBN: 9781250816085

I'm generally a fan of cozy mysteries, and one that featured a female house-flipper sounded like my kind of gal. Unfortunately, I find myself a bit disappointed with this one. The main character came across as more nosy than a smart investigator, Also, I heard more about a wedding than I confess to caring for. I did like the part the cats played and I liked the friends. I hope one thing will be corrected in the final edit. No self-respecting home repair person would use a big screwdriver on a long screw to fix a step. That's what impact drivers were invented for and I can't imagine anyone, let alone a flipper, using anything else.

Loved it!! I’ve enjoyed this whole series, but I think I liked this one even more than the others!! I cannot wait for the next one!

Four-Alarm Homicide by Diane Kelly is the sixth book in the cozy House-Flipper Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries each of these books in the series could be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so as the mystery within is fully solved during the book. There is of course some character development carried over book to book for those fans following in order from the beginning.

In the House-Flipper Mystery series Whitney Whitaker had been working as a property manager to pay the bills while she had been living in her parents pool house with her cat, Sawdust. Real estate and renovating were really Whitney’s passions so whenever she got the chance she was diving into the house flipping business with her cousin Buck.

This time around Whitney and Buck have their eye on a historical fire station wanting to turn the property into an unique home for a future buyer. Shortly after they get the go ahead on the fire station property though Whitney and Buck are confronted by some nearby neighbors about another property. Definitely interested the cousins start looking into investing but things go off rails when the original neighbor that contacted them ends up murdered.

While it’s not necessary to read all the books to enjoy this series the cozy House-Flipper Mystery series is one that I have followed from the beginning and always enjoy coming back to. There are a couple of elements in here that I adore and one being that the resident furry friend, Sawdust, gets his own point of view during the books. This one also appeals to my HGTV renovation loving side and I enjoy imagining what the characters are building up each time. Overall though this one just appeals to my wants in a cozy mystery with a lot of laughs mixed into the fun mystery involved. Looking forward to continuing this series in the future!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Whitney and her cousin have barely started converting a historic firehouse into a private residence when an older lady aproaches them about the dilapidated townhouse attatched to her own home. The owners have passed away and their adult children are doing nothing to preserve the structure. Whitney and Buck quickly decide to take on the extra project. As soon as the quit claim deeds are signed, they're dealing with angry criticism from neighbors who felt entitled to buy the house for themselves. There's murder and vandalism and the mystery is completely engaging. I've missed a couple of previous books in the series but was able to follow everything just fine. I definitely need to go back and read about their motel project.

Four Alarm Homicide
Is a cozy mystery series set in the Nashville area. The author has drawn very likable characters. Whitney and her cousin Buck are turning a firehouse into a home when a neighbor shows them a townhouse that needs work. They buy that too which possibly starts a chain of events that lead to death - is it natural causes or murder?
I really enjoyed Whitney - she is very caring and observant. I consider this novel on the lighter side of mystery - that said I could not figure out the killer.

A part of the hose flipping series with Whitney and Liam.
A cozy mystery with suspense, intrigue, and surprise ending.
Enjoyed reading,
voluntarily reviewed.

Whitney and her cousin Buck flip houses and are excited to begin their latest project. They are fixing an old firehouse to a single residence, while maintaining its outside look. They take on a townhouse project on an adjacent property, which involves getting seven heirs to agree to sell. The small neighborhood has interesting characters, but when one stumbles into the firehouse and dies in Whitney’s arms, Whitney is drawn to investigate. Between sabotage, arson, harassment, and preparations for her upcoming wedding, there is plenty going on.
I liked the characters in Four-Alarm Homicide as well as the mystery. And it has a lovely ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

The sixth in the House Flippers series has Whitney and her cousin Beau renovating an old fire station in Germantown, a Nashville suburb. This leads them to a townhouse around the corner from the fire station which is owned by a bunch of feuding siblings. The owner of the attached townhouse - widowed Joanna Hartzell - is afraid that the neglected building is bringing down her property values.

After some legal manipulations, including quit claim deeds, Whitney and Beau add the townhouse to their slate of renovations. But arson at the fire station, vandalism in the townhouse, and the suspicious death of Joana are delaying their renovations plans. Whitney needs to solve the murder and get the reno done at the fire station because she and her fiancé detective Collin are planning to use it as the venue for their upcoming wedding.

With a wide variety of suspects including the arguing siblings, the man across the street who wants to buy the newly renovated townhouse, the victim's daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, and the family from across the street who also really want to move into the renovated townhouse, Whitney has plenty of people to investigate.

This was an entertaining cozy mystery. I enjoyed the chapters told by Sawdust, Whitney's cat.

What a fun book cover. It truly matches the story. The flippers have bought an old firehouse. It needs work and yet so much potential. Let the work begin. Then a neighbor asks them to consider fixing up the other side of her duplex. So many kids inherited but none want to fix up the place to make it livable again. Sounds like a fun cozy doesn't it. Then someone dies. The who-dun-it is hard because so many characters have the opportunity to have done it. Surprise ending! Liked the story. It caught my interest and I spent too much time reading instead of other obligations.