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Haunted Home Renovation Mystery #2
Dead Bolt
Turner Construction's latest restoration project is a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco. This time, general contractor Mel Turner has to work around the owners, who insist on sticking around—along with some ghosts that insist in their own way that the work stops.
The ghosts aren't the only ones standing in the way of the renovations. A crotchety neighbor, Emile Blunt, secretly wants this house and could be behind some of the disturbances. But when Emile is found dead, it's Mel who appears guilty. Now she must restore the building—and her reputation—before it's too late.
__________
Unabridged, 7 hours 20 minutes
The ghosts aren't the only ones standing in the way of the renovations. A crotchety neighbor, Emile Blunt, secretly wants this house and could be behind some of the disturbances. But when Emile is found dead, it's Mel who appears guilty. Now she must restore the building—and her reputation—before it's too late.
__________
Unabridged, 7 hours 20 minutes
7 pages, Audio CD
First published December 6, 2011
142 people are currently reading
1776 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Blackwell
41 books2,911 followersJuliet Blackwell (aka Julie Goodson-Lawes, aka Hailey Lind) started out life in Palo Alto, California, born of a Texan mother and a Yankee father. The family soon moved to what were, at the time, the sticks of Cupertino, an hour south of San Francisco. Walking to and from kindergarten every day she would indulge in her earliest larcenous activity: stealing walnuts and apricots from surrounding orchards.
By the time she graduated middle school, the orchards were disappearing and the valley at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay had become the cradle of the silicon semi-conductor. A man named Steve Jobs was working in his garage in Cupertino, just down the street. Juliet's father advised his daughters to enter the lucrative and soon-to-flourish field of computers.
"Bah" said Juliet, as she went on to major in Latin American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz (they had, by far, the best parties of any department). Rather than making scads of money in computers, she read, painted, learned Spanish and a little French and Vietnamese, lived in Spain and traveled through Europe, Mexico, and Central America. She had a very good time.
Juliet pursued graduate degrees in Anthropology and Social Work at the State University of New York at Albany, where she published several non-fiction articles on immigration as well as one book-length translation. Fascinated with other cultural systems, she studied the religions, folklore and medical beliefs of peoples around the world, especially in Latin America. Juliet taught the anthropology of health and health care at SUNY-Albany, and worked as an elementary school social worker in upstate New York. She also did field projects in Mexico and Cuba, studied in Spain, Italy, and France, worked on a BBC production in the Philippines, taught English as a second language in San Jose, and learned how to faux finish walls in Princeton, New Jersey. After having a son, moving back to California, and abandoning her half-written dissertation in cultural anthropology, Juliet started painting murals and portraits for a living. She has run her own mural/faux finish design studio in Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco, for more than a decade. She specializes in the aesthetic renovation of historic homes.
Finally, to round out her tour of lucrative careers, Juliet turned to writing. Under the pseudonym of Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover's Mystery Series with her sister Carolyn, about an ex-art forger trying to go straight by working as a muralist and faux finisher in San Francisco. The first of these, Feint of Art, was nominated for an Agatha Award; Shooting Gallery and Brush with Death were both IMBA bestsellers, and Arsenic and Old Paint is now available from Perseverance Press.
Juliet's Witchcraft Mystery series, about a witch who finally finds a place to fit in when she opens a vintage clothes shop on Haight Street in San Francisco, allows Juliet to indulge yet another interest—the world of witchcraft and the supernatural. Ever since her favorite aunt taught her about reading cards and tea leaves, Juliet has been fascinated with seers, conjurers, and covens from many different cultures and historic traditions. As an anthropologist, the author studied and taught about systems of spirituality, magic, and medicine throughout the world, especially in Latin America. Halloween is by far her favorite holiday.
When not writing, painting, or haranguing her funny but cynical teenaged son, Juliet spends a lot of time restoring her happily haunted house and gardening with Oscar the cat, who ostensibly belongs to the neighbors but won't leave her alone. He started hanging around when Juliet started writing about witches...funny coincidence.
By the time she graduated middle school, the orchards were disappearing and the valley at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay had become the cradle of the silicon semi-conductor. A man named Steve Jobs was working in his garage in Cupertino, just down the street. Juliet's father advised his daughters to enter the lucrative and soon-to-flourish field of computers.
"Bah" said Juliet, as she went on to major in Latin American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz (they had, by far, the best parties of any department). Rather than making scads of money in computers, she read, painted, learned Spanish and a little French and Vietnamese, lived in Spain and traveled through Europe, Mexico, and Central America. She had a very good time.
Juliet pursued graduate degrees in Anthropology and Social Work at the State University of New York at Albany, where she published several non-fiction articles on immigration as well as one book-length translation. Fascinated with other cultural systems, she studied the religions, folklore and medical beliefs of peoples around the world, especially in Latin America. Juliet taught the anthropology of health and health care at SUNY-Albany, and worked as an elementary school social worker in upstate New York. She also did field projects in Mexico and Cuba, studied in Spain, Italy, and France, worked on a BBC production in the Philippines, taught English as a second language in San Jose, and learned how to faux finish walls in Princeton, New Jersey. After having a son, moving back to California, and abandoning her half-written dissertation in cultural anthropology, Juliet started painting murals and portraits for a living. She has run her own mural/faux finish design studio in Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco, for more than a decade. She specializes in the aesthetic renovation of historic homes.
Finally, to round out her tour of lucrative careers, Juliet turned to writing. Under the pseudonym of Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover's Mystery Series with her sister Carolyn, about an ex-art forger trying to go straight by working as a muralist and faux finisher in San Francisco. The first of these, Feint of Art, was nominated for an Agatha Award; Shooting Gallery and Brush with Death were both IMBA bestsellers, and Arsenic and Old Paint is now available from Perseverance Press.
Juliet's Witchcraft Mystery series, about a witch who finally finds a place to fit in when she opens a vintage clothes shop on Haight Street in San Francisco, allows Juliet to indulge yet another interest—the world of witchcraft and the supernatural. Ever since her favorite aunt taught her about reading cards and tea leaves, Juliet has been fascinated with seers, conjurers, and covens from many different cultures and historic traditions. As an anthropologist, the author studied and taught about systems of spirituality, magic, and medicine throughout the world, especially in Latin America. Halloween is by far her favorite holiday.
When not writing, painting, or haranguing her funny but cynical teenaged son, Juliet spends a lot of time restoring her happily haunted house and gardening with Oscar the cat, who ostensibly belongs to the neighbors but won't leave her alone. He started hanging around when Juliet started writing about witches...funny coincidence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 289 reviews
May 19, 2019
Mel Turner renovates homes. Not just any homes...historic homes in San Francisco. Every house she works on has a story, a colorful past. Sometimes, Mel encounters ghosts and a mystery as she brings old homes back to their former glory. This time, her current project is a Queen Anne Victorian. It's a difficult project but not because of the work required. The homeowners insist on staying in the house during renovations and the resident ghosts seem determined that work should stop. Plus, a cantankerous neighbor, Emile Blunt, causes problems. When the neighbor is killed, Mel finds herself sucked into the murder investigation. She's a suspect! Yikes!
I like this series. Mel is a strong main character. She's funny, feisty and very good at her job. She still struggles with her new found ability to see ghosts but is doing her best to deal with it. I love the background theme of historic home renovation...perfect backdrop for ghosts and mysteries! The stories always have a nice mix of humor and mystery. Makes for an enjoyable reading experience! The books can be read as stand alone stories and don't necessarily have to be read in order, but there is some character development that might be better enjoyed by reading the series in order.
Dead Bolt is the second book in the Haunted Home Renovation series. There are seven books in the series.
I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by Xe Sands, the audio is just over 7 hours long. Sands reads at a nice pace and has a pleasant voice. Overall, a very entertaining performance. I have partial hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand this entire audio book.
I will definitely be reading the rest of this series! :)
I like this series. Mel is a strong main character. She's funny, feisty and very good at her job. She still struggles with her new found ability to see ghosts but is doing her best to deal with it. I love the background theme of historic home renovation...perfect backdrop for ghosts and mysteries! The stories always have a nice mix of humor and mystery. Makes for an enjoyable reading experience! The books can be read as stand alone stories and don't necessarily have to be read in order, but there is some character development that might be better enjoyed by reading the series in order.
Dead Bolt is the second book in the Haunted Home Renovation series. There are seven books in the series.
I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by Xe Sands, the audio is just over 7 hours long. Sands reads at a nice pace and has a pleasant voice. Overall, a very entertaining performance. I have partial hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand this entire audio book.
I will definitely be reading the rest of this series! :)
November 10, 2018
My father always used to say: There's nothing quite like a protracted remodel to test a person's sanity.
Mel Turner is renovating a Queen Anne Victorian In San Francisco when strange things start happening. There are misplaced tools, unusual handprints on 12 foot ceilings and a general feeling of unease. The owner has refused to move from the house during the project much to Mel's dismay. The murder of a shopkeeper after a run in with Mel puts everyone on edge and brings forth even more ghostly activity. Mel calls in favors and consults supposed experts to find out the secret of the Cheshire House.
This is a good addition to the Haunted Home Renovation series. Mel discovers in the first book that she can see and hear ghosts. The ghosts in this house are darker and more frightening. Mel does her research on the house, finding plenty of reasons for the dark entities.
Mel is an interesting character. I like that she is very knowledgeable in the construction field where women are scarce. It's funny that she still dresses very feminine on job sites but always has work coveralls at hand to dive into the dirty work.
The storyline with the cat lady was sad. It delves into the realm of hoarders and their disorder. Some clues from her boarding house residents provide information that is helpful in solving the mystery.
The history of Cheshire House's original owners is well written with plenty of twist and turns of betrayal.
Mel's interest in Graham frustrates me a bit. I'm not sure that I care for him. He flaunts a new relationship in her face too easily yet she still yearns for him. We will have to see where this goes.
The Russian wife tie in with past and present characters explains a lot about the strife in the house. The transference of anger from the past to present through the spirits was interesting.
I didn't pick up on the killer until right before Mel did. I suspected early on but pushed it aside to consider someone else.
Overall all good book. Mel's family dynamics with her dad, step-son and Stan will keep me coming back.
3.5 stars
Mel Turner is renovating a Queen Anne Victorian In San Francisco when strange things start happening. There are misplaced tools, unusual handprints on 12 foot ceilings and a general feeling of unease. The owner has refused to move from the house during the project much to Mel's dismay. The murder of a shopkeeper after a run in with Mel puts everyone on edge and brings forth even more ghostly activity. Mel calls in favors and consults supposed experts to find out the secret of the Cheshire House.
This is a good addition to the Haunted Home Renovation series. Mel discovers in the first book that she can see and hear ghosts. The ghosts in this house are darker and more frightening. Mel does her research on the house, finding plenty of reasons for the dark entities.
Mel is an interesting character. I like that she is very knowledgeable in the construction field where women are scarce. It's funny that she still dresses very feminine on job sites but always has work coveralls at hand to dive into the dirty work.
The storyline with the cat lady was sad. It delves into the realm of hoarders and their disorder. Some clues from her boarding house residents provide information that is helpful in solving the mystery.
The history of Cheshire House's original owners is well written with plenty of twist and turns of betrayal.
Mel's interest in Graham frustrates me a bit. I'm not sure that I care for him. He flaunts a new relationship in her face too easily yet she still yearns for him. We will have to see where this goes.
The Russian wife tie in with past and present characters explains a lot about the strife in the house. The transference of anger from the past to present through the spirits was interesting.
I didn't pick up on the killer until right before Mel did. I suspected early on but pushed it aside to consider someone else.
Overall all good book. Mel's family dynamics with her dad, step-son and Stan will keep me coming back.
3.5 stars
May 29, 2017
The A Haunted Home Renovation series is a winner. They can be read as stand-alone but the books are better read in order. The Protagonist is Mel Turner, she is recovering from a divorce and her Father has major medical problems. Mel took over the family business of reconstruction and has been running it successfully. Other characters are Dog, a stray that she rescued. Her Father and his disabled friend, Stan. There is Calbel, her stepson from her marriage. Graham, her boyfriend. Olivier the go to for spirit matters. Annette Crawford, a homicide, Stephen, a barrister, and Zeke, a photographer. Mel learns in the first book that she has inherited her Mother's gift to see ghosts. The stories touch upon social problems and our opinions of spirituality.
This is the second book in the series. Mel is working a Queen Anne Victorian home for a software developer and his Russian wife, Katenka, and baby, Quinn. Katenka is scared because of strange noises she hears and the workman noticed tools and other objects have moved. There a door that a Deadbolt on it. If a person gets near the door, the ghosts become active. Mayhem occurs in another part of the house. Mel is still learning about her gift and attempting to learn more about. I high!y recommend this book and series.
This is the second book in the series. Mel is working a Queen Anne Victorian home for a software developer and his Russian wife, Katenka, and baby, Quinn. Katenka is scared because of strange noises she hears and the workman noticed tools and other objects have moved. There a door that a Deadbolt on it. If a person gets near the door, the ghosts become active. Mayhem occurs in another part of the house. Mel is still learning about her gift and attempting to learn more about. I high!y recommend this book and series.
May 28, 2019
I liked this better than the previous entry simply due to Mel (the MC) not doing any real work. It read much more believably. She's good a general contractor, not so much with tools. The mystery was suitably twisty with some fun characters & a lot of historical information about the old houses. I liked the way she pointed out how various bits of construction were typically done by specific peoples (e.g., Italian woodworkers) & she really does seem to have an appreciation for it. I do too, so it's just fun reading about. The ghosts are just icing on the cake.
December 14, 2011
I was first drawn to this series because I used to build and remodel houses, then I enjoyed these wonderful characters and couldn’t get enough. Mel Turner is a take charge kind of gal, very organized, meticulous and not afraid of much except maybe getting her heart broken. She also has a special gift that at times is as much a curse as a blessing. With traits like these readers can’t help but care about her as we take each step right along with her, up those attic stairs or home to her Dad, Stan and Caleb, or even into those confusing romantic situations. She is funny and smart, the kind of friend you would want to tag along with, even when she’s off trying to get a family of ghosts to move along and out of the house she desperately wants to finish renovating.
This book is fun, entertaining with perfect amounts are mystery, mayhem and haunting characters. I loved every word!!
This book is fun, entertaining with perfect amounts are mystery, mayhem and haunting characters. I loved every word!!
November 4, 2014
A cute, cozy, ghost story. A young woman who has taken over her fathers construction company in San Francisco has the ability to see and sometimes communicate with ghosts. In this addition to the series there is a murder across the street from a house that she is renovating and there is evidence that it may be connected to her project.
I enjoyed this story but it fell flat for me. Very predictable with a cooky cutter, simmering romance. The narrator's good job helped me to want to finish it.
I enjoyed this story but it fell flat for me. Very predictable with a cooky cutter, simmering romance. The narrator's good job helped me to want to finish it.
July 16, 2017
This second book in the Haunted Renovation mystery series was a fun enough, but distressingly heavy on Romance and light on Mystery. There were still some interesting tidbits on historical homes, though. I’m going to try the third book, but if it continues to emphasize goofy love triangles and sexual “tension”, then I’m outta here.
Audiobook via Audible subscription; Xe Sands’ performance is excellent as usual.
Audiobook via Audible subscription; Xe Sands’ performance is excellent as usual.
February 19, 2015
I always enjoy JB's books, even when they are not particularly amazing. I do wish she would move her characters' development more quickly though.
November 17, 2021
This was a fun one! Ghosts & renovations :)
June 30, 2022
Mel Turner has a new project underway in the form of a circa 1890’s Queen Anne Victorian home renovation. Jim and Katenka Daley and their one year old son, Quinn are having their dream home renovated. However, there are strange occurrences happening on the job site and Mel is determined to discovery the cause. Mel has a unique talent of feeling ghost’s when they are near, and there are some definite ghostly vibes happening in Cheshire House. Unlike Mel’s first ghost encounter, these spirts feel malevolent. When a curmudgeonly neighbor, unhappy with the construction noise and mess is found murdered in his shop by Mel’s father she begins looking into the death. The more she learns about the house and it’s history, the more she feels the murder is somehow connected to the house.
Dead Bolt by Juliet Blackwell is a well written tale of the supernatural entwined in the present.
The characters are well developed. I love Mel’s relationships with her ex-stepson, her dad and her friends. I am especially interested in seeing where her relationship with Graham Donovan goes. I will definitely be continuing with this series.
Dead Bolt by Juliet Blackwell is a well written tale of the supernatural entwined in the present.
The characters are well developed. I love Mel’s relationships with her ex-stepson, her dad and her friends. I am especially interested in seeing where her relationship with Graham Donovan goes. I will definitely be continuing with this series.
August 1, 2025
I had fun with this book even though I skipped book one in the series—my preferred library didn't have the first book for some reason, but I wanted to try the series anyway. I didn't have any difficulty catching up with the characters or getting what background I needed for this book, though; Blackwell did a good job of bringing a new reader up to speed without giving away too much from the first book. I also enjoyed getting to know most of the characters. While there doesn't appear to be much ethnic diversity among the cast (I spotted a Latina best friend as the non-white rep), I was glad that there was also a nod to disability with a wheelchair-bound character as a main part of Mel's (found) family.
I couldn't tell if the murder mystery itself or the ghost hunting plot was supposed to be the main plot for most of the book. It wasn't until over halfway through that some of my guesses about ghostly influence were incorporated into the story, and even then it was all very vague... which I suppose makes perfect sense given that Mel is new the seeing ghosts thing and spends a chunk of time in this book looking for an expert to help her.
When it comes to the whodunnit, I appreciated that so many clues were there for the reader to find, but most of them could point in several directions. It had me looking in the wrong place until the very end of the book... but I could have figured it out earlier if I'd paid closer attention. Very nicely done on the cozy mystery front.
All told, this was a fun book and I'll be coming back to the series for more. As a SF Bay Area native myself, I really enjoyed the local flavor humor in the book (yup, we are weather wimps) and I'm hoping that other installments to the series show more of the diversity in our local population.
I couldn't tell if the murder mystery itself or the ghost hunting plot was supposed to be the main plot for most of the book. It wasn't until over halfway through that some of my guesses about ghostly influence were incorporated into the story, and even then it was all very vague... which I suppose makes perfect sense given that Mel is new the seeing ghosts thing and spends a chunk of time in this book looking for an expert to help her.
When it comes to the whodunnit, I appreciated that so many clues were there for the reader to find, but most of them could point in several directions. It had me looking in the wrong place until the very end of the book... but I could have figured it out earlier if I'd paid closer attention. Very nicely done on the cozy mystery front.
All told, this was a fun book and I'll be coming back to the series for more. As a SF Bay Area native myself, I really enjoyed the local flavor humor in the book (yup, we are weather wimps) and I'm hoping that other installments to the series show more of the diversity in our local population.
March 5, 2020
Second in the Haunted Home Renovation Series.
Mel has recovered from her last encounter with a ghost, but the new reno she's working on seems to have some malevolent spirits involved. And the couple that have hired her refuse to leave the house during the reno, which makes things more difficult. Add to that the murder of the guy across the street, well, there may be more than ghosts involved. Mel's senses are tingling, and not just because the handsome Graham is nearby.
I like this series a lot - paranormal isn't my 'go to' genre, but this series continues to delight. I like the no-nonsense way the ghosts are integrated into the mystery. Not to mention that Mel isn't some young hipster who has decided she can be a crime-fighter. Melhas movix, but she isn't above an occasional whiney moment. My kind of gal.
This one continues with character development. I've read others in the series but had missed #2. Glad I went back and picked this one up.
Mel has recovered from her last encounter with a ghost, but the new reno she's working on seems to have some malevolent spirits involved. And the couple that have hired her refuse to leave the house during the reno, which makes things more difficult. Add to that the murder of the guy across the street, well, there may be more than ghosts involved. Mel's senses are tingling, and not just because the handsome Graham is nearby.
I like this series a lot - paranormal isn't my 'go to' genre, but this series continues to delight. I like the no-nonsense way the ghosts are integrated into the mystery. Not to mention that Mel isn't some young hipster who has decided she can be a crime-fighter. Melhas movix, but she isn't above an occasional whiney moment. My kind of gal.
This one continues with character development. I've read others in the series but had missed #2. Glad I went back and picked this one up.
December 9, 2017
This is the second in the Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries. Mel Turner and her construction company have started on a new project- a beautiful Victorian in San Francisco. This beautiful Victorian was recently purchased by new owners but the more Mel works on the house the more she realizes that the old owners never left. Matters are made worse when the ghosts start presenting as malicious, hurting the construction team members, causing destruction on the job site and scaring the home owners. When the neighbor across the street is murdered Mel starts to wonder if she is in too deep. With the help of her friend Luce and her hunky ex-boyfriend, Graham, Mel is determined to rid this house of ghosts and solve the murder.
May 16, 2022
3.5*
This picks up about 6 months from the previous book. Mel and her crew are restoring a former boarding house. A house who has a past, but Mel hasn't been able to find much information on it due to records having been purposefully destroyed.
This was a nice, solid mystery, the "who done it" was decent and I didn't guess who it was. Mel has accepted her ability and is open to learning about it, seeking help. Not sure how I feel about Graham as a love interest considering he had a girlfriend for the majority of this book (with Mel "mooning" over him). It would be nice for her to be less interested in him (IMO).
This picks up about 6 months from the previous book. Mel and her crew are restoring a former boarding house. A house who has a past, but Mel hasn't been able to find much information on it due to records having been purposefully destroyed.
This was a nice, solid mystery, the "who done it" was decent and I didn't guess who it was. Mel has accepted her ability and is open to learning about it, seeking help. Not sure how I feel about Graham as a love interest considering he had a girlfriend for the majority of this book (with Mel "mooning" over him). It would be nice for her to be less interested in him (IMO).
August 12, 2020
I really enjoyed the book and raved through it however I was a bit disappointed with the ending. It felt like most of the book was building up to a really good suspenseful ending but it didn't really live up to it. The story of the ghosts seemed a bit tame and the boarding house story didn't really have any closure. Everything just seemed rushed at the end. I will carry on with the series and I hope that book 3 will be as good as the first book.
March 24, 2017
This is the second book in the haunted home renovation series. Mel Turner runs Turner Construction and is currently renovating a Queen Anne Victorian. When weird things start happening on the job site the owner is sure that the house is haunted. When their neighbor is murdered, Mel suspects that there is a connection between the murdervand the ghosts.
I am really enjoying this series and am excited to read more in the series. Mel and her father have a great relationship. And i love the relationship between mel and her stepson, Caleb.
I am really enjoying this series and am excited to read more in the series. Mel and her father have a great relationship. And i love the relationship between mel and her stepson, Caleb.
October 20, 2018
This fun little book does not disappoint! Mel continues to come to grips with the fact that she can see ghosts...which might be easier for her than coming to grips with the various men in her life! No, MOST of them are NOT romantic interests, they are just men...with all that entails! SUCH a good way to spend a rainy day!
August 22, 2023
I enjoyed this book even more than the first and think this is going to be a series I have a lot of fun reading. I love all manner of haunted houses and ghosts and the way this is written I was quite freaked out a couple times, which I enjoyed. Mel is a fun sleuth to follow because she's no nonsense and seems more mature, especially in the face of the fact that she can now see ghosts and interact with them. Also I love the (hopefully) budding romance. I appreciate the way the ghosts / paranormal is presented, without a lot of freaking out or time spent on people not believing. I do think it's odd that the husband figure is totally fine with his baby living in a haunted contraction project home. I can't wait to read more of this series, especially because there is already great character development.
September 18, 2017
Better than the first! This mystery was based on a true story, which always adds a neat touch to this kind of story.
February 25, 2019
Cute cozy mystery. I would have liked a little more mystery, but overall, I enjoyed this. I like the main character, Melanie Turner, and love the presence of ghosts in her renovation projects.
July 15, 2019
Another great story by Juliet Blackwell! I listened to this one on audio and with every story cannot express my love for XE Sands any more. Juliet Blackwell’s words spoken by XE Sands is the perfect combination! I can’t wait to listen to the next one!
January 9, 2022
This was fun. I can't wait to start book 3.
April 19, 2024
Enjoyable follow up to If Walls Could Talk. Definitely looking like a good series.
June 18, 2024
3.25 stars
June 28, 2018
If I were Mel I would have slapped several people throughout this book. Ooooooo! They just grind my gears! Urgh!
March 28, 2017
Enjoyable mystery. I really like Mel and the other characters. This story had a regular murder mystery as well as a ghost mystery and there was more focus on the ghosts than the murder so it was as if she just accidently discovered the murderer. Still very enjoyable and I like the relationship between Mel and Graham and want to see where that goes.
March 28, 2020
Not as good of a resolution as the first one, in my mind, but still fun.
April 13, 2012
First Line: My father always used to say: There's nothing quite like a protracted remodel to test a person's sanity.
Mel Turner's father was right. The renovation of the historic Queen Anne Victorian house in San Francisco is taking much longer than it should primarily because the owners insist upon living on site throughout the entire process.
When strange things begin to happen and Mel begins to see ghosts out of the corners of her eyes, she knows she's got trouble. A grumpy old man across the street covets the house, and Mel wonders if he could be at the heart of some of the disturbances. He's found dead in his shop and things keep happening, so Mel knows the answers are going to be a bit more difficult to find. These are the first dangerous spirits that Mel has had to deal with, but deal with them she must if this renovation has a prayer of being completed.
If you like strong female characters surrounded by a loving if unconventional family and a handsome man or two... and if you like your mysteries housed in old Victorian homes being brought back to life... and if you like your old houses populated with a spirit or two... then you've come to the right book in the right series.
Mel Turner is a general contractor specializing in restoring historic homes. She's divorced, lives with her father, and dearly loves her stepson, Caleb. She didn't know she'd inherited her mother's ability to see ghosts until after she'd sustained a solid whack to the head. In this book, the spirits are decidedly unfriendly, and one of them (the "shadow ghost") made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
This isn't just a ghost-laced little mystery, though. There's the renovation to savor, and those homeowners who insist on living in the house while it's being torn apart are every bit as interesting as the ghosts with whom they're sharing space. If you're in the mood for a light, fun, well-written cozy that whets your appetite for old houses and ghosts, Dead Bolt will be just your cup of tea.
Mel Turner's father was right. The renovation of the historic Queen Anne Victorian house in San Francisco is taking much longer than it should primarily because the owners insist upon living on site throughout the entire process.
When strange things begin to happen and Mel begins to see ghosts out of the corners of her eyes, she knows she's got trouble. A grumpy old man across the street covets the house, and Mel wonders if he could be at the heart of some of the disturbances. He's found dead in his shop and things keep happening, so Mel knows the answers are going to be a bit more difficult to find. These are the first dangerous spirits that Mel has had to deal with, but deal with them she must if this renovation has a prayer of being completed.
If you like strong female characters surrounded by a loving if unconventional family and a handsome man or two... and if you like your mysteries housed in old Victorian homes being brought back to life... and if you like your old houses populated with a spirit or two... then you've come to the right book in the right series.
Mel Turner is a general contractor specializing in restoring historic homes. She's divorced, lives with her father, and dearly loves her stepson, Caleb. She didn't know she'd inherited her mother's ability to see ghosts until after she'd sustained a solid whack to the head. In this book, the spirits are decidedly unfriendly, and one of them (the "shadow ghost") made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
This isn't just a ghost-laced little mystery, though. There's the renovation to savor, and those homeowners who insist on living in the house while it's being torn apart are every bit as interesting as the ghosts with whom they're sharing space. If you're in the mood for a light, fun, well-written cozy that whets your appetite for old houses and ghosts, Dead Bolt will be just your cup of tea.
June 21, 2012
San Francisco general contractor Melanie Turner is up to her ears in trouble—of the human as well as the ghostly variety—in “Dead Bolt,” the second Haunted House Renovation Mystery by Juliet Blackwell. I’m not normally a fan of paranormal mysteries, but this one hooked me in right away.
Melanie and her crew have been hired to restore a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood. This is no easy task because the home owners—the Daley family—refuse to leave and demand that the renovation be done “around them.” Eerie things start happening at the job site, and Katenka Daley admits that she’s seen ghosts on the property that have really frightened her.
As if that isn’t enough to deal with, Melanie’s father happens across the dead body of a cantankerous neighbor at the house—the same neighbor who continually complained about the renovation disrupting the neighborhood.
In order to unravel this mystery with its many layers and finish the restoration job she was hired to do, Melanie has to return to the past and confront the previous house owners in their current, ghostly state. And break the paranormal hold they have on the house.
Good characters and a great plot with surprises that keep on coming with every chapter. And an ending that is guaranteed to keep you looking over your shoulder for quite a while!
Reviewed by Susan Santangelo, author of “Moving Can Be Murder” for Suspense Magazine
Melanie and her crew have been hired to restore a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood. This is no easy task because the home owners—the Daley family—refuse to leave and demand that the renovation be done “around them.” Eerie things start happening at the job site, and Katenka Daley admits that she’s seen ghosts on the property that have really frightened her.
As if that isn’t enough to deal with, Melanie’s father happens across the dead body of a cantankerous neighbor at the house—the same neighbor who continually complained about the renovation disrupting the neighborhood.
In order to unravel this mystery with its many layers and finish the restoration job she was hired to do, Melanie has to return to the past and confront the previous house owners in their current, ghostly state. And break the paranormal hold they have on the house.
Good characters and a great plot with surprises that keep on coming with every chapter. And an ending that is guaranteed to keep you looking over your shoulder for quite a while!
Reviewed by Susan Santangelo, author of “Moving Can Be Murder” for Suspense Magazine
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