Book 12, 2025

Batten Down the Belfry by Diane Kelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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I've just completed the book Batten Down the Belfry by Diane Kelly. It's the fourth "House-Flipper" mystery, with main character Whitney Whitaker.

Whitney and Buck, her cousin and business partner, have just purchased an old church and parsonage for back taxes. Whitney envisions turning the church into an entertainment venue and repurposing the parsonage house as a restaurant. They don't even have a chance to begin work before the man who owns the surrounding acreage arrives to accuse them of trespassing on his property. He says he filed an adverse possession claim and that the five acres belong to him. Whitney and Buck turn the matter over to their title company and begin work, all the while hoping that Nolan Sibley's claim doesn't hold up. In the meantime, the man who delivered the replacement stained glass windows is found dead in the belfry. Local police determine he was murdered, casting another shadow over the property and the proceedings. Whitney can't resist getting involved in the investigation as she seeks to clear her name and get justice for the victim.

First things first: as someone who's spent the bulk of my employment years working real estate in one form or another, ( I had questions. )

I'm not saying the author didn't do her research, but she should have spoken to a friendly neighborhood title company to get some perspective.

Real estate rant aside, the story was fast-paced and entertaining. Whitney was depicted working and relaxing in equal measure to investigating. I like that in a cozy mystery. In prior books in the series, I found her to be impetuous to the point of stupidity, and this one was no departure. I am also dismayed that this is their fourth flip (fourth book, fourth flip) and each of their projects has involved someone being murdered on site. Egad! I'd quit the business after the second incident, I think. I can only hope that future books in the series have some poor sod getting murdered at the lumberyard or the thrift mall. Eesh. Finally, since I'm in a ranty mood:
( SPOILERS )

Favorite line: What is family for if not to tease relentlessly?

The book was entertaining, filled with twists and turns and things that did not seem at all related at first, and it kept my attention. I'd like to give it 3.5 stars. Since I can't, I'll round up to 4.