chez_jae

The Last Curtain Call by Juliet Blackwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This evening, I completed the book The Last Curtain Call by Juliet Blackwell. It's the 8th in her "Haunted Home Renovation" series, featuring general contractor and reluctant ghostbuster, Melanie "Mel" Turner.

In the midst of renovating the old house that her fiance, Landon, bought for them, Mel also takes on the task of renovating the historic Crockett Theatre in San Francisco. The old, art deco theatre has been sitting empty for years...empty, that is, except for the squatters living there. Mel soon learns that the squatters are the least of her problems. The theatre is also haunted. After one of the squatters is killed in the Crockett. Mel is compelled to ask around to see who may have had a motive for murder. In the meantime, she discovers the attic of her new/old home is also haunted by the ghost of a 1920's era starlet. It seems Hildy had a connection to the Crockett Theatre, and Mel can't help but think things may be connected.

On top of her professional life, Mel is dragging her feet about setting a wedding date with Landon, and even she doesn't know why. Her stepson is off to college, which has her in the doldrums, and the thought of not sharing a home with her father has her feeling maudlin as well. Fortunately for Mel, the men in her life love her and are willing to have her back when it comes to dealing with the hauntings both at work and at home.

I love this series, but it took me a bit to get into this story. Landon was acting like a donkey, what with arguing with Mel about renovating their house. I mean, this is just her area of expertise. *rolls eyes* I'm still somewhat put out, too, that he just up and bought the house in the previous book. Moving on. I did enjoy the cameo from Lily Ivory (of the author's "Witchcraft" mystery series) when Mel asked her to "read" an old dress of Hildy's. Once I got further into the story, I enjoyed it more. It was fun for the most part, with just enough creepiness thrown in.

Favorite lines:
♦ "'Today, I'll pick up my dry cleaning, check out a new project at the Crockett Theatre, trip over a body, and traumatize myself, again, and then spend the next several hours getting grilled by the SFPD. Again.'"
♦ I'm not a pretty crier - when I cry, I commit - and I'm always suspicious of those who are.
♦ "It's a reality TV show that follows young women around while they shop and fight and pursue romance." // "That's it?" // "That's it." // "Why does anyone care?" // "That's one of the great mysteries of our day."
♦ "We're discussing ghosts and squatters and a murder and hopping zombie vampires and that is what you fixate on?"

Overall (good pun, considering Mel always wears overalls on job sites!), it was a very good story. Four stars.

I've been lazy lately. Sometime last week, I finished reading A Ghostly Light, which is part of Juliet Blackwell's "Haunted Home Renovation" mystery series, featuring general contractor Melanie Turner.

Mel is excited when her friend Alicia hires Turner Construction to renovate one of San Francisco's historic lighthouses. Before work even gets started, however, Alicia's abusive ex-husband shows up at the site. He claims he's changed and wants Alicia back, but Mel is hearing warning bells. When the man tumbles down the lighthouse stairs and lands at Mel's feet with a knife sticking out of his chest, Alicia becomes the primary suspect. Now, it's up to Mel to find out who else may have wanted him dead, including the ghost of an abused woman who's known for pushing men down the stairs.

In addition to looking into the history of the lighthouse, trying to speak to its ghosts, running her business, and dealing with her rambunctious family and her new boyfriend Landon, Mel is invited to tour an old home for sale. While there, she gets an alarming sense of deja vu. Later, she learns that the house belonged to her great-grandparents, and her mother spent time in the home as a little girl.

The story moved along at a good pace, and it kept my interest. Once again, though, the killer turned out to be someone whom I wasn't given a fair chance to guess at, which disappointed me. Another thing that I didn't like was that I fully anticipated Mel would buy the house she felt so connected to. Instead, at the end of the book, Landon bought a house and asked her to move in with him. It wasn't really clear if he bought THE house, or simply A house. Part of me almost hopes he didn't buy the home that Mel was thinking about, because that would have been awfully manipulative. I don't know. The ending left me feeling frustrated, more than anything.

Favorite lines:
♦ Other than his humans, food was a priority for Dog. Food, and squirrels.
I love quotes about Dog!
♦ "Sometimes I lie awake half the night worrying about quark masses."

Overall, a wonderful story. Would have been worth five stars but for the aggravating end. Giving this one four:

****

Apparently, reading books is the new job.

:D

Between last night and this evening, I polished off Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell. The book is part of her "Haunted Home Renovation" mystery series, featuring contractor (and reluctant ghost buster) Melanie "Mel" Turner.

While Mel is struggling to find enough work to keep her construction crew busy, her boyfriend Graham is busy at the site where an old Scottish monastery is being reconstructed in Marin County, after having been dismantled in Scotland and shipped over. The crew on the project is frightened because of paranormal activity. Graham asks Mel to come look at the site with him to see if she can connect with any ghosts. During Mel's visit, a building inspector is killed, and the construction crew's foreman is arrested for murder. The billionaire who's funding the project, Ellis Elrich, hires Mel to come in and take over the reconstruction. Due to the distance from her home, Elrich invites Mel to stay at his estate during the process.

Mel doesn't believe the former foreman is a murderer, and she encounters a plethora of suspects, both on-site and at Elrich's estate. There are protesters at the gates to the estate, deadly looking bodyguards, a personal assistant who would do anything for Mr Elrich, an an eccentric expert in historic reconstruction. Also, there's the ghost of a Scottish warrior who brandishes a broadsword and chases people out of the tower room. Not only does Mel feel compelled to unravel the mystery, both of the recent murder and the ancient haunting, but Graham is injured on-site, her (former) stepson gets arrested for vandalism, and now her father has a smart phone and is responding to her voice mails with text messages.

Fun and fast moving. I had a difficult time putting the book down last night (I took it to bed with me!). I adore Mel's character. She's hard-working, tough enough to handle being a woman in a male-dominated profession, yet still uncertain of her relationship with Graham. She's also determined to speak with the ghost of the Scottish warrior, in spite of her own fears. The plot was excellent and introduced several potential suspects. I didn't quite figure it out, although I did give a passing thought to the culprit before glossing over that person and seeking elsewhere.

Favorite lines:
♦ I was the opposite of the kind of person you wanted in your foxhole when hell started raining down.
♦ Dad, Stan, and Caleb looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Dog looked at me as though waiting for me to drop some food, but that was his typical stare.
♦ Was I being hunky punked?

Fabulous book, five stars!

*****

I began reading Murder on the House late yesterday, took it to bed with me to continue reading, then finished it today. It's part of Juliet Blackwell's "Haunted Home Renovation" series.

Contractor Melanie "Mel" Turner has been asked to bid on restoring an historic home in San Francisco. It's allegedly haunted, and the owners want to turn it into a haunted B&B. When she first arrives at the house, the door is opened by Annabelle, a young girl, who leads her to an empty parlor. Mel soon learns that Annabelle is one of the ghosts, and the owners are astounded that she was able to see the girl so soon after arriving. Mel is eager to renovate the historic old home, but the catch is, she is expected to spend the night in the house, along with her competition, Josh Avery of Avery Builders. Mel brings along friends Stephen and Claire for support.

While there, a few small odd things happen. The elderly home owner, Mrs Bernini, goes out to walk in her gardens. Not long after, toys begin flying down the stairwell, and everyone flees the house in fear. They stop outside to regroup, and Mel sees Mrs Bernini walking along the pathway. When no one else can see her, Mel gets a bad feeling. All of them go to the garden and find the old woman at the bottom of an unused well.

With a murder investigation ongoing, renovations are put on hold, but Mel wants another chance to get into the home to try speaking to Annabelle again. She also takes the opportunity to question neighbors and friends of Mrs Bernini to see who may have had a motive to kill her.

I really enjoyed this book. This time, the ghosts weren't terrifying, but the mystery of what happened to Annabelle's family, as well as the mystery surrounding Mrs Bernini's death, was compelling. It was fun to reconnect with familiar characters and meet some new ones. I loved Mel's sarcastic wit, whether she was speaking to someone or simply thinking it.

Favorite lines:
♦ "You're right--the only thing that would have improved this evening would have been me shooting at people."
♦ "I don't suppose...I mean you wouldn't be interested in going over to the Bernini house with me, would you?" / "The haunted house you ran screaming into the night to escape? The one where a little old lady was killed last night?" / "That would be the one."
♦ "Yes, but I have an evil plan. I'll neglect my own work in favor of protecting you, and then when I go out of business, you'll feel so guilty you'll be compelled to sleep with me."

Excellent! Five stars!

*****

Earlier this evening, I finished the book If Walls Could Talk, which is the first installment in Juliet Blackwell's "Haunted Home Renovation" mystery series. I had some other books in the series, then realized I didn't have the first one, so I bought it.

:D

Melanie Turner has taken over her father's construction business of renovating historic homes in San Francisco. When visiting a run-down Pacific Heights mansion, Mel and her friend Matt encounter one of Matt's colleagues, who has been seriously injured. Kenneth later dies of his injuries, and then his ghost begins appearing to Mel.

Although Mel wasn't sure she wanted to take on the project, it seems someone has already filed for permits under her company's name. In an effort to find out answers, Mel begins making the rounds and asking questions. Her only clue to the crime may be an old box that she found hidden in the walls of the mansion. The police aren't treating Kenneth's death as a homicide, so it's up to Mel to find out who killed him and why.

I enjoyed the story. Mel is an engaging heroine. I appreciated that she was older (39), and not a svelte waif. She has a wonderful, wry wit, and I liked reading about her interactions with other characters, including her father, (former) stepson, and even Kenneth.

Favorite line:
"Wait a minute," I said. "The dog saw you."
"So?"
"So maybe I'm not crazy, after all."
"Or maybe the dog's a figment of your imagination, too--ever think of that?"
"Very comforting, Kenneth. Thank you."

Four stars:

****