In the fourth novel in the New York Times bestselling Fixer-Upper Mystery series, contractor Shannon Hammer must restore the Christmas spirit by clearing her father's name...
Don't miss the Hallmark Movies & Mystery Originals starring Jewel, based on the Fixer-Upper Mystery series!
Even during the holidays, Shannon is more spackle than sparkle, which is why she leaps at the chance to transform a grand old Victorian mansion into ten charming apartments for homeless families. Filled with the spirit of the season, all of Lighthouse Cove turns out to help—including her best friends, a troupe of far-from-angelic Santa Claus impersonators, and her father, Jack.
But their merriment is soon dashed by a heated scuffle between Jack and the miserly president of the bank who’s backing the project. When the man is murdered, all eyes are on Jack, and visions of prison time dance in Shannon's head. Now, she needs to pull off a crime-solving miracle, before her father’s Christmas goose is cooked...
Disappointing. I generally like Carlisle's writing and characters, and the first two book were pretty good but this one was just... not.
I was originally worried I was going to find the premise tedious - MCs dad framed for murder, - but it turns out that was actually one of the best parts. I thought the love interest was beyond ridiculous with the most overplayed, flimsiest and most contrived love-obstacle I've ever read. Further, I don't like the love interest; the author created a triangle from the start and now she's stuck her mc with the flash instead of the substance.
The murder mystery was just not that interesting; she created a murder victim that was so vile and hated nobody cared who killed him - including the reader. An attempt at a sub-plot concerning an abandoned baby was so bad and so transparent it wasn't worth the paper and ink it used. Sorry, but it was so hideously contrived to be a Hallmark Christmas moment that it failed to be touching. It was also so far outside the realm of realistic that I couldn't suspend my disbelief enough.
I'm a tried and true fan of Carlisle's Bibliophile mystery series, but I think I'm stopping this series here. At least until someone can tell me it improves dramatically from here, and the mc dumps the famous git.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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4 July, 2017:
Finished reading
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4 July, 2017:
Reviewed