I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Death by Demo
by Callie Carpenter
Series: Home Renovation Mystery #1
Series Rating:
Published by Crooked Lane Books on December 5, 2023
Setting: Green River, North Carolina
Genres: Cozy Crafts and Hobbies Mystery
Format: ebook, Hardcover, Kindle
Source: NetGalley
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Nook
Jaime and Henry were the perfect couple with the perfect life; together, they ran one of the most successful construction and interior design companies in all of Charlotte, North Carolina. But when Jaime catches her charismatic husband in an affair, she realizes her husband is not the man she thought she married. The divorce is equally gutting—due to an ironclad prenuptial agreement, Jaime receives only one thing: a historical house in disrepair. Knowing that any renovation she attempts will be tedious and costly, Jaime starts to believe that things can’t get much worse—until she finds a dead body in the house.
The body is found behind a recently renovated wall—and this leaves Jaime with more questions than answers. Who killed this person and why? Could it have been the previous owners, someone who snuck in while nobody was looking, or could it have been Henry? Furious that the house is now a crime scene, which further delays all renovations, Jaime decides to investigate the murder herself, DIY-style. Together with the new resident cat she calls Demo, and the handsome and friendly hardware store owner who happens to be her neighbor, Jaime is ready to use all the tools in her toolbox to catch the killer.
Jaime needs to renovate this house if she wants to move forward with her life, but will this murder investigation leave her in ruins—or worse?
Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter is an inspiring start to a wonderful new series.
Will Jaime figure out who killed Cilla?
Jaime Moore
Our sleuth is Jaime Moore; she is recently divorced. She is starting over with everything, as the prenup for her marriage left her with nothing but an old house and her reputation. She is living with her best friend and confidant. We see a lot of character growth with Jaime as she navigates the renovation and investigation in which she gets wrapped up. Jaime works in construction, which we all know is a male-dominated field. However, she is good at design and the construction side of things. Jaime has a great reputation, and most people prefer to deal with her instead of her ex, even though they were partners in the business. I like that Jaime isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She jumps in and helps wherever she can.
Jaime has a fabulous family that she didn’t hang out with much. Although, now that the rose-colored glasses are off, she can see more clearly now. Her ex was only out for himself, and he used her ideas and designs to help further himself. Now, Jaime is healing and moving forward to a better life, even if that life will suddenly be filled with dead bodies showing up at her work sites.
The Mystery
Jaime is renovating the old house she got in her divorce. The home has been empty for quite a while. At some point, a false wall was put up in the dining area. Jaime decides it will be the first thing that she takes down. However, when doing so, she finds a body. Immediately, the renovation has been stopped, and she doesn’t know how long the sheriff’s detective will keep her out of the house. Her friend talks her into investigating the murder. For Jaime, it goes from trying to get back in the house faster to figuring out who killed her friend.
The scary part is that some of the suspects are people that Jaime knows. Can she distinguish between the suspects? I pegged the culprit when introduced, but it took Jaime’s digging to uncover the motive.
She also adopts a gray and white cat, which she names Demo. Honestly, the cat will be a better companion than her ex.
Five Stars
I enjoyed the story. The characters are well-defined, and the mystery is plotted nicely with clues that are easy to follow. I see many possibilities for Jaime and future love interests, friends, and renovations. She may have to get creative to stay on budget, but she seems capable.
I look forward to the next installment.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter.
Until the next time,
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Jenz 2023 Beachcombers Mystery RC
- Jenz 2023 Cloak and Dagger
- Jenz 2023 Craving the Cozies
- Jenz 2023 Cruisin' thru the Cozies
- Jenz 2023 Goodreads RC
- Jenz 2023 Medical Examiner RC
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