In the latest Haunted Home Renovation mystery from New York Times bestselling author Juliet Blackwell, San Francisco contractor—and reluctant ghostbuster—Mel Turner gets hired for a job that’s to die for.
Lately, Mel has been worried about finding enough historic renovation work to pay the bills. But while Turner Construction is in need of a project, Mel’s boyfriend, Graham, has his hands full managing the reconstruction of an ancient building shipped over from Scotland.
With the job plagued by rumors that the stones are cursed, Graham brings in Mel to look for paranormal activity. And while the ghost of a charming Scottish clansman does seem to be hanging around the site, the real shock comes when they stumble upon a body.
When the original construction crew starts running scared, Mel brings in her team to finish the job. Now all she has to do is nail down the killer, and put the spirits to rest, before anyone else winds up heading for the highlands…
For fans of: Victoria Laurie
Business has been slow for San Francisco contractor Mel Turner, so when she’s offered a lot of money to temporarily relocate to Marin County and oversee the reconstruction of an old Scottish monastery, she accepts. Sure, the opportunity only arose because the project’s original contractor was arrested for the on-site murder of a county building inspector, and no, Mel’s not entirely sure the police have the right guy in custody, and yes, it seems the monastery’s very aggressive ghosts were imported along with its stones, but none of that’s anything Mel can’t handle – right?
I love good ghost stories, and boy howdy, does Juliet Blackwell know how to write them. Every year, I look forward to December and the release of a new Haunted Home Renovation Mystery, and Keeper of the Castle (the fifth installment in this utterly fabulous series) doesn’t disappoint.
At the heart of Keeper of the Castle lies a wonderfully clever mystery that seamlessly incorporates both the this- and the otherworldly. Blackwell’s crafted marvelous origin stories for her spooks, taking great care to “flesh” them out just as thoroughly as her corporeal characters. The book’s skillfully crafted; the first 150 pages or so are dripping with tension, dread, and mounting danger, and the back half is breathlessly paced, filled with thrills, and features a smart and satisfying solution. Blackwell does a great job setting the scene. Thanks to her vivid descriptions and evocative prose, it takes no effort to picture the monastery ruins, the house where Mel’s staying, or the property on which they both sit. And she manages to incorporate a goodly amount of information about gothic and medieval architecture without making it feel like a lecture.
In Mel, Blackwell’s created not only a likable heroine, but a wonderfully engaging narrator, to boot; she’s smart and funny, snarky yet self-deprecating, she makes for marvelous company, and you can’t help but hang on her every word. As much as I love Mel and Blackwell’s other core cast-members, though, perhaps my favorite character in Keeper of the Castle is Alicia Withers. Alicia’s a relatively minor character – she’s actually Mel’s boss’ personal assistant – and it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll hate her on figurative sight; she’s prissy and officious and bossy and judgmental, and did I mention she’s also a bit of a snoop? As with any of us, though, there’s more to Alicia than meets the eye, and the manner in which Blackwell transforms and rehabilitates her character over the course of this book is as impressive as any restoration job Mel Turner’s ever done.
The upshot? Do yourself a favor and buy a copy of Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell; it’s Christmastime – I, for one, think you deserve a present you’ll actually enjoy, don’t you?
Reviewed by Kat
Marry Christmas!!!