Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
New York, New York : Obsidian, 2014.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Mystery. 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.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member thehistorychic
Listened for Review (Tantor)
Overall Rating: 3.75
Story Rating: 3.50
Character Rating: 4.00
Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell was not my favorite in the series but still full of the characters and solid writing that
Overall Thoughts: Juliet Blackwell writes my favorite cozy mystery characters! She really does have a great way of bordering that amateur sleuth without knocking down the police in the process. Both of her series are excellent. I was a little disappointed that the ghosts weren't a bigger part of the mystery in Keeper of the Castle but otherwise the case was solid. So overall this was a great listen and as always you will learn a bit of history surrounding her current renovation (always a nice bonus)!
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Xe Sands / Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
Xe is excellent at this series. Seriously she nails it and in this one she displayed some great new accents for new characters. It was a fantastic listen!
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
NOTE: Love that the book she is reading during the story is Keeper of the Castle---clever Juliet, Clever!
Overall Rating: 3.75
Story Rating: 3.50
Character Rating: 4.00
Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell was not my favorite in the series but still full of the characters and solid writing that
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I love!Overall Thoughts: Juliet Blackwell writes my favorite cozy mystery characters! She really does have a great way of bordering that amateur sleuth without knocking down the police in the process. Both of her series are excellent. I was a little disappointed that the ghosts weren't a bigger part of the mystery in Keeper of the Castle but otherwise the case was solid. So overall this was a great listen and as always you will learn a bit of history surrounding her current renovation (always a nice bonus)!
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Xe Sands / Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
Xe is excellent at this series. Seriously she nails it and in this one she displayed some great new accents for new characters. It was a fantastic listen!
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
NOTE: Love that the book she is reading during the story is Keeper of the Castle---clever Juliet, Clever!
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
Although I tend not to like much of the paranormal in the books I read, Juliet Blackwell knows the one angle that I like most: haunted houses. I've enjoyed her Haunted Home Renovation series from its inception, not only for the spooky old homes, but because it's a series with a lot of meat on the
Mel is a perfect heroine for a cozy series. She's quirky, smart, funny, and hard-working. Since this new job site is in a remote location, she has to pack a bag and move in. Her job isn't made any easier when she discovers that she has to deal with people who remind her of Mrs. Danvers and Nurse Ratched. To the author's credit, Danvers/Ratched do not remain mere cardboard cutouts. We can also see how good Mel is at her job by the way she gets the new crew on her side-- not an easy task when they're ready to head for the hills.
The secondary characters back Mel up perfectly, from her dad to Graham to the eccentric billionaire footing the bill for the ancient monastery to her stepson Caleb who spends his time getting in hot water.
Another aspect of this series that I enjoy is that readers always learn something relating to architecture and renovation. In Keeper of the Castle we learn how to stay true to medieval architecture while meeting modern building codes (in addition to the proper way to run a construction crew).
The mystery is strong as well. Blackwell provides plenty of misdirection to keep everyone guessing, and there's a good resolution to the ghostly subplot, which is more involved than originally thought.
I can count on Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series for quick, entertaining, and enlightening reads. Bring on Give Up the Ghost!
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bone.Mel is a perfect heroine for a cozy series. She's quirky, smart, funny, and hard-working. Since this new job site is in a remote location, she has to pack a bag and move in. Her job isn't made any easier when she discovers that she has to deal with people who remind her of Mrs. Danvers and Nurse Ratched. To the author's credit, Danvers/Ratched do not remain mere cardboard cutouts. We can also see how good Mel is at her job by the way she gets the new crew on her side-- not an easy task when they're ready to head for the hills.
The secondary characters back Mel up perfectly, from her dad to Graham to the eccentric billionaire footing the bill for the ancient monastery to her stepson Caleb who spends his time getting in hot water.
Another aspect of this series that I enjoy is that readers always learn something relating to architecture and renovation. In Keeper of the Castle we learn how to stay true to medieval architecture while meeting modern building codes (in addition to the proper way to run a construction crew).
The mystery is strong as well. Blackwell provides plenty of misdirection to keep everyone guessing, and there's a good resolution to the ghostly subplot, which is more involved than originally thought.
I can count on Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series for quick, entertaining, and enlightening reads. Bring on Give Up the Ghost!
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LibraryThing member murderbydeath
This is one of those go-to series for me, the ones I can always count on for a good story and good writing.
Mel is suckered into taking on the reconstruction of an old Scottish monastery by visions of green technology integration and a big fat check at an opportune time. Everyone else wants her on
I enjoyed the story a lot and if it suffers at all it is only by comparison to some of the earlier books; I thought those plots, which directly involved the ghosts and their presence, more eerie and tense than this one, in which the ghosts were only tangentially involved (although frequently present). But Mel is always fun to read about and I like Graham and the rest of the characters. Ms. Blackwell has a way of introducing new characters that you like enough you wish they'd stick around, even though you know they won't.
My only real complaint: Overly repetitious need to tell the reader how dim Mel's dog is. The dog is dumb as dirt: got it the first time.
If you like cozies and ghosts but don't like having to sleep with the lights on, this one (and this series) is definitely worth trying.
Mel is suckered into taking on the reconstruction of an old Scottish monastery by visions of green technology integration and a big fat check at an opportune time. Everyone else wants her on
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the job because not only is she competent but she can see and communicate with the ghosts haunting the project.I enjoyed the story a lot and if it suffers at all it is only by comparison to some of the earlier books; I thought those plots, which directly involved the ghosts and their presence, more eerie and tense than this one, in which the ghosts were only tangentially involved (although frequently present). But Mel is always fun to read about and I like Graham and the rest of the characters. Ms. Blackwell has a way of introducing new characters that you like enough you wish they'd stick around, even though you know they won't.
My only real complaint: Overly repetitious need to tell the reader how dim Mel's dog is. The dog is dumb as dirt: got it the first time.
If you like cozies and ghosts but don't like having to sleep with the lights on, this one (and this series) is definitely worth trying.
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LibraryThing member cissa
I like this series. Mel is a historical building contractor who is sensitive to ghosts- plus being a woman in a man's field.
Combine ghosts with murder, and both need to be resolved.
You could start here, but reading the past books is helpful in understanding the various relationships among the
Anyway! This was a fun read, and I look forward to more in the series!
Combine ghosts with murder, and both need to be resolved.
You could start here, but reading the past books is helpful in understanding the various relationships among the
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characters.Anyway! This was a fun read, and I look forward to more in the series!
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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
A Scottish castle moved to San Francisco w/ two very active & different ghosts... The tower room keeps falling apart, because the contractor is lying about the acquisition of the stones, the blueprints being jiggy, and almost everything else.....
Mel talks w/ the Broadsword wielding Ghost in order
Light and entertaining.....
Mel talks w/ the Broadsword wielding Ghost in order
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to find out exactly what treasure it is he is protecting...... and with his help she does her best to help the wailing ghostly woman in red.Light and entertaining.....
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LibraryThing member jetangen4571
general-contractor, anthropologist, architecture, renovation, murder, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth
***** She's an anthropologist, general contractor, daughter, sort of step mom, girlfriend, and if a ghost or two want to talk to her she'll do whatever she can to help. Besides being a good mystery
Xe Sands is absolutely marvelous as the voice artist!
***** She's an anthropologist, general contractor, daughter, sort of step mom, girlfriend, and if a ghost or two want to talk to her she'll do whatever she can to help. Besides being a good mystery
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novel, there's lots to learn for those of us who geek history, architecture, proper research and renovation. I loved it! Xe Sands is absolutely marvelous as the voice artist!
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Language
Original publication date
2014-12-02
Physical description
x, 324 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
9780451465801
Local notes
Haunted Home Renovation, 5
DDC/MDS
| Fic Mystery Blackwell |