Premeditated Murder 

Kate Carlisle

A Fixer-Upper Mystery Series, Book 8

4 Stars

Premeditated Mortar was an unexpected pleasure of a read. Shannan Hammer is a determined sleuth and makes a fun story. 

Shannon Hammer is all set to help her best friend Jane turn one of the seven Gables buildings, that made up an insane asylum, into a beautiful and welcoming hotel. Taking something with bad and horrible memories and giving it a new light. It’s an ambitious project with an ambitious timeline and Shannon is more than willing to give it her all.  Shannon very quickly learns that all still many secrets are still left within the Gables.  From the beginning of the ribbon cutting ceremony the trouble begins. Protesters arrive, projectile fluids are flung, accidents, injuries, trespassers and dead bodies. 

Premeditated Mortar was a fantastic and compelling cozy read.  It’s an intricate story with a lot of details, but yet was easy to read and kept you guessing with every page. There is the edge of creepiness that comes with asylum stories yet is not too deep you will be having nightmares. Shannon was an awesome character. She’s smart, good at what she does and her eye for detail is spot on. I so enjoyed the romantic element of Shannon and Mac!  Their chemistry is fun and you can tell they will complement one another very nicely. They encourage one another and all that they do even if something might be a bit more dangerous. 

Premeditated Mortar is my first adventure with Shannon Hammer and the Fixer-Upper Mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I’m looking forward to going back through previous books in the series and getting to know these characters a little bit better. If you enjoy a mystery that will make you think, with a little bit of romance and just enough of a creep factor to keep you intrigued this is definitely a book for you.