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Fatal Fixer-Upper (Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 1)
Fatal FixerUpper - Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 1
Author: Jennie Bentley
Avery Baker was once a New York designer, but inheriting her aunt's old Maine cottage has led her down a new career path -- home renovation. Now, with help from hunky handyman Derek Ellis, Avery starts learning the ABCs of DIY. But when the designer-turned-renovator finds clues that lead to a missing professor, she wonders if she can finish the ...  more »
PBS Market Price: $8.09 or $4.19+1 credit
ISBN-13: 9780425224571
ISBN-10: 0425224570
Publication Date: 11/4/2008
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 183

4 stars, based on 183 ratings
Publisher: Berkley
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 2
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Fatal Fixer-Upper (Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 1) on + 270 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
I absoutely LOVED this book! I loved all the detail they put into redoing the house she inherited, how some of it relates to Marie Antoinette (i'm a history buff on royalty) and I second guessed myself on who did it. Very enjoyable read and a quick read at that...I finished it in a few hours as I couldn't put it down. I will look forward to the 2nd in the series!!
goddesslovingbookworm avatar reviewed Fatal Fixer-Upper (Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 1) on + 170 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 10
I really liked this debut, primarily because of the historical tidbits scattered throughout. Any time a book has just enough info to send me off on a research tangent, it has truly drawn me in.

This is a cozy and the characters are drawn well. Even though I picked out one of the possible bad guys fairly early on, there were enough plot twists to be fully satisfying all the way to the end. I also found myself deciding to keep this series for the home renovation tips.
reviewed Fatal Fixer-Upper (Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 1) on
Helpful Score: 10
This was a great, feel-good mystery! All of the characters are easy to like, you want the good-guys to win, and you want to find out who the bad guys are. It's easy to get entangled in this book and feel like you're in a historic house in Maine curled up with a few cats! It's an easy ready that leaves you wondering when you'll be able to get out and get the next one in the series!
Mistry avatar reviewed Fatal Fixer-Upper (Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 1) on + 105 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were colorful and believable. I loved that there was a bit of history interspersed within the book, and done in a way as not to lecture. I'm a big history buff and the idea of restoring a Victorian makes me itch to get my hands dirty. Her descriptions of Aunt Inga's home allowed me to pictured the entire house in my head. (Of course, it being my dream home made it that much easier :)

I loved Avery's character. Sometimes books written in the first person get a little wordy, and while we always knew what she was thinking, there wasn't a lot of extraneous information going on in her head as can sometimes be the case. She is real, down to earth and doesn't take herself too seriously.

I am looking forward to hearing more about her funky sense of design style, too.

I enjoyed her relationships in this book and the chemistry she shares with each character.

I'm looking forward to reading the next in this series.
dollycas avatar reviewed Fatal Fixer-Upper (Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 1) on + 712 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
In Fatal fixer-upper, Avery Baker is a Manhattan interior designer whose life is turned upside down when she receives a letter from an aunt she has seen since she was 5 years old. Aunt Inga summons Avery to Waterfield, Maine to help her get her affairs in order. Sadly the letter did not have enough postage and by the time Avery gets to Maine her aunt has passed away and left Avery her house and her cats. She receives an offer for the house, but learns the house would be worth much more if she just fixes it up a little. Enter handyman, Derek Ellis,to help her restore the house, but during the renovation all kinds of clues are uncovered that may lead to missing college professor who was working with Avery's aunt on some Wakefield history. Unfortunately Avery's life may be endangered if she continues to follow the clues.

A faced paced story that will hook you from the start. A perfect blend of cozy mystery with a little romance filled in.
Read All 21 Book Reviews of "Fatal FixerUpper DoItYourself Mystery Bk 1"

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reviewed Fatal Fixer-Upper (Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 1) on + 988 more book reviews
Avery Baker was once a New York designer, but inheriting her aunt's old Maine cottage has led her down a new career path -- home renovation. Now, with help from hunky handyman Derek Ellis, Avery starts learning the ABCs of DIY. But when the designer-turned-renovator finds clues that lead to a missing professor, she wonders if she can finish the house -- without getting finished off in the process.
reviewed Fatal Fixer-Upper (Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 1) on + 11 more book reviews
This was very good, totally believable and well written and edited. This will not disappoint the reader. Looking forward to reading the rest of this series. :)
bookworm01 avatar reviewed Fatal Fixer-Upper (Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 1) on + 138 more book reviews
I loved the characters and the lovely historic small town Maine setting! I also enjoyed the DIY how-tos in the back of the book. They explained step by step the same process that Avery used in the book. Very cool!

Book Wiki

Series
People/Characters
Avery Baker (Primary Character)
Derek Ellis (Major Character)

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