THE FIRST NOVEL IN THE NEW YORK TIMES  BESTSELLING FIXER-UPPER MYSTERY SERIES! Don't miss the Hallmark Movies & Mystery Originals starring Jewel, based on the Fixer-Upper Mystery series! In the seaside town of Lighthouse Cove in northern California, everyone knows the best man for the job is actually a woman—contractor Shannon Hammer. But while her home-renovation and repair business is booming, her love life needs work. On a blind date with real estate agent Jerry Saxton, Shannon has to whip out a pair of pliers to keep Jerry from getting too hands on. She's happy to put her rotten date behind her, but when Jerry’s found dead in a run-down Victorian home that she’s been hired to restore, the town’s attractive new police chief suspects that her threats may have laid the foundation for murder.   Determined to clear her name, Shannon conducts her own investigation—with the help of her four best friends, her eccentric father, a nosy neighbor or two, and a handsome crime writer who’s just moved to town. But as they get closer to prying out the murderer’s identity, Shannon is viciously attacked. Now she’ll have to nail down the truth—or end up in permanent foreclosure... Praise for Kate Carlisle and the Fixer-Upper Mysteries “Sleuth Shannon Hammer knows her way around a building site and a murder—I fell for this feisty, take-charge heroine, and readers will, too.”—Leslie Meier, New York Times bestselling author of the Lucy Stone Mysteries “Clever wit and complex plotting...immensely satisfying.”—Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of the Library Lover’s Mysteries “Perfect escapist cozy fare.”— Library Journal “Another winner from one of the leaders in the genre!”— RT Book Reviews “Highly entertaining...quick, clever, and somewhat edgy....Shannon’s not a stereotype—she’s a person, and an interesting, intelligent, likable one at that, which makes it easy to become invested in her tale.”—Smitten by Books A native Californian, New York Times bestselling author Kate Carlisle worked in television for many years before turning to writing. Inspired by the northern seaside towns of her native California, where Victorian mansions grace the craggy cliffs and historic lighthouses warn fishermen and smugglers alike, Kate was drawn to create the Fixer-Upper Mysteries, featuring small-town girl Shannon Hammer, a building contractor specializing in home restoration. Kate also writes the New York Times bestselling Bibliophile Mysteries featuring Brooklyn Wainwright. Shannon Hammer— contractor in Lighthouse Cove, California Jack Hammer— Shannon’s father Uncle Pete Hammer— Shannon’s uncle, winemaker and owner of the Town Square Wine Bar Chloe Hammer— Shannon’s sister Jane Hennessey— Shannon’s best friend and owner of Hennessey House, the newest small hotel in town Lizzie and Hal Logan— Shannon’s friends and owners of Paper Moon book and paper store; their kids are Taz (11) and Marisa (13) Emily Rose— Shannon’s friend and owner of the Scottish Rose Tea Shoppe Marigold Starling— Shannon’s friend and owner, with her aunt Daisy, of Crafts and Quilts Eric Jensen— the chief of police Mac Sullivan— a famous crime novelist Tommy Gallagher— police officer and Shannon’s high school boyfriend Whitney Reid Gallagher— Tommy’s wife and Shannon’s worst enemy from high school Jennifer Bailey— Whitney’s best friend Penelope “Penny” Wells— the new bank loan officer Wendell Jarvick— Shannon’s short-term tenant Jerry Saxton— a real estate agent and Shannon’s blind date Joyce and Stan Boyer— Shannon’s homeowner clients Luisa Capello— a high school friend Cindy— head waitress at the Cozy Cove Diner Rocky— cook and owner of the Cozy Cove Diner Augustus “Gus” Peratti— Shannon’s auto mechanic Wade Chambers— Shannon’s head foreman Carla Harrison— Shannon’s second foreman (husband, Chase, and daughter, Keely) Todd, Billy, Sean, Johnny, Douglas— Shannon’s crew Jesse Hennessey— Shannon’s next-door neighbor and Jane’s uncle Mrs. Coleen Higgins— the neighbor across the street Chapter One “You could’ve warned me that installing drywall would be hell on my manicure.” I looked down from my perch at the top of the ladder and saw my best friend, Jane Hennessey, scowling at her hands. They were smeared with sticky joint compound. She had flakes of drywall stuck to her shirt and there were flecks of blue paint highlighting her blond hair. “I did warn you, remember? I told you to wear gloves.” And a hat, I thought to myself, but didn’t bother to mention it aloud. I wondered, though, where in the world that blue paint in her hair had come from. “The gloves you gave me are so big and awkward, it’s hard to work in them.” “I’m sorry, princess,” I said, hiding a smile. “Why don’t you go rest and I’ll finish up here?” She laughed. “And have you rubbing my nose in the fact that I’m hopeless at manual labor? No way.” “I would never do that.” But I laughed, too, because of course I would do that, and I’d expect her to do the same f