I've had this series on my TBR list for a while, so I was glad to be able to get the new book in the series via Netgalley.  Though I am jumping into the series quite a ways in the characters were relatable and easy to understand.  The plot was engaging, though a little dark for a cozy mystery. Overall, I liked the book and look forward to reading the earlier titles.

I'm still such a huge fan of this series, despite this entry being a little lackluster for me. I felt the format was a little off - the mystery didn't really begin until about 60% of the way through the book, and so the ending felt rushed. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free e-copy.

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters! Kate Carlisle is a fantastic author, and I cannot wait for the next book!

I have enjoyed this series from the start; Premeditated Mortar has not changed that fact. The characters are entirely believable, the location warm and inviting, and the mysteries are well written with enough action to make them enticing. Writing a home renovation series isn’t easy; it can be challenging to keep things fresh and new, but Kate Carlisle knows what she is doing and how to write a cozy mystery. 

Shannon can be a bit much to take at times, especially when she is mooning over Mac. But when a person is passionately in love with someone, they should be mooning over them, at least for a while. It’s time Shannon and Mac take their relationship to the next level and grow as a couple instead of remaining in a teenage cloud. Shannon’s sister is adorable, and I love that she played a somewhat larger role and looks to play an even bigger one in the future. Mac is still impressive, but he definitely needs to be less involved in Shannon’s home renovation business and more with his writing career. 

The murder in this book does not occur at the beginning of the book, or the middle, which is odd in a cozy. But the mystery in this book pertains more to the asylum’s past and its future than it does with a killer or victim. The murderer is, in my opinion, easy to figure out, with the obvious motive there from the start. I don’t think there was ever a doubt who the victim would be. There are plenty of suspects, although not all of them play a significant role in the investigation. The renovation of the asylum is detailed enough to make readers want to see it happen and perhaps remind them of old asylums and hospitals in their hometowns that could become beautiful. 

There is some drama at the end of Premeditated Mortar that makes readers smile and look forward to the next installment. I can’t wait to read the continuation of Shannon’s story, finding out what her next renovation will be and how much trouble she can get into before she puts herself and others in danger.

I have not read any of the previous Fixer-Upper mysteries, but I have watched a couple of the Hallmark shows, so I kind of felt like I already knew the characters and town.

Shannon owns a construction company, and she’s been hired by a good friend to help renovate one wing of the The Gables, a former institution. The entire property is being revitalized, and Rachel is overseeing the project. Rachel has convinced Shannon’s boyfriend, Mac, a famous writer, to become on of the investors. When Shannon and Mac do some exploring, they find a mysterious stranger running around the abandoned property. Later on, he shows up as part of a group of protestors against the project. Even later on, one of those protestors ends up dead, the body found by Shannon of course. How are the secrets of The Gables past threatening people now?

The Gables is an interesting location, and I enjoyed all the descriptions and scenes that took place there. We learned a lot about how the patients were treated, both bood and bad. The Gables held bad memories for a lot of people.

Mac and Shannon’s relationship is a big part of the story. Shannon does a little too much thinking about whether she should have a “where is this relationship going” talk with him for my taste, but that’s a small quibble. I didn’t know many of the secondary characters, like Shannon’s sister, but they were introduced well and I felt like I got caught up on the relationships easily. They all seem nice and friendly and pared off. Does Shannon have any single friends?

There was a lot of lead up to the murder, maybe half the book. Then it seems like it solved too quickly. It was well-plotted and the clues hold together well, but we don’t really get to know many of the suspects until the halfway point. All the drama seems packed into the second half, which for me made the book seem too short, a bit rushed.

Not my favorite in the series. A body wasn’t discovered til 67% of the book was read. It was interesting to think about turning a former insane asylum into something to improve the community. I will continue reading this series because I feel invested in the characters.

Another wonderfully written cozy mystery by Kate Carlisle... Shannon and her crew undertake a year long construction project on an old asylum and sinister events begin to happen.

This one was a little heartbreaking, but filled with rays of hope at the end... the abuse people endure in asylums is horrifying and not easy to read about. Kate Carlisle does a great job of weaving empathy and compassion into her story while providing the mystery elements that keep you on the edge of your seat. I also like the construction projects, gives me some good tips for renovations around the house.

I highly recommend.

An entertaining and well written cozy mystery.  A good addition to the series.  Mystery fans will love this book.  I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Princess Fuzzypants here:  Shannon has a major job fixing up a dilapidated Victorian building that was once an insane asylum.  When it first opened, the doctor in charge had revolutionary and compassionate ideas but as the facility fell into disrepair before being closed, the lofty ideals of the original doctor had eroded.   In fact, the doctor in charge at the end gave Nurse Ratched a run for the money.

She shows up at the ground breaking festivities along with protestors who want to “burn it down”.  Someone would like to destroy the plans to revitalize and repurpose the buildings and grounds.  This person or persons is willing to create mayhem, cause injury and even kill to control the narrative.  Shannon and her delicious writer boyfriend, Mac, want to figure out who is behind it and why.  As they look deeper, they discover that some of their original suspects are in fact victims.  With Mac’s mystery bent and Shannon’s smarts, they are able to piece together the backstory to find the killer.  I love the way they play a game of Scooby-Doo.  It is a fun concept.

There were lots of twists so that even the things that seemed clear were not quite as they seemed on the surface.  It made for an exciting and enjoyable read..  Five purrs and two paws up.

I binged the previous 3 books in this series just so I would be ready for this book.  It was worth it!  The previous ones were really good and made the reading of this one that much more enjoyable.

Shannon and her BFF Jane are preparing to break ground on the massive renovation of the Gables.  The Gables had previously been an insane asylum, one where Jane's mother had actually been hospitalized on and off.  The town had authorized the conversion of the hospital into a complex of shops provided that the historical facades were maintained.  Jane wanted to turn a sad place into a place where people would find pleasure so she signed up convert Building 7 into a luxury hotel and spa.

On ground breaking day, a group of protestors disrupt the ceremonies shouting to burn down the facility.  The protestors bring to the forefront the history of the Gables and that is major for the plot.  The renovations that are described would make me want to stay at the Hennessey Hotel when they are done.

The regular cast of characters continue to expand their personalities and connections to each other as well as bring them very vividly to life.

What a great way to finish my reading for 2020 - s horrible year with a great book.

This book was fantastic! I enjoyed every single second of it. It was fast paced and intriguing. This is the first book by Kate Carlisle that I have read and I thought it was just down right amazing. 

What made me pick this book to begin with was the concept of a female construction contractor. I love watching a lot of HGTV and TLC over the years. Especially the flipping house shows and the thought of making something awful into something new and wonderful has always intrigued me. So, I thought why not take a chance on this book and I am glad that I did. 

Shannon is a fantastic character. She's smart, witty, loveable, and has a curious streak a mile wide. I was instantly drawn to her and so glad that she wasn't written in as some bubble headed female who doesn't know anything. I truly cannot stand that. Nothing can turn me off on a book faster than that. 

Also, her group of friends and family were amazing. I found myself wishing that I was part of their circle. Her friends are amazing. And I loved her sister. Instead of having the A typical sisterly relationship of love-hate this was mixed with real devotion, love, and concern. I felt it all the way down to my toes. 

And, even though this was the first book that I have read out of this series, the connection that I felt between Shannon and Mac was so real. You can tell how much he loves her even without knowing their 'true' relationship history. 

The back story and the mystery were both fascinating. It kept me guessing through out the whole book. I thought I knew who the killer was, turned out I was only half right, But, when the killer was revealed I was in shock and in awe. I thoroughly loved the way that that person was revealed. 

I loved the whole thing. This book has met and surpassed my expectations. Loved it. Truly loved it. I cannot wait to read more. And that is the mark of a good book...making you want more. You cannot ask for better. 

I was given this ARC by NetGalley to read and review. All opinions are my own honest thoughts and feelings.

Premeditated Mortar follows contractor Shannon Hammer as she works for her best friend Jane Hennessey to turn an abandoned victorian mental health facility into a 5 star hotel.  The hospital once treated Jane's mother and she wants to bring beauty to a place that holds such sad memories. The Gables will be a year long project and from day one there is drama. With protestors, a demanding project manager, a narcissistic former doctor and a series of accidents to contend with. Things get even more sinister when a body is discovered and the facilities dark secrets begin to surface. 
The 8th book in this series also focuses heavily on the personal relationships of Shannon and her friends. She is growing closer and closer to Mac and there are some big developments for many of the series' couples in this book. 
Although not my favorite from the series, it was still a very enjoyable read and I loved returning to these characters.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Premeditated Mortar, the eighth book in the Fixer-Upper mystery series, is an enjoyable entry in the series with an unsettling back story and wonderful characters.

This time around construction contractor Shannon is tasked with remodeling a building at the local Victorian-era asylum into a luxury hotel for her best friend Jane.  Jane wants to open the hotel to honor her mother who was once a patient of the facility.  The developer’s dedication ceremony is set to kick off the renovations, but a group of protesters disrupts the occasion.  Soon the asylum’s last doctor arrives bringing even more upheaval to the project.  When murder comes to call, Shannon and Mac do what they can to help police chief Eric solve the case.

The Fixer-Upper series is a favorite, and I love the characters and their relationships.  These relationships take center stage in this book, and I like them more than ever.  Shannon is a relatable, down-to-earth amateur sleuth who helps the police rather than going behind their backs.  It helps that the small-town community’s residents all know each other well, and, in Shannon’s case, the chief is almost family since he is dating Shannon’s sister.  Shannon’s beau Mac is a great match for her and makes a great sounding board and brainstorming partner.  Their relationship continues to evolve, and I look forward to spending more time with them.  The other recurring characters are all included here and are like visiting old friends. 

Author Carlisle does a good job with the characters specific to this mystery, giving them more than ample introduction before the murders occur.  That said this ample time is also my quibble with the story.  The first murder does not take place until more than two-thirds into the book.  I began to wonder if there would be a mystery to solve, and this distracted me more and more as the story went on.  Thus the mystery seemed somewhat underdeveloped and rushed.

Premeditated Mortar is a fun read, but read it for the characters not the mystery.  Even so, I look forward to Shannon’s next adventure.

Shannon Hammer is back in this 8th book in the Fixer Upper mystery series. Shannon is a contractor who specializes in Victorian homes. Also, she occasionally come across a mystery to solve. In this book, Shannon takes on a renovation project of an old state insane asylum. She is excited to take on the new project, however, protesters and a dead body are hindering her progress.

I have read most of the books in this series, and the books continue to be enjoyable cozy mysteries. As with most series, it helps to better understand backstories if the series is read in order. That said, Premeditated Mortar can be read as a standalone.

An engaging and entertaining cozy mystery. With likable characters and a charming setting, this was a wonderful light mystery. I liked the renovation aspect of the story, especially the renovation of an old asylum. In short, a recommended read for fans of cozies. Delightful and fun.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kate Carlisle has written a cozy mystery that even without the murder is fun to read!  The description of the buildings and all the work that Shannon will need to do to remodel a former asylum into a high end hotel is fascinating!  I wish something like that were available in real life.   Unfortunately in the story there are a few people who don't want the remodel to take place.   Protesting, petty crime and murder all happen on the grounds making it seem impossible for the project to continue.   Quick,  fun read for the weekend.

Cozy mystery that is fun and engaging. 
Fantastic story and atmospheric setting come together to create an enjoyable and creepy tale. Beautifully written with likable characters. I read through this one quickly because it held my interest.

This was another fantastic mystery in the series! The setting for this one was creepy than others in the past and that really added to the overall spooky vibe of the book. I love the history that was included in the book as well. The setting of the town, as well as the asylum are very well done and well described without going overboard. I love the characters in this series already but they just keep getting better! The mystery was well done and I really enjoyed this book! Looking forward to seeing where the characters go from here!

This is a bit tricky to write.  Objectively, I can see the flaws in this book.  The actual murder doesn't occur until more then halfway through the book.  The characters aren't particularly fleshed out and can be a bit one note.  Shannon's observations about Mac can get a bit repetitive and are a bit overdone.  

That said - I really liked it!  This book really clicked with me and I thoroughly enjoyed every page.  I was fascinated with the history of the Gables and the renovation project that Shannon and her team were working on.  I couldn't wait for each tiny little hint of a clue to be revealed and corner of the old asylum to be explored.  I love the renovation aspects and that Shannon is actually involved versus her job just being window dressing for the series.  I also really enjoyed Jane and Shannon's friendship and the details about Jane's mother.  

This was a fun cozy mystery read with a fantastically creepy setting.  If the blurb intrigues you as much as it did me don't hesitate to pick this one up!

I really love this series. I'll say that up front. But this book wasn't my favorite. In what seems to be a trend in the new cozies I'm reading lately is that the murder doesn't take place until later and later in the book. In this case, the murder occurs 68% of the way into the book. 68%. Now I'll admit that there's a decent sense of mystery and suspense in the first 2/3 of the book. But it's hard to call a book a mystery when the murder to be solved doesn't even happen until that late in the book!

I had some other issues with the book, like the lack of Shannon or anybody else to not get the story of why the protestors were protesting at the Gables (I've never known protestors to be shy about their message). But those were overlookable. The lack of a body, however, was not.

I gave this one 3 stars because I really enjoy this series and this author. But if this had been the first book I'd read in the series, of if it were a standalone, I probably would have set the book aside at about the 30% mark.

Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Premeditated Mortar A Fixer-Upper Mystery by Kate Carlisle
Summary
        The Gables is an abandoned Victorian-era mental hospital about to get a new lease on life as a combination retail, hotel, and upscale living complex. Shannon Hammer, a building contractor specializing in restoring Victorian homes in her hometown of Lighthouse Cove, a small town located on Northern California’s coast, is set to renovate one of the wings of the former mental institution for her friend Jane Hennessey. 
	Not everyone is happy with the planned renovations. On the day of the groundbreaking, protestors show up, demanding that the place be burned to the ground instead of restored. Rachel Powers, developer of the Gables, is drenched in a blood-like substance. By the time the police arrive, most of the protestors have fled, but Shannon and Mac have detained two of them and the police take them into custody. Later, when the body of one the protestors is discovered at the Gables, Shannon’s renovation project turns into a murder investigation. Shannon is determined to find out the killer and the killer is determined to get away with murder. Two murders if that is what it takes to silence Shannon. 

Recommendation
     Premeditated Mortar is populated with characters that know each other well; a community where members have each other’s backs. It’s a fun read and a good way to spend a couple of hours. The plot twists kept me guessing until the big reveal. Recommended.
Author information
Kate Carlisle’s website
Excerpt
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