Primer and Punishment by Diane Kelly, book five in her House-Flipper Mystery series, is a cozy mystery set in Nashville, Tennessee. Whitney Whitaker and her cousin, Buck Whitaker, have chosen a fixer-upper houseboat, called The Skinny Dipper, for their next project. They anticipate it will be a quick, uneventful flip. Things start off well as they begin the work and soon they meet the guy who owns the boat in the next slip named Grant Hardisty. He is a charming manipulator with five ex-wives and a bum knee injured in a fall. Buck learns quickly that Grant is not to be trusted. While it doesn't take long to refurbish the boat, an unexpected situation explodes on Grant’s boat. To make things more interesting, numerous people confess to the crime. Using her intuition and natural sleuthing skills, and especially because she feel responsible for pointing the police in the wrong direction, Whitney is able to help law enforcement catch the guilty party
Whitney can't help but so she steps in try to help find the guilty party. The wedding festivities for Whitney's best friend, Collette, and her cousin Buck add a layer of fun festivities to this mystery.

Ms Kelly kept me on my toes guessing, with all the twists and turns along with a number of red herrings and surprise revelations, all leading up to the final reveal. This was a fun adventure in this house flipping series and the lives of Whitney and Buck. I highly recommend Primer and Punishment to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

House flipping cousins Whitney and Buck decide to take on a houseboat in Primer and Punishment. They want a quick flip because Buck’s wedding to Collette, Whitney’s best friend, is fast approaching. They are thinking that the boat would make a great venue for the bachelor and bachelorette parties!

Unfortunately, the charming con man in the next boat slip over gets himself blown up. So many people have been wronged by him that the police get multiple confessions to the crime. Whitney is known as an amateur detective (at least in her own mind) so she, of course, steps in to help.

First of all, Sawdust, Whitney’s cute cat, is the best character (and narrator) in the book. However, I loved the genuine family dynamics in Whitney and Buck’s relationship too. The mystery wasn’t too challenging making Primer and Punishment an easy read that is perfect for cozy mystery fans. 4 stars!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

This is the fifth in the series. I really enjoy this as Whitney has a level head on her shoulder. She and Buck are flipping a houseboat. The neighbor is a user and isn’t very likeable beyond the slimy charm oozing out of him. Of course, he’s the one that dies. Now was it an accident or intentional. I liked the twists and turns while on the pursuit of the killer.

Pick up the series but each book stands alone. I was lucky enough to read an advanced reader’s copy. This is my own opinion and I am not required to leave a positive review.

When Whitney Whitaker talked to her cousin Buck about their next flipper project, she was glad to hear that he already had a good idea of what they should rehab. It’s a three bedroom, two bath, with a two-story deck. When she asks the square footage, and he says it’s about 600 square feet, Whitney is stumped. But then he explains that it’s a houseboat, and that makes perfect sense to her.

The Skinny Dipper needs some updating and some repairs, and it lists a little to one side, but it’s a bargain of real estate and they could turn it around quickly. The bones of the boat are good. They just need to fix the leak that’s causing the tilt, repaint, and update the inside, and the boat will be good for a quick sale. And when Whitney realizes that once they get it fixed it up, it will be the perfect spot for a bachelorette party for her best friend and Buck’s fiancée Colette, Whitney is all in.

They decide to live on the boat for the two weeks or so it will take them to fix it up. The marina is on Old Hickory Lake, just north of Nashville, so Whitney and Buck pack some bags and all the tools and equipment they’ll need to finish the boat and head out. Whitney also takes one more thing, her cat Sawdust, who will get to enjoy a couple of weeks of lake life too. Although when Sawdust is not locked inside the cabin, Whitney makes sure Sawdust has a life jacket on. Sawdust isn’t sure about it at first, but the smell of the fishes and the birds flying overhead is just too much of a draw to object.

As Whitney and Buck are getting settled into the boar, they meet a well dressed woman asking about the empty slip next to the Skinny Dipper. She’s looking for a man named Grant Hardisty, but the cousins haven’t been there long enough to have met him. The woman leaves, and later a boat docks in the empty spot.

The Sexy Sheila is the boat, and a man using a cane to walk introduces himself as Grant and his dog as JoJo. He invites them over for a beer, and they get to know him a little. He’s a bartender who got injured a couple of months back and hadn’t been able to work. He was dating, talking about which dating apps he was using. He borrows $60 from Buck for a date he has later, and Whitney offers to take his dog for a walk for him. JoJo has a lot of energy, but she’s fond of dogs and wants him to have a chance to stretch his legs after being cooped up on the boat.

As the days go by, and Buck and Whitney get things shipshape on the Skinny Dipper, they can’t help but notice what goes on in the next boat. They witness some fights between Grant and friends and later between Grant and his soon-to-be ex-wife. They see him going out fishing with friends, and ducking from the friend he borrowed money from (Buck had already figured out that he wasn’t getting his cash back). And then, on the day that they are putting primer on the boat, they see his entire boat go up in flames. There was a huge explosion that knocks Sawdust off the boat (thank goodness for that life jacket).

Whitney talks to a Deputy Fire Marshall, telling the woman everything she had seen since they had taken residence on the Skinny Dipper. From what Whitney tells her, she suspects that the fire was deliberately set. But was someone trying to kill Grant or just destroy the boat? And while Grant had a way of getting people angry with him, is one of those people angry enough to murder him? Whitney’s natural curiosity draws her toward the mystery, but will she be able to figure out who killed Grant before she and Buck become the next target?

Primer and Punishment is the fifth book in the House-Flipper Mystery series from Diane Kelly. The idea of rehabbing a houseboat brings a new setting and a whole new cast of characters to keep an eye on. There are the ex-wives, the fishing friends, the mysterious bird-watcher, the angry friends who want their money back, the online dates, and the former owner of the Sexy Sheila who wants it back. There is no shortage of suspects in this one, but as always it’s Sawdust who steals all the scenes.

I enjoyed Primer and Punishment. I thought the lake living was creative and a lot of fun, and the amount of drama happening next-slip to Whitney was worthy of a television drama. The new characters added a lot of texture and complications, but a lot of the drama early on came from Whitney overhearing arguments that she wasn’t involved in, which seemed awkward. But it was still a fun read, and I am all in for those chapters written by Sawdust.

Egalleys for Primer and Punishment were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Normally, when I see a book is late in a series, I skip it. But as another reviewer commented, there was something about it being on a houseboat that intrigued me. So, I picked this book up and I'm not sorry I did!

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the multiple confessions that muddied the waters of trying to identify the real killer. Well done!

I look forward to subsequent books in the series.

Thank you to Diane Kelly, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

The plot is intriguing and makes for a hard to put down read. I really enjoyed the lead up to Grant's death in a fiery explosion as it gives the reader a few suspects and motives. Whitney makes a passionate if not spot on amateur detective. The asides from Sawdust (Whitney's cat) are adorable and break up the action packed storyline well.
Overall, a 4/5 star rating and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.

This was another fantastic mystery! I loved watching Whitney and Buck renovate a houseboat, and the murder that they get pulled into because it was the guy in the slip next to them. It was such an entertaining read! Plus there was a quick mention of two of her other series with the explosions, which was really awesome!

Grant was awful! No wonder there was no end of suspects! He was a user, a grifter, who wanted a sugar mama to take care of him basically, which means that he was working on his 5th divorce when he was killed. Besides that, he had some really questionable money borrowing practices. And an insurance claim for an injured knee. So many possibilities!

I really enjoyed watching the investigation unfold. There were many clues, but the question was, which ones lead to his murder, and not just bad feelings? The way things worked out, I loved how it was figured out!

Throughout the book, we had a lot of the events leading up to Colette and Buck's wedding, the bridal shower and bachelorette and bachelor parties, as well as their plans for once they were married. And then we got see their wedding! So that was very sweet to read! And oh, that last chapter! Loved it!

I had such a great time reading this book, and I can't wait for the next adventure!

Primer and Punishment is book #5 in the House-Flipper Mystery series by Diane Kelly.

Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck flip houses and this time they decide to flip a houseboat. They make the acquaintance of the man living on the boat next to them and they witness the mess of his life. When he dies, there are not only several suspects but also several confessions.

I enjoy this series. Whitney, Buck, Collette, Collin, and Sawdust are wonderful characters. The Sawdust chapters are entertaining and I’m very mindful about my phone now! I experienced a variety of emotions while reading this. There were so many twists in the case! I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you to the author, St. Martins Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

In short: Whitney & her cousin are flipping a houseboat when the neighbors cabin cruiser is blown up with him inside.

What I liked:
🛠️Fixer upper theme
🛠️That multiple people confess. Added an interesting layer to sleuthing.
🛠️The cat Sawdust and his observations
🛠️Enjoyable characters

Finals thoughts: This was the 1st book in this series that I’ve read and I loved it! I will definitely go back and read the rest now. I really liked the fixer upper theme and that the main characters are cousins. The plot was a well laid out puzzle with so many suspects and confessions. I loved trying to figure out what really happened.

What an amazing read. I didn't know this wasnt the first book in the series. I was able to pick it up and I wish I had more time. But i said I just need to read. and it was fun and enjoyable that Whitney wand ciousin Buck where able to do the flipping with the boat I was nervous and excited to find out the real killer was. I did not see it coming who it was. The end is not the end its just the beginning of more fun to come!!!

Primer and Punishment is book five in the House-Flipper Mystery series. I've only read a couple of the books, but they easily stand-alone. It's a fun and interesting series featuring cousins Whitney and Buck, who flip houses together.

This time around the duo decides flipping a houseboat would be fun. Living on a boat while renovating it, what could possibly go wrong? A lot apparently when the houseboat belonging to their annoying next door neighbor explodes! Now in addition to flipping their houseboat, Whitney is determined to figure out who could have wanted their neighbor dead, and why.

This was a very well-written cozy mystery with great characters, interesting mystery/storyline, plenty of red herrings to keep a reader guessing....and a very cool cat named Sawdust. I enjoyed it very much.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

#NetGalley #PrimerAndPunishment

I very much enjoyed this cozy mystery. I liked the setting on a houseboat; who hasn’t wanted to live on one for a bit? I also found the main characters to be engaging.

Whitney and Buck are fixing up the said houseboat. Next to them is another boat and its owner, Grant. When Grant dies in a blast, the stakes of being on the lake rise considerably. Will our protagonists figure out what happened to their neighbor? Of course, they will. The fun is in watching them do so.

This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. However, after reading this entry, readers may want to go back to the first four books.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisehr for this title. All opinions are my own.

This might just be my fave of the series so far with a murder mystery set on a lake and with Whit's bestie Colette getting married soon. That was a pretty cool flip and a great idea Buck had to buy and rehab an old houseboat. They were definitely lucky Buck had the foresight to ask the neighbor to move his boat out while he grilled, or Whitney and Buck could've ended up in the same shape as their neighbor which wasn't too good!

I was really surprised by the killer since I had someone else in mind. The showdown was exciting and Collin ended up getting his perp. But he'd be sure to tell everyone that Whitney had lots to do with pointing him in the right direction. I liked Dep. Fire Marshal Landreth's character. She was fair and actually was very open to Whit and Buck as far as accepting info on the case.

The events following the murder solving were just fun and the ending of the book was so darn sweet. Now I really can't wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Primer and Punishment is the 5th in Diane Kelly’s House Flipper Mystery series. It’s a fun cozy with an interesting premise. In this one, cousins Whitney and Buck are flipping a houseboat! The boat, named Skinny Dipper, is docked next to the Sexy Sheila, occupied by Grant, a charming and manipulative man with more ex-wives than fish on his hook. When Sexy Sheila explodes with Grant aboard, there is no shortage of suspects – or confessions. With the police convinced they have the culprit behind bars, it’s up to Whitney to find the real killer. A position she is apparently no stranger to finding herself in.

Primer and Punishment is my first foray into this series, but picking up five books into the series was quite seamless. The characters were likable and well-rounded. The plot chugs along at a good pace. I’ll happily go back and read the previous four books.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Primer and Punishment from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#PrimerandPunishmentBook #NetGalley

I've read one previous book in the series but have missed the other three. While I'm usually a fan of reading a series in order I really didn't feel that going into this kind of blind detracted from my enjoyment at all. The relationship between the characters is fairly simple so there's not a lot of complicated backstory to keep track of or figure out.

Whitney and her cousin Buck flip houses but when the housing market takes off leaving few properties available they decide to try something a little out of their comfort zone - flipping a houseboat. I really enjoyed their time working on the boat. Buck and Whitney are nice people if not the biggest personalities and are both capable at their profession. Their neighbor, Grant, is a much bigger personality and at first seems like a nice guy but as Whitney and Buck get to know him better they quickly learn that the nice affable front is merely that - a front. When Grant meets his untimely end the real question isn't who would want to kill him but which one of the potential dozens of suspects actually did it.

The ending was satisfying though felt a little rushed and it was fun to see it all come together. This is an entertaining light read with a nice summer-y setting and I thought the little add-ins by Whitney's cat Sawdust were adorable.

Cousins Buck and Whitney are trying a new challenge - flipping a houseboat. Fortunately, it should go quickly so they will not have to put up with Grant, an annoying neighbor, for long. However, Grant seems to have irritated a lot of people and when his boat explodes there are a number of suspects. The unusual thing is that there are also a number of confessions.

I really enjoy this series with the unique flips and great friend and family relationships. Sawdust, the cat, also has some cute little chapters giving his perspective. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Whitney Whitaker is a little surprised by her cousin Buck’s latest suggestion for their property-flipping business. He has his eye on a three-bedroom, two bath property: the sweet spot for any house flipper, with its wide appeal to various house-hunting demographics. The only catch, so to speak, is that this promising new fixer-upper just happens to be a houseboat.

Our renovating duo have never tackled anything like this before but figure that their experience, plus YouTube, will help them figure it out as they go along. What they don’t expect is to be berthed next to an injured ladies man who seems to spend as much time dodging folks as he does hosting them on his party boat. Grant Hardisty has not only suffered a knee injury that’s made it impossible for him to keep working as a bartender but is also going through a protracted divorce. His most loyal friend seems to be his sweet, energetic dog Jojo. Unfortunately, Grant’s injury means he can’t exercise Jojo as much as he should, leading to Whitney impulsively volunteering to help out. She quickly learns to regret this though, as Grant seems to lean on her and Buck more and more for things he should probably be able to do for himself.

On the plus side, he will move his boat when asked. As Grant is prepping to fire up his grill one day while the Whitakers are busy priming and painting, Buck asks if he wouldn’t mind moving further out into the lake so that the smoke won’t smudge their work. Grant is amenable and heads out. Shortly after, his boat explodes in a tremendous fireball.

Shocked and heart-sick, the Whitakers are very eager to cooperate with investigators, led by Deputy Fire Marshal Melanie Landreth. Unfortunately, Whitney’s own boyfriend, Homicide Detective Collin Flynn of the Metro Nashville Police Department, is forced to get involved when several people start showing up at his precinct, all confessing to Grant’s murder. Grant certainly wasn’t the most popular guy around, but could any of these people really have hated him enough to kill him in such a spectacular fashion? As the noose tightens around one of the self-confessed murderers, Whitney starts to suspect that not all is as it seems. Will she be able to help the police find the real killer before a murderer decides to get rid of her too?

This was another fun installment of the House-Flipper mystery series, with humorous, believable banter and delightful relationships between the main cast members. The romances are all strictly G-rated, even as our characters prepare for Buck’s wedding to Whitney’s best friend Collette. Crime-fighting wise, I really liked how Collin assured his sleuthing girlfriend that the police rely on the public’s help for tips in breaking cases, even as he worries over her safety. Fortunately, her inquisitiveness doesn’t lead to too much recklessness, in my opinion anyway.

There were two recipes included here, one for a drink, and one for appropriately-themed baked goods:

QUOTE
Life-Preserver Donuts

Box of white cake mix
2 cups applesauce
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons vanilla extract, separated (one for the cake mix and one for the icing)
16-ounce package of powdered sugar
Red food coloring
¼ cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together cake mix, applesauce, ginger, and one tablespoon vanilla extract in a bowl until well blended. Spoon mixture into a donut pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until lightly brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the donuts comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow donuts to cool.

Mix powdered sugar with one teaspoon vanilla extract and ¼ cup water. Stir until well blended. Move half of the frosting into a separate bowl and add red food coloring. Stir until the red frosting is of uniform color. Frost donuts in eight stripes of equal width, alternating white and red frosting.
END QUOTE

In all honesty (and even before Ben Affleck’s adorable commercial recently aired,) I haven’t been able to even look at cake donuts since a Dunkin’ Donuts drive thru opened in my area. But I still wanted to stay on theme, so decided to bake this as a bundt cake instead! The cake itself was very easy to put together. I did have to bake it at a slightly lower temperature for a longer time, due to the different presentation I chose, but it came out tasting deliciously moist, with a wonderful apple-ginger flavor my entire family enjoyed.

The frosting helped, too, even if we accidentally bought pink food coloring instead of red. I kept adding more food coloring to the mix in hopes it would turn red, but it just grew a louder shade of pink. As is usually the case with recipes like these, the frosting is on the sweeter side, so feel free to adjust as necessary.

Next week, we cozy up to a trio of seasonal novellas from some of my favorite authors while whipping up one of my favorite dishes. Do join me!

I read this book in basically one sitting. I am absolutely going to go back to read the others in this series. A fabulous mystery with the fun adventure of flipping a house (or houseBOAT in this case). And some chapters narrated by the adorable cat Sawdust?! Absolutely wins in my book. The characters were charming and believable as people, the story had twists I didn’t expect and it kept me engaged. Loved it!

In the 5th installment of the cozy series ( House Flipper Mysteries) - Primer and Punishment - Whitney and her house flipping partner/cousin Buck have decided to try something different. They bought a house boat to try and do a renovation on and flip. While working on the boat they meet their boat neighbor, Grant. Grant is going through a divorce and has a decent sized list of people that aren’t happy with him. Shortly after meeting their neighbor, his boat explodes and Grant is killed.

Whitney sets out to figure out who could have disliked Grant so much that they would kill him. As any good amateur sleuth would do, Whitney has been noticing all of the visitors to the docks and their possible connection to Grant. Her help is actually appreciated by law enforcement this time which puts her in an uncomfortable spot of potentially being the star witness in the murder trial.

I enjoyed this quick read. It was a nice, light book to read at the end of a stressful week. I received the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this. I loved the idea of rehabbing a houseboat, events leading up to a wedding and “Sawdust “ the cat. But Whitney’s character went “overboard” interacting with murder suspects with no pushback from law enforcement. Stupid and dangerous. Also two week time frame to do the boat project was totally unrealistic. Thanks to #NetGalley and #PrimerAndPunishment for advanced digital copy.