Four-Alarm Homicide is incorrectly titled. It should be FIVE STAR Four-Alarm Homicide! This book should be next to the textbook description of can't put it down. Whitney and her cousin Buck have acquired some new properties for their home flipping business. Some neighbors are also interested in rehabbing local historical properties. Toss in some very interesting family dynamics, a murder of one of the neighbors, and Whitney's impending nuptials, and you have an incredible novel to devour. How Ms. Kelly pulls all these plot twists together is a story of its own. So well done. Can't wait for the next one!!

Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Four Alarm Homicide
House Flipper Series #6
by Diane Kelly

Publisher’s Summary
The sixth in the delightful cozy mystery series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville, TN—where the real estate market is to die for.
Some properties are too hot to handle...
Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are hot for a historical property that has just come on the market—a fire station in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood that was built nearly a century ago.
The cousins have just begun the interior demolition work at the fire station when Joanna Hartzell, who lives in a townhouse around the corner, comes by with a plea for help. Joanna owns the right half of her building, which she proudly maintains in perfect condition, while the left side falls into disrepair: the seven adult children who inherited it years ago refuse to lift a finger on repairs. Never one to turn down a challenge, Whitney and Buck manage to acquire the rundown townhouse—though it turns out Joanna is only one of the many neighbors interested in buying the property once they’ve worked their magic.
Then Joanna shows up at the fire station confused and rambling, then collapses, never to recover. Alarm bells go off for Whitney: she suspects something—and someone—evil could be the real cause. Can she and Collin put the clues together and smoke out a killer?
My Thoughts
Four Alarm Homicide is a quick read. House flipper and bride-to-be Whitney Whitaker must solve a murder while trying to finish rehabbing an old fire station and a townhouse. She’s more than up to all three tasks. But she asks so many questions, she comes under suspicion herself. Now she needs to clear her name and finish the fire station in time for her wedding.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series, and I wasn’t lost. The plot kept me guessing, and the murderer’s identity caught me by surprise. The clues were all there, but I didn’t put them altogether. Well-done.
4/5 stars.



ISBN: 9781250816085

I'm generally a fan of cozy mysteries, and one that featured a female house-flipper sounded like my kind of gal. Unfortunately, I find myself a bit disappointed with this one. The main character came across as more nosy than a smart investigator, Also, I heard more about a wedding than I confess to caring for. I did like the part the cats played and I liked the friends. I hope one thing will be corrected in the final edit. No self-respecting home repair person would use a big screwdriver on a long screw to fix a step. That's what impact drivers were invented for and I can't imagine anyone, let alone a flipper, using anything else.

Loved it!! I’ve enjoyed this whole series, but I think I liked this one even more than the others!! I cannot wait for the next one!

Four-Alarm Homicide by Diane Kelly is the sixth book in the cozy House-Flipper Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries each of these books in the series could be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so as the mystery within is fully solved during the book. There is of course some character development carried over book to book for those fans following in order from the beginning.

In the House-Flipper Mystery series Whitney Whitaker had been working as a property manager to pay the bills while she had been living in her parents pool house with her cat, Sawdust. Real estate and renovating were really Whitney’s passions so whenever she got the chance she was diving into the house flipping business with her cousin Buck.

This time around Whitney and Buck have their eye on a historical fire station wanting to turn the property into an unique home for a future buyer. Shortly after they get the go ahead on the fire station property though Whitney and Buck are confronted by some nearby neighbors about another property. Definitely interested the cousins start looking into investing but things go off rails when the original neighbor that contacted them ends up murdered.

While it’s not necessary to read all the books to enjoy this series the cozy House-Flipper Mystery series is one that I have followed from the beginning and always enjoy coming back to. There are a couple of elements in here that I adore and one being that the resident furry friend, Sawdust, gets his own point of view during the books. This one also appeals to my HGTV renovation loving side and I enjoy imagining what the characters are building up each time. Overall though this one just appeals to my wants in a cozy mystery with a lot of laughs mixed into the fun mystery involved. Looking forward to continuing this series in the future!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Whitney and her cousin have barely started converting a historic firehouse into a private residence when an older lady aproaches them about the dilapidated townhouse attatched to her own home. The owners have passed away and their adult children are doing nothing to preserve the structure. Whitney and Buck quickly decide to take on the extra project. As soon as the quit claim deeds are signed, they're dealing with angry criticism from neighbors who felt entitled to buy the house for themselves. There's murder and vandalism and the mystery is completely engaging. I've missed a couple of previous books in the series but was able to follow everything just fine. I definitely need to go back and read about their motel project.

Four Alarm Homicide
Is a cozy mystery series set in the Nashville area. The author has drawn very likable characters. Whitney and her cousin Buck are turning a firehouse into a home when a neighbor shows them a townhouse that needs work. They buy that too which possibly starts a chain of events that lead to death - is it natural causes or murder?
I really enjoyed Whitney - she is very caring and observant. I consider this novel on the lighter side of mystery - that said I could not figure out the killer.

A part of the hose flipping series with Whitney and Liam.
A cozy mystery with suspense, intrigue, and surprise ending.
Enjoyed reading,
voluntarily reviewed.

Whitney and her cousin Buck flip houses and are excited to begin their latest project. They are fixing an old firehouse to a single residence, while maintaining its outside look. They take on a townhouse project on an adjacent property, which involves getting seven heirs to agree to sell. The small neighborhood has interesting characters, but when one stumbles into the firehouse and dies in Whitney’s arms, Whitney is drawn to investigate. Between sabotage, arson, harassment, and preparations for her upcoming wedding, there is plenty going on.
I liked the characters in Four-Alarm Homicide as well as the mystery. And it has a lovely ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

The sixth in the House Flippers series has Whitney and her cousin Beau renovating an old fire station in Germantown, a Nashville suburb. This leads them to a townhouse around the corner from the fire station which is owned by a bunch of feuding siblings. The owner of the attached townhouse - widowed Joanna Hartzell - is afraid that the neglected building is bringing down her property values.

After some legal manipulations, including quit claim deeds, Whitney and Beau add the townhouse to their slate of renovations. But arson at the fire station, vandalism in the townhouse, and the suspicious death of Joana are delaying their renovations plans. Whitney needs to solve the murder and get the reno done at the fire station because she and her fiancé detective Collin are planning to use it as the venue for their upcoming wedding.

With a wide variety of suspects including the arguing siblings, the man across the street who wants to buy the newly renovated townhouse, the victim's daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, and the family from across the street who also really want to move into the renovated townhouse, Whitney has plenty of people to investigate.

This was an entertaining cozy mystery. I enjoyed the chapters told by Sawdust, Whitney's cat.

What a fun book cover. It truly matches the story. The flippers have bought an old firehouse. It needs work and yet so much potential. Let the work begin. Then a neighbor asks them to consider fixing up the other side of her duplex. So many kids inherited but none want to fix up the place to make it livable again. Sounds like a fun cozy doesn't it. Then someone dies. The who-dun-it is hard because so many characters have the opportunity to have done it. Surprise ending! Liked the story. It caught my interest and I spent too much time reading instead of other obligations.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Whitney loves her job and is excited about getting married. When an individual she knows dies, she knows foul play was involved. I liked this book.

4.25 stars

Diane Kelly is one of those authors that I rely on to captivate and entertain me, especially valuable after reading a series of just ok books. Bolstered by an unusual murder weapon, Four-Alarm Homicide moves at an enjoyable pace combining a sizeable and interesting array of potential murderers with glimpses into house-flipping. Can definitely be read as a standalone, but reading the series gives you character growth and understanding to some of the characters who may only make a cursory appearance here.

Love it so much, the mystery part is interesting and keeping change the suspect. And of course the sawdust. How can you not smile when reading the point of view of a cute little cat. I also enjoyed the knowledge of house flipping.
It is not complicated to read this one without knowing any of the other books in this series.
I think I find a new fav author and a series to start. （from book one）
Highly recommended 5 starts

I have read the enitre series and enjoy the characters and plots of this series about house renovation and flipping houses. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

This is the sixth release in the House Flipper Mysteries . Our protagnist is Carpenter Whitney. She works with her partner Buck. They buy and renovate old houses and commerical buildings for a tidy profit. A vintage fire house in Nashville is their current project. When a neighbor ask them to buy and renovate a condo next to hers in disrepair they agree. However the owners are siblings and fight them every step of the way. When the neighbor dies due to poisening Whitney is on the case investigating. She and Buck are under suspicion and she must find the true killer before she risks her freedom and their business.

I enjoyed this next in series. The author has included a well crafted story that engages the reader. Many sub plots in this book made for a exciting read I enjoyed to conclusion. .Well done to the author. I look forward to the next in series.

Four-Alarm Homicide is a Five-Star read! It is book number Six in Kelly's House Flipper mystery series. Whether you're a longtime fan of the series or a newcomer looking for a captivating mystery 'Four-Alarm Homicide' delivers on all fronts.

Whitney Whitaker and her cousin, Buck, are back in action with rehabbing old properties in Nashville. After some competitive bidding, they are able to purchase an old fire station in the Germantown neighborhood. A neighbor, who owns one-half of a duplex, approaches them about buying the other side. It takes some legal finesses, but soon Whitney and Buck are also working on that property. When someone dies, Whitney needs to figure out who did it before she becomes a prime suspect herself.

What sets 'Four-Alarm Homicide' apart is its seamless blend of suspense, humor, and heart. Kelly expertly crafts a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats and delves deeper into the lives of beloved characters. From unexpected baby announcements to heartwarming wedding celebrations, this book is as much about personal growth as it is about solving crimes.

I loved visiting Nashville with the House-Flipper crew once again! This was another great entry in the series with Buck and Whitney renovating an old firehouse and also end up working on townhouse nearby. Of course, we get lots of action with Sawdust, Whitney's cat and the buildup to Whitney's wedding! In these books, I tend to enjoy the journey and not think too hard about the mystery, but the mystery itself had lots of red herrings. I did get the ick a bit in one scene that took me out of the story when Whitney followed and confronted a suspect. Otherwise, its a great time and I look forward to more from Diane Kelly!

Four-Alarm Homicide, the sixth in the House Flipper Mystery series by Diane Kelly, is a good addition to the series, with both a unique project for the house flippers and a unique method of homicide to make things interesting.
Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck have altogether too much on their plates in this book, between a fire house and a townhouse to renovate, angry siblings out to get them for how they purchased the home, her upcoming wedding and his newly pregnant wife, and finally the homicide referred to in the title. The result is a story that is somewhat disjointed, with subplots going off in every which direction and distracting from the main mystery.
Not only is the storyline disjointed, it doesn't even get around to the actual crime until the 40% mark, almost half-way through the book. If it weren't for the title, I'd have wondered where the book was actually going. Once the murder is committed, the book becomes repetitive, with the reasoning behind suspecting each and every person repeated as though the author thought that the reader wouldn't be able to recall why they are suspects at all because of all of the other things going on. I actually knew who the killer was early on, once the murder was committed, although the motivation was less clear.
I have been a fan of the series, because of the renovation aspect and the 'woman in an untraditional role' that it provides. However, this time, I was underwhelmed.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #FourAlarmHomicide.

I enjoyed this next installment in the house-flipper mystery series. I enjoyed re-visiting the characters, especially the Sawdust the cat. This can be read as a standalone and would highly recommend this cozy mystery series.

I loved this delightful cozy from the adorable cover to the very last page. This episode has Whitney, Sawdust and the gang of usual cohorts taking on not one but two rehabs and a bunch of family drama most of it not her own. The mystery had me guessing and re-guessing and I still didn’t peg the killer. An entertaining addition to the series.