I will not normally begin a series at book 5, but the idea of renovating a houseboat totally hooked me. Whitney, her cousin and friends are all delightful and I had no sorrow about the death. All in all a good series which means I will have to begin at book 1. (Not sad)

This is a fun cozy mystery series featuring Whitney and her cousin Buck. The cousins are house flippers and they really enjoy what the do.
When Buck presents them with a unique opportunity, flip a house boat, Whitney is immediately intrigued.
Of course nothing ever goes according to plan, and when Whitney and Buck witness a horrific accident, Whitney finds herself wrapped up in another murder investigation.
This is a series that gets better with each book. The characters are easy to like, and I do enjoy reading fixer upper themed cozy mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#PrimerandPunishment #NetGalley

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of PRIMER AND PUNISHMENT (Book 5 of the House-Flipper mysteries) by Diane Kelly in exchange for an honest review. Property prices have skyrocketed, so carpenters Whitney and Buck Whitaker are having trouble finding an affordable property to flip. Buck eventually finds a houseboat they can work on to turn a small profit. However, getting to know the neighbors is a risky proposition. Whitney ends up having to deal with all of the irate visitors coming to see (and confront) the con-man next door. When the situation explodes, Whitney finds herself working to identify a murderer and to exonerate an innocent woman.

I liked this book and enjoy the series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, home renovation, kitty side-kicks, and humor.


#PrimerandPunishment #NetGalley

Primer and Punishment, the fifth book in the very entertaining House Flipper Mystery series by Diane Kelly, once again had me guessing until the final chapters…Ms Kelly is masterful in misdirections with a plethora of likely and interesting suspects.

With the perfect combination of red herrings, believable plot twists and turns, a multitude of elements of the crime moving and shifting to keep the reader engaged, and a most dislikable victim who had wrong so many suspects that it was easy seeing any of them as the culprit…the pages couldn’t be turned fast enough. And that Whitney and Buck’s latest flip project was a houseboat gave a whole new perspective to their flipping enterprise. This author has been quite inventive in the duos projects…a church and rectory turned into a theatre and restaurant (respectably) are case in point.

Also, as the series has evolved and Whitney and Buck’s house flipping business has grown and developed, as well as their individual personal lives have evolved, it has been rewarding to have been along for the ride from the beginning, and to be emotionally invested in what the future holds for Whitney and Buck with their business and personal lives.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by NetGalley and the Publisher. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

#PrimerandPunishment. #NetGalley #AuthorDianeKelly #DianeKellyAuthor #StMartin’sPress

Primer and Punishment is the 5th in the House Flipper series. It takes place in Nashville, Tennessee. Whitney Whitaker is the main character along with her cousin, Buck Whitaker. She and Buck fix up houses to resell. Colette is one of her roommates who owns her own restaurant and Buck's fiancé. Emmalee is her other roommate who works for Colette's assistant manager. Collin Flynn is her boyfriend who is a homicide detective with the Metro Nashville Police Department. Buck tells Whitney that he has found their next project. It is a houseboat called Skinny Dipper. It needs work but she agrees to buy it.

After buying the boat they decide to live on the boat while they work on it. Whitney brings her cat Sawdust as she did not want to leave him at home. They start work on the boat by clearing out the boat, sanding down the furniture, replacing the generator, etc. There is a boat named Sexy Sheila in the slip next to them. A boat pulls up and a man gets off it with fish and boards the boat. A dog named Jojo is in the cabin. He comes back out with the dog and some beers. He asks them if they would like to join him. His name is Grant Hardisty. He tells them that he bought the boat from a friend whose wife was named Sheila. He was a bartender but is not able to work because he hurt his leg. He is living on the boat as he is in the middle of a divorce.

Mick and Sheila come with a check to buy back their boat but he tells them he can't sell it back to them at this time as he is in the middle of a divorce and is living on the boat. Grant's two ex-wives - Jackie and Denna also have a lot to do with the story. This is where the story takes off with lots of things happening which I will leave to the reader as I don't want to spoil it. There is a build up with the death of Grant when the Sexy Sheila blows up with him aboard and finding out who killed him. The ending of the story is Buck and Colette's wedding and Collin giving Whitney a ring,

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next adventure in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Cousins Whitney and Buck buy a houseboat to rehab. They meet charming and good looking Grant Hardisty who lives in a cabin cruiser in the boat slip next to them. They soon learn maybe he's not as nice as he first seemed, as he borrowed money from Buck. which he never returns. Apparently he has a habit of this as angry ex-wives, Ex girlfriends, and angry friends show up at the boat to confront him. When his boat explodes and several people confess to his murder. Whitney gets involved to find the real murderer. This was a fast paced, fun cozy, with plenty of suspects. I love this series and look forward to reading the next one! ☆☆☆☆☆


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Whitney and Buck are expanding their business yet again, this time by flipping a houseboat. Getting to live on the boat while they’re working is a plus, even better is having a place to host the bachelorette and bachelor parties before selling the boat.

With a neighbor that sees to use people, Buck finds himself out of some serious change while the man himself finds himself out of time when is boat is blown to smithereens with him on it. Who wanted the man dead? Scratch that, who didn’t want the man out of their life is a better question. Did Whitney see anything that can help solve whodunit? Or will the killer get by Scott free this time?

Another good entry in this house flipping series. I come for the mysteries, but I also keep coming back for the progression in the life stories of the characters. It’s an enjoyable series with a cute kitty or two..super cozy and a solid mystery each time.

Tennessee, small-business, relationships, relatives, renovation, restaurant, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, houseboat, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, explosion, verbal-humor*****

The publisher's blurb is an excellent hook!
This time the cousins/business partners tackle renovating a dilapidated houseboat and they (and this reader) learn a lot about all that is involved in the work. They are moored next to a handsome people user who stands out as prime candidate for Murder Victim. The how is amazing and we get to know more about the Fire Service as everyone gets in on the sleuthing. Some astounding plot twists and surprising (!) red herrings for this collection of relatable characters. Loved it!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley. Thanks!

"I confess. I did it."

Normally Whitney Whitaker's detective boyfriend, Collin, would be happy to have someone confess early on to a crime. This time, however, he has three people claiming they are the guilty party. So, who literally blew up Grant Hardisty, who was living on the boat docked beside their latest rehab project, an old houseboat dubbed the Skinny Dipper? 

With, let's see, six ex-wives, countless people he owed money to, and Grant's using people, there are obviously quite a few suspects. For the record, this one kept me guessing until the end. Let's just say, the red herrings just kept on coming, leaving me uncertain until the big reveal who was really guilty. The plot moved along smoothly, managing to fit in hints and bits about the process of going about the rehab of a boat, such as the specialty paint needed for both the above and below water portions, not to mention the best paint rollers for the job. There's humor, too, another plus.

For me, as intriguing as trying to sort out who blew up Grant's boat to kill him was, it was the sense of family and friends that made this book a winner. Whitney and her cousin Buck work long, physical hours, but still find time(and energy) to spend with those they care about. Heck, the whole book is a build-up, pun intended, to Buck's wedding to Whitney's cousin Collette, with various characters popping in and out to assist with shower and bachelor/bachelorette parties, among other things. Even Sawdust the cat gets to share his views on happenings, among them his unexpected friendship with JoJo the neighbor dog. You'll also get a crash course, of sorts, for a boating license exam, which Buck is understandably not real focused on despite Whitney's frequent oral quizzing. 

Will he pass? Will Whitney's curiosity help solve the investigation of who literally blew Grant to bits? Why so many confessions? Will Sawdust ever forget his unexpected dip into the water? Maybe he will learn to appreciate that cat life jacket, which I thought was a nice, subtle reminder to those who might want to take their pets out on the water with them. 

Bottom line, this one (and the whole series) is a winner. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for inviting me over to check out the Skinny Dipper. After that ending, I can't wait. Well, maybe I'll try the Mermaid Paradise Punch recipe while I wait.

I have never read this series before, but I loved the cover and the story description, so I jumped in and so glad I did!

Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are house flippers in Nashville. Buck comes across a unique opportunity...flip a houseboat named the Skinny Dipper. Even though they have never done it before they jump right in with the help of Whitney's research and both their outstanding skills. They both live on the boat while they are rehabbing it. They meet their "neighbor" Grant Hardisty who is living on his boat since he is in the middle of a divorce. Grant is in search of his next sugar mama and has several exes as well as ways to make easy money. It's not long before there is an incident and Grant is blown up with his boat. There are no shortage of suspects and actually three confessions to sort through. Whitney finds herself in the middle of her police detective boyfriend's case while trying to finish the work on the skinny dipper and plan the shower and bachelorette party for her best friend and Buck's fiancé.

It's a great mystery with twists and turns and wonderful characters. I had no trouble catching on even though it was my first book of this series. I am definitely going to be looking to read books 1-4 of this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher, St Martin's Press for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Whitney and Buck are back and this time they are flipping a houseboat. Lake life is the best! Their marina neighbor has issues and one of them is going to blow him and his boat to bits. Of course Whitney has to involve herself in the investigation. It’s not like she doesn’t have enough to do with rehabbing the boat, planning a bridal party for Colette, and spending time with Sawdust. But her intentions are good. I love the amount of research the author puts into these stories and I always learn something new. The ending took me by surprise but boy did I love it. Another terrific adventure.

Primer and Punishment by Diane Kelly was such a fun mystery! I love a renovation mystery and the Nashville houseboat setting made it even more unique! This one is part of a series but could be read as a stand alone! Bring it on your next beach trip!

Primer and Punishment was a great mystery read. Whitney, her cousin Buck and her
cat, Sawdust work together to rehab and flip houses. In this book it is a houseboat they
are redoing. The neighbor in the next slip seems a bit unusual but is something illegal going on with him or is he just a bit of a charmer who gets what he wants? Very nicely done
and the mystery has lots of suspects before it’s solved.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest
review.

Whitney and her cousin Buck make a living flipping houses. They are trying a new flip: a houseboat. The person in the next boat, Grant, initially seems friendly, but apparently he has a lot of baggage: multiple ex-wives, no job, and a questionable injury he says prevents him from working. There is a terrible explosion at the marina, and Whitney decides to investigate. I really had to suspend disbelief when so many people agreed to talk to her, since she was basically a busybody and not an investigator or in law enforcement. Every time she got some new information, the professionals would look into it; surprisingly, they did not tell her to back off. I did like the house flipper mystery premise and the animals in the book, Sawdust and Jojo. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Whitney and her cousin are excited about Flipping a house boat. Its their first time that they will be working on a house. Their neighbor is not very well liked and when their is an explosion on his boat, the number of suspects who wanted him dead is very long. This book kept me guessing.

Always a good read. Diane Kelly is a master at taking a cozy mystery and putting a great twist on them. You never worry that the killer won’t be caught.

Oh, this book was such a pleasure to read! There are times (like when you have the flu) that you just want a cozy mystery, where the guy who dies is an absolute jerk, the gore level is low, you can catch up with favorite characters, and get a little touch of HGTV house flipper as well. I hesitate to use the word uncomplicated, because the mystery actually had me guessing, but this is a well executed pure cozy in a great series. Recommended.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Whitney and her cousin Buck flip houses for a living but this time they’ve purchased a houseboat to rehab. They plan to live on the boat during the renovation in order to finish before Buck’s wedding. They weren’t counting on the boat in the next slip exploding with the owner on board.

This is a fun mystery with plenty of suspects to wade through and the unusual setting was interesting. I hope there will be more books in the series.

What a take on flipping houses. Whitney and Buck are trying to flip a houseboat but it is not as easy as it sounds they witness a horrific accident and then things start rolling. Really enjoyed this fun cozy mystery and look forward to reading more from this author.

I have read all the books in the series, and this is very good. Whitney and Buck decide to flip a houseboat which is different for them.
Grant is living on the boat next to them and is killed when the boat blows up. Several people confess and it is up to Whitney to try and help figure out who really did it.
I really enjoyed the book and the mystery. We get to read about all the characters we have met in the series -- I recommend this series and any book by Diane Kelly. – Love the cat’s point of view too!

I received a copy of #PrimerandPunishment from #NetGalley , breaking my own rule of not getting books from an established series that I hadn't read. I made an exception because this book, the fourth in the House Flipped series, is written by Diane Kelly and other books I'd read by her are excellent.
I am so glad I did! The book stands incredibly well on its own, it's easy to get to know and like the characters, and the mystery itself is complex and intriguing. As an intrepid assistant to my husband through the renovations of our two houses, I found this book full of instances to which I can relate.
The book is well written and fast paced, as well as entertaining from start to finish.

I will leave a review on Amazon and B&N on Feb 21st

In general this was a really good cozy mystery. I found the storyline to certainly be one that was a new one for me, who would have ever thought of flipping a house boat for resale. I had not read any of the previous books with these characters, but that did not make it hard to follow along after the storyline. I would recommend it to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley amd St. Martin's Press for free. and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Whitney Whittaker and her cousin Buck's next rehab project is a houseboat. They've never done one before but think that they can do a quick turnaround. They need something quick because Buck's wedding to Whitney's best friend Colette is coming soon.

While they are working on the houseboat, they meet the guy whose boat is in the next slip. Grant Hardisty seems like a handsome and charming guy who is dealing with an injury to his knee. He has a black lab mix puppy who is a bit too much for him to handle. He also has a string of ex-wives and a number of women he's met on dating apps. Oh, and the couple he cheated out of the boat are also coming around often to try to get their boat back.

When Grant takes his boat out of the slip to grill his dinner and not mess up Whitney and Buck's new paint, his boat explodes. Fire investigators don't think that it was an accident. There are numerous suspects and, oddly, a number of them confess to killing Grant. When one of them confesses to the Nashville Police Department, Whitney's boyfriend Collin is assigned to the case.

Whitney begins looking around because she doesn't believe the confession one of the suspects gives. She liked the woman and didn't want to believe she'd killed her soon-to-be ex. Whitney finds a number of suspicious characters that she feels had a better motive for Grant's death.

This was another fun episode in this contemporary cozy series.

Primer and Punishment is the 5th installment in the House Flipper Mysteries set in Nashville, Tennessee. Whitney Whitaker and her cousin, Buck Whitaker, have decided to flip a houseboat called The Skinny Dipper located on Old Hickory Lake. They believe it will be a quick, uneventful flip. And while it doesn't take long to refurbish the boat, there is an extraordinary event that happens to the boat in the adjoining slip. To make things even more interesting, numerous people confess to the crime. Using her intuition and natural sleuthing skills, Whitney is able to help law enforcement catch the wrong-doer. What makes the book more fun is the wedding festivities for Whitney's best friend, Collette, and her cousin Buck. I can't wait to try the recipe the author has included for Mermaid Paradise Punch!

This is an awesome and funny cozy mystery. I absolutely love that one of the story point of views is from a cat. Whitney and Buck are cousins who flip houses. They also find themselves solving cases. When an explosion happens in front of them they become a part of the investigation. The cast of characters are brilliant and funny. The story plot is entertaining with witty repertoire. It is a worthy page turner that also has romantic undertones.

Oh my goodness, I loved the fact that Buck and Whitney were rehabbing a boathouse! What a twist on the usual house flipper, and the different scenery was so fun! I always enjoy how much description Kelly puts into her stories of the actual repair/rehabbing process. It truly makes you feel like you're right there in the story with Buck and Whitney.
The only thing is I wish the ending wasn't rushed. It felt like Collin was hardly a part of this book, other than a few mentioned dates that weren't really described, so it felt really rushed/came as a surprise when he proposed to Whitney at the end and she said yes. It felt like, as a reader, I didn't really get to know him before they got engaged. I hope to see more of his character in the future, though, to get to know him!

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Whitney and Buck are renovating an old houseboat but get more than they bargained for.

While spray painting the neighboring boat suddenly explodes. Seems the handsome owner might have made a few enemies as they will soon find out. What secrets will they discover might lead to a killer?

Delightful story that moves along.

Cousins Whitney and Buck are house-flippers embarking on a project unlike any they've done before: a houseboat. All that's needed are a new motor, generator and cosmetic updates that can be done in a few weeks. That is a good thing since Buck is getting married soon. Easy-peasy, right? So it seems until an incident involving the boat in the adjacent slip throws a wrench into Whitney and Buck's construction plan. Without spoiling by going into the specific crime I'll just say this was an interesting and fun cozy. I enjoyed the different directions the plot took which kept me on my toes. I appreciated the possible suspects and red herrings added into the mix. I got to the point where I gave up trying to solve the crime and just enjoyed the ride to the solution. Honestly, that is the way it usually works out for me, ha. I think fans of the series will love the book. It's the first I've had the pleasure to read and I didn't feel lost.

Another great installment in the series. I love that each book gives the characters new adventures without straying too far from what is expected of them. I don't know what they are going to be able to fix up next, but I love all the different locations. I also love that Whitney and Colin are going to get their happily ever after. I was a little upset after the first book how fast Buck and Collette went from not even dating to being engaged. As someone who took 9 years to get engaged I know different people are ready at different times, but I wanted Whitney to get her happily ever after.

3.5 stars

Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck renovate and flip houses for a living. In this tale, they take on a houseboat as a project. It is refreshing to see a female doing construction work competently.

Their neighbor in the marina where the boat is stored is a hot mess -- multiple ex wives, a history of touching up friends and strangers for cash, lawsuits, and (maybe) a crippling knee injury that stops him from working. But nobody expected his boat to blow up one day out on the lake with him aboard.

Given his checkered history, there are no lack of suspects. Whit's boyfriend is a detective and she and Buck are witnesses so she is quite involved.

Meanwhile, Buck and Whit's best friend are getting married in a couple of weeks and much planning is taking place. These are undemanding reads with pleasant characters. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this; it was a solid mystery with lots of red herrings to keep me guessing. I haven’t read the other four books in the series which made it a little hard to connect to the characters. I wasn’t a huge fan of the chapters from the cat’s perspective, although I’m sure that is something in the whole series. Overall though, I think I would enjoy reading more.

Primer and Punishment is the fifth book in the House-Flipper Mystery series by Diane Kelly but is the first in the series that I have read. The characters were entertaining, choosing to flip a houseboat in this story. While the characters have a history one couple is now engaged it did not seem to hinder not knowing first hand their history. I enjoyed the mystery as just as it was for me a stand-alone but now hoping to read more of Whitney and Buck.

I had been following and enjoying another series by Diane Kelly, Mountain Lodge main character has boys who are now in college, so she is older than Whitney and her cousin Buck. Primer and Punishment perhaps would appeal to all age groups since the main characters were younger, amiable, hardworking, full of energy and ideas. I certainly enjoyed these characters enthusiasm for their work and for life in general.

The plot is high interest with an explosion of a boat nearby that has the owner in it. However, it is how the suspects react that is so very interesting. I wanted to be right with Whitney helping the police to solve this case. Young characters or older ones, Diane Kelly can entertain me any time with her cozy mysteries.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In "Primer and Punishment", Whitney and Buck are looking to add a new challenge to their house flipping business. This time, they take on a houseboat, eager to refurbish it and sell it at a profit. The project brings a few surprises, including the charismatic but troubled neighbor, Grant Hardisty. When Grant's boat explodes and he dies, Whitney and Buck are drawn into the investigation and find themselves tangled up in a web of secrets and motives, with many suspects confessing to the murder. Whitney, using her natural sleuthing skills, sets out to solve the mystery and find the true killer.

As Whitney delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a host of suspect motives, including revenge, greed, and jealousy. With so many people confessing, Whitney has to use all her detective skills to determine the truth. The author, Diane Kelly, keeps the readers engaged with the mystery, while also offering glimpses into Whitney's personal life and the events leading up to Buck's wedding.

Overall, "Primer and Punishment" is an entertaining mystery that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. With a charming cast of characters, a charming setting, and plenty of twists and turns, it's an enjoyable read for fans of the cozy mystery genre.

Diane Kelly has added a new dimension to her house flipper mysteries. In Primer and Punishment, Whitney and her cousin Buck are refurbishing a boat rather than a house and of course find a murder to solve. A fun addition to the series.

Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are changing things up and doing a flip on a house boat this time. Their boat neighbors seems to have made a lot of people angry especially his ex wives. When his boat explodes right in front of Buck and Whitney, she realizes that the killer isn’t one of the several people who have confessed to the crime.

Diane Kelly is written many cozy mysteries and it is easy to tell she knows how to craft an entertaining mystery. Whitney is a confident woman who comes across relatable and nice. She also has good observation and reasoning skills which allows her flush out the real killer. The dialog is witty and kept light. There are plenty of suspects to sort through and I liked Whitney’s methodical method of ruling out suspects.

Thank you St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy yo review.

I love this series and this book is no exception! Whitney and Buck are flipping a new to them type of ‘house’, a houseboat! We get plenty of details about lake life to go along with their murder investigation.
The murder investigation is complicated by the number of people that the victim defrauded. There were so many suspects and even a few false confessions. The false confession was different from other cozies I have read and I liked that. The solution was unexpected, but there had been clues that I didn’t pick up on originally.
At the end we get a lovely family event to experience. This would be a great read to get you ready for lake season!

This was a good solid mystery. I read the first one in this series a while ago and didn't love it but the series has improved a lot. I really enjoyed this one. It can certainly be read as a stand alone. The mystery was solid and the writing was good. I love the house flipper aspect of the mystery.

Who really killed Grant? That's the unusual question facing Whitney, her cousin Buck, and mostly her love interest Detective Collin, who has the case after several people confess to blowing up his boat. Whitney and Buck have taken on an different sort of flip job this time out- a houseboat- and while they only spent a little time with Grant, they are interested in this case because well, they like to investigate. It's pretty standard for a cozy that a murder victim has multiple people who disliked him but not that more than one confess and that's what made this a fun read. That and the characters (including the cat). I'm a fan of the series and am pleased to see growth in everyone but new readers will be fine with this as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.

So the book's description says Grant is charming, but there's nothing charming about him at all; it isn't hard to see why he had five ex-wives and why he's failing at finding a new one. I felt a little bad for him for having injured his leg and being so tight on finances, but he really played up the injury to absolve himself of any responsibility. Not charming. When his boat blew up and he was blown to pieces - literally - I wasn't exactly sad. But of course, Whitney and Buck find themselves in their fifth murder investigation. I guess Buck won't be seeing that 60 bucks he lended Grant ever again.

Primer and Punishment also takes place in the weeks before Buck's wedding to Whitney's roommate. They're planning bachelor/ette parties to take place on their houseboat before they sell it and the end of the book is the wedding itself. If you've read all the books to this point, this is the true charming part of the book. However, I want to point out that even though this is fifth in a series and the character's relationships are developing, you would have no problem dropping in to read this as a standalone. In fact, I think the houseboat setting easily makes this the best book of the series thus far.

Whitney and Buck decide to change things up a bit and work on a houseboat flip. The boat comes with a rare private slip and a spiral slide and they can't wait to get their hands on it! Unfortunately they soon discover that their new houseboat also comes with a con-artist neighbor who spices things up in more ways than one.

Grant Hardisty makes a few enemies by hunting for vulnerable older women he can wine, dine, marry, and make miserable. But these unlucky ladies aren't the only ones with a bone to pick with the affable Grant. When his boat gets blown out of the water, and Grant along with it, narrowing down the suspect list quickly becomes an enormous task. But Whitney is up for it, after all, Tucker and the loveable JoJo are depending on her!

I haven't read any other books in this series, but I most definitely will after this! There was nothing in the book that was at all hard to follow without knowing the backstory of the characters and I also didn't feel like I was missing out on anything by now knowing what might have happened to them before this book took place. I'm a huge fan of Diane Kelly and this series, though maybe not my favorite (yet), is definitely one I'm going to read from the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Ka-boom!!! What an exciting outing in the House-flipper cozy mystery series by Diane Kelly! Buck, Whitney Whitaker's cousin and partner in their rehab business, has chosen a fixer-upper houseboat for their next project. 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.

When the situation explodes, Whitney can't help but feel responsible for pointing the police in the wrong direction, so she steps in try to help find the guilty party. The story is told from Whitney's first person perspective but occasionally Whitney's cat Sawdust chimes in with his own charming observations.

The plot is well fleshed out with several possibilities but remains light-hearted and filled with interesting characters and fun situations as Whitney and her friends get ready for Buck and Colette's wedding. They want to have the houseboat finished in time to host both the bachelorette and bachelor parties in grand style.

Such a charming ending! Can't wait to see what happens next in Whitney's life. As always, the cover art is adorable and many thanks to the author for including two delicious-sounding recipes at the end of the book.

I received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks for the opportunity. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Delightful and engaging. with feline support as house flippers turn to boat flippers. See my complete review at www.reviewingtheevidence.com

Primer and Punishment: A House-Flipper Mystery
By Diane Kelly
St. Martin’s
February 23, 2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

Whitney and Buck Whittaker’s new house-flipping project is still technically a house, but this will be the first time the cousins are attempting to rehab a worn-down houseboat floating in a Nashville, Tennessee river. While this has Whitney researching and Youtubing videos on the proper paints and sealants required to keep The Skinny Dipper from leaking water, it’s their neighbor in the slip next to them who proves to be the bigger challenge. The many-times-married Grant Hardisty seems to maintain his lifestyle by living off of lawsuits and his ex-wives, not to mention borrowing dinner funds from a wary Buck. After one-too-many late night parties and being kept up by Grant’s dog barking, the cousins ask Grant to take The Sexy Sheila out further on the water to prevent the smells of his grilled fish from permeating into their fresh paint jobs. It’s extremely fortunate that they did, as otherwise Whitney and Buck would have been more than just knocked off of their feet when Grant’s boat explodes, along with him in it.

Equally fortuitous was Whitney’s allowing Grant’s stepson to sneak their black lab mix off of The Sexy Sheila the night before, as she agreed with the teenaged Tanner that being left tied up on the boat outside all night was no life for the whining dog. The timing doesn’t look too good though when Deputy Fire Marshal Melanie Landreth reports that the explosion was caused by arson, and it’s not long before Tanner’s mother confesses to the crime. She isn’t the only one to attempt to take the blame for the explosion though, and when Whitney’s inflatable duck has its throat slashed she doesn’t hesitate to continue her own investigation into their houseboat neighbor’s death.

This 5th in the series continues to alternate chapters narrated by Whitney and her cat Sawdust, whose feline’s viewpoints are rather brief and decidedly catlike. When not tracking down the multitude of Grant’s exes or his baffling success at online dating, Whitney attends the bridal and wedding parties for Buck and her best friend Collette. Whitney’s own boyfriend Detective Collin Flynn is not only on the case, he respects her judgment as she questions those involved in Grant’s life. In between bridal gown fittings and the restoration of their houseboat-flipping project, Whitney and her friends track down a bottle of Gil’s Fish Flavoring, find the source of explosive ice packs, and sort out false confessions. The affectionate nature and close bond between Whitney and her cousin is revealed through their good-natured teasing and affectionate banter, not to mention Whitney’s genuine delight as her best friend becomes an even closer part of their family. Details about boat repair and motors are made as intriguing as the mystery over who blew up the blow-hard, making this another fun and rewarding entry in Diane Kelly’s expansive list of humorous, fast-paced cozy mysteries.

I did not realize when I got this from NetGalley that it was the fifth in a mystery series. I picked it because the cover suggested cozy mystery, and that's pretty much what you get. I read cozies when I wake at one a.m. and can't get back to sleep, and this story was perfect for that.

The two main characters are fun, there is a thread of romance, and there is even a cat inserted, because I guess cats are a hot item in cozy mysteries now. The cat chapters didn't add anything to the story, but that was okay--the rest was a fun read, which is all I asked for.

Primer and Punishment Is the fifth A House-Flipper Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series or if you have missed a book. I was immediately drawn into this engaging cozy mystery. I liked Whitney and Buck’s latest flip. It was interesting learning about a houseboat. I can certainly see the perks to living on one. Buck and Collette (Whitney’s roommate and friend) are getting married. There is wedding planning and preparations for their bachelor and bachelorette parties. The houseboat is the perfect venue for both parties. Whitney finds herself drawn into the murder of Grant Hardisty, the man who lived on the houseboat next to them. Whitney ends up with a lengthy suspect list. Grant had a string of ex-wives and owed money to several people. The mystery kept Whitney hopping. I enjoyed piecing together the clues and identifying the bad guy. I was delighted with the stimulating reveal. Sawdust had a good time on the houseboat. He was not a fan, though, of his life vest. He did enjoy getting to meet a new friend. The chapters from Sawdust’s point-of-view are entertaining (they make you smile and laugh). The ending of Primer and Punishment will delight fans of the series. Primer and Punishment is a cute cozy with a feline in a life vest, a joyful JoJo, party planning, a slain smooth talker, an overhauled houseboat, a wonderful wedding, and a special surprise.

The next in the series with a new house to rehab and flip but this one is a houseboat that is in desperate need of repair and tlc. When a chance meeting helps they dive into a romance. This is a cheeky series that anyone will enjoy

Primer and Punishment the 5th instalment in the House Flipper Mysteries series by Diane Kelly. This is 4th book I have read in the series, and it can be read as a standalone.

Whitney Whitaker has a knack for nailing down murderers . . . but this time she might just come unmoored.

The characters of Whitney, Sawdust (cat), Buck, Collin and Collette are ones I have really come to love. I also enjoy the setting of Nashville, Tennessee. I like how the series continues to alternate chapters narrated by Whitney and her cat Sawdust.

This time around they are flipping an old rundown houseboat and living on it during the repairs. It becomes a great place to hold the bachelorette and bachelor parties, have some fun out on the water. I like where the characters are heading in their personal live too. Overall I really like this series and it’s on my must read list.

The mystery is interesting and had lots of twists which kept me guessing. I had no idea who the killer was till Whitney did.

I highly recommend to all my cozy mystery loving friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St.Martin Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the setting of this one! I mean, renovating a houseboat?! How fun!! It reminds me of the couple of family vacations we took on a houseboat on Lake Powell!

I liked the cousin duo, Whitney & Buck. Their relationship was great to see. They picked on each other (teasing like) but you can tell their business relationship meshes well together. They make a great team!

I’ve never read a cozy mystery where there is another point of view. And this one has about 9 chapters about a page long of Whitney’s cat, Sawdust. Does it add anything to the storyline? Not really. Is it a cute little addition though? Yep!

This was a fun cozy mystery! I definitely want to go and read books 1-4 now. I really like the house flipping aspect and the characters. Can’t wait to learn more about them.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press & Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a good mystery. I really liked Whitney and Buck. Whitney and Buck decided to do something different. They bought a houseboat to renovate. There is a guy in the boat slip next door that looked like he might be a good neighbor, but as they spend time on the boat, they find that he isn't all that great. He seems to have too many exes and he owes money to several people, including Buck. He has a great dog that should be somewhere with a yard to run. It seems when his current wife threw him out of the house, he moved to the boat. There is always someone looking for him because he owes them money, or he is trying out dating sites. When his boat blows up after Buck asked him to move the boat away because of the smoke from cooking next to their boat, Whitney can't help looking into who actually murdered him. The man's wife and stepson seem to be the likely suspects, but there a quite a few others who had good reason to see him dead. Can they find the murderer?