The Knife Before Christmas (A Fixer-Upper Mystery)

I always enjoy Kate Carlise’s cozy mysteries, and The Knife Before Christmas was no exception. We get to visit Lighthouse Cove at Christmas where Shannon Hammer and her crew are creating a Victorian carnival midway on the grounds of the Cliffs Hotel. I loved the descriptions of the hotel and the midway (I wish it was in my town). The carousel was a great addition. The story is easy to read with great characters. Shannon and Mac make a great couple. I enjoy the interactions between them. I like Shannon’s relationship with her crew. I find it funny that the guys do not like to borrow her pink tools. I appreciated that the whodunit did not take place at the beginning of the story. We get to learn about the carnival and spend time show more there, enjoy the local Christmas festivities, and catch-up characters. I had an idea who would die and who would do the deed, but I did not know why. I enjoyed following Shannon as she asked questions and searched for clues. There is a twist or two along the way as well as with some strategically placed clues for an armchair detective like me. I like that Shannon and Mac work together to solve mysteries by playing their Scooby Doo game. I was sorry when my visit to Lighthouse Cove came to an end. I hope I get to return soon. The Knife Before Christmas is a festive story with a regal hotel, a clever carnival, a delightful dinner with friends, an adorable carousel, Scooby Doo for two, and a cheery Christmas. show less

Shannon Hammer and her crew are working on creating a Christmas Carnival for Lighthouse Cove. The big surprise for the town is the new carousel that will debut at the carnival. The location is at the Cliffs Hotel which is a family enterprise and in addition to parents Bill and Lillian Garrison, their adult children are in the mix. Bill and Lillian revel in Christmas so every year they want to make it bigger and better but the kids don't like the extra cost being put out. When a body is discover in an area that Shannon and her crew have yet to renovate, she works to figure out who's behind it.

So glad to see Shannon, Mac and the gang back in action. Not the most difficult mystery to solve, but fun to read!

Fun to visit somewhere like Lighthouse Cove at the holidays, where life always seems so bucolic Shannon and her team are working on the big holiday event for the Garrison's hotel. Bill likes to go all out and this year there is a Christmas carnival complete with a carousel. The Cliffs Hotel is a family enterprise and in addition to parents Bill and Lillian, their adult children and spouses round out a new list of fresh faces to suspect of murder. I read enough mysteries that it's always nice when someone so unlikable becomes the body. It took a while to get there but figuring it out with Shannon and fiancé Mac was satisfying.

It may be Christmas, that doesn’t mean any time off for Shannon Hammer. She is busy doing renovations on the local hotel, adding Christmas attractions for the local people to enjoy. She gets along well with the owners and most of their grown children and their spouses. But there is always someone to poison the atmosphere. When a murder occurs on the grounds, Shannon and her husband Mac get involved with searching for the guilty party, before someone else gets killed. This mystery is quite good. A complex plot, well-developed characters, an interesting setting, and great writing all combine for an entertaining tale.

Christmas is rapidly approaching in picturesque Lighthouse Cove. Nothing says that better than finding out what delightful and exciting surprise event Bill and Lillian Garrison have dreamed up for the Garrison Hotel. Each year’s event seems to top the last, and this year is no exception. They have purchased a beautiful, fully functional carousel to put under a giant circus tent that will also hold various gaming booths, rides, etc. just as a regular carnival would – and it is all open to the public. Shannon Hammer and her crew have been hired to make it all come together. The job goes smoothly and delightfully – until one evening during a special event when the lights go out – all of them – and when Shannon turns the breaker show more back on, there is a body – a very dead body.

With Sheriff Bill and his crew investigating – and another body turning up – things are getting heated. Will the murderer strike again? Will all of the Christmas festivities have to be canceled? With no clues, will the murderer be caught?

I was quickly sure who would be the victim or the murderer, but it was still interesting to find out which—and why. The mystery was a bit slow starting, but that was okay because the focus was on the Christmas festivities, the carnival project, and other local activities.

This was a lovely, quick, fun read with an interesting mix of characters, events – and crimes. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. show less

Minor entry in the series. Very little detecting--and very little construction work--in this one. It's a reasonably pleasant read, but nothing more than that.