Dead as a Door Knocker

Dead as a Door Knocker takes readers to Nashville, Tennessee where Whitney Whitaker lives in the tiny guesthouse on her parent’s property with her adorable cat, Sawdust. She puts her business degree to work at managing properties for clients of Hearth & Home Reality and keeps her construction skills sharp working part-time for Whitaker Woodworking. Whitney is hoping to start selling real estate once she obtains her license. Whitney is a smart, interesting and spunky woman. When Rick Dunaway offers to sell a home to Whitney at a good price, she jumps at the chance. She knows it is a good investment, but Whitney cannot afford it on her own. Thus, enters her cousin, Buck Whitaker. Whitney should have known that Rick had an ulterior motive. When Rick turns up dead in the flower bed and Whitney is without an alibi, the new homicide detective believes he has a slam dunk case. But Whitney is not going down without a fight. I like how Whitney with the aid of Buck and her friend, Colette nose around for information. The mystery is multifaceted. There are a couple of potential suspects and good clues to help readers identify the guilty party. I enjoy Diane Kelly’s writing style. I was drawn into the story and I kept reading until I finished it. We get to know Whitney along with her family and her best friend. I am happy that the author took the time to establish our main character. I especially enjoyed the chapters written from Sawdust’s perspective. They are entertaining. I found myself laughing as Sawdust described the “demon” that zips around the floor (robot vacuum cleaner). Dead as a Door Knocker is a good start to A House Flipper Mystery series (4 out of 5 stars). Dead as a Door Knocker has relatable characters, home renovations, a caring family, good food, a dead body and an adorable cat.

Every book I've read of hers has been a delight. Five stars once again.