Remodeled to Death

If you have ever had to deal with your city building inspector, I hope you had a good experience! Unfortunately, if he's picky AND dishonest, it doesn't make for a popular guy! Now, if you suddenly have a water main break causing damage from the third through to first floor bathrooms, this could be a good thing! Once again Susan Henshaw finds herself involved in solving a murder; this time a little too close to home! She gets unexpected help with her sleuthing from new contractor Josie Pigeon (who has her own mystery series) but is puzzled by her easily accepted assistance. The characters in this upper middle class New England town will keep you entertained and baffled as you try to determine the "excellent reason" behind Inspector Fairweather's death. Now does hiring the most obvious suspect(owner of her contractor firm) sound like a smart way to figure it out? I'd sleep with one eye open!

Susan and Jed just get the kids away for the month of August, and instead of the relaxing month they were expecting, they get a burst pipe, a flood, and a big remodeling job. At the same time Simon Fairweather, the local building inspector is murdered in his office. Naturally, Susan has to hire the biggest suspect to take on her construction job.I enjoyed this mystery, not much more than the others, except for the introduction of Josie Pigeon. It is a typical Susan Henshaw mystery with all of the characters that an upper middle class New England town produces, which makes an enjoyable read.

Well, it's just another lovely August for suburban sleuth Susan and her handsome husband Jed. The kids are away, and it's just the perfect time for some romance--until the pipes burst and the resulting water damage uncovers a bushel basket of necessary home improvements. Bummer. The only problem is they can't get the obstinate city building inspector to approve their plans. He's busy being a corpse after having been shot with a nail gun. Ouch. Whodunit? Susan gets some unexpected detective help--and a lovely new bathroom--courtesy of contractor Josie Pigeon, who does such a good job here that Valerie's giving her a series of her own. Double your pleasure, ladies. .