Review - Flipped Out by Jenny Bentley

Flipped Out by Jennie Bentley is the fifth book in the “Do-It-Yourself” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, October 2011

Avery and her hunky handyman boyfriend Derek Ellis are renovating another house in Waterfield, Maine. But it’s not just any house. It belongs to local news anchor Tony “the Tiger” Micelli—and it’s a quaint cottage with limitless possibilities. Even more exciting is that the makeover is going to be filmed as part of a home renovation TV show.  Unfortunately the road to cable TV fame is a bumpy one: this DIY spins into a DOA when Tony’s corpse is found at the cottage, flat on his back and not from natural causes. Turns out there were a few people who wanted Tony dead, and that the murderer might have his sights set on a few more Waterfield residents. That means it’s up to Avery to nail the killer. Before someone yells “Cut!” and it’s all over.

Avery and Derek’s next renovation project will be part of a reality project with five days to complete the project. Things go astray when the owner’s dead body is found and now the frantic pace to complete their project turns into a frantic pace to find a murderer before the crew leaves town. What a great read. This well-plotted mystery had so many twists that every time I thought I knew who the killer was, another person had a better motive, and yet I didn’t suspect the killer when they were finally revealed. What draws me back to the adventures of Avery and Derek are the relationships with their friends, the ambiance of their coastal town and the warm feeling I get when I’m flipping the pages. The author continues to write a series that is both exciting and entertaining and I look forward to the next book in this enjoyable series.

--Dru Ann

Previously posted on  dru's book musing