Dead Bolt

Haunted Home Renovation Series, Book 2

By: Juliet Blackwell

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Turner Construction's latest restoration project is a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco. This time, general contractor Mel Turner has to work around the owners, who insist on sticking around-along with some ghosts that insist in their own way that the work stops.

The ghosts aren't the only ones standing in the way of the renovations. A crotchety neighbor, Emile Blunt, secretly wants this house and could be behind some of the disturbances. But when Emile is found dead, it's Mel who appears guilty. Now she must restore the building-and her reputation-before it's too late.

©2011 Juliet Goodson-Lawes (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Cleverly plotted with a terrific sense of the history of the greater Bay Area, Blackwell's series has plenty of ghosts and supernatural happenings to keep readers entertained and off balance." ( Library Journal)

And who will be murdered next?

I highly recommend this series if you like paranormal mystery.

The main character, Mel, a general contractor, is interesting and quirky. However, she wears frilly clothes to the job site even though she has “overalls to wear over them if she needed to crawl through grime”. (Please, that is a little over the top.)

She has taken over Turner Construction from her retired dad and is surrounded by a warm non-traditional family and steadfast friends who add to the interest of the story.

Every house has problems during a renovation, but this one has the additional problem of Jim Daley, the owner, who insists on living in the basement apartment with his family while the renovations occur despite the fact that his wife is against it.

There are spirits residing in Cheshire Inn. Mel has dealt with spirits on other jobs but this one is different. When cantankerous neighbor and former resident of Cheshire House, Emile Blunt, is found dead, Mel believes there is a link between the murder and the spirit. Although she understands the risk, Mel, must find a way to coax the ghosts to move on and out of Cheshire House while finding out who killed Emile.

There is also a sub plot involving Jim’s wife that adds to the mystery and intrigue as well as a female police investigator that has her eye on Mel's dad as a suspect for Emile's murder.

I love all her books!

Every book, every plot, is fun, well written with vivid loveable characters. She will make you laugh out loud. so beware if you are somewhere that you shouldn't make sudden noises!
Xerox Sands is a wonderful narrator. Her voice is very soothing and easy to listen to.

I love these stories!

Such a strong but vulnerable heroine. Also Xe Sands is one of my favorite narrators!!

Boarding home also housed cats

This book follows Mel Turner, current head of Turner Construction, a leading company that renovates old homes in San Francisco to their former glory as much as possible and to the extent their clients desire.

Mel has run into some snags on the renovation of The Cheshire House, once a boarding home with many feline residents. Today all that is gone, and a young couple thrilled to finally own it have hired Mel to restore it to its former state before the boarding home.

They don't quite realize at first that this will include laying three or four ghosts to rest. The story of their demise is actually based in fact. Mel's former beau, Graham, has left his former job with Cal. OSHA in favor of green construction methods, at Mel's suggestion. He plays a key role in dispelling the ghosts. Even the neighbor across the street with his upholstery shop helped and hindered. There were many subplots well presented and explained and tied into the ending, far too many to list here without spoiling the book.

I enjoyed DEAD BOLT just as much this time if not more. I was able to make much more sense of the many twists and turns of this title. I'm sure some of that came with my familiarity with the characters and the city. I could devote a bit more emotional energy into following the intricacies of the plot as well as the spirits in the attic. Granted my interest was further piqued by Mel renovating The Cheshire House because of the many cats that lived there at one time.

I've truly enjoyed the story, the many mysteries within, and the variety of people who populated it. Further, I still enjoy Xe Sands' voice narrating the book with the numerous foreign words and phrases rolling off her tongue as naturally and seemingly effortlessly as a child's fairy tale. A narrator can make or break an audiobook, and I think Xe Sands helps make it as much as Juliet Blackwell's writing each time. Highly recommended.

Great Series

Have come to enjoy Juliet Blackwell's books. Really enjoy the narration by Xe Sands, she has a very good clear voice with feeling.

Great Series

I discovered this series after listening to her Witchcraft series, which is also good. I also like the way they keep the same readers through out the series.

A nice mix of ghosts, mystery, and relationships

Any additional comments?

It's taken a while for the female lead to grow on me, being a bit different from the norm. She's a strong female but walks to the beat of a different drum. I feel like I'm starting to know her, however, and can appreciate some of her quirks. Love the ghosts and the complexity of her relationships! Also enjoy learning about house renovation techniques. This book starts off a bit slow, so I listened to it at 1.25 speed. Not sure if that was the narrator or the story line. I will continue to listen to this series. I have the feeling it will get better as the characters continue to develop and move forward.

Even Better than Book 1

This series is really growing on me. I have gotten especially fond of the narration. We really see Mel's soft side in this book and it made me like her even more. The mystery got a little elaborate at times for me but I do enjoy that it is never obvious who did it. Mel's love life is moving alone, though slowly. I appreciate the fully developed characters in this series - I read a lot of cozies and those often fail to do more than sketch out the characters.

This is how you renovate an old Victorian!

With this book we get to know our main characters a little better and the author does a great job describing the scene. As the mystery unravels you find yourself totally changing your mind from what you first thought of some of the guest characters. And as always there is a little history lesson about San Francisco. Enjoy!

Great Series!

Loved it! Narrator is fabulous! A fun ghost story. Can't wait to start the next one. :-)