by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Shot Through the Hearth. We also have a link to order it from Amazon, and from an indie bookstore where a portion goes to help support KRL.

For Hammer Construction owner Shannon Hammer, having Raphael Nash as a client is an unquestionable coup. Not only is he dating her friend Marigold, Rafe is one of the wealthiest men in the world whose unlimited budget gives Shannon free reign over the possibilities to renovate his Victorian mansion. He is also contracting Shannon’s company for a literal barn-raising during his upcoming Future Global Survival Con, in which attendees will share and learn about the latest high-tech, forward-thinking methods of protecting the environment. While no one more than Shannon can appreciate advances in Green technology, not everyone is so positive about the Rafe’s new direction. His former business partner is infuriated that Rafe left their company and has a public confrontation with him, making Dillon Charles’ subsequent death in the newly constructed Ecosphere vertical garden problematic for all.

As the conference continues, so do the attempts at sabotage, which include food poisonings at a slow food demonstration, on-the-lam smart mice, and even rifle fire. While Shannon’s boyfriend MacKintyre Sullivan finds that the chaos provides inspiration for his bestselling thriller series, it’s mostly due to Rafe’s considerable investment and the presence of Nobel Prize winners that prevent the police from shutting it down completely. Instead, Rafe asks Shannon to engage in her Scooby-doo tactics of listing suspects, motives, and timelines to once again help track down a killer. An arrogant author claiming to be a former military soldier, a love-struck personal assistant, and a plethora of eccentric environmentalists are all Shannon’s suspects for placing the Survival Con on the endangered list.

This series has so fully developed its likable cast of characters that readers will enjoy scenes of the Shannon’s friends just hanging out as much as they will its timely and very complex plot. The romantic intrigue and new couples being formed are woven into the plot naturally, resulting in improbable but delightful combinations. As climate change raises and lowers temperatures to disastrous levels, none of the extraordinary measures or creative scientific experiments presented by the Survival Con attendees seem that outlandish or impossible. The idealism is refreshing, as are Shannon’s environmentally friendly construction designs that conserve and recycle. Who knew home construction could be so fascinating or so much fun? In this Northern California town of Lighthouse Cove, Shannon’s network of family and friends are her best assets in uncovering the secrets of these brainy futurists. Even readers who have never picked up a hammer will be charmed by this entertaining read full of clever plot twists, witty dialogue, and an admirable heroine for a lead.

To enter to win a copy of Shot Through the Hearth, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “hearth” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 23, 2019. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address (so if you win we can get the book sent right out to you), and if via comment please include your email address. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors. One of the episodes features Kate’s first Fixer-Upper Mystery you can find the episode on Podbean or the player below.

Click on this link to purchase this book & a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

Shot Through the Hearth (A Fixer-Upper Mystery #7)

You can use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.