This book is a "Fixer-Upper" cozy mystery by the author of the "Bibliophile" cozy mystery series. I loved the Bibliophile series so I expected to love the Fixer-Upper series, but I was very disappointed in this book. Frankly, it was pretty boring most of the time. There were some very interesting ideas shared and some good scenes but overall, it was boring. I got to page sixty something and thought, "When is there going to be any action?" I don't think I'll be reading any more from this series. But if the author publishes another Bibliophile novel, I'll be all over it.

Someone who wants a lot of homey, small town scenes interspersed with a little action and a lot of quirky inventions.

Shannon and Mac and Marigold and Rafe's relationships. Shannon's pets. Rafe's sense of honor. The Stephanie vine. The ecosphere (which is really not a sphere but still very interesting).

So many scenes with no conflict. Multiple instances of the author describing something as horrible/devastating when I would have found it just a tiny bit annoying.

Ask the author what happened.

Mostly frustrated, occasionally amused, and during the actual big conflict scenes, in the action.

Had a lot of talent. It just doesn't show as well in this book.

If you've read other books in the series then maybe all the catch up scenes with other characters will appeal to you more than they did me.

This is not a book for someone who wants an action-packed read. Unless you just skip to the action scenes. Those are good. They're just few and far between until the end of the book.

I borrowed the paperback version of this book from my local library.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of Shot Through the Hearth (A Fixer-Upper Mystery Book 7)   from Amazon.Com!

Created Nov 22, 2019 at 10:46am • Submit your own review...