ABSENCE OF MALLETS

4 stars out of 5

This is the ninth book in the author's "Fixer-Upper" series; my acquaintance - and love - began with the sixth, and I've remained a loyal and happy reader ever since. It's refreshing to find a cozy mystery heroine, in this case professional contractor Shannon Hammer (yep, that's her real last name), who isn't oblivious to anyone other than herself and actually listens to reason. Growing up with a father who could build and/or repair just about anything, as did Shannon, gives me yet another way to relate - I just wish he'd taught me more than how to drive a nail and paint fence boards.

This one brings a happy circumstance: Shannon and hunky thriller writer Mac Sullivan are cohabitating. Shannon, who specializes in Victorian style, is working on a project to build 50 tiny houses for homeless or needy veterans, with half - plus a community center- already in place and occupied. In addition to writing his next book, the wealthy Mac has turned the historic lighthouse mansion into a retreat for writers. Still another project, started in a previous book, is restoration of part of a former insane asylum to become a posh hotel for Shannon's friend Jane. Shannon's sister Chloe, also a contractor but one who hosts a popular TV show on the West Coast, is married to local police chief Eric and commutes on occasion to visit Shannon (and, of course, her husband). 

As this one begins, work is progressing on the veterans' project, and Shannon is about to start teaching a class on building basics for women. Mac is hosting a small group of writers, one of whom turns out to be a boorish loudmouth named Lewis, who rankles just about every human he meets, including Mac and Shannon. Chloe is home for a visit, and everything seems to be going along swimmingly until the unthinkable happens: Shannon's new friend, a female veteran who's agreed to lend her talents to the housing project, turns up dead near Mac's shuttered-for-restoration lighthouse. The weapon appears to be one of the mallets the woman used in her art projects (hence the title of the book, I assume).

It's pretty clear there's a murderer among them all, but no one wants to think it's one of the veterans. Could it be one of Mac's guests at the writers' retreat? Or even Shannon's old nemesis from back in high school, who's beyond obnoxious to everyone? Everyone, from Shannon to Mac to Chloe and Eric, start investigating - but their efforts don't turn up much except the possibility that one or more of them may be the killer's next target.

Of course, all the details get hammered out in the end, but not without a bit of breath-holding on the part of this reader, at least. I have to say a couple of the characters in this one seemed borderline silly, but the whole thing was a treat as always (I love reading details of the construction trade) so I don't hesitate to recommend it. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Absence of Mallets by Kate Carlisle (Berkley, December 2021); 304 pages.