The second installment in Juliet Blackwell’s Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series. I loved her first and found her second equally as entertaining. You return to Mel (Melanie) Turner, a general contractor who specializes in restoring historical homes. The home she is working on in this book is a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco. Add in a young couple with their infant son (the wife of which is a Russian bride) and a cranky neighbour across the street (who sidelines as a taxidermist) and an old flame not yet rekindled and the ghosts are simply icing on the cake. 

I absolutely love Mel’s family (including a step son who she is step mother to in heart but not name) and friends… the cast of characters around her are varied and entertaining. And the struggle she has with her new found “talent” of seeing ghosts and interacting with spirits allows you to learn more about the varied methods and people who are believers. 

I certainly did not see the end coming and am totally looking forward to book #3!!! If you enjoy ghosts, interesting characters and a mystery to solve or two… seriously PICK UP THIS BOOK!!! Juliet Blackwell does NOT disappoint!

Dead Bolt