Hello and happy Caturday!!! It’s been a looooooong time since my last post. Life is just way too busy with freelancing, my full-time gig, dog walking, dad stuff, etcetera, etcetera. But nevermind all that! I am here and ready to share my latest cozy mystery recommendation for all my cat-loving, HGTV-watching readers. A big thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this free ARC. This book comes out on March 26th, so get ready for a good time with this latest installment of the House Flipper Mystery Series!

The gist: House renovator/flipper Whitney Whitaker Flynn is caught up in another mystery—and this time it’s the case of a dead exposé reporter in a soon‑to‑be‑remodeled barn! With so many people holding motives for murdering a nosy reporter, our intrepid sleuth must track down the clues, clear her own name, and get back to spiffing up that rustic ol’ barn.

The setting: In true cozy fashion, this story is set in a small rural community on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee. My first thought: Ewwww—MAGA! But thankfully, Whitney seems to lean left with her views on veganism and the environment. Yay, Whitney! A few scenes take place in a plant‑based specialty restaurant with a backyard crew of cows, pigs, and critters. Diners can even spy on the resident cow through the restaurant’s surveillance camera setup. Love it.

Thoughts on the MC: Unlike many cozy‑mystery sleuths who are TSTL (too stupid to live), Whitney knows how to close a case without wandering into an abandoned building alone to interrogate the killer. She has excellent sleuthing instincts and knows when to call in the big dogs when things get dicey. She’s also passionate about preserving a barn that once served as part of the Underground Railroad, which is truly commendable. Oh, and she’s a cat lady to boot! I adored the little chapters narrated by her kitty, Sawdust—such a delightful treat for us crazy cat lovers.

What irked me: Everything about this mystery is great—but I don’t really enjoy reading about pregnancies. I get it: Whitney’s in a loving relationship with her detective husband, and babies often come with the territory of a happy marriage. But it’s just super uninteresting to me, and all the baby‑kicking commentary is distracting. It’s like listening to a friend moan about indigestion nonstop. Bleck.

Overall thoughts: This is a solid mystery with red herrings and interesting suspects, including sketchy churchgoers, a money‑grubbing real‑estate tycoon, and even the plant‑based restaurateurs. Noooo—please don’t let it be them