Occupation: Home Renovation Specialist and up-and-coming Ghostbuster
First things first: as soon as I get up (which is eeeaaaaarly, since I’m in construction), I make myself a really good cup of strong French Roast. Then I feed Dog, a perpetually hungry former stray lab mix who I kept meaning to find a home for…until he decided this home would do quite nicely, thank you very much, and that he didn’t care to leave. Meanwhile, I fight off increasingly strident offers of breakfast from my Dad, who believes my refusal to eat breakfast is some sort of unhealthy teenage rebellion (no use telling him that I haven’t been a teenager for a good couple of decades).
Then I check in with our office manager Stan Tomassi, at the home office of Turner Construction. Dad started Turner Construction long ago, and my sisters and I were quite literally raised on a series of building sites. So a couple of years ago, when I went through a difficult divorce, abandoned my PhD in anthropology, and my mom passed away suddenly, I found myself back home and running Turner Construction (“temporarily”) for my grief-stricken father. He never came back to work, and now I’m General Manager, whether I wanted the position or not.
I hit the road by 6:30, usually with Dog by my side (he used to be carsick, but we’ve been working on the problem so he can visit sites with me). As General, I’m in charge of several different sites in various states of repair (or disrepair): everything from exploratory meetings with clients, to signing contracts, to pushing papers through City Hall, to actual construction and historic renovation – which is the best part of my job. I also get to look through junk stores and antique shops for parts to restore old homes – what’s not fun about that?
Lately, I’m working on rebuilding a medieval monastery out of ancient stones brought over from a Scottish Isle. It seems Ellis Elrich, the mysterious, wealthy CEO of a motivational empire, wants to turn the complex of buildings into a state-of-the-art retreat center in beautiful Marin County.
Only trouble is…he may have accidentally imported a ghost (or two) along with the stones. So now, not only do I have to figure out how to drill and reinforce a stone building in earthquake-prone Northern California (lots of rebar) and how to update it with modern conveniences like plumbing and electricity and technology, but also how to make peace with a couple of extremely confused entities who don’t recognize where they are. International (and time) travel can be very disorienting….
The good (and bad?) news is that rather than commuting all the way from Oakland, Mr. Elrich has invited me to stay at his fabulous house, right up the hill from the building site. The house needs a little work, but it includes a pool and a sauna and a 24-hour snack bar chock-full of organic delicacies prepared by a famous French chef. And Dog is welcome, too – he especially likes loping around the big field between the house and the ruins.
If only the eerie sound of a ghost flute didn’t float up the hill every night, disturbing my sleep. And when a building inspector is killed and someone I care about is attacked, all bets are off. I’m going to figure out what’s going on in this ancient monastery, if it kills me.
Just another Day in the Life of Mel Turner, contractor and (sometimes) ghostbuster.
You can read more about Mel in Keeper of the Castle, the 5th book in the “Haunted Home Renovation” mystery series, published by Obsidian. The first book in the series is If Walls Could Talk.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on December 22 for the chance to win a copy of KEEPER OF THE CASTLE. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
About the author
Juliet Blackwell is the New York Times bestselling author of the Witchcraft Mystery series, featuring a powerful witch with a vintage clothes store in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury. She also writes the Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series, about a failed anthropologist who reluctantly takes over her father’s high-end construction company…and finds ghosts behind the walls. As Hailey Lind, Blackwell wrote the Agatha-nominated Art Lover’s Mystery series, in which an ex-art forger attempts to go straight as a faux finisher. She is currently working on a novel about a woman who takes over her uncle’s locksmith shop in Paris, entitled The Paris Key. A former anthropologist and social worker, Juliet has worked in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France.
Visit her at www.julietblackwell.net, join her on Facebook (JulietBlackwellAuthor) and on Twitter @JulietBlackwell
please enter me to win a copy . Thanks for your giveaways.
I love this series. Always enjoy the old houses in these books.
I love to have this book. I’ve read all the others. I keep hoping I’ll run into Juliet when I visit my son in Oakland.
This sounds like a really good read and a series I would enjoy. Thanks for highlighting it here.
I like this series.
Looks great…I would love to read.
I’d love to read this one, with a couple of Scottish spirits included.
I enjoy reading books set in my part of the country, and transplanting the ghosts there sounds like fun.
A definite Must-Read for me!!!
and one more series with which I have to play catch up…sounds good 🙂
This book is on my TRL , would love to win it
Would enjoy having this ons for sure. The characters, the setting and the story line all sound fascinating.
Thank you for the opportunity to win!
love the paranormal theme; thanks for the chance to win 🙂
I would love to win a copy of this book. Thank you for the chance to win
Would love to read this, thank you for the chance
I love the cover! Thanks for the giveaway
Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the introduction to a new (to me) series.
I love verything juliet writes. Her books are among those I never let go of – I’d rather buy an extra copy to gift a friend
If I win this will be the first book in the series I will have read.
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win.
I would love to read this book but need to read the earlier one in this series📚 Sounds like an interesting read with all the mystery elements included to read read read on📖 Good luck🎅
I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far of this series. Thanks for the opportunity to add to my TBR list.
sounds like a fun read. thanks for the chance to try it.
Dru you are one busy person. Thanks for sharing another great sounding read.
Thank you for another chance at winning a great cozy, Hope that you and all your followers have a great Christmas holiday.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Love the sound of the book.
I have never read one of her books but I would love too
I like everything Ms. Blackwell writes. Would love to win a copy of this book.
Judging by the style of the writing above, this book should be great!
Thanks for the chance to win! I don’t have the one yet.
Love it! Can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance
It sounds like a very interesting read, and I know I would enjoy it. Thanks for having the giveaway.
I love this series and all of her books so far. 🙂
This sounds like an exciting read! A must have! Thank you for the chance to win!
Thanks for the chance to win.
Captivating book. thanks for this feature.
Just started reading this, this morning! Love this series!
The cover really draws me in– thanks for the opportunity!!
Sounds good. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds like a great book~thank you for the giveaway!
A castle with ghosts! What could be more intriguing? Great giveaway.
have not read this series, is it real ghosts or turn out to be old mr bean in a costume (homage to scooby doo)? think i will start reading to find out!
Keeper of the Castle sounds like a great read! Thank you for having this giveaway. 🙂 Please enter me in the contest.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you.
Love this series..
Kimberlee
girllostinabook@hotmail.com
http://www.girllostinabook.com
This is one of my fave series, looking forward to reading this one.
I look forward to every Mel Turner book. Keep them coming.
Would love to read this!
Would love to start a new series! Thanks for the opportunity.
Love real people in a book.
I hope I’m the lucky winner as this is a promising cozy mystery read! There is nothing better than reading a good book…unless there are dark chocolate candies nearby.
Met Juliet at Bouchercon 2014 and am determined to buy her books. She’s delightful as I am certain her novels will be.
Imported ghosts is certainly a new twist for a mystery. Sounds like fun.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I’d love to read this~thank you for a great contest!
I am always looking for new mystery series. This one sounds great.
Thanks for the giveaway. I can’t keep with the new ones these series I like reading.
I just finished this book and it was an enjoyable read.
The next in the series! Hurray!
Oh I want to read this
I like paranormal mysteries.
Anything that has a dog in it has to be good.
a new series for me. It’s on my TBR list.
Please enter me for a chance. Thanks
Sounds good. Please enter me in giveaway.
I would love to win a new book!
I’d love to win this book.
Love your books!!!
contest is closed.