By Liz, happy to welcome Diane Kelly to the blog! She’s a fellow St. Martin’s Press author and she’s here to talk about the latest in her House Flipper Mysteries. Take it away, Diane!
In my latest release, Four-Alarm Homicide, carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck take on a hot property – a former fire station they hope to not only turn into a trendy new residence, but to also use as the venue for Whitney’s upcoming wedding to homicide detective Collin Flynn. While I can only imagine the dangers and challenges firefighters face on the job, I have to admit that I enjoy fires—ones that are under control, that is.
Some of my favorite childhood memories involve roasting marshmallows over a campfire while on Girl Scout camping trips, and making s’mores. We also cut bananas in half lengthwise, filled the center with dark chocolate and nuts, and wrapped the whole shebang in tin foil before setting them among the coals to heat up. Warm, gooey banana boats were the yummiest! I also have fond memories of sitting in front of the fireplace at home, basking in the warmth and glow of the flames while listening to the crackle and hiss of the logs, often with a cat or dog by my side. I especially remember fires at Christmas. Though we didn’t use the fire to roast chestnuts like they do in the Christmas carol, we did use the fireplace to dispose of used gift wrap. The paper would go up in colorful flames, making cleanup easy.
These days, I still love sitting in front of the fireplace or around the fire pit in our backyard, though I’ve traded in the marshmallows for a glass of wine or hot tea. There’s something primal about fire that makes me feel calm and safe, and the dance of the flames is mesmerizing. Our fire pit has become an occasional gathering spot for the neighbors, and gives us all a chance to catch up on each other’s busy lives.
Do you enjoy sitting beside a fireplace or around a fire pit or campfire? Do you have a favorite fireside memory? Comment for a chance to win a paperback, Nook, or Kindle copy of Four-Alarm Homicide (winner’s choice of format). US and Canada addresses eligible.
Blurb:
Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are hot for a historical fire station in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood. With several interested buyers making bids, their hopes might go up in flames. Fortunately, their plan to preserve the building’s exterior and honor its past impresses the board of the historical society, and they’re awarded the unique property. A good thing, too, since Whitney and her fiancé, homicide detective Collin Flynn, have been unable to find a venue for their upcoming wedding, and realize the station would be the perfect place to exchange vows and host a reception.
The cousins have just begun the interior demolition work at the fire station when Joanna Hartzell, who lives in a townhouse around the corner, comes by with a plea for help. Joanna owns the right half of her building, which she proudly maintains in perfect condition. The couple who lived in the left side of the duplex passed away years ago, leaving their townhome to their seven adult children—none of whom will lift a finger or spend a dime to maintain the rapidly deteriorating place. Joanna asks Whitney and Buck to step in and work their remodeling magic—assuming, of course, they can convince the heirs to sell.
When Joanna later collapses at the fire station, alarm bells go off for Whitney. The recent headaches Joanna suffered point to an aneurysm, but Whitney suspects something more sinister could be the real cause. Can she and Collin put the clues together and catch a killer when all of the suspects seem to be blowing smoke?
Diane Kelly writes funny mysteries featuring feisty female lead characters and their furry, four-footed sidekicks. When not writing, Diane enjoys walking her dog, playing with her cats, and hiking in the beautiful woods in her home state of North Carolina. Find Diane on her website, on Facebook, or @DianeKelly books on Instagram, Twitter/X, Pinterest, and TikTok.
The Wickeds 
Summers in maine when I was a child we would sit by a campfire.
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Sounds idyllic! Summers and campfires can be so relaxing. My parents lived in Maine before I was born. I hope to get up to Acadia one day.
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My husband and I enjoy camping, so we have tons of campfires during the summer. I love fall bonfires, too! We also have a woodstove and have fires going most winter days. The flames and crackle are mesmerizing! S’mores are a delicious treat, I can’t remember having one of those banana boats, though – I’ll have to try that out!
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I love the crackle of a fire, too. Snap, crackle, pop – just like Rice Crispies. Haha! It adds to the ambiance.
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We love camping! Nothing beats delicious campfire food and desserts. I always look forward to it. We do a lot of s’mores and other desserts over a campfire.
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There’s just something special about foods cooked over a campfire, isn’t there? So glad you got to enjoy some!
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I love sitting beside a fireplace. My favorite fireplace memory is up in our cabin in Colorado making s’more with it snowing outside.
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How wonderful! Snow falling is so pretty and serene.
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Also as a girl scout (back in the 50 and 60’s) and alongside our daughter as she was one (in the 70 and 80’s), there are fond memories of the campfires. After retiring and looking to build our forever home in our dream destination, we started looking for property. When we spotted the original 1853 large stone fireplaces from the old homestead on this property, I think we were both immediately sold that this was it. We designed our home around the fireplaces putting on in the living area and the other in our bedroom. Although we have inserts in them, since they are huge opening and had to have special fronts made, the logs we picked still give that look and feel of real wood burning. Love spending time in front of them during the winter months. We do love building an outside fire during the cold weather too. Also love the fires for cooking on outings whether for roasting marshmallows or for fixing a whole meal. There’s just something special about gathering around a firepit with family and friends!
Congratulations on the recent release of FOUR-ALARM HOMICIDE! Love the cover and can’t wait for the opportunity to read and review this book, which is most definitely on my TBR list. Great appreciate the chance to win a paperback copy.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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What a wonderful project! Sounds like it was meant to be be. How great that you could resurrect the fireplaces in your new home. Sounds like you are a lot like carpenter Whitney Whitaker in my series. She loves to bring old structures back to life. I think you two would be good friends!
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Congratulations on the new release, Diane! I have a fire pit in my backyard that my family uses a few times a year. Always a pleasant evening. It’s so relaxing. Cheers!
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Fire pits are so much fun! We have a sign hanging near ours that reads “Welcome to our fire pit. Where marshmallows and friends get toasted.” Haha! The latter is not necessarily true, though we do often share a bottle of wine around the pit. Great place for fun conversation.
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We had a lovely trip to Colorado years ago with a horse-drawn sleigh and a campfire and toasted marshmallows. Cold but magical.
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Colorado is so beautiful and rugged! I’ve been there a few times, but never for long enough. So glad you enjoyed some time around a fire!
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I love sitting by a fire at night in the summers.
Also I can’t wait to read this book. My parents were firefighters growing up and I spent a lot of time in fire stations.
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Summer fires are great for ambiance, aren’t they? I love the smoke smell, too. How cool that both of your parents were firefighters! I bet it was exciting to spend time in their stations. The rest of us owe so much to first responders who put their lives on the line.
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Welcome to the Wickeds, Diane and best of luck with Four-Alarm Homicide. I love it when you pull out a sweater you haven’t worn in a long time and then–campfire smell! It takes you right back to the time and place you last wore it.
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Yes! The smell of campfire smoke can really bring back memories. I’ve had that same experience. The only bad smoke smell was once when a log that was sitting on top of our wood stove (stupid, I realized) began to smoke. It had been put there to dry out, but then it got too dry and hot. It filled the entire place with smoke! In hindsight it was funny, but at the time I was in a panic trying to figure out how to carry a burning log. haha
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During the winter we have the fire going. What a warm and cozy feeling. It gives me a good feeling.
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A warm fire is so comforting. A definite mood enhancer! I think it appeals to our primal sense of security.
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Congratulations on your latest! We had two fireplaces in our Florida home – that sounds like an unnecessary indulgence, but let me tell you, we were grateful for them on frosty mornings, and so was my 20-year old cat. She’d show up at the strike of a match and there were times I wondered how she didn’t self-ignite. Now that we live in Maine we have two woodstoves that are wonderful. My current elder cat – Jenny who is 13, shows up when she hears the firebox door close and snuggles as close to the stove as she can manage. I don’t blame her!
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How nice to have two fireplaces/stoves! We once had a single fireplace that was open on both sides so that it heated both our living room and dining room. I loved that. I love how old houses have so many fireplaces. Glad your cats get to enjoy them, too!
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Welcome and congratulations on the latest book!
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Thanks, Sherry! I was just contracted for two more in the series, and I’m working on the next one now. It will be set at an old boarding school that’s being remade into a retirement community.
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When I went to camp for the summer every night we had smores around a campfire. What a wonderful summer that was.
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Wonderful memories! I think sitting around a fire is special because everyone slows down and just savors the moment – and the smores! : )
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My fireside memory was when my neighbor and I were sitting around where a campfire could be lit by at the time it was delight so the fire wasn’t going and this dear Baby Fawn comes stumbling down the hillside out of the woods and came right up to us and it ate right out of our hands.
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Wow! What an experience!
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Yes it was
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I’ve had fireplaces and a wood burning stove that I loved. Sure do miss them. Very small outdoor fires are a lot of fun, too. Think s’mores. But after reporting on devastating fires, including one with a baby trapped inside, big fires bring back too many sad memories.
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Very true. There’s a dangerous side to fires, for sure. I go to a songwriter festival in Gatlinburg, Tennessee most years, and they had a wildfire there a few years back. One of the women there was talking about show she and her brother both lost their homes. Sad and very scary!
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In my pervious home, I had a wood burning stove that had a glass door in the front, making it feel like a fireplace. I cannot tell you how many hours I spent reading my books in a cozy chair in front of that fireplace!
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Sounds like the perfect spot to curl up with a book! Nice and warm and cozy.
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I remember camping trips with the kids and sitting by a fire roasting marshmallows. I found sitting by the fire very soothing and relaxing. I loved watching the flames. So mesmerizing.
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Wonderful family memories!
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I only have my experience as a Cub Scout mom, but I enjoyed being by a campfire!
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I was a Girl Scout troop leader. Big fan of scouting. Kids learn so much and it develops independence and leadership skills.
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Being a girl scout in Texas in my youth, we went one year to Camp Lula Sams near Brownsville, Texas. it was cool. It is not cold in south Texas usually, but we did have a campfire to cook our Coffee Can Casserole and roast marshmallow and I think that we had that banana dessert but that has been over 60 years ago. My hubby and I went camping a lot in the late 1970s when we moved to Fort Worth. I loved it. The best camping trip was to Daniel Boone State Park during that time, where we stayed next to a river. We swam in the cold river and Hubby Dearest cooked Fried Chicken and Macaroni and Cheese on a Coleman stove. That was the best meal ever.
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I always think food tastes better when cooked and eaten outdoors, too. I think it’s a combination of hunger from hiking and the enjoyable, natural atmosphere. Coffee Can Casserole sounds yummy! We used to make a stew called where everyone would bring a can of whatever kind of soup and we’d mix them all together. It was really good!
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That sounds interesting. So creamed soups and tomatoey soups worked together? I forgot to congratulate you on your new book. I have read all of your books and especially enjoyed the Paw Enforcement ones because I love dogs and we live in Fort Worth for years after my then fiancée was transferred there in 1976.
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I love a good campfire and have many fond memories of them from girl scouts and from family camping. Now I wish we still had a wood stove in our house in case of a power outage. Congratulations on the new book!
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Thanks, Edith! Always fun to put a new book out in the world. Girl Scouts is such a good experience for young girls. Glad you have some fond memories from your time as a scout.
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Ah, the comfort of a campfire! My family camped for years and I was a Girl Scout for 10 years.
Bring on the s’mores!
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I loved Girl Scouts, too! So much fun and great for learning independence and leadership skills.
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I love to sit in a rocking chair near our fireplace while it is snowing outside. When we had a 2 week power outage due to snow and ice we luckily had enough wood to keep both our fire wood stove and fireplace going in order to eat soup, etc. and keep us warm with nice warm blankets.
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Wow! That’s a long time to be without power. Thank goodness you had lots of wood! That makes me think of Little House on the Prairie. : )
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Love sitting around our backyard firepit with my family. Good conversation, a good drink and lots of laughter. Thanks for the chance!
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Wonderful! A cozy fire is very conducive for conversation. So glad you’ve enjoyed some happy times around one!
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Congrats to Pat5719! You are the randomly chosen winner of a copy of Four-Alarm Homicide. Woo hoo! Thanks to everyone who stopped by and commented!
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