Author: Bailee Abbott
Genre: Mystery
Hardcover; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781643857749
Crooked Lane Publishing
317 Pages
$21.25; $13.99 Amazon
October 12, 2021
⭐⭐⭐
For Chloe Abbington, the transition from fine art painter in New York City to painting-event business owner in charming Whisper Cove is more than a little jarring. But when poison-pen journalist Fiona Gimble writes a viciously negative review of the newly opened Paint With a View, Chloe learns that critics are the same everywhere. And when she finds Fiona's body behind her shop with a painting knife in her neck, Chloe realizes that this picture-perfect town offers anything but peace and quiet.
Suddenly, bustling Artisian Alley is a crime scene, and Chloe is the prime suspect. Her sister and business partner, Izzie, isn't much help -- she's busy running the shop, and besides, she has secrets of her own. As shrewd detective Barrett tries to paint her into a corner, Chloe soon finds that Fiona had plenty of enemies. The Whisper Cove Gazette columnist wielded her pen like a sword, slicing and dicing just about every shop owner in the lakeside town.
Chloe sets out to prove that she's been framed for Fiona's murder. But she'd better learn the fine art of detection quickly, before the real killer paints the town red again. Otherwise, she may end up trading in her paint smock for an orange jumpsuit...or a green burial plot.
✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽
Chloe Abbington returned home, with her dog Max, from New York City to Whisper Cove, where her family still lives. The lakeside town is beautiful, and usually has tourists abound. Her sister Izzie has started a business named Paint With A View, where people come to paint scenes and enjoy company. She's just starting out, and is looking forward to it, although she's worried about a newspaper columnist named Fiona who trashes every business in her articles.
Izzy thinks inviting Fiona to the grand opening will help. But when Fiona receives a text, she abruptly leaves, and Chloe hopes they'll get a good review. Turns out, they won't get a review at all when Chloe finds her body behind their store, with a painting knife sticking out of her neck. Now, she and her sister are suspects in the murder, and unless she can find out the truth, she just might spend the rest of her days in jail...
This is the first book in a new series, and I do like to give new authors the benefit of the doubt. But as far as doubt goes, I wonder if the author knows that painting knives are pliable, and unable to be used as murder weapons. Hmmm...
The second thing that bothered me is Izzie. If she's starting a business, wouldn't you suspect that she'd want to be there? Well, she isn't. She dumps everything on her assistant Willow and sister Chloe. Who does that? She spends about 15% of the time at her business, and disappearing somewhere else the rest of it. I also don't like their parents. Their mother is a nutcase. So what if she wants to go natural and vegan? Why does she push it on her children? They're adults. Let them eat what they want, not what you want to shove down their throats. Seems to me she's more 'hippie' than 'artsy.'
As for Chloe, she can learn to be less snarky to everyone. Get rid of the chip on her shoulder. She also doesn't tell Izzie that she needs to be at her business. Nope. She just does whatever Izzie wants. We also never learn about why Izzie hates the detective. What's up with that? Actually, the only likeable person in the book is Ross, and he's not even a permanent character. Bring him back. At least he makes the book readable.
Unfortunately, while the writing was good and the plot as well, the characters need a lot of work. Less mom and dad. More Izzie being at her store. When the ending comes and the killer is revealed, I felt rather cheated, since there weren't any clues leading up to it. But I will give this author another chance, and perhaps read the second in the series.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Bailee Abbott's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/bailee-abbott/
No comments:
Post a Comment