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BOOK INFO
Title: Color Me Murder
Author: Krista Davis
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: February 27, 2018
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Pen & Ink #1
My Rating: 4/5
BOOK BLURB
By day, Florrie Fox manages Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington D.C. By night, she creates her own intricately detailed coloring books for adults, filling the pages with objects that catch her eye. There’s plenty of inspiration in her new apartment—a beautiful carriage house belonging to Professor John Maxwell, Florrie’s boss. He offers the property to Florrie rent-free with one condition—she must move in immediately to prevent his covetous sister and nephew from trying to claim it.
When the professor’s nephew, Delbert, arrives, he proves just as sketchy as Florrie feared. But the following morning, Delbert has vanished. It’s not until she visits the third floor of the store that Florrie makes a tragic discovery—there’s a trap door in the landing, and a dead Delbert inside. The esteemed Professor Maxwell is an obvious suspect, but Florrie is certain this case isn’t so black and white. Doodling clues, she begins to consider other colorful characters on the scene, all with a motive for murder. With a killer drawing closer, Florrie will need to think outside the lines . . . before death makes his mark again.
MY REVIEW
Florrie Fox manages the Color Me Read bookshop. She has wanted to move closer to the bookshop, but hasn’t been able to find anything she liked, or could afford. When her boss, Professor John Maxwell, offers his carriage house to her, she can’t resist. Unfortunately, Maxwell’s nephew Delbert had his eye on the carriage house. Delbert is not a likable guy, so when he goes missing nobody is too upset, but then Florrie discovers Delbert’s body in a trap door area in the bookshop. Maxwell is the obvious suspect, but Florrie doesn’t believe her boss to be capable of murder.
The first book in the Pen & Ink series. A cozy mystery with a likable cast of characters. I love the setting of the bookshop and carriage house in historic Georgetown, Washinton, D.C.
The story is told from Florrie’s point of view as she looks into Delbert’s demise. The mystery was light, as is normal in cozy mysteries. The police latch on to their main suspect, Maxwell, and Florrie goes around talking to people to find the real killer.
I read this book based on the cover. True story. Fortunately, I also really enjoyed it. A cozy mystery with humor and a little romance. I look forward to reading more of this series.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Books in the Pen & Ink Series:
- Color Me Murder
- The Coloring Crook
- Murder Outside the Lines
- A Colorful Scheme