A Brush with Murder: A Paint by Murder Mystery

by Bailee Abbott

Overview

A quiet lakeside town in western New York state is the new home of Manhattan artist Chloe Abbington and the backdrop for murder in this series debut by Bailee Abbott.

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 Artisan 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.

With the help of her affectionate canine buddy, Max, 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781643857749
Publisher:	CROOKED LANE BOOKS
Publication date:	10/12/2021
Series:	A Paint by Murder Mystery
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	649,243
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Bailee Abbott is a retired teacher who now spends her days plotting murder and writing mysteries.She's a member of Sisters in Crime as well as of International Thriller Writers. Bailee lives with her husband and furry friend Max in the quiet suburbs of Green, Ohio. Bailee also writes the Sierra Pines B&B mystery series under the name Kathryn Long.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for A Brush With Murder:
“Plenty of local color blends with romance, an intrepid detective, and a tricky mystery.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Filled with quirky, fun characters and a murder-mystery.”
—Red Carpet Crash

“Bailee Abbott paints a charming lakeside town filled with colorful suspects and an unexpected protagonist in artist Chloe in her new novel A Brush with Murder.”
—Sherry Harris, Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mysteries

“A must-read for lovers of cozy mysteries. In the skilled hands of Bailee Abbott, a clever plot becomes a work of art.”
—Lane Stone, author of the Pet Palace Mysteries

“Bailee Abbott’s A Brush with Murder was a delight to read. Since this is the first in a new series, I look forward to new adventures and new mysteries from this author!”
—Barbara Bowen, author of the Musical Murder Mysteries

“Bailee Abbott's debut mystery A Brush with Murder exhibits a cast of colorful characters with an abstract mystery that keeps you guessing. Family, friends, and fun frame each scene, culminating in a delightful cozy mystery that readers are sure to enjoy.” 
—Sarah E. Burr, author of the Court of Mystery series and the upcoming Glenmyre Whim Mysteries

"Bailee Abbott's A Brush with Murder is a smart cozy mystery wtih all the trimmings: quirky cast, loyal friends, and a paint shop to die for. You'll enjoy time spent in Whisper Cove!"
—Diane Vallere, national bestselling author of The Costume Shop Mysteries

“Cleverly plotted and skillfully written, A Brush with Murder has it all – a clever mystery, an intrepid accidental sleuth, a charming town full of artists, history, and secrets, and a hint of romance for good measure. I can’t wait to see what Chloe Abbington gets up to next in Whisper Cove!”
—Bailey Cates, New York Times bestselling author of the Magical Bakery Mysteries

From the Publisher

2021-06-29
Abbott’s novel features one dead woman and two sisters whose bickering keeps them very much alive in Western New York.

Chloe Abbington has ditched her boyfriend and her life in New York City to return home to Whisper Cove, a charming town on Chautauqua Lake, to help her sister, Izzie, get her shop on Artisan Alley up and running. Both women are talented members of an artistic family who have yet to make it on their own in the highly competitive art world. The opening of Paint Your Shop is marred by murder when unpopular reporter Fiona Gimble is stabbed with a painting knife after insulting a number of local business owners. Chloe, who’s unlucky enough to find the body in the alley behind the store, feels she’s being targeted by Detective Hunter Barrett even though Fiona had many enemies. Many of the business owners are old school friends of the sisters, and some, especially Izzie’s friend Megan, are acting very oddly. Even Izzie refuses to provide Chloe with an alibi. But after Chloe gets a warning to mind her own business, her curiosity and love for Izzie won’t let her ignore the murder. When her former boyfriend shows up in an attempt to win her back, she discourages him but is willing to use his contacts to dig up information. An arson and rumors of someone trying to buy up Artisan Alley to build lakeside condos give Chloe much to think about and threaten her with danger when she gets too close to the truth.

Plenty of local color blends with romance, an intrepid detective, and a tricky mystery.

Kirkus Reviews