Kill Them With Canvas

A Paint By Murder Mystery, #2

by Bailee Abbott

Fun and comfy Fall cozy mystery to usher in the season!

It's Fall, y'all, and I love me a seasonal cozy mystery to reinforce the autumn mood. And in Kill Them With Canvas, there's even a ghostly legend to up the vibe.  

Once again, murder hits close to home when Chloe and Izzie's Aunt Constance becomes a prime suspect in the death of a Chautauqua Sisterhood director, Viola Finnwinkle, who was dissolving the local chapter putting Constance out of her job as president: a job she'd worked hard to get. This is the second book in the series, and although it can be read as a standalone, I suggest reading the books in order of publication for the most enjoyable experience.  

The main characters, Chloe and Izzie, are determined to uncover the truth and clear their aunt's name. The two sisters are a good team, and the investigation followed a clear and systematic path. I enjoyed that some plausible alternate suspects kept me wondering until the reveal. 

Chloe is still 'gun-shy' from her relationship with Ross, and his failure to follow up on his promise to return to Whisper Cove the previous August didn't help. I like the Chloe-Hunter pairing and look forward to seeing where this goes in future books. I really enjoy their paint party business as the basis for the series; it was the reason I picked up book one, and I like hearing about the particulars. We have these businesses in my area, and my spouse and I have taken advantage of them for a couple of date nights as they are a lot of fun.  

I enjoy cozy mysteries with a small-town setting, and Whisper Cove, New York, sounds like the perfect destination for a bit of armchair travel. The whole town participates in decorating for Fall and Halloween, and the fun, small shops enhance the cozy feel and autumnal ambiance. 

I recommend KILL THEM WITH CANVAS and the Paint by Murder Mystery series to cozy mystery readers ready for a fall-themed story. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.