Fatal Brushstroke by Sybil Johnson is the first book in the new “Aurora Anderson” mystery series. Publisher: Henery Press, November 2014

A dead body in her garden and a homicide detective on her doorstep…

Computer programmer and tole painting enthusiast Aurora (Rory) Anderson doesn’t envision finding either when she steps outside to investigate the frenzied yipping coming from her own backyard. After all, she lives in Vista Beach, a quiet California beach community where violent crime is rare and murder even rarer.

Suspicion falls on Rory when the body buried in her flowerbed turns out to be someone she knows—her tole painting teacher, Hester Bouquet. Just two weeks before, Rory attended one of Hester’s weekend seminars, an unpleasant experience she vowed never to repeat. As evidence piles up against Rory, she embarks on a quest to identify the killer and clear her name. Can Rory unearth the truth before she encounters her own brush with death?

This was very enjoyable read and I liked the time spent getting to know Rory, Liz and their friends. The mystery was well done with the author providing a slew of suspects that kept me busy narrowing down the list until there was the one obvious choice. Was it right in my guess? You’ll have to read this pleasantly appealing book to find out. This evenly paced drama was entertaining and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this debut series.