Isabelle sits down for a Q&A with dru’s book musings responding to twenty or more questions so we can learn more about her. Are you ready? Let’s get to know Izzie.
What is your full name?
Isabelle Abbington – Izzie for short.
How old are you?
I’ll turn 27, soon.
What is your profession?
I’m an artist and co-owner of Paint With a View, party event business
Do you have a significant other?
I do have a special guy in my life, but the relationship is pretty new.
What is their name?
His name is Brody Lawson
Do you have any children?
No. Not even close to starting a family. Building the business is a twenty-four, seven job.
Do you have any siblings?
Oh, yes. My sister Chloe. We’re very close, only a year a part. We even partner together in our painting party event business, and of course searching for clues in the latest murder case.
Are your parents nearby?
Kate and Joe Abbington are the best, most supportive parents! Chloe and I are living with them until we can afford to get our own place.
Who is your best friend?
Besides my sister, Megan Hunt has been my bestie since grade school.
Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
Chloe has Max, a pint-sized Maltipoo who keeps us entertained.
What town do you live in?
Whisper Cove is a small touristy town situated along the shore of Chautauqua Lake in western New York. We’re known for our floating amphitheater that hosts concerts and movies, and then there’s the Whisper Cove ferry that’s unique.
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
Our family home is huge with two stories and even a widow’s walk that makes the place stand out from the other houses.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
I’d have to say the kitchen table. The four of us gather there for meals and have interesting conversations. Those are precious moments.
What is your favorite meal and dessert?
I love anything from Bob’s Barbeque. His sandwiches and Fizzy Orange drink—a family recipe—are the best!
Do you have any hobbies?
Sadly, I don’t have much time for hobbies, with running the business, hosting events, helping with community fundraisers, and snooping to solve a murder case or two.
What music do you listen to?
I love nineties music, especially pop and rock.
What is your favorite color?
Pastel colors like pinks and blues. I’ll admit I’m fashion-obsessed. Of course, as an artist, I love the total color spectrum when I paint.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
I’ve vacationed in many places, but home with the view of the lake in the summer will always be number one.
Are you a morning or night person?
Most definitely, I’m morning-energized and ready to conquer the day.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Hosting paint party events is loads of fun, as well as dancing at Duckies night club, and absolutely clothes shopping.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
The Perilous Life of Izzie Abbington. If there’s trouble nearby, I’m bound to find it or fall into it! Thank goodness for Mom’s yoga class.
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
Totally an amateur, even though Chloe and I—we call ourselves the Snoop Sisters—do seem to figure out most of the clues.
What is a typical day in your life like?
Most likely it’s morning and breakfast with the family to share moments and ideas. Then, off to work at the shop, preparing for events, organizing and taking inventory of supplies. When something comes up in a murder case, I take a break with Chloe to go investigate. In the evenings, it’s either relaxing at home with family, or a date night, a bit of sleuthing, and, of course, our scheduled paint party events.
A Tint of Murder – A Paint by Murder Mystery, Book 4
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: April 2025
Format: Digital, Print
Purchase Link
Trouble is stirring when murder comes wrapped in the guise of a seascape painting. The gift from a close friend who deals in art becomes a mystery to solve after Izzie and Chloe Abbington accidently discover that hidden behind the seascape is a priceless Vermeer which many would kill to possess. When the seascape with its hidden masterpiece is stolen, and a murder hits too close to home, their friend is accused of the crime.
Determined to help clear his name, Chloe and Izzie follow the clues, which take them beyond the comforts of their small town community and into the art world’s unsavory side. However, the more they learn, the more guilty their friend looks. They question many involved, both dealers and collectors, as well as the patrons of the arts group their parents belong to, but everyone has their secrets. Even the seascape has a story to tell, if only the sister duo can decipher the details. Troubled and frightened of what they’ll uncover, Chloe and Izzie won’t stop searching for answers, even if the killer turns out to be someone they know.
About the author
Bailee Abbott is a native Ohioan who spends her days plotting murder and writing mysteries. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime as well as of International Thriller Writers and MWA. Bailee lives with her husband and furry friend Max in the quiet suburbs of Green, Ohio. Visits to Bemus Point, a town along the Chautauqua Lake in southwest New York inspired the setting for the Paint By Murder mystery series. Bailee also writes the Sierra Pines B&B mystery series under the name Kathryn Long.