Death In A Pale Hue by Susan Van Kirk
Series Name: Art Center Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: June 7, 2022
Who knew going home could be deadly?
I will show them success. Artist Jill Madison repeats this mantra when she returns to her small hometown to restart her life. Hired to manage a new community art center, she vows to make it successful so the people of her town will have what she did not have—an education in the arts. She no sooner accepts the job than a burglar makes off with an expensive sculpture and an uninvited corpse is discovered in the basement. Even worse, the body belongs to someone Jill knew. . .well. Investigating what happened places Jill right in the path of a murderer.
How will she keep her job, run her first big event, and escape a killer who plans to paint her out of the picture permanently?
Dru’s Short Musing:
This was a well-written and evenly paced whodunit that I could not put down, quickly becoming a page-turner as I had to know who was doing what to whom. We are introduced to Jill Madison, whose new beginning is marred when a sculpture is stolen, and a body is discovered on the premise of her art center. Wanting to find the truth, Jill starts to investigate and finds herself in the crosshair of a killer who wants to remain hidden.
The author did a great job in staging this multi-plot drama that had everything I love in a mystery – a solid plot, a likeable cast of characters, and a small-town setting. With a small suspect pool, the author took the time to add a bit of backstory that helped in gathering clues to determine the killer’s identity. The author knows how to tell a story that pulled me in with visually descriptive narrative and engaging dialogue that would point us in the right direction. There were a few strategically placed twists that ratcheted up the pacing and the suspense and I couldn’t put the book down until all was said and done. Overall, this was a terrific read and I can’t wait for the next book in this pleasantly appealing new series.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the author.
Thanks so much, Dru. I feel honored that you’ve reviewed my upcoming book, and I thank you for your kind words and enthusiasm.
What a glowing review! I can’t wait to read this book.
Thank you, Edith. I’ve appreciated your reviews in the past.
Wonderful review. Congratulations on the new series!
Thank you so much! There’s nothing like a new direction to start those creative juices going. Thanks for stopping by.