Miranda Trent has set up a sweet life in a scenic corner of Appalachia—until she stumbles across the trail of a killer . . . After inheriting her uncle’s Red River Gorge homestead in Eastern Kentucky—smack dab in the middle of the Daniel Boone National Forest—Miranda comes up with a perfect business plan for summer tourists: pairing outdoor painting classes with sips of local moonshine, … classes with sips of local moonshine, followed by a mouthwatering sampler of the best in southern cooking.
To Miranda’s delight, Paint & Shine is a total success—until someone kills the cook. As the town’s outsider, suspicion naturally falls on Miranda. Murdering the best biscuit baker of Red River Gorge is a high crime in these parts. Miranda will have to prove her innocence before she’s moved from farmhouse to jail cell faster than she can say “white lightning” . . .
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It’s artist Miranda Trent’s big day-her first excursion for her cultural adventure business, Paint and Shine. Her three-hour tour includes plein air painting, a traditional Southern dinner, and a moonshine presentation with samples.
She’d inherited Uncle Gene’s farmhouse in Kentucky, and she’d put her life on hold to be here doing this. The event gets off to a rocky start, culminating in murder. Her hopes and her future sail out the window, but she keeps going because quitting is not an option.
A plucky story of a courageous woman set against small town community dependent on tourism. When a jurisdictional squabble occurs during the murder investigation, Miranda dons a sleuthing cap to craft a new future for herself. A fun read.
Maggie Toussaint, Muddy Rose Reviews
STILL KNIFE PAINTING by Cheryl Hollon is the first book in the Paint & Shine Mystery series. It’s the great story of Miranda Trent. She may be the gal from NYC, but she’s determined to make a go of her new business Paint & Shine a success and make Red River Gorge her home.
There are a few problem though. Miranda inherited her Uncle Gene’s Red River Gorge homestead, where she loved to come visit as a child, on the condition that within 3 months she is to open a distillery in the old barn or she loses everything. In order to do so, her Paint & Shine business has to be a success so she can afford the remodel and get the permits that would enable her to do so. Paint & Shine is her brilliant idea to combine passing on her love and skills of painting by taking clients on a hike in the Daniel Boone National Forest to paint a small landscape with a southern food tasting paired with moonshine selections. She’ll have to work overtime to overcoming the stigma of moonshine by some of the locals who still believe it’s a bad thing even if not illegal any more. All seems to be going smoothly until someone murders the cook, Naomi Childers – one of the church ladies, during the tasting of the first group of patrons.
When there’s a dispute over the jurisdiction on the murder investigation between Wolfe County Sheriff Larson and Fayette County Detective Peterson and the case seems to be falling between the cracks, Miranda feels she must do some investigation on her own. She feels Naomi deserves justice when Detective Peterson seems determine to write it off as an accident. Plus, being considered a town “outsider”, she doesn’t want the blame places on her either. She finds an ally in Ranger Austin Morgan in rooting out clues. She has plenty of time because the rumor mill’s talk of her home as a murder site and her as the possible murderer have clients dropping off leaving her with nothing but time on her hands.
They begin to check out everyone from that first group of clients that was at her home for that ill-fated afternoon: a man from Alabama who was the first to arrive, a newlywed couple from Akron, two woman friends from NYC, and the local tourist who seems is also a distant cousin to Miranda, the Ranger and the Distillery representative Dan Keystone from Lexington as well as the cooks assistant, Viola.
Is their investigation getting too close to the murderer? Was the ransacking of her home along with the thief of a painting or the fire set in the kitchen connected to the murder? Or was someone looking for the elderly man’s stash knowing he didn’t believe in the use banks? Will the two police departments find a way to bury the hatchet and work together? Will facts about the past illuminate the present? Can Miranda bring the opinions of those with influence to her way of thinking on her new business venture before she losing everything? Will she ever find out all of Uncle Gene’s hidden secrets?
Was very happy to see the recipe section in the back of the book for not only some of the moonshine cocktails, but for some of the foods mentioned in the story as well. Also was neat to have a list of characters that were in the story which is nice when you are starting a new series and are getting acquainted with the people in it.
Cheryl Hollon crafted a wonderful cozy mystery that keeps your interest peaked and turning pages while you fall in love with the wonderful hill people of Kentucky. Like a great puzzle, it all makes sense when the last piece of the puzzle is put in place. It was fun searching for the last piece, which seemed so evasive until the very end, alongside Miranda. After reading the first book in the series, I can’t wait to see how the rest of the series goes. I’m hoping maybe there’s a little romance brewing between Miranda and Austin in coming books. With possible clients coming from all over the world, great adventures abound on the horizon for Miranda Trent and Paint & Shine.
STILL KNIFE PAINTING by Cheryl Hollon gets high recommendations from me and the much deserved 5 STARS!
*I won a free kindle copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
What a great start to a new series by one of my favorite cozy authors! Set in a scenic area of Kentucky we meet Miranda just after she inherits her Uncle’s old farmhouse with the stipulation that she starts a distillery in the barn within a very short time. To get the money she starts a Paint & Shine business which involves a hike to a local scenic spot which the group will paint followed by a lunch paired with moonshine by a local distillery. This sounds like a fun deal I must say even if I cannot paint to save my life. Her first trip starts a little rough before things start to go a little smoother. Then the shine guy is late pushing the meal a little so when he arrives she quickly announced the meal. A scream from the kitchen changes everything as the cook was stabbed with her own knife. The local Sheriff is not equipped to investigate so Lexington police are called in but the two law enforcement agencies have a long standing feud. The cops also have a questionable history so Miranda feels compelled to investigate to save her livelihood. This leads to an interesting investigation I must say making it quite captivating. A must read for cozy fans. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon has classical portrait artist, Miranda making changes to her life. Miranda Trent has inherited her uncle’s farmhouse in Kentucky where she starts Paint & Shine. Paint & Shine involves a hike in the Daniel Boone National Forest to Lover’s Leap where they have a plein air painting class. Miranda then transports the group to her farmhouse for a Southern meal where each course is paired with moonshine. Her first group is a success until the cook, Mrs. Naomi Childers turns up dead in the kitchen. When Miranda finds herself on the suspect list, she begins nosing around and asking questions. Miranda must evade the police and someone intent on burning down her farmhouse. Still Knife Painting is the debut of A Paint and Shine Mystery series. I like the premise of this new fetching cozy mystery series. The author took the time to introduce the characters and set the stage for the series. I enjoyed the rich descriptions of Kentucky and Miranda’s farmhouse (a Sears & Roebuck kit home). I had mixed feelings regarding Miranda. She was a hard worker and a determined woman who was passionate about her art and moonshine. She is an observant person which is helpful to the investigation. Miranda, though, could be snappish at times and a little rude. I must give her the benefit of the doubt since Miranda is starting a new business, found a dead woman in her kitchen, experiencing financial difficulties, and found herself a suspect in Naomi’s murder. I found myself liking her more at the end. Miranda is a flawed individual which makes her realistic along with the other characters in this cozy mystery. I just loved her adorable puppy, Sandy. There is humor sprinkled throughout the story and I just loved the Barney Fife references. The mystery was interesting with multiple suspects and subtle clues. I was able to identify the guilty party early in the story, but I had no clue as to why. I liked following Miranda as she asked questions and dug for clues. Wolfe County Sheriff Richard Larson and his wife, Felicia who is the county coroner are likeable characters. I appreciated that Miranda kept Sheriff Larson up to date. There is a rivalry between Sheriff Larson and Detective Otis E. Peterson from the Lexington Homicide Division. We learn why these two men are at odds with each other. There were some quirky characters like Doris Ann and Officer Gary Spenser. I liked learning about the area as well as the traditions of the people who live there. Southerners have their own way of doing things and gossip flows faster than syrup on hot pancakes. I thought Still Knife Painting was well-written and it moved along at a good pace. I was not a fan of the point-of-view switching from Miranda to other characters because it took me out of the story. I hope we get to learn more about the uncle’s will in the next book. The details were skimpy. Overall, I enjoyed Still Knife Painting and look forward to reading the next book. Still Knife Painting is an engaging new Southern cozy mystery with rampant rumors, plein air painting, cultural cuisine, a killer knife, a precious puppy, and merry moonshine.
Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon is book one in the Paint and Shine mystery series.
This easy to read cozy has everything you need in a mystery. There is a great story with great characters and setting. It also has plenty of plot twists that will have you guessing until the end and just enough humor. I can’t wait for book two.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington for an honest review.
A strong start to a new series! I enjoyed reading about Miranda’s adventures, as she starts over in a new town. She has a new beginning and is figuring out how to make it all work. The idea for her business is very creative and I can see it inspiring a lot of story lines for the series in the future. As an introvert, I enjoyed reading about a cozy protagonist with a more introverted personality. It doesn’t happen very often and is a nice touch!
https://cozyexperience.com/still-knife-painting-book-review/
Synopsis:
Miranda Trent has set up a sweet life in a scenic corner of Appalachia–until she stumbles across the trail of a killer . . .
After inheriting her uncle’s Red River Gorge homestead in Eastern Kentucky–smack dab in the middle of the Daniel Boone National Forest–Miranda comes up with a perfect business plan for summer tourists: pairing outdoor painting classes with sips of local moonshine, followed by a mouthwatering sampler of the best in southern cooking.
To Miranda’s delight, Paint & Shine is a total success–until someone kills the cook. As the town’s outsider, suspicion naturally falls on Miranda. Murdering the best biscuit baker of Red River Gorge is a high crime in these parts. Miranda will have to prove her innocence before she’s moved from farmhouse to jail cell faster than she can say “white lightning” . . (Goodreads)
Review:
Miranda has recently moved from New York to the farmhouse that she inherited from her uncle. She has a plan to run a business: outdoor painting classes, a meal in her farmhouse and a moonshine tasting. She does not even get through the debut class before murder is committed. This is not the way she saw her business going. Now she has to figure out the murderer before her business goes belly up. Miranda is a hard working determined woman who will do anything to make her business a success. But I think she was also rude at times and was not afraid to speak her mind, even if it did not paint everyone in a nice light. That is only my opinion and others may not agree with me.
I liked the premise of the book, I thought the idea of doing outside painting and a meal in her farmhouse was a good one. That would be so nice to do, so relaxing. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author creates a great setting in Eastern Kentucky and I could picture in my mind’s eye the beauty of the area.
The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I was pretty sure who the culprit was but I did not know the why of the killing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well plotted cozy mystery. I think it was a good start to the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Miranda inherits her Uncle’s homestead and begins to take over. She’s got the perfect plan, and outdoor painting class followed by a cooking class. Her Paint and Shine event is going well until the murder, that is. Since she is new to town, naturally, she’s the prime suspect. She’s got to dig in and solve the murder before it gets any worse
Great book!!! I loved it.
“Still Knife Painting” by Cheryl Hollon is the first book in a new series, and it does not disappoint! First, the story is set in beautiful, mountainous Kentucky. The heroine, Miranda, has moved into her late uncle’s home, which she has just inherited. An artist by trade, she starts a new business involving a scenic hike, an outdoor painting class at a striking overview, and a traditional southern meal combined with moonshine cocktail pairings.
I loved all the descriptions of the area, as well as the details about how to paint a landscape provided as Miranda taught her classes. A local ranger stops by during each class to share information about the area and answer questions; I learned a lot from that as well. Another thing I learned about was MOOONSHINE COCKTAILS! Growing up in an area with a plentiful supply of the beverage, I had never realized all the different things that could be done with it cocktail-wise. Recipes are included, and I’ll definitely be trying some as soon as possible. (Southern food recipes are included as well.)
Miranda as a character is a bit unique within the cozy genre. She is a bit of an introvert, and knows this about herself. I enjoyed watching her try to overcome this as she ran her business and investigated the murder. Unlike most cozy heroines, she’s not always nice, either. She often snaps at people, or says things that are rude or inappropriate. Sometimes she is aware of this, sometimes not. She’s a nice person overall, but I like the fact that she’s not perfect and has areas of her personality to improve on as the series moves forward. These flaws make her seem more like a real person.
I also appreciated the well-written mystery storyline. There are plenty of suspects, between the locals and the tourists who attend Miranda’s “Paint and Shine” tours. It was interesting to observe Miranda trying to learn more about everyone to help solve the mystery. I liked the way she used her artistic talent and highly-observant nature to help in her investigation.
Another unique aspect of this book is the rivalry between the local sheriff and his department vs. the “big city” law enforcement contingent from Lexington. I hope the issues between the two lead police characters are given even more attention in upcoming books. Unusual in a cozy, we also get to see part of the story from the point of view of law enforcement, making the police officers into real characters, not just caricatures. I enjoyed this perspective, and hope this feature continues going forward.
I must also mention Miranda’s adorable rescue puppy Sandy. The puppy antics are lots of fun, and I liked that Miranda actually thinks about what’s best for Sandy when she heads out for various reasons.
All in all, five out of five yummy slices of provolone!
Still Knife Painting is the first book in Cheryl Hollon’s newest cozy mystery series. Prepare to be transported to eastern Kentucky where Miranda is embarking on the course to start her painting tourism business. She has high hopes and high expectations for herself. She needs things to go well so that she can build a moonshine still and keep the homestead she inherited. Things take a bad turn when her cook is found murdered and Miranda becomes the prime suspect. The bad thing about small towns? Everyone knows just about everything and Miranda’s arguments with her cook were something no one ignored and were quick to gossip about. Now, Miranda needs to find out the truth behind the murder and why it happened.
Still Knife Painting is an engaging cozy mystery novel and I truly enjoyed the true to life characters and the amount of detail the author blends into this story. She also writes about some truly delicious dishes. There were moments of where I was either drooling or wanting to get into the kitchen to test a couple of them out for myself. Miranda comes off as being a soft character, but she does have a bit of a temper on her and it does flare to life when she’s pushed to the limit.
The author creates an air of mystery not just with the murder, but with the mysterious happenings that continue at the house. Miranda is plagued with misfortune in the first one way and then another. You really begin to wonder if she’s going to be able to survive the proverbial storm that is swirling around her. Her business starts off okay, but she’s still worried about breaking even. Miranda is literally fighting an uphill battle. How was she to know how some of the “more important” locals would feel about moonshine?
I’ll admit that I get annoyed a couple of times with the characters when they want to take such strong stands behind being against moonshine, but all I’m going to say is that each one has their own story and that they are revealed in the right moment. This story has lighthearted moments and then it has its tragic moments as well. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed with the reveal of the killer. I guess I wanted/expected something a bit more thrilling. I wanted there to be more of a big reveal.
For readers who have read books by this author before then, I think that they will enjoy this new series. For readers who are looking for a new cozy mystery author to check out then, I think that this book will be a good fit with its delicious foods (and recipes included), hints of romance, and well-done descriptions of the gorgeous scenery. I am rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I’m looking forward to reading Miranda’s next engagement with mystery and danger.
Miranda Tolson left New York City and moved into the rustic farmhouse that she inherited from her Uncle. She has plans to establish a new tourist experience – Paint and Shine. It will combine painting in the Daniel Boone National Forest with a home cooked meal and a tasting of local moonshine. Unfortunately murder puts a damper on her grand opening. Mrs Childers is a powerful member of this close knit community. She continually argues with Miranda over her plan to serve shine. This makes Miranda the prime suspect when she’s murdered. Since Miranda spent summers here and hopes it will help her track down the killer. I immediately felt a connection with her. She has spunk and determination. I liked that she won’t give up on her dream. This small town has many well hidden secrets. I felt that they were the key to the murder. I hoped that Miranda could get to the truth. Austin, the local Park Ranger, is a valuable ally. He has heard so
much gossip and knows all the family connections. History is important. The small town dynamic add realism to this story. Cheryl Hollon did a wonderful job writing this new series. I couldn’t put this book down. The characters are a diverse group who express different points of view which gave me the complete picture of life here. It’s rife with gossip and well hidden secrets. I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in this unique series.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
This was a giveaway I won. Thank you Cheryl Hollon! This was a great book. I loved the protagonist, Miranda her determination to get her business going on the family farmhouse. It was interesting reading about the tight knit community present and past. I also enjoyed reading about The Daniel Boone National Forest and it’s quiet beauty. The identity of the killer kept me guessing till the end. I always treasure books that have been personalized by the author. Thank you Cheryl, for this wonderful opportunity!
This was a great start to a new series. I liked getting to know Miranda and about her business, Paint & Shine. I loved that it is set in Kentucky. I look forward to reading more of this series and getting to know Miranda, the locals, and town better.
I received a digital copy from Netgalley for an honest review. Thank you.
Finding a new cozy mystery series always makes me happy. And to find one that incorporates a new hobby I’ve taken up (painting) and an alcohol (moonshine) I like to sample, well I reckon that makes me as happy as eating a Brown Betty!
Who hasn’t dreamt of being left a big inheritance by a relative? And if it means you have to have a moonshine distillery up and running in 90 days, even better. We don’t get much of a feel for the town in Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon, but I’m sure that’ll be coming in future books in the Paint & Shine Mysteries. We do get wonderful descriptions of the house and all it’s out buildings, along with Lover’s Leap and the National Forest. I would enjoy living in her uncle’s house and can imagine all the animals and gardens I would have fun attending.
Hollon does a fabulous job with the character descriptions, and the puppy, Sandy, is adorable. There is a potential love interest, although in this book it’s not a main focus at all, which is wonderful. It’s been awhile since I’ve read such animosity in regards to the police force in a cozy mystery. It was pretty heavy handed, but it involves high school rivalry and big city/country cops, so it doesn’t seem unbelievable.
There were a few things I wish would have been explored more like the interview Miranda does and her reaction afterwards. It felt like it was just mentioned and then forgotten about. And the fight between the cops was solved, for the moment, with a cute look from Sandy. It’s a lovely thought, but felt like the book needed to be wrapped up, so this was an easy way to do so.
But these little quirks will not keep me from visiting Kentucky again, along with Miranda, Sandy, and all of their friends. I highly recommend the Paint & Shine Mystery series, and y’all should go grab yourself a copy!
3.5 stars
Still Knife Painting is the first book in Cheryl Hollon’s A Paint and Shine Mystery series. It follows Miranda Trent, who has recently moved from New York to eastern Kentucky after inheriting her uncle’s farmhouse. She starts a business called Paint and Shine, where she takes tourists on a hike in the forest to paint, then back to her farmhouse for a home-cooked meal and a moonshine tasting. Many in the area are not fond of moonshine, including her cook, Mrs. Childers. When Mrs. Childers is found dead in Miranda’s Kitchen, she immediately becomes the main suspect. With the help of a handsome forest ranger named Austin Morgan, Miranda is determined to clear her name and save her business.
I thought this was a promising start to a new series. The premise is intriguing, and I loved the rural countryside setting and the side characters, including Austin and Doris Ann. However, I had mixed feelings about the main character, Miranda. For the most part, I thought she was hardworking, determined, and clearly passionate about her work, but her tendency to snap at people and her rude behavior at times made it hard for me to warm up to her. The mystery was cleverly plotted, with plenty of suspects and red herrings to throw readers off the scent. The killer’s identity came as a surprise to me.
Overall, this was a fun read. It didn’t grab me as much as I would have liked but I’m definitely interested enough to continue on with the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A fun and interesting book! The idea that Miranda comes up with for her business is so unique. I love the idea of the outdoor nature painting and real country cooking meal. I wouldn’t care for the tasting of the moonshine, but I would love learning the history of moonshine. Miranda almost gets put out of business on her first day after her head cook is murdered. With help from park ranger, Austin, Miranda investigates so she can save her business and get justice for the murdered woman. The Lexington cops seem to want to pawn the whole thing off as an accident, but Miranda, the local sheriff, the medical examiner (also the sheriff’s wife), and Austin are convinced it’s murder. An intriguing story and I liked Miranda’s determination. I found the local characters intriguing and the Lexington police very frustrating. I can’t wait to see Miranda’s business grow and I hope to see her and Austin develop a romantic relationship!
Fun and interesting new series. I liked the characters for the most part…although Melinda can come across sometimes as not being very tactful. Loved the moonshine recipes at the back of the book.
With some tightening of the plot and some tweaking of the characters going forward, this could be a great series. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because a paint and ‘shine sounds really fun.
Read in KU
Entertaining and a page turner. The authour did an excellent job of discribing the settings and characters The reader can easily visualize what is going on. The story keeps you in suspense.
Moonshine, mountain trails, painting, and southern sass makes for a good story. This may be the first book in the series, but it definitely shouldn’t be the last. Waiting for the next book.
Readers will paint the town to spread the word about Cheryl Hollon’s book “Still Knife Painting.” She put together a cute, fun and entertaining cozy mystery. She set the scene nicely in Eastern Kentucky because she herself had first-hand experience spending summers there with family.
The main character, Miranda Trent inherits her Uncles homestead. But, from city to country life can be a challenge for her. She comes up with a unique business of offering outdoor painting classes paired with moonshine and dinner at her newly inherited farmhouse. But, when a murder is mixed into the party, things get a little more sticky.
This is the first book in the authors new “Paint and Shine Mystery Series.” Cheryl Hollon developed a great group of character’s giving the story an amusing who-dun-it mystery. It was a witty-quick read. If you’re wanting to escape into the forest in Kentucky, grab “Still Knife Painting” for your next little adventure. Cheers!
~This book was given to me through a giveaway from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.~