Includes A Front and Back Cover for You to Color! Life is looking rosy for Florrie Fox, manager of the Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington D.C. She’s working on an adult coloring book of gardens, her romance with Sergeant Eric Jonquille has entered a new chapter, and the bookstore’s weekly coloring club is a source of friendship and entertainment. No member is more vibrant than … member is more vibrant than Dolly Cavanaugh. Dolly likes to say she was blessed with beauty and cursed with lousy husbands, but at least she has a grown daughter and a stunning brownstone to show for it!
When Dolly’s love of garage sales results in her showing up at Color Me Read with a rare book in hand, Florrie is astounded. The Florist, the earliest known coloring book, was first published in 1760. An original copy would be worth a fortune—and someone else knows it. That same evening, Florrie finds Dolly dead on the floor of her apartment, a corner of a coloring book page clutched in her hand. As Florrie delves into Dolly’s past and her personal effects, she discovers a skeleton in the closet—literally—and a whole lot of shady suspects. One of them is an expert in the fine art of murder, but can Florrie draw the right conclusion?
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4.5 stars
I always enjoy books authored by Krista Davis, and THE COLORING CROOK did not disappoint. A wonderful community backdrop and great characters come together with more than one murder mystery to hit all the right cozy mystery notes.
I adore the bookstore setting and am quite envious of protagonist Florrie’s carriage house. Florrie is a notable amateur sleuth, smart and competent, inquisitive without being nosy. The supporting cast is appealing, and I especially like police sergeant Eric and Florrie’s parents. The characters central to the mystery provide a great pool of suspects, and the clues allow the investigation to constantly evolve. The story is well paced and kept me guessing for most of the book.
I really like the Pen and Ink Mystery series and recommend THE COLORING CROOK to any cozy mystery fan.
I received an ARC of this title through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
I loved the characters in this mystery, but I wanted more. I hope another book is in the works. I hope I can print the book cover to color.
The Coloring Crook is the second book in the Pen & In Book series by Krista Davis in which Florrie Fox manages Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington D.C. and is dating Sergeant Eric Jonquille. When her friend Dolly finds The Florist book at a yard sale and comes to find out it is an original! The Dolly ends us dead and the The Florist is gone!!! Who killed Dolly? Where is the Florist?
Krista Davis is wonderful writer and really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the third book.
Florrie is the manager of a bookstore in DC. She also is the artist of many adult coloring books. When one of her friends finds the first known published coloring book, she is super excited. Unfortunately, later that friend turns up dead and the coloring book goes missing. Florrie is determined to find out what happened to her friend while also finding the coloring book.
I love this series so much! It’s so much fun. I love Florrie and all of the other characters. I love the Washington DC setting. I love the bookstore. The writing just totally brings the reader in and brings them along for such a fun story. I did have my suspicions throughout the book but was still surprised at the end. I am loving this series so much and cannot wait to read the next one!
For Florrie Fox who manages the Color Me Read bookshop in Georgetown, Washington DC, life is going well. She’s working on a new adult coloring book and enjoying the bookshop’s weekly adult coloring club. Dolly Cavanaugh, one of the club members, finds a rare book and is excited about the changes it will bring to her life. But Florrie finds Dolly dead in her apartment that night and the book is missing. Florrie is pulled into the investigation as she’s determined to find out who killed her friend.
This is the second book in what’s promising to be a fantastic series. I truly enjoyed this book which was well-written with wonderful characters. I was drawn into the story from the start and kept hooked until the end. In addition to the murder mystery which will keep you guessing, there are a couple other secrets that need to be brought into the light. I’m really looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order to get the most enjoyment and benefit from them.
An interesting premise, with some great moments. At times, the book could have used some editing, as the writing could be a bit trite — but other moments were well crafted.
Dolly Cavanaugh has a history of bad luck but that changes when she finds a valuable eighteenth century coloring book at a yard sale. Her luck is short lived because later in the day she is discovered sprawled out dead on the floor of her Georgetown home holding a corner of the coloring book. Now friend and bookstore manager Florrie Fox finds herself searching for answers but instead finding more questions.
Once again author Krista Davis shows us she is an expert at setting a scene.. Her excellent attention to detail makes a story come to life. The book is easy to read but you’ll want to take your time so you can absorb all the elements of the story.
Thanks to Kensington books and NetGalley for an ARC of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.