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Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries #6
A Fit of Tempera
Van Gogh-ing...going...gone!
Poor Judith McMonigle Flynn! All she wants is a much-needed break from the rigors of running Hillside Manor. But she and cousin Renie have barely set foot in their family's backwoods vacation cottage...and already they're having a brush with the local law. It appears someone has painted their neighbor, world-renowned artist Riley Tobias, permanently out of the picture. And the artful slayer has managed to frame luckless Judith for the crime! But the model amateur sleuth isn't about to sit still for this , as she and her cuz canvas the countryside in search of a killer. Judith is certain the culprit can be found in the rogues' gallery of oily agents, malicious mistresses, and crafty critics who inhabited the defunct da Vinci's surrealistic world. But the cousins could be painting themselves into a dangerous corner with this unofficial investigation...and setting themselves up for another fatal art attack.Poor Judith McMonigle Flynn! All she wants is a much-needed break from the rigors of running Hillside Manor. But she and cousin Renie have barely set foot in their family's backwoods vacation cottage...and already they're having a brush with the local law. It appears someone has painted their neighbor, world-renowned artist Riley Tobias, permanently out of the picture. And the artful slayer has managed to frame luckless Judith for the crime! But the model amateur sleuth isn't about to sit still for this, as she and her cuz canvas the countryside in search of a killer. Judith is certain the culprit can be found in the rogues' gallery of oily agents, malicious mistresses, and crafty critics who inhabited the defunct da Vinci's surrealistic world. But the cousins could be painting themselves into a dangerous corner with this unofficial investigation...and setting themselves up for another fatal art attack.Poor Judith McMonigle Flynn! All she wants is a much-needed break from the rigors of running Hillside Manor. But she and cousin Renie have barely set foot in their family's backwoods vacation cottage...and already they're having a brush with the local law. It appears someone has painted their neighbor, world-renowned artist Riley Tobias, permanently out of the picture. And the artful slayer has managed to frame luckless Judith for the crime! But the model amateur sleuth isn't about to sit still for this, as she and her cuz canvas the countryside in search of a killer. Judith is certain the culprit can be found in the rogues' gallery of oily agents, malicious mistresses, and crafty critics who inhabited the defunct da Vinci's surrealistic world. But the cousins could be painting themselves into a dangerous corner with this unofficial investigation...and setting themselves up for another fatal art attack.
Poor Judith McMonigle Flynn! All she wants is a much-needed break from the rigors of running Hillside Manor. But she and cousin Renie have barely set foot in their family's backwoods vacation cottage...and already they're having a brush with the local law. It appears someone has painted their neighbor, world-renowned artist Riley Tobias, permanently out of the picture. And the artful slayer has managed to frame luckless Judith for the crime! But the model amateur sleuth isn't about to sit still for this , as she and her cuz canvas the countryside in search of a killer. Judith is certain the culprit can be found in the rogues' gallery of oily agents, malicious mistresses, and crafty critics who inhabited the defunct da Vinci's surrealistic world. But the cousins could be painting themselves into a dangerous corner with this unofficial investigation...and setting themselves up for another fatal art attack.Poor Judith McMonigle Flynn! All she wants is a much-needed break from the rigors of running Hillside Manor. But she and cousin Renie have barely set foot in their family's backwoods vacation cottage...and already they're having a brush with the local law. It appears someone has painted their neighbor, world-renowned artist Riley Tobias, permanently out of the picture. And the artful slayer has managed to frame luckless Judith for the crime! But the model amateur sleuth isn't about to sit still for this, as she and her cuz canvas the countryside in search of a killer. Judith is certain the culprit can be found in the rogues' gallery of oily agents, malicious mistresses, and crafty critics who inhabited the defunct da Vinci's surrealistic world. But the cousins could be painting themselves into a dangerous corner with this unofficial investigation...and setting themselves up for another fatal art attack.Poor Judith McMonigle Flynn! All she wants is a much-needed break from the rigors of running Hillside Manor. But she and cousin Renie have barely set foot in their family's backwoods vacation cottage...and already they're having a brush with the local law. It appears someone has painted their neighbor, world-renowned artist Riley Tobias, permanently out of the picture. And the artful slayer has managed to frame luckless Judith for the crime! But the model amateur sleuth isn't about to sit still for this, as she and her cuz canvas the countryside in search of a killer. Judith is certain the culprit can be found in the rogues' gallery of oily agents, malicious mistresses, and crafty critics who inhabited the defunct da Vinci's surrealistic world. But the cousins could be painting themselves into a dangerous corner with this unofficial investigation...and setting themselves up for another fatal art attack.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1994
53 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Mary Daheim
94 books442 followersMary Rene Richardson Daheim was an American writer of romance and mystery novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 7, 2021
While I did enjoy this one, I was (apparently) paying attention to the characters and knew who did it from the start. (sad trombone sound)
Yes, I continued reading, to find out if my supposition was correct- it was! - and to see WHY they did it. And I also wanted a little vacation from reality, who doesn't need one every once in a while. ;)
Yes, I continued reading, to find out if my supposition was correct- it was! - and to see WHY they did it. And I also wanted a little vacation from reality, who doesn't need one every once in a while. ;)
June 3, 2017
It was an okay read. Had issues with the book. Found the pace rushed, almost frantic at times. Why did the author feel the need to write this way? It detracted from the overall story which was good. Was she going after a madcap series of events to tell this story? If so, this didn't work for me.
Another issue was characterization. The characters fell a bit flat and they often felt like stereotypes, even cartoonish. This was particularly noticeable in the character Clive, who happens to be a Southener. It was evident, his accent overdone in every bit of dialogue he had. In every article and book I've read on creating characters in fiction, the advice given is do not use dialect. It results in stereotypes and caricatures rather than believable characters. Other characters were handled similiarly, even the two main characters didn't feel 'real'.
This is the first book I've read by this author so I'm no familiar with her style. Am uninclined to read another in the future.
Another issue was characterization. The characters fell a bit flat and they often felt like stereotypes, even cartoonish. This was particularly noticeable in the character Clive, who happens to be a Southener. It was evident, his accent overdone in every bit of dialogue he had. In every article and book I've read on creating characters in fiction, the advice given is do not use dialect. It results in stereotypes and caricatures rather than believable characters. Other characters were handled similiarly, even the two main characters didn't feel 'real'.
This is the first book I've read by this author so I'm no familiar with her style. Am uninclined to read another in the future.
August 31, 2020
I really love this series. Judith and Renie are so good as are Judith and Joe. Worth the time.
October 17, 2009
I'm trying to read this series in order, and I found a bunch in my local bookstore's used book area. I knew who the murder was early on, and the book seemed to wander around a lot before the characters figured it out too, so not a favorite of the series. I'll see how I like the next couple before committing myself to the rest.
January 8, 2014
I have been reading this series and I just can't any more. They are so predicable and very early on. I also am disappointed in her lack of research into police procedures. By the time she gets finished 'investigating' none of her evidence is usable. It truly is a fiction series even down to procedures.
March 3, 2012
This book reminded me of a scooby-doo mystery! Those meddeling kids! Lol
August 7, 2020
This one really had me back and forth trying to figure out who done it! The more I read of this series the more I enjoy it.
Ms Daheim had a lot of red herrings here... so many possibilities; the longtime girlfriend, who stood by his side, the talented, artist; who waited in the wings for marriage, Clive, the crazy neighbors, the list is long. Keeps you guessing.
Ms Daheim had a lot of red herrings here... so many possibilities; the longtime girlfriend, who stood by his side, the talented, artist; who waited in the wings for marriage, Clive, the crazy neighbors, the list is long. Keeps you guessing.
March 30, 2024
You cannot go wrong with any book in Daheim’s Bed and Breakfast series…always fun, always light. One of my favorite authors. Although I like the stories that are set at the bed and breakfast better, having this one take place at a cabin in the woods was a nice change of pace. I had no idea who the murderer was until the very end!
August 12, 2025
The cousins were exceptional. Some of the people in this backwoods mystery was almost an overload. Sometimes it felt like it was becoming too complicated, but was just red herrings. The one cousin had me in stitches with her dry, sarcastic humor. It kept the story from becoming boring with facts. Still love this series and the main characters and am happy I read the book.
September 27, 2018
This was one of the more enjoyable books of the series for me. I think it was the setting of the cabin and river that gave a more serene feel, despite the murder and other happenings. I like the subordinate characters as well.
October 21, 2021
I keep telling myself I'm not going to read anymore from this series. Then I break down and read the next one. WHY? The repeating characters are not that interesting. I keep hoping it will get better. I really liked Daheim's Alpine series. Argh.
March 9, 2018
Finally one I was able to figure out before the end :)
March 15, 2018
It felt forced from plot to humor.
August 3, 2020
A dead painter, Sweet-Stix candy and an undersheriff named Abbott N. Costello. What more do you need to make a good cozy?
August 22, 2020
I am finding this series pretty steady. I enjoyed the change of scenery on this particular episode.
February 17, 2021
4 - Very, Very Good
January 27, 2024
My problem with this book is Judith's behavior at the end. What was she thinking??? She walked into danger counting on back up that she new was unreliable at best. Why????
April 11, 2025
Judith and Reni go to the family cabin and still get in trouble. Be sure and get this book, it's full of mystery and of course murder.
March 20, 2017
Of all the Bed and Breakfast Mysteries that I have read and loved, this one was the best.
July 24, 2016
I have an affinity for cozy mysteries. They generally aren't written in pursuit of a spot on the bestseller list; rather, cozies are written to give the reader a sense of comfort and calm (ironically, by way of murder).
My mom read cozies to escape her three eccentric young daughters and grumpy husband: one daughter, the artist, painted five-foot tall green flowers on the side of the freshly painted rental when she was four; the adventurous daughter asked which way north was, and was found by neighbors five hours later walking up the beach, wearing a backpack, in pursuit of Santa in the North Pole (we lived on an island--she wasn't the brightest of the three of us); and the oldest daughter (that would be I) caused her first-year kindergarten teacher to quit by demanding that all classroom toy soldiers and toy weapons be removed from the classroom so that her classmates would not become violent adults, and that the teacher immediately stop smoking on her breaks because she would surely die of lung cancer. As to my mother's husband, he had some strange notion that feeding 40 stray cats, a stray goat, a duck, and 4 turtles (not stray) out of a 2-bedroom apartment was odd. He also became irrationally upset when the cat gave birth in his shoe. So you see, for my mother, it was either read a cozy or drink (or possibly dispose of the children and husband).
Years later, when my grandmother came to live with us (bigger house, different country, revolving pet door, dad retired and usually lost in Best Buy, girls now goth, theater geek, and raver) we slowly replaced her true crime books with cozies in order to keep her from roaming the house at night after taking her pain pills, looking for the Son of Sam whilst armed with a shoe horn.
And all this is how I came to read cozies myself, because they were always there to help me escape my crazy family, you could carry on a screaming match with a sibling and not miss much in the book, and thanks to grandma's Dahmer intervention, there were always a shitload in the house. (Serious reading was done away from the insane people.)I have an affinity for cozy mysteries. They generally aren't written in pursuit of a spot on the bestseller list; rather, cozies are written to give the reader a sense of comfort and calm (ironically, by way of murder).
My mom read cozies to escape her three eccentric young daughters and grumpy husband: one daughter, the artist, painted five-foot tall green flowers on the side of the freshly painted rental when she was four; the adventurous daughter asked which way north was, and was found by neighbors five hours later walking up the beach, wearing a backpack, in pursuit of Santa in the North Pole (we lived on an island--she wasn't the brightest of the three of us); and the oldest daughter (that would be I) caused her first-year kindergarten teacher to quit by demanding that all classroom toy soldiers and toy weapons be removed from the classroom so that her classmates would not become violent adults, and that the teacher immediately stop smoking on her breaks because she would surely die of lung cancer. As to my mother's husband, he had some strange notion that feeding 40 stray cats, a stray goat, a duck, and 4 turtles (not stray) out of a 2-bedroom apartment was odd. He also became irrationally upset when the cat gave birth in his shoe. So you see, for my mother, it was either read a cozy or drink (or possibly dispose of the children and husband).
Years later, when my grandmother came to live with us (bigger house, different country, revolving pet door, dad retired and usually lost in Best Buy, girls now goth, theater geek, and raver) we slowly replaced her true crime books with cozies in order to keep her from roaming the house at night after taking her pain pills, looking for the Son of Sam whilst armed with a shoe horn.
And all this is how I came to read cozies myself, because they were always there to help me escape my crazy family, you could carry on a screaming match with a sibling and not miss much in the book, and thanks to grandma's Dahmer intervention, there were always a shitload in the house. (Serious reading was done away from the insane people.)
My mom read cozies to escape her three eccentric young daughters and grumpy husband: one daughter, the artist, painted five-foot tall green flowers on the side of the freshly painted rental when she was four; the adventurous daughter asked which way north was, and was found by neighbors five hours later walking up the beach, wearing a backpack, in pursuit of Santa in the North Pole (we lived on an island--she wasn't the brightest of the three of us); and the oldest daughter (that would be I) caused her first-year kindergarten teacher to quit by demanding that all classroom toy soldiers and toy weapons be removed from the classroom so that her classmates would not become violent adults, and that the teacher immediately stop smoking on her breaks because she would surely die of lung cancer. As to my mother's husband, he had some strange notion that feeding 40 stray cats, a stray goat, a duck, and 4 turtles (not stray) out of a 2-bedroom apartment was odd. He also became irrationally upset when the cat gave birth in his shoe. So you see, for my mother, it was either read a cozy or drink (or possibly dispose of the children and husband).
Years later, when my grandmother came to live with us (bigger house, different country, revolving pet door, dad retired and usually lost in Best Buy, girls now goth, theater geek, and raver) we slowly replaced her true crime books with cozies in order to keep her from roaming the house at night after taking her pain pills, looking for the Son of Sam whilst armed with a shoe horn.
And all this is how I came to read cozies myself, because they were always there to help me escape my crazy family, you could carry on a screaming match with a sibling and not miss much in the book, and thanks to grandma's Dahmer intervention, there were always a shitload in the house. (Serious reading was done away from the insane people.)I have an affinity for cozy mysteries. They generally aren't written in pursuit of a spot on the bestseller list; rather, cozies are written to give the reader a sense of comfort and calm (ironically, by way of murder).
My mom read cozies to escape her three eccentric young daughters and grumpy husband: one daughter, the artist, painted five-foot tall green flowers on the side of the freshly painted rental when she was four; the adventurous daughter asked which way north was, and was found by neighbors five hours later walking up the beach, wearing a backpack, in pursuit of Santa in the North Pole (we lived on an island--she wasn't the brightest of the three of us); and the oldest daughter (that would be I) caused her first-year kindergarten teacher to quit by demanding that all classroom toy soldiers and toy weapons be removed from the classroom so that her classmates would not become violent adults, and that the teacher immediately stop smoking on her breaks because she would surely die of lung cancer. As to my mother's husband, he had some strange notion that feeding 40 stray cats, a stray goat, a duck, and 4 turtles (not stray) out of a 2-bedroom apartment was odd. He also became irrationally upset when the cat gave birth in his shoe. So you see, for my mother, it was either read a cozy or drink (or possibly dispose of the children and husband).
Years later, when my grandmother came to live with us (bigger house, different country, revolving pet door, dad retired and usually lost in Best Buy, girls now goth, theater geek, and raver) we slowly replaced her true crime books with cozies in order to keep her from roaming the house at night after taking her pain pills, looking for the Son of Sam whilst armed with a shoe horn.
And all this is how I came to read cozies myself, because they were always there to help me escape my crazy family, you could carry on a screaming match with a sibling and not miss much in the book, and thanks to grandma's Dahmer intervention, there were always a shitload in the house. (Serious reading was done away from the insane people.)
March 3, 2011
This book took place at the cabin in Washington, which reminds me very much of the cabin we have in Washington, so this book was a favorite. In fact, our cabin in Washington is almost exactly where her fictional cabin is probably located (based on "name changed" locations and sights.) The plot was engaging, although somewhat annoying at times. I figured out the "who dunnit" for this book as well. I can't figure out if I'm just getting better at choosing the villain, or if these past few books have had really easy plots. Since this is the 6th book I have read in the series, I suppose I'm getting used to the indicators.
March 21, 2013
Good grief. Repose. Again. Three times in one chapter!
I'm forever laughing at place and people names that authors come up with. A police officer named Abbott N Costello? Really? I know the cops are usually bumbling idiots in cozy mysteries...but seriously?
I like the mysteries that take place away from the B&B much more than the ones that take place AT the B&B. I also like when all the facts and pieces to solve the mystery are there all along, but I don't quite get 2+2 to equal 4. Then again, I don't often try too hard with cozy mysteries anyway. I enjoy the stories far too much to try to actually solve the murder mysteries.
I'm forever laughing at place and people names that authors come up with. A police officer named Abbott N Costello? Really? I know the cops are usually bumbling idiots in cozy mysteries...but seriously?
I like the mysteries that take place away from the B&B much more than the ones that take place AT the B&B. I also like when all the facts and pieces to solve the mystery are there all along, but I don't quite get 2+2 to equal 4. Then again, I don't often try too hard with cozy mysteries anyway. I enjoy the stories far too much to try to actually solve the murder mysteries.
May 30, 2009
Cousins Judith Flynn and Renie Jones go to clean out the family's old cabin and soon find the artist who lives next door has been murdered. One--or maybe two--missing paintings, a household of unruly children, an art collector, an agent, more artists--the plot thickens in a big way, but Judith's logical mind finds a way through the morass, though she's impeded by the two incompetent deputies who've been assigned tot he case.
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March 1, 2013A weekend of maintenance for the girls up at the family cabin by the lake. The painter who lives in the next cabin gets murdered. Once again its up to Judith and Renie to find out what happened while almost getting themselves killed.
June 29, 2013
Bed and breakfast hostess Judith McMonigle and her intrepid cousin Renie are fixing up the family cabin when an artist who lives down the road is murdered. Of course they find themselves caught up in the middle of the investigation.
June 20, 2011
I enjoyed this entry in the series.
June 15, 2011
I liked it ,I like most of the bed and breakfast mysteries, but so far my favorite is Scots on the Rocks.
October 10, 2013
I liked it, I like the series....it did not occur at the B & B and I kept getting confused with the location....it may just be me, but I still enjoyed the book!
July 27, 2015
I love that these stories are adventures with two cousins. Love my cousins!
This one took place at the family cabin. I don't have one of those, but I have awesome cousins!
This one took place at the family cabin. I don't have one of those, but I have awesome cousins!
November 5, 2014
I've enjoyed other books in this series but I didn't think this one was as good as the others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews