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.
3.5 rounded to 4 stars A Tint of Murder is the fourth of the Paint by Murder Mystery series. Chloe and Izzie are sisters who own a shop where they host painting parties or classes with a theme project to generate interest in art. They are both artists, daughters of artists, but seem to get caught up in murder investigations. Told from Chloe's POV, we see how the two can get tangled up in other people's troubles. Izzie's friend, Martin, is accused of a murder and the two set out to find out the true killer but there are lots of suspects and angles to look at as there are multiple crimes committed that are tied to the case. This made for an interesting mystery to unravel with recurring likable characters and Chloe's cute little pup, Max. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
"A Tint of Murder (A Paint By Murder Mystery #4)" by Bailee Abbott is set around Halloween and more focused on art theft/forgery than the murder. Murders? For sure one murder, the other isn't totally cleared up at the end of the book.
The sisters get pulled into this mystery by their silent partner sending them a mysterious painting. I immediately was questioning the partner's request for them to transport it for him. Seriously, everything he's asked Izzie to do was a bit sketchy really. However, I was more focused on the guy who ends up being the possible buyer than the person who ended up being the culprit.
#ATintofMurder #NetGalley is a delightful addition to this cozy mystery series featuring sisters Chloe and Izzie. In #ATintofMurder, the sisters find themselves mixed up in a possible art theft ring, that has already taken the lives of two people. Izzie is ready to jump in to investigate, since her close friend is a possible suspect. Chloe is more clear headed and wants to help, but she doesn't want to risk either of their lives while investigating. The sisters work well together, speaking to the victim's family, as well as others that knew them. Once the pieces start coming together, it doesn't take long for Chloe & Izzie to get the answers they are looking for. This is a fun series, all the characters are easy to like, and the story is well written. I'm happy to recommend this book and series to other readers. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
A Tint of Murder is the fourth volume in the Paint by Murder Mystery series by Bailee Abbott. Although I have not read the other books, I had no trouble enjoying it as a standalone. The series features amateur sleuth sisters, Chloe and Izzie Abbington, who own a paint party store in picturesque Whisper Cove, a quaint, lakefront suburb of Buffalo, New York. The narrative is in first person from Chloe’s point of view. Formerly a working artist in Manhattan, Chloe now lives in Whisper Cove with her parents and sister and is dating Hunter, a local police detective. When the story opens, their friend and investor, Martin Steele, asks Izzie to store a painting given to him by an old college friend. When the sisters question the reason for the request, Martin tells them his friend was recently killed in a car wreck, which he suspects was no accident. And ever since, Martin believes someone is following him. Before the sisters can take the painting to a storage facility, Chloe’s dog, Max, damages it. And then they discover that underneath the seascape is a Vermeer—either genuine or a very good forgery. They wonder how much Martin and his friend knew. The sisters start sleuthing and soon learn that Martin’s artist friend is Clive Whitmore, son of one of Buffalo’s wealthiest and most prominent families. Coincidentally, the Whitmores belong to some of the same charitable organizations as the Abbington parents. Chloe and Izzie also learn about a man named Arthur Storing who has written a biography of the Whitmores, so they decide to interview him and find out what he knows about Clive’s artwork. Not long after they begin their sleuthing, Clive’s sister, Erin Whitmore, is found shot to death in the family home, and Martin is a suspect. The case becomes even more complicated when Clive’s painting is stolen from the storage facility and Martin disappears. I loved the warm, easy relationships in this story: The sisters work as a team to manage their business and solve crimes on the side. Their parents, Kate and Joe, provide a loving and supportive family life. Hunter is protective of Chloe but has apparently learned that he can’t stop her from investigating. And he shows appreciation for the information she uncovers for him. Chloe seems to know when to back off and call in the police, and when she needs to take matters into her own hands. I recommend this series for readers who like strong, female amateur sleuths and a touch of art crime.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The premise was interesting, and I’ve been wanting to try out cozy mysteries because I’ve really enjoyed the cozy fantasy books I’ve read so far. However, this book was a bit hard to get into and to stick with. I did a soft DNF on chapter 11, then came back to it a few weeks later to finish it.
The main character and narrator, Chloe Abbington and her sister Izzie, live with their artist parents in the idyllic town of Whisper Cove, New York. The sisters themselves are artists as well, and they get caught up in the world of art heists and murder.
My main reason for the two star rating is that I feel like it would have been more engaging if certain parts of the story were just a little more realistic. The story is meant to be set in the real world, with mentions of celebrities and real places, but a few plot points below made the believability difficult for me.
* The sisters- both in their mid to late twenties- still live with their parents. I do know this is the fourth book in a series, but each can be read as a standalone so perhaps the reason is explained in an earlier book. It just felt odd to me that two almost 30 year old women who own a business together and are both in long term relationships, would still be living at home with their parents. * There were times where it was overly descriptive, which made me skim a bit, and the dialogue was a bit awkward. This was especially the case for the characters who are supposed to be in their 20s. I understand this is supposed to be cozy, but there are literally no curse words in the book, and one character says “holy wow!” in response to something shocking on more than one occasion. * My last issue is the relationship between Chloe and her detective boyfriend Hunter. They only seem to meet up to discuss details about the ongoing murder case, and there is almost no chemistry between them. Their flirting is cringy at times (mostly cutesy nicknames) and the “romance” itself would be more believable if it was written about two twelve year olds who’ve recently agreed to be boyfriend/girlfriend and only hold hands on the way to their next class, rather than two adults who have been in a relationship for at least a year.
I guess I was expecting more of a “Murder, She Wrote with art” vibe, but it didn’t deliver what I was looking for.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Sisters Chloe and Izzie Abbington own a paint party shop, and they're finally (slightly) in the black. They live at home with their parents, and are fairly happy with their lives. But one day a crate arrives for Izzie, and it contains a painting of a seascape, which is nice, but not wonderful. They don't know why Izzie's friend Martin has asked them to take it to storage, but they are willing to do so. At least, until they accidentally discover another painting underneath -- and this one is a Vermeer, and rare. At first they think it is a fake, but later on discover the painting is real...especially when Martin disappears and it appears someone is after the painting.
They take it to storage, but it doesn't end there. A murder occurs, and the police think Martin is guilty. Determined to prove her friend innocent, Izzie asks Chloe's help. It doesn't hurt that Chloe's boyfriend Hunter is a police detective, who just might have information of his own. But with the police chief determined to convict Martin in order to appease the powerful father of the dead person, the women have to work fast...and hope they can avoid a killer in the process...
This is the fourth book in the series, and I have read them all. I have also enjoyed them all, but I do think that this one is my favorite so far. It had plenty going on throughout the book, with a few red herrings thrown in, and several clues that lead to the true murderer. But they are not as easy to find as one might think, which is a good thing. There is nothing so boring as knowing the killer almost immediately and then having to slog through a book to find the why.
The why is given nearly immediately -- the painting -- but the who and the reasons for it are not. This makes it a fun cozy, and along the way we get glimpses of Izzie and Chloe's personal lives and that of their parents; and even those of their friends.
In the end, when it all comes together, it is almost an accident how they discover the truth, and the epilogue to the story is comforting, to say the least. You cannot know the mind of a killer, and nor would I want to, but this cozy is definitely that, and I would recommend it to others.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
Well now, pull up a chair, y'all, 'cause I just finished readin' this here book, and I gotta tell ya, it was a wild ride! I ain't one for them fancy book learnin's, but this one, it grabbed me right from the start.
So, you got these two sisters, Izzie and Chloe Abbington, and they get this painting, a regular old seascape, from a friend who deals in art. Sounds nice, right? But then, surprise, surprise, turns out there's a priceless Vermeer hidden right behind it! Now, I don't know much 'bout art, but I know "priceless" means folks'll do just 'bout anything to get their hands on it.
And wouldn't ya know it, that painting gets stolen, and then, hold onto your hats, someone gets murdered! And the worst part? Their poor friend, the one who gave 'em the painting, he gets accused of the whole mess. That just ain't right, is it?
Now, Izzie and Chloe, bless their hearts, they ain't gonna let their friend swing for somethin' he didn't do. So, they set out to clear his name. And this takes 'em outta their little small town and into the big, fancy art world. Sounds like a whole different planet, don't it?
They're askin' questions, talkin' to all sorts of folks – art dealers, collectors, even folks from their parents' art group. But turns out, everybody's got secrets, and the more they dig, the more their friend starts lookin' guilty. That'd make your stomach churn, wouldn't it?
Even that plain old seascape painting, it's got a story to tell, if only these sisters can figure it out. They get all troubled and scared, wonderin' what they're gonna find. But these girls, they're tough. They ain't gonna stop until they get to the bottom of it, even if the killer turns out to be someone they know. That's a mighty scary thought, ain't it?
This book, it kept me guessin' from start to finish. If you like a good mystery that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, you oughta give this one a read. It's a real humdinger!
The 4th in a series of stories that find adult sisters Izzy and Chloe solving crimes - this time aided by Chloe's detective boyfriend Hunter. There are references to this not being their first crime scene, or first murder, and relating to the sudden loss of a friend which must have been the plots of the previous 3 books in the collection. That's a bit annoying but expected. In fact, I wondered if that's why the book felt distant, because the author assumes that we've read the other books and already know things. Like why is 28yr old Chloe living at home with mom and dad and sister Izzie? There are throw away lines mentioning Manhattan and Paris which again, may have been detailed in books 1-3 but would have been nice to know more about.
The sisters own a business but routinely close up shop to follow some lead involving a friend of Izzy's and the greater Art world. Izzy has a beau named Brody but neither relationship felt real. The sisters are a unit of 2 and that's it. Mom and Dad chime in on occasion to chirp about safety or to provide coincidental connections to the investigation. Other than mother and daughters all having green eyes, and Izzy and mom being 'willowy', I had no sense of what they looked like until the costume ball at the end of the book. Again probably info that was given in the earlier books.
Overall, it was sweet, unrealistic, and weirdly removed. I didn't feel involved, as much as being told a story 2nd or 3rd hand.
When Chloe and Izzy silent partner is suspected of murder, and he has handed them a potentially stolen work of art, the girls have their hands full. While the girls do not suspect their partner of being a murderer, someone is working hard to make sure it certainly looks like he did it. Can I solve the mystery before their partner takes the fall for a crime he didn’t commit or before the murderer remove them from the sleuthing landscape once and for all.
This is a really enjoyable, cozy mystery series set in upstate New York. The sisters are completely relatable, the mysteries are well fought out and constructed with red herrings and twist and turns that are gonna keep you until the at. If you’re looking for a new series, this is a good one to start with. Each one reads fine as a standalone so don’t worry about going back to the first one. Read this one and you’ll wanna read the others later.
Many thanks to Netgalley for this book. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Chloe and Izzie receive a painting from Izzie’s silent partner Martin and are asked to bring it to a storage facility because Martin is being followed and wants the painting safe where nobody can find it. Erin Whitmore is found murdered and Martin is arrested for the crime. The Whitmore’s are big in the art community with donations and businesses involving art. Izzie wants to clear Martin’s names and it becomes clear that Clive Whitmore was involved in black market dealings and that was what got him and his sister killed. Chloe and Izzie find out the truth about who killed Erin but Clive’s death is still ruled as an accident. This is such a cute cozy mystery series.
I really wanted to like A Tint of Murder by Bailee Abbott, as the premise seemed intriguing. But by the time I got to the 41% mark, or Chapter 12, I found myself asking why I was continuing to read something I clearly wasn't enjoying. The writing itself is perfectly proficient, but I was neither relating to any of the characters, nor was I engaged in the storyline. I found the characters somewhat annoying in their dogged insistence on investigating things they had been asked to leave alone, and the detective/boyfriend's willingness to turn the other way completely implausible. So, ultimately, this was a DNF for me. I will remember to not request an ARC by this author from #NetGalley in the future, although I do appreciate being approved for this one, regardless.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, however, all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is book 4 in a series and I haven’t read any of the previous books, but I was able to read this as a standalone book without any problems.
I love cozy mysteries, but this one was just okay. There were a lot of characters to keep up and it was very convoluted at times. Also, I found it hard to believe that Chloe’s detective boyfriend would share as much information about the case with her as he did. It seemed unrealistic to me.
Book 50 of 2025 was “Tint of Murder” by Bailee Abbott. This was my first read by the author and was a @goodreads win. A great cozy mystery, I could totally see this becoming a Hallmark movie. A fun fact I learned about the author was that she resides in Northeast Ohio 💚. 3 out of 5 ⭐️.
I really wanted to like this book however I felt it was lacking in overall mystery and I wasn't able to gel with the characters as a whole which detracted from my reading experience. Thankyou to Net galley and Level Best Books for an arc of this story..
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bailee Abbott for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Tint of Murder coming out April 29, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was intrigued by the cozy storyline. I thought the characters were really interesting. I loved cozy books! I would definitely check out more books in this series and other books by the author.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!