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Bellingham Mysteries #6
Pentimento Blues
The Final Mystery
Now that small-town reporter Peter Fontaine has gotten hitched to the man of his dreams, he thinks his days of solving crimes are over. But after a decades-old secret is revealed, a dead body is found and Peter’s husband Nick is at the top of the suspect list. Peter must harness his power of ultimate nosiness to find one last killer.
Now that small-town reporter Peter Fontaine has gotten hitched to the man of his dreams, he thinks his days of solving crimes are over. But after a decades-old secret is revealed, a dead body is found and Peter’s husband Nick is at the top of the suspect list. Peter must harness his power of ultimate nosiness to find one last killer.
103 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2017
3 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 16, 2020
Aww, the last book in the series! Sad. I will miss these characters.
And it was so short, too.
[Cough. I hear that happens when you've been married a while.]
And it was so short, too.
[Cough. I hear that happens when you've been married a while.]
February 4, 2017
Pentimento Blues is a really wonderful way to complete the series! The mystery reflects the complexities of Nick's and Peter's relationship nicely, perfectly balancing romance, sleuthing, and humor. I personally adore Peter's observations, quips, and fantasies-as well as his nosiness. He's even a delight when he gets tanked and surly!
I don't know that a reader has to read the previous books to follow the story, but there's a much greater impact if one is familiar with the personal histories of the characters. It's obvious that the author took care in building up little clues and details in the previous volumes that really pay off here. I'd definitely recommend the entire Bellingham Mysteries series to any readers looking for interesting mysteries and fun, smart, sexy characters who solve them.
I don't know that a reader has to read the previous books to follow the story, but there's a much greater impact if one is familiar with the personal histories of the characters. It's obvious that the author took care in building up little clues and details in the previous volumes that really pay off here. I'd definitely recommend the entire Bellingham Mysteries series to any readers looking for interesting mysteries and fun, smart, sexy characters who solve them.
January 17, 2017
Where Peter Fontaine goes, trouble is sure to follow, and I’m sad that Pentimento Blues is the final novella in Nicole Kimberling’s delightful Bellingham Mysteries series. This book serves as a reminder of everything there will be to miss about both the series and its characters. First of all, there’s Bellingham, Washington (which I count as a character), where the number of murderers per capita seems inordinately high, which only adds to the city’s interest—especially since its unofficial motto is the City of Subdued Excitement. What’s not to love about the concept of murder and chill in the PNW?
One of the things I’m going to miss most, of course, is Peter’s inner narratives. As an investigative journalist for the Hamster, and an amateur sleuth to boot, he not only gives his stoner boss, Doug, some grief, but he has a wealth of inspiration to draw from when sowing the seeds of his fertile imagination. He hasn’t written the great American novel—yet—but the tendency to compose in his head, and his drunk daydream in Pentimento, are each a comical reminder that there’s more than just the mysteries for him to solve in these novellas. Not to be outdone in the humor department, though, is Peter’s best friend, Evangeline. She’s just that quirky and original, and I’ve loved playing witness to their friendship. It kinda makes you want to tag along as their third wheel—but then you’re also a little be afraid that you just aren’t interesting or cool enough to hang with them. Or, maybe that’s just me.
Then there’s Nick Olsen, the love of Peter’s life. Nick has never been what you’d call an open book, and is a little (okay, a lot) moody and broody and temperamental. But he’s an artist, so he gets a pass. If someone isn’t out to get Peter, giving Nick a reason to rush in and save the day, then there’s someone out to get Nick himself (these guys are trouble magnets). When the past comes back to bite Nick on the buttocks in this installment, it ends badly for his blackmailer and leaves Peter wondering, albeit it momentarily, if his husband is capable of murder. Don’t worry, though; even this development spins into Peter’s version of romantic.
Pentimento Blues, like the other books in the series, are more mystery-lite than heavy on the investigative procedural, but we readers get just enough of the criminal element to have fun watching Peter snoop his way into danger while helping solve the crime. I love that he sort of oopsie daisies his way into solving this one, and that I didn’t know exactly who’d committed the crime until the exact moment Peter figured it out. I also love that Nicole Kimberling gives readers the opportunity to have some sympathy for the killer, and I really love the moral ambiguity of it. It makes me feel a little dirty to say the victim kind of had it coming, but I can say it with a figurative level of comfort because, hey, that’s some nice writing in my humble opinion.
If you haven’t started reading this series yet, don’t try to begin here. While each novella is its own neat little mystery, the development of Peter and Nick’s romance should be savored from book one, Primal Red, and then working your way through from there. The storytelling here is uncluttered, the characters flawed and funny, the setting the perfect mix of homey and eclectic, and Kimberling’s prose is just so easy to lose yourself in for a while. This series is a really good bit of reading entertainment, and while I’m feeling sentimental that it’s over, the end was well worth the wild little trip to the Pacific Northwest.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
One of the things I’m going to miss most, of course, is Peter’s inner narratives. As an investigative journalist for the Hamster, and an amateur sleuth to boot, he not only gives his stoner boss, Doug, some grief, but he has a wealth of inspiration to draw from when sowing the seeds of his fertile imagination. He hasn’t written the great American novel—yet—but the tendency to compose in his head, and his drunk daydream in Pentimento, are each a comical reminder that there’s more than just the mysteries for him to solve in these novellas. Not to be outdone in the humor department, though, is Peter’s best friend, Evangeline. She’s just that quirky and original, and I’ve loved playing witness to their friendship. It kinda makes you want to tag along as their third wheel—but then you’re also a little be afraid that you just aren’t interesting or cool enough to hang with them. Or, maybe that’s just me.
Then there’s Nick Olsen, the love of Peter’s life. Nick has never been what you’d call an open book, and is a little (okay, a lot) moody and broody and temperamental. But he’s an artist, so he gets a pass. If someone isn’t out to get Peter, giving Nick a reason to rush in and save the day, then there’s someone out to get Nick himself (these guys are trouble magnets). When the past comes back to bite Nick on the buttocks in this installment, it ends badly for his blackmailer and leaves Peter wondering, albeit it momentarily, if his husband is capable of murder. Don’t worry, though; even this development spins into Peter’s version of romantic.
Pentimento Blues, like the other books in the series, are more mystery-lite than heavy on the investigative procedural, but we readers get just enough of the criminal element to have fun watching Peter snoop his way into danger while helping solve the crime. I love that he sort of oopsie daisies his way into solving this one, and that I didn’t know exactly who’d committed the crime until the exact moment Peter figured it out. I also love that Nicole Kimberling gives readers the opportunity to have some sympathy for the killer, and I really love the moral ambiguity of it. It makes me feel a little dirty to say the victim kind of had it coming, but I can say it with a figurative level of comfort because, hey, that’s some nice writing in my humble opinion.
If you haven’t started reading this series yet, don’t try to begin here. While each novella is its own neat little mystery, the development of Peter and Nick’s romance should be savored from book one, Primal Red, and then working your way through from there. The storytelling here is uncluttered, the characters flawed and funny, the setting the perfect mix of homey and eclectic, and Kimberling’s prose is just so easy to lose yourself in for a while. This series is a really good bit of reading entertainment, and while I’m feeling sentimental that it’s over, the end was well worth the wild little trip to the Pacific Northwest.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
February 7, 2017
Full review to follow on Prism.
But I don't get why this series isn't way more popular, it's more 'murder she wrote' than deep psychological thriller and Peter is funny. Nick is brooding and intense and the chemistry between them is wonderful . Over six books there is a familiarity with the characters, but still tension and edginess, which is difficult to pull off.
The cover does not do the book justice btw. This is a cut above
But I don't get why this series isn't way more popular, it's more 'murder she wrote' than deep psychological thriller and Peter is funny. Nick is brooding and intense and the chemistry between them is wonderful . Over six books there is a familiarity with the characters, but still tension and edginess, which is difficult to pull off.
The cover does not do the book justice btw. This is a cut above
July 3, 2017
I liked this series. It's fun and have mysteries in it.
I liked a lot Peter in this book, he has reached another level with his interior monologue... I couldn't stop laughing when he was composing that piece about Sheriff Olson in his head XDD
But then, there're some things I didn't like. In this book the resolution of the crime for me was rushed. It wasn't even hinted, nor mentioned, that that character had that past history, so it was a strange surprise discover that he was the culprit and the motive. And also, we don't discover what has been Bradley's fate, what happened to him at the end.
But well, they are minor things, overall I liked this series. I recommend it.
I liked a lot Peter in this book, he has reached another level with his interior monologue... I couldn't stop laughing when he was composing that piece about Sheriff Olson in his head XDD
But then, there're some things I didn't like. In this book the resolution of the crime for me was rushed. It wasn't even hinted, nor mentioned, that that character had that past history, so it was a strange surprise discover that he was the culprit and the motive. And also, we don't discover what has been Bradley's fate, what happened to him at the end.
But well, they are minor things, overall I liked this series. I recommend it.
February 3, 2017
This one was fast-faced, and since I didn't remember book 1-4, I didn't know whether this storyline was needed to tie off all loose ends or not. Because if it's actually not needed, the murder case in this book was so unfair to the murderer (who cared about the victim? He definitely had it coming).
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this couple and it's a bit sad to part from them.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this couple and it's a bit sad to part from them.
February 28, 2021
Couple things struck me with this one: first one, the Walter subplot was tired after about the second book and this series benefits from a break between instalments. I read the first three in a row and ended up noticing all their flaws much more starkly. Took a small breather and read the next three and o, noticing the same towards this last instalment. The author has certain quirks that get annoying, like rushing the endings and not giving proper development to certain aspects of the plot. Overall, it’s an enjoyable series with flawed, often unlikeable characters who make you root for them despite it all.
December 7, 2017
I have missed Nick and Peter.
January 2, 2020
A great ending to one of my favourite series.
July 20, 2021
I read Pentimento Blues (Bellingham Mysteries, #6) at the request of a friend and really enjoyed it.
February 18, 2017
Review can be read at It's About The Book
Nick and Peter are happily married and happily doing their thing despite the never ending sunny warm weather causing small fires. Peter is surprised at work by an author who wants to see one of the paintings back at Nick and Peter’s house. No big deal, right? Yeah okay it was a hugely big deal that prompted Nick to assault the guy, yell at Peter, then leave. Peter gets himself back into Bellingham and goes back to work. As he’s writing up a story about a local brewery, Peter has himself a beer. And another beer. And some more beer after that. Of course Peter’s imagination goes a little crazy, then Sheriff Nick shows up and Peter passes out in the car on the way home. Peter knows he needs to talk to Nick about the previous day’s altercation, but decides to go into town and work first. He really didn’t expect to find a dead body.
Nick has always been a bit of a mystery. Or a lot of mystery, really. Neither Peter nor the reader knows what he’s hiding. Is it something vaguely benign, or a vicious murder? There are a lot of ways to be a criminal, and we’re shown several of them. We’re forced to wrestle with intent and motive as well as a willingness to make things right. But nothing is simple or black and white. Peter has to make judgment calls. I really like what Peter did.
Peter and the readers now know all of Nick’s deep dark secrets, and he’s still the same stoic Nick. Over the course of the series we’ve watched Peter and Nick finally get to know each other and accept there are parts of their lives that will never go away. Peter is always going to be eccentric and prone to exaggeration. Nick will always have a huge, powerful memory of romance in his past. This is so human. As much as these are fun and funny little mysteries, these books accurately depict how a lasting romance happens with real humans, and it is wonderful.
As I was thinking about how to write up this review I thought about the art in this book and the clue in it. It dawned on me I had never really looked at the art in the books for clues. I now have the perfect excuse to reread the series! I can think of no better way to say good bye to Peter and Nick.
Nick and Peter are happily married and happily doing their thing despite the never ending sunny warm weather causing small fires. Peter is surprised at work by an author who wants to see one of the paintings back at Nick and Peter’s house. No big deal, right? Yeah okay it was a hugely big deal that prompted Nick to assault the guy, yell at Peter, then leave. Peter gets himself back into Bellingham and goes back to work. As he’s writing up a story about a local brewery, Peter has himself a beer. And another beer. And some more beer after that. Of course Peter’s imagination goes a little crazy, then Sheriff Nick shows up and Peter passes out in the car on the way home. Peter knows he needs to talk to Nick about the previous day’s altercation, but decides to go into town and work first. He really didn’t expect to find a dead body.
Nick has always been a bit of a mystery. Or a lot of mystery, really. Neither Peter nor the reader knows what he’s hiding. Is it something vaguely benign, or a vicious murder? There are a lot of ways to be a criminal, and we’re shown several of them. We’re forced to wrestle with intent and motive as well as a willingness to make things right. But nothing is simple or black and white. Peter has to make judgment calls. I really like what Peter did.
Peter and the readers now know all of Nick’s deep dark secrets, and he’s still the same stoic Nick. Over the course of the series we’ve watched Peter and Nick finally get to know each other and accept there are parts of their lives that will never go away. Peter is always going to be eccentric and prone to exaggeration. Nick will always have a huge, powerful memory of romance in his past. This is so human. As much as these are fun and funny little mysteries, these books accurately depict how a lasting romance happens with real humans, and it is wonderful.
As I was thinking about how to write up this review I thought about the art in this book and the clue in it. It dawned on me I had never really looked at the art in the books for clues. I now have the perfect excuse to reread the series! I can think of no better way to say good bye to Peter and Nick.
February 25, 2017
A quick update with Peter and Nick, 3 yrs after the wedding.
Peter manages to get drunk and end up embroiled with another murder - not surprisingly, though it has been 3 years since the last one at his wedding.
Nick is particularly obnoxious at the start of the story, making me wonder what Peter sees in him once again!
However, Nick's last secret is revealed as it pertains to the murder also. The murdered person is not nice as his murderer is pushed by circumstances to breaking point.
It is a fairly good end to the series if we end here - though I would like more of Peter's meddlesome investigating!
Peter manages to get drunk and end up embroiled with another murder - not surprisingly, though it has been 3 years since the last one at his wedding.
Nick is particularly obnoxious at the start of the story, making me wonder what Peter sees in him once again!
However, Nick's last secret is revealed as it pertains to the murder also. The murdered person is not nice as his murderer is pushed by circumstances to breaking point.
It is a fairly good end to the series if we end here - though I would like more of Peter's meddlesome investigating!
June 9, 2017
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
I really liked the previous books in this series so I was totally ready to jump back in and read more about Peter and his (now husband) Nick. This final story in the series had all the things I loved about the first five books: Peter’s amusing outlook and inner dialogue, an interesting mystery, and some sexy one on one time with his significant other. I was swept up into the story right away and it was like I’d never taken a break from the series at all (even though it really hasn’t been that long since I finished the last book, but I digress). The main characters, Peter and Nick, were spot on and they totally just work so well for me. At this point, they’ve been married for a while and, even though you don’t get to see a ton of domesticity between them, it was easy to see the synergy and how well they just get one another. You also get to learn a little bit more about Nick and since he’s so reticent to give out information about himself, I was thrilled to gobble up every little tidbit.
The mystery was fairly straight forward and while you could pretty much tell straight off who was going to be, well, offed, the reason for it as well as the person responsible were, as I’ve come to expect from this series, a complete surprise. I still love how this author manages that every single time; serious kudos given for that! The ending was wrapped up nicely and while I’m a little sad that I won’t get any more stories about these two, I’m happy with how things left off and feel good about the last glimpse I was given of Peter and Nick.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries I have to seriously recommend this series; every story was good and I was entertained the entire way through.
I really liked the previous books in this series so I was totally ready to jump back in and read more about Peter and his (now husband) Nick. This final story in the series had all the things I loved about the first five books: Peter’s amusing outlook and inner dialogue, an interesting mystery, and some sexy one on one time with his significant other. I was swept up into the story right away and it was like I’d never taken a break from the series at all (even though it really hasn’t been that long since I finished the last book, but I digress). The main characters, Peter and Nick, were spot on and they totally just work so well for me. At this point, they’ve been married for a while and, even though you don’t get to see a ton of domesticity between them, it was easy to see the synergy and how well they just get one another. You also get to learn a little bit more about Nick and since he’s so reticent to give out information about himself, I was thrilled to gobble up every little tidbit.
The mystery was fairly straight forward and while you could pretty much tell straight off who was going to be, well, offed, the reason for it as well as the person responsible were, as I’ve come to expect from this series, a complete surprise. I still love how this author manages that every single time; serious kudos given for that! The ending was wrapped up nicely and while I’m a little sad that I won’t get any more stories about these two, I’m happy with how things left off and feel good about the last glimpse I was given of Peter and Nick.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries I have to seriously recommend this series; every story was good and I was entertained the entire way through.
June 8, 2021
I finished a series!
I feel like me and Bellingham mysteries have had a slow falling out over the years. The rating reflects my flagging enjoyment of the series, rather than an actual decline in quality. It's me, it's not the books. I think. I picked this up simply because it felt bad and wrong to not finish a 6 book series with only the 1 book left. The completionist in me would not rest.
That being said I did start these books as a cozy mystery series, and somewhere along the road the mystery aspect sort of faded. In this book it was more back into focus, but at this point I've kinda tired of Nick's non-communicative ways and the humor.
Edit: Having thought about this I really do feel like the series has lost it's sparkle. There were only a handful of characters, and the solution of the mystery / murder felt like a shitty solution. There - I said it. If this had been anything other than the last book of the series I would have DNF-ed the series at this point.
The covers also do not match the story at all. Who are these persons on the cover? Not the main characters, that's for sure.
I feel like me and Bellingham mysteries have had a slow falling out over the years. The rating reflects my flagging enjoyment of the series, rather than an actual decline in quality. It's me, it's not the books. I think. I picked this up simply because it felt bad and wrong to not finish a 6 book series with only the 1 book left. The completionist in me would not rest.
That being said I did start these books as a cozy mystery series, and somewhere along the road the mystery aspect sort of faded. In this book it was more back into focus, but at this point I've kinda tired of Nick's non-communicative ways and the humor.
Edit: Having thought about this I really do feel like the series has lost it's sparkle. There were only a handful of characters, and the solution of the mystery / murder felt like a shitty solution. There - I said it. If this had been anything other than the last book of the series I would have DNF-ed the series at this point.
The covers also do not match the story at all. Who are these persons on the cover? Not the main characters, that's for sure.
February 7, 2017
This was fun! And a great ending to the series. I'm sad to see them go but they are at a great place now.
Btw. I can't say it any better than Lisa for The Novel Approach, check out her review!
Btw. I can't say it any better than Lisa for The Novel Approach, check out her review!
July 18, 2017
Absolute Perfection
A brilliant end to a brilliant series. My only disappointment is just that--it's the end of the series. I'm certain that whatever Nicole Kimberling writes next will find a happy home on my bookshelf.
A brilliant end to a brilliant series. My only disappointment is just that--it's the end of the series. I'm certain that whatever Nicole Kimberling writes next will find a happy home on my bookshelf.
January 10, 2017
It's sad to say g'bye to these two. Peter again finds himself in the middle of a whodunit with a different cast of characters and Nick's ever patient involvement.
November 25, 2017
The last one in the series, dang it!
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