Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece

Haunted Craft Fair Mystery #1

by Rose Pressey

Haunted art is in the eye of the beholder . . .

Artist Celeste Cabot welcomes the chance to show her paintings at a craft fair in her hometown of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where she and her Chihuahua, Van Gogh, can park her vintage Shasta trailer and sell her creations, too.

Unfortunately, her sales take a hit when a customer returns a painting, claiming it's haunted. When a fellow vendor discovers images hidden in Celeste's artwork--and a ghost pays her a late-night visit--she's shocked to realize she has psychic abilities. After the grumpy manager of the craft fair is found with a knife in his neck, Celeste's brushes with the paranormal may help fill in the picture--and make sure the wrong person doesn't get framed . . .

Praise for Rose Pressey and the Haunted Vintage Mysteries

"Rose Pressey's books are fun!" --Janet Evanovich

"Chock full of ghosts, cats possessed by spirits, a handsome police officer boyfriend, and tips on the afterlife and vintage shopping." -- Kirkus Reviews

"An appealing protagonist who is as sweet as a Southern accent." -- Library Journal

"A sheer delight."
--Kate Carlisle

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Paranormal, Ghosts, Audiobook, Paranormal Mystery

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 29, 2019

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece by Rose Pressey is the first book of the new cozy Haunted Craft Fair Mysteries series. As with most cozy mysteries this first book of the series has it’s own mystery within so no need to worry about cliffhangers. This new cozy series also has a touch of paranormal in it as the main character can summon ghosts.

Celeste Cabot is an artist who has bought herself a small travel trailer in which she and her dog spend most of their time traveling from craft fair to craft fair. This allows Celeste the ability to spend her days painting as she sits in her booth outside the trailer at the fair’s actually trying to sell her work to customers.

One day at a fair however Celeste has a customer return one of her paintings claiming it is haunted and makes mysterious things happen. Celeste figures this is only an excuse but refunds the purchase only to end up with a new roommate, the ghost of the lady in the painting. Little did Celeste know having a ghost around comes in handy when the owner of the craft fair is murdered and Celeste needs to find the killer.

Being one that loves a quirky cozy Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece by Rose Pressey got off to a great start that fit that description. I will say though that I wasn’t a fan of the possible love triangle in the making but so far that was my only complaint so I’ll definitely be looking forward to book two.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Natalia R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celeste Cabot is excited to have the opportunity to sell her paintings at the local craft fair. Unfortunately, her happiness is short-lived when she starts noticing strange things occurring at the fair. First, a customer returns a painting, claiming it's haunted, there's also someone stealing money from the other sellers, and then, the man in charge of the craft fair is murdered. With the help of her new ghost friend Elizabeth, Celeste is determined to catch the killer, and also find out why she has started seeing ghosts. I enjoyed every minute of this fun paranormal cozy mystery. The writing is solid and the plot moves at a good pace. I liked the unique setting and the quirky cast of characters. The ghost Elizabeth was my favorite character and I hope to learn more about her in the next book. The mystery kept me in suspense and I really liked how the paranormal played a role in catching the culprit. This book has wonderful potential and I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for these characters. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Release Date: October 29, 2019
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

Cozy Mystery | Paranormal Mystery

Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece is the first book in a brand new series by Rose Pressy. Not only is this a cozy mystery but it’s also a paranormal mystery with ghosts! I have to admit, I was really excited about this aspect because it’s been ages since I read a paranormal book. That being said, I enjoyed this one! I love how the main character can summon ghosts through her paintings and the way they (or Elizabeth in this case) can help her solve a murder.

You may be wondering why I gave this one three stars rather than 4 or 5 and I have a few reasons. First, I found this book to be a tad slow. For the amount of time the craft fair was going on I would have thought I’d race through the book but that simply wasn’t the case. Secondly, the book was fairly predictable. I figured out “who-dun-it” very early on and wasn’t shocked when it was revealed. Finally, I wanted a tad more paranormal. I would have really enjoyed seeing some of her other paintings come to life just like Elizabeth’s did.

Overall though, this is a solid read and a good start to a brand-new series. I look forward to reading the next book and am hoping the pacing picks up!

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this debut para-cozy is a fantastic story! Author Rose Pressey shines in her creative expression with this engaging plot. I adore the eye-catching cover with the cute chihuahua, Van Gogh, who is artist Celeste Cabot’s companion and protector. I always enjoy festival settings and this Summer Arts & Crafts Fair in Gatlinburg, Tennessee is also the perfect set-up for a crime scene.

When one of Celeste’s paintings brings a ghost to life, creepy things begin to happen, including the slaying of the unlikeable festival manager. Unfortunately, Celeste has doubts about the innocence of many of her fellow vendors. She meets two men during the investigation who show interest in getting to know her on a personal level, and I wondered which one Celeste would choose.

MURDER CAN MESS WITH YOUR MASTERPIECE charmed me from the beginning with its delightful setting, wonderful characters, adorable pets, and an overall alluring mystery! 5 Stars! As an extra treat, the author includes delicious recipes for recipes for readers to try.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an honest, unbiased review. Thank you.

[Carlymor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute start to this cozy mystery series! Celeste Cabot sells her artwork at the local fair, near her home in Tennessee, unaware that she has psychic powers that come out in her paintings. When a customer returns a painting because it’s haunted, she meets the ghost of Elizabeth. At the same time Celeste is trying to figure out who Elizabeth is and why her ghost is appearing, a murder occurs. The very grumpy fair manager is found dead-by Celeste. Elizabeth ends up helping Celeste solve the crime. This was very cute with some fun supporting characters. I’ll definitely be reading the next in the series.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celeste Cabot is happily living the dream, selling her artwork out of a trailer at a local crafts fair. Most of her customers seem thrilled with their purchases so far, though Celeste can’t help but be unsettled when a woman returns a painting she claims is haunted. Though she doesn’t believe her at first, she certainly does after the ghost of a woman pops out of the painting for a visit. But after the manager of the craft fair turns up dead, Celeste might be able to use her newfound psychic abilities to crack the case.

There’s something freeing about throwing caution to the wind, tossing away a rigid career, and morphing a love of art into a comfortable way of life. It’s exactly what Celeste does, and this risk makes for a punchy opening as she sets off to grab the world she really wants. It’s almost remarkable that she commits to something so uncertain—she’s the cool and collected one in her family. But this infuses her with such genuine earnestness that it’s almost impossible not to want her to succeed.

It’s just a shame that everything goes almost immediately wrong. She sells a painting only to have it returned because it’s haunted. Someone is stealing money from the other sellers. Most of the vendors seem like a bunch of sour, shady grouches. And then the manager of the whole affair is found stabbed to death. So, overall, it’s a rough start to Celeste’s new career.

Yet author Rose Pressey pulls through most of these setbacks with a clipped pace. Soon Celeste is embroiled in a murder investigation that, though it takes up the bulk of the plot, doesn’t rely on a legitimate puzzle. Celeste moves from suspect to suspect without clear focus. The ending makes sense, but there aren’t necessarily a host of clues that lead the way—though there are plenty of red herrings! Pressey relies on a host of quirky characters to propel the action forward, and the entertainment factor is effectively amped-up instead of the armchair-sleuthing.

Cute and crafty, Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece is ultimately a satisfying cozy with a bit of a paranormal twist.

Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.

Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 4 out of 5]

While participating at a local craft fair, artist Celeste Cabot finds herself hunting a murderer and a ghost!
What a fun new series! I loved the fact that Celeste was living in a Shasta trailer, had an adorable & cranky Chihuahua named Van Gogh, a crew of loving and quirky family and friends and a ghost that appears out of the blue to help her solve a mystery.

I was a little bit surprised how easily Celeste accepted the ghostly help, but that didn't affect how much I enjoyed the story. I'm wary of love triangles, but the romantic storyline took second place to the mystery and I actually enjoyed the situation!

I'll definitely be on the lookout for the next book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review of this book.

[Mary Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis:

Haunted art is in the eye of the beholder . . .

Artist Celeste Cabot welcomes the chance to show her paintings at a craft fair in her hometown of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where she and her Chihuahua, Van Gogh, can park her vintage Shasta trailer and sell her creations, too.

Unfortunately, her sales take a hit when a customer returns a painting, claiming it's haunted. When a fellow vendor discovers images hidden in Celeste's artwork--and a ghost pays her a late-night visit--she's shocked to realize she has psychic abilities. After the grumpy manager of the craft fair is found with a knife in his neck, Celeste's brushes with the paranormal may help fill in the picture--and make sure the wrong person doesn't get framed . . .

Praise for Rose Pressey and the Haunted Vintage Mysteries

"Rose Pressey's books are fun!" --Janet Evanovich

"Chock full of ghosts, cats possessed by spirits, a handsome police officer boyfriend, and tips on the afterlife and vintage shopping." -- Kirkus Reviews

"An appealing protagonist who is as sweet as a Southern accent." -- Library Journal

"A sheer delight."
--Kate Carlisle (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I enjoyed getting to know Celeste and her family, friends and her friendly ghost, Elizabeth. Her family seems like crazy group of people, which brought humor to the book. And her Chihuahua, Van Gogh, is just adorable and I would like to have him as my sleuthing partner. And it seems as if Celeste has two possible male suitors, we will see how that turns out.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and the book is a quick easy read. I enjoyed the setting of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, since I have visited there. As a crafter, I really liked the craft fair atmosphere. There were tips for traveling, which were interesting and if I was a traveler, would have been helpful.

The mystery was well plotted and moved along at a steady pace. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I had a few suspects in mind but did not know who it was until the reveal at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And if you like paranormal, like I do, you will want to read this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story combines a craft fair with theft, murder and haunted paintings to bring you a new series with protagonist Celeste Cabot and her chihuahua Van Gogh. It has unique twists and turns and it seems like everyone at the fair is involved in something suspicious.

A fun, fast, easy read full of mystery with a dose of romance. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character is an idiot

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celeste Cabot is excited about her new trailer, painted pink,.. her home away from home for traveling to crafts fairs and selling her paintings. On her first trip, money gets ripped off from one, then another of the artists. When murder strikes the fairground, Celeste and her chihuahua start to investigate. This is a solid debut of a new series for Rose Pressey. As with her other series that I have read, there is a supernatural component in the story. Her paintings all seem to have a hidden skull or skeleton that Celeste was unaware of painting. But that's nothing compared to one of her paintings being returned, as haunted. Celeste and her family have a great deal of potential as characters to populate this new series. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece is a charming new cozy mystery with intriguing paranormal elements. The story contains Rose Pressey’s conversational writing style which makes the story easy to read. There is humor sprinkled throughout that will have you giggling. Celeste Cabot loves the color as we can tell from her adorable trailer. She wants to succeed as an artist and Celeste’s bumbling family has helped her get ready. Celeste has a patient mother, a father who means well (creates more chaos than a two year old) and two blundering big brothers. Thank goodness she has her best friend, Sammie Sutton. After a customer returns a painting claiming the piece is haunted. Celeste figures the client was a loony until a nearby vendor wearing glasses notices images hidden within all of her creations. Then she begins hearing a woman’s voice and that night the ghost appears from the painting in Celeste’s trailer. Celeste wonders if those rumors about her grandmother are true. The mystery was straightforward with a limited suspect list. Celeste begins nosing around the craft fair digging up information on her fellow vendors. She gets help from her friendly spirit. The secondary mystery revolves around the ghost who appeared from the painting. There are travel trailer tips at the beginning of each chapter that are amusing. There are two lines that I enjoyed from Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece. The first is you are “as useful as a pogo stick in quicksand”. The second line I liked was “Chihuahuas might be small, but they always want to protect the people they love”. I thought that was sweet. There are two romantic interests for Celeste. At the end of the book, I had a couple of unanswered questions especially regarding Celeste’s newfound abilities and her ghostly friend. Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece is a witty cozy mystery with peculiar paintings, an animated apparition, a caring Chihuahua, a dead dictator, and an active artist.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new series by Rose Pressey. One thing she does well is paranormal cozies and this one is a great start to this series. They are not "witch or ghost stories" per se, but there are ghosts attached to some of the pictures that her protagonist, Celeste Cabot, paints. There is a lot happening at the local craft fair where Celeste is hoping to sell her work. One of her paintings is returned with the buyer claiming it is haunted, money is being stolen from some of the vendors, and the organizer of the event ends up dead. Celeste realizes that the painting has a ghost attached to it, a woman named Elizabeth, that actually assists Celeste in solving the murder.

I enjoyed this story very much. The writing is good with a well-plotted and developed story. The setting of craft fairs is interesting and a great place to meet some quirky characters. I liked Elizabeth and we find out a bit about her life in this story. I am hoping that she continues to be a character and that we will learn more about her life. Van Gogh, Celeste's chihuahua was wonderful. He is smart, adorable, but fierce when necessary. His picture on the cover is great, and he does play an important role. I found the role of the "ghosts" in the story interested and well done. The mystery was interesting and even though I thought I had it figured out, I didn't know the full story. The final reveal or show down was great and had me racing through the end to find out what was going to happen. Not sure if there will be a love interest developing or not, but the potential is there. I am definitely looking forward to the next in the Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in a new series, the haunted craft Fair, is a paranormal mystery. The cover drags into the book and much of the plot is creative. I did not connect with the characters and felt the book could use a good editor as the story jumped around that it was hard to follow. The way the good travel tips were given were laid out made it hard to locate your place in the book and hides the story. I gave it 3 1/2 stars.
Celeste is an artist and travels to various craft fairs in a Shasta trailer. She travels with a chihuahua, Van Gogh. One of painting is return for a refund and and woman tells Celeste that the painting is haunted. Celeste does see and talks with the lady in the picture. She attracts two men at the fair. Celeste is slowly beginning to settle into her new life file when unpleasant campground manager is found murder and she is determined to find an answer to his death.The ending has a surprise that will amuse you. Does Celeste discover the guilty party? Is the painting haunted? Who is the mysterious lady? I recommend this book.
Travel tips included.

Disclosure : Thanks to Kensington Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. am. going. to. love. this. new. series! I squealed when I saw it come out and squealed again when Netgalley gave me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review (all opinions expressed are mine and mine alone). I didn't know if I was going to like Celeste OR the new storyline; but I do! I so do! It's a cozy mystery with JUST enough suspense to keep the die hard thriller fans interested. I love the love triangle I'm seeing AND both of the men. All of it, I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect and CANNOT wait for the next one.

[Una · Rating 2 out of 5]

Severly disappointed with this one. Really enjoy her other series, but I felt this one really missed the boat and the MC was beyond annoying.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece is the debut of the A Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series featuring artist Celeste Cabot and set in her hometown of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Even though the Summer Arts & Crafts Fair is just around the corner from her family home, Celeste decides to tow her delightful pink Shasta trailer to the fairgrounds and showcase her paintings.

Celeste is greeted warmly by fellow vendors and sales are brisk, that is until a woman returns one of her paintings claiming that the piece is haunted. Not quite sure what to make of the woman's accusation, Celeste is shocked when another vendor points out that there are hidden, haunted images in all of Celeste's art pieces. Why is she painting these images without even realizing that she's doing it?

Things quickly go from bad to worse when she is startled awake in the middle of the night by the ghost in one of her paintings. Eager to get away from the ghost and her trailer, Celeste takes a walk through the festival grounds with her chihuahua, Van Gogh only to stumble upon the dead body of grumpy festival manager, Evan.

With fingers pointing her way as the killer, Celeste soon finds herself in the midst of something dangerous. Not only is there a killer on the loose, but someone is stealing money from the vendors and now the once friendly group of artisans are no longer speaking to her. Determined to clear her name, Celeste teams up with the friendly ghost, Elizabeth, who it turns out is actually a relative, and the hunky woodworker, Caleb and his delightful German Shepherd to solve the mystery.

A fun read but the reader is left with more questions than answers - and the dreaded love triangle seems to be on the horizon. Celeste seems to have a quirky family whose antics will have you chuckling aloud, I hope we get to know them better in future installments.

I received an advanced copy of Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

MURDER CAN MESS UP YOUR MASTERPIECE by Rose Pressey
The First Haunted Craft Fair Mystery

Celeste Cabot has decided to take a chance. Her family has helped her fix up a trailer and she's traveling to craft shows to sell her paintings. Although determined to be positive, things get dicey when Celeste meets Evan, the rude man in charge of the Summer Arts and Craft Fair in Gatlinburg. Then an angry woman brings back the painting she bought claiming it's haunted! What could be worse? Someone stealing the vendors money, the murder of Evan, and the appearance of the ghostly Elizabeth!

MURDER CAN MESS UP YOUR MASTERPIECE is a cute start to a new series. We have a charming young protagonist who's taking a chance on art, her wonderfully wacky family, two possible romantic interests, a little dog, and a ghost!

My favorite aspect of this first Haunted Craft Fair Mystery is Celeste's gift. Not only is she a talented painter, but Spirit communicates through her and adds special details to her paintings. In addition, she can paint the portrait of a spirit who wishes to communicate with the living! And Celeste was heretofore completely unaware of this ability. I look forward to seeing her psychic development as well as discovering who the blonde spirit will be. In the meantime, Elizabeth is a delightful spirit and I enjoy seeing her interact with everyone, especially Van.

I really enjoyed my first trip to a craft fair in Tennessee. Likable characters, as well as some nasty ones, and a unique paranormal spin make MURDER CAN MESS UP YOUR MASTERPIECE a delightful mystery. In addition, travel trailer tips and recipes are also included in this charming new series.

FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Haunted Craft Fair mysteries by Rose Pressey.

This new series by Rose Pressey is right up her alley. It has the spookiness of her Haunted Tour Guide mysteries and the class of her Haunted Vintage mystery series. No one does spooky and paranormal like Pressey!

What a stunner of a new series! I am already hooked.

Celeste Cabot is a painter. But this painter has a super power. She can paint things into her works that you can’t see with the naked eye. When a customer returns a painting saying it is haunted, Celeste soon discovers her new and unusual talent of painting the unseen into each picture she creates. With regards to the haunted painting, Celeste has brought a spirit back to life. And that spirit is as real as it gets.

She is trying to sell her wares at a Craft Fair owned by an unscrupulous man who needless to say ends up dead and Celeste finds his body. She also meets a fellow vendor, Caleb at the scene whom she can’t decide is guilty or just a man she wants to spend more time with. She is baffled. Then enter detective Pierce and Celeste has more possible love interests than she knows what to do with. I am curious to see how these relationships will play out in future books.

This series has me salivating for more. I can’t wait for book two. The writing just flows and the mystery dynamics are on par with other series that have stood the test of time.

If you love cozy mysteries with a doze of the paranormal, this is your book series and your author!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this title years ago on NetGalley and then proceeded to forget about it. But as I've been trying to catch up on my reviews, I finally decided to read this book. And since I'm currently in my audiobook era, I did get a copy of the book on audio to review.

Let's start with the audio aspect. I actually really enjoyed the narration by Rachel Dulude. Her way of presenting the story drew me in and kept me listening. Her pacing was perfect. She was able to have enough of a difference in voices for the various characters to allow me to follow. And she performed with emotion. I look forward to hearing more books narrated by Ms. Dulude.

On to the story. I'll be honest, I didn't read the blurb before picking up the book. I got it solely on the title and cover. I was caught a little off guard by the whole paranormal aspect, but it was a nice change of pace for my cozy mystery reading. I thought it was an interesting twist and has the opportunity for so many fun roads to go down in the future. The plot had me hooked, nearly listening to the whole book in one sitting.

I enjoyed the cast of characters, but especially our sleuth, Celeste. She is likeable and felt so easily relatable. And I wanted to be right at her side as she stuck her nose into the murder investigation, but also trying to figure out these paranormal happenings around her. And then there was the possible love triangle that was being set up in this book. Well, I want to see how that turns out.

Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece was a very good start to a new series, one that I want to continue. Solid plot and interesting characters are a winning combination for me.

[Jessica Wilhoite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paranormal cozies are not my most favorite (pardon the poor English), but I liked this one. It wasn't too paranormal where I was turned off by it, but I found myself really liking the character of Elizabeth (SPOILER - the ghost) and I enjoyed the mystery within the mystery (why is she around, who is she, where did she come from, etc...). Not all of these questions are answered in full detail, but they were answered enough in this first installment. I imagine we will learn even more about Elizabeth as the series goes on.

There was an immediate love triangle between Celeste (protagonist) and two men involved in the craft fair. I always enjoy a good love triangle and usually find myself rooting for one over the other; however, in this case, it is still too fresh for me to pick a side (I imagine it will become easier as the series continues).

All in all, I enjoyed this book and plan to continue reading the series. There are lots of other characters, like Celeste's entire family, that promise to take this series even further and since Celeste is traveling the country doing craft fairs, there are no shortages to the mysteries that can come about.

I voluntarily reviewed this ARC on Netgalley.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series by Rose Pressey.
Celeste is a painter, who is packing up to go to an art fair. Her talents are unique, as she adds a little "something" to her paintings. Unfortunately, Celeste is unaware of her uniqueness, and when she begins to see someone who is not quite there,
she isn't sure what to make of it.
When the event manager falls victim to an untimely death, Celeste knows something just isn't right with the fair.
I found the story to be well written and well told, but I had a bit of a hard time connecting with Celeste. I actually connected to her best friend Sammie, but that doesn't mean I won't connect with Celeste as the series goes.
I'm interested to see if her relationship with with Elizabeth will continue, and if she can help her find out where she came from and why she's here.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me to read this book.

[Annu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. There was so much going on in this book. Celeste is a painter who is showing off her paintings at a craft fair. One of Celeste's customer returns her painting claiming that it's haunted. And sure enough, Celeste sees the ghost, Elizabeth, from the painting. Parallelly, there's a murder that happens and Celeste gets involved in solving the murder. There were quite a few suspects. Some part of the murder I figured out but obviously the ending was a surprise, with a lot of revelations (not just the murder). Celeste's family is really quirky and the chapters with them were fun to read about. We also find out information about the ghost, Elizabeth. This was my first book by the author and I look forward to reading more of her books.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy mystery has a different setting than the standard which is nice to see. I'm intrigued by the ghost Elizabeth and the hidden images that the main character Celeste puts in her paintings. I can't wait to see what happens with them. I was definitely surprised by the ending especially that Celeb turned out to be a undercover copy. I enjoyed this book. #MurderCanMessUpYourMasterpiece #NetGalley

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in a new paranormal mystery series featuring Celeste, who is an artist and who seems to have the ability to paint ghosts into her pictures without realizing it. When the manager of the craft fair she is attending dies, she is a suspect and has to figure out who really did it, among the many suspects. Her pet Chihuahua helps her as does the ghost Elizabeth who shows up when she least expects it. This is a good start to a new series.

[Lea Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was perfect read for summer vacation. Celeste and her chihuahua Van are both sweet characters. I loved Celeste’s family and friends and her discover of her new paranormal talent. Will definitely read the sequel to find out what’s happening next with Celeste and her crew.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off a bit choppy in my opinion & I really considered putting it down. The family dynamic of good-hearted but accident prone klutzes did not strike me as funny or necessary. I felt like the author missed opportune moments to expand humor or drama with the ghost in favor of adding it to a Segway with the family that went nowhere. The ghost first encounter could have been much better. Who would just go to bed after meeting a ghost? The ending wrap was good & I will read the next one, but if that continues on the same path, I will stop there.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece by Rose Pressey is the 1st book in the Haunted Craft Fair Mysteries, and a great start. Celeste Cabot is an artist in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Celeste recently remodeled a Shasta Trailer for her and her Chihuahua, Van Gogh, can travel to craft fairs and sell her paintings. After arriving at the first craft fair, Celeste soon learns that she has psychic abilities in her paintings. I just loved this book, and can't wait for the next book in the series. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. If you love cozy mysteries with a little paranormal, I strongly recommend this book.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

[Janice E. Ryberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder can Mess Up Your Masterpiece is fabulous & quirky!

I love all of Rose Pressey's work, but add a darling chi and I am in heaven. Thank you for writing about people who have a good sense of humor even if it is kinda wacky. I would like to meet the cast of this story; great people to party with. Of course, you can keep Ruth and Max. Thanx for all the fun!

[Annalee Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK story, well told.

I'm completely over ghosts helping solve the crime. I would have liked it a lot better without it. Wont read the rest of the series.