A Brushstroke with Death

An Owl and Crescent Mystery #1

by Bethany Blake

Near the creek that runs behind her Pennsylvania house, Willow Bellamy has converted an old barn into an art school—though the place does still have some animal inhabitants, including Rembrandt, the owl who lives up in the rafters. And while it’s important for any artist to have a vision, Willow can sometimes see things others can’t, just like her mother and grandmother before her. Not that she would exactly call herself a witch . . .

When some local merchants gather in the studio for a painting party, they focus their attention on a still life with flowers and an assortment of garden tools, including antique pruning shears that soon disappear—at the same time despised restaurant owner Evangeline Fletcher is murdered. Willow must use all her gifts to find the killer, although it means teaming up with a handsome, mysterious detective whom Willow fears she may have accidentally conjured from a canvas. This investigation is sure to be a hoot . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Paranormal, Fiction, Audiobook, Paranormal Mystery

343 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 29, 2019

About the author

Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she's not writing or riding horses, she's wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley's Premium Pet Care.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A woman who is a practicing witch hosts a painting party. When the local jerk is killed, the detective investigating, looks just like a man she painted. Did she accidentally cast some sort of spell? And what of her ex, back in town after volunteering with Doctors Without Borders?

So-so.

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just in time for Halloween, this is the perfect story to get you in the mood for the witching hour and some crystal ball reading! Author Bethany Blake debuts a para-cozy series I believe will immediately bewitch cozy mystery fans. Heroes come in all sorts of forms and disguises and this new paranormal/witch mystery showcases several of them, and was one of the reasons I enjoyed the story so much. The ending is spellbinding!

Artist Willow Bellamy’s ancestors are witches. She can “read” people through their paintings. As this mesmerizing cozy tale begins, Willow’s hosting a painting event in the old barn that houses her shop/studio—The Owl & Crescent Art Barn. It’s a dark and stormy night as the eclectic group gathers to chat, sip, snack, and paint. Early the next morning, one of the attendees is found cold and lifeless near Willow’s property. Willow is shocked when a Detective Lucian Turner arrives and looks just like the man in a painting she recently finished. She wonders if she could have painted he and his dog, Marinette, to life.

To say this is an excellent mystery doesn’t seem to be enough. I’d give it more stars than 5, if I could, for entertainment, creativeness, and characterization. The dialogue is witty with laugh-out-loud moments. There’s obviously something supernatural about Lucian and Willow’s connection and why he’s there, and those facts are slowly revealed as this captivating tale unfolds. Willow is surrounded by dynamic pets who I loved—her protective familiar...Rembrandt, the owl. Rescue pig...Mortimer, who’s much more at home inside than outside. And, Luna...a sweet gray cat with a crescent marking. All three are her faithful companions.

I was creeped out by secondary character, Benedict Blodgett, a horror film director, and y’all will understand why as you read the story! There’s a bevy of suspects who disliked the victim and Willow places herself in danger multiple times as she casts spells to see if she can “see” the killer. I got goosebumps when I realized who the murderer was! I kinda had a feeling who it was, but still....the betrayal! I can hardly wait for book two so I can find out what happens in the next story!

I reviewed a galley ARC provided by Kensington Publishing. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good first in series book, and very promising premise. I hope there will be a second in the series but I don't see one scheduled as yet. The set up was clever, the characters were well done.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great start to a series that I hope will have a decent run! Willow Bellamy bought the family house from her Grandmother and has turned the barn on the property into an art studio, partly for her own painting but mainly to have an income from painting parties.  When it comes to the latest party though she is a little conflicted, one of the attendees is her neighbour, Evangeline Fletcher, who has complained about the fact there is an owl in the barn, that Willow's rescue pig is livestock and should be killed, oh and she wants the property!  Still Willow is determined to be professional about the evening, unfortunately things don't go the plan, there is a massive storm, Willow's ex boyfriend (and Evangeline's nephew) arrives with an escapee pig and then Evangeline is found dead!

Now Willow with the help of magic, a bird, a cat, a pig, and her mini coven of three needs to find out what happened before the rather yummy detective decides she is the killer!

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020 265. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I have had it on my tbr pile for almost a year and wanting a mystery I picked it up with few to no expectations that it would be anything other than a fluff mystery. Instead, I found strong characters with many surprises in their backgrounds, a very good, solid plot, and two mystery men, both with an interest in our main character. It was so good that I missed lunch, the food was there, then there were empty plates, but I have no memory of eating the meal. This is a keeper for me and I do hope there will be a sequel.

[Kye Campbell-fox]

When I started the book, I was not sure I would like it. It seemed a bit odd, the integration of magic with the real world was awkward and I thought it felt very contrived. However! I stuck with it and it became much smoother and by the end, I understood why it had seemed awkward at the beginning. It was a pretty decent mystery and I ended up liking the usage of magic as a plot device. Some of the relationships seemed a bit forced though and I wish those had been better developed. Overall, not a bad mystery and I did enjoy it.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent mystery.! There are all kinds of bad people out there and sometimes they are your neighbour trying to get your pets banned and sometimes they are your friend trying to steal family secrets you didn’t even know about. But thee are also people out there trying to keep things legal and solve crimes. I hope there are more in this series though I suspect the first would be hard to improve upon.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series: An Owl and Crescent Mystery – Book 1
Author: Bethany Blake
Genre: Cozy Review / Paranormal
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 304

A new witchy cozy series from Kensington Books written by Bethany Blake and a B&N exclusive comes, “An Owl and Crescent Mystery” series book one, A Brushstroke with Death.

I love witchy cozy books, and I am thrilled with this new series. The characters are fun, exciting, and hold your attention even when discussing mundane daily routines if there is such a thing for this cast. Willow is a fascinating character who will have readers cheering each time she accomplishes whatever goal she has set for herself. The mysterious and attractive detective, Lucien, will thrill readers as they get to know him and realize he isn’t what he seems. Other characters will have readers intrigued. The setting is perfect and begs to be explored.

The victim hasn’t many friends, and she continually rubs people the wrong way, but no matter how much Willow and everyone else dislikes her, her killer has to be brought to justice. Willow is determined not only to find the killer but clear her name along the way. The ending of this witchy cozy book is surprisingly and happily unexpected.

A Brushstroke with Death is a page-turner from start to finish. It is filled with everything a tremendously excellent witchy cozy book, and hopefully, a long-running series needs to make it enjoyable. I am happy to recommend it and can’t wait for the next addition.

[Cara Noyes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Because I read and enjoyed the Death by Chocolate Lab series of books by this author, I was eager to read another of her series.
From the get go, this tale was less organized. The first chapter was chaotic and did not draw me in. I even debated whether or not to finish. The main characters seemed too moody, Lucien was dark and mysterious yet broody like a Heathcliff from an Austen novel. Astrid seemed to flighty and bohemian to be realistic. I enjoy a well written paranormal tale, but this wasn't one of the better ones.

One thing Blake does very well in her books is portray the animals. I loved the owl and pig. Luna the cat was minor but still held attention better than the humans. I highly recommend Blake's pet sitter mysteries, but. Not Owl and Crescent. It was neat to see the series intersect, but Daphne Templeton's world feels better written.

The ending was abrupt and expected, as love whooshed out with a whirlwind. And really - wouldn't the town want a trial for the murderer? How was Pepper's exit resolved in the community?

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing my goal of reading from my oldest acquired books, I listened to A Brushstroke With Death by Bethany Blake. This is a cozy mystery with magical vibes and would make a great fall read. ⁣This is about Willow, an artist and art teacher who is a suspect in the death of Evangeline Fletcher, who no one really likes, which leads to lots of suspects. A mysterious detective that Willow had previously painted arrives in town. Willow has some animal friends including Remy the owl and Mortimer the pig. Together with the detective, the animals, and some magic, Willow looks into the case. I felt that the reveal of the killer was somewhat random, but I probably missed some clues along the way. This was said to be the start of a series, but it doesn’t seem any others have come out since. ⁣

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute cozy mystery. I must admit I would not of entered the contest for this book if I realized it was about witchcraft (not a fan) although it was not overwhelming in the story.

I didn't really like the way it ended though, the guilty person being wisked off for trial by the witches, what about the rest of people in town - wouldn't they want justice or wonder what happened to the person taken.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://openbooksociety.com/article/a...

A Brushstroke with Death
An Owl and Crescent Mystery, Book #1
By Bethany Blake
ISBN#9781496720009
Author Website: bethanyblakeauthor(.)com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Synopsis:

Near the creek that runs behind her Pennsylvania house, Willow Bellamy has converted an old barn into an art school—though the place does still have some animal inhabitants, including Rembrandt, the owl who lives up in the rafters. And while it’s important for any artist to have a vision, Willow can sometimes see things others can’t, just like her mother and grandmother before her. Not that she would exactly call herself a witch . . .

When some local merchants gather in the studio for a painting party, they focus their attention on a still life with flowers and an assortment of garden tools, including antique pruning shears that soon disappear—at the same time despised restaurant owner Evangeline Fletcher is murdered. Willow must use all her gifts to find the killer, although it means teaming up with a handsome, mysterious detective whom Willow fears she may have accidentally conjured from a canvas. This investigation is sure to be a hoot . (Goodreads)

Review:

I really enjoyed this series debut, A Brushstroke with Death. With a nice cozy setting, interesting characters, and enough supernatural elements to keep it unconventional, it is an entertaining page turner.

Willow does not necessarily call herself a witch, but she comes from a long line of not so talented witches. Her inherited spell book has more Jell-O salad recipes and failed spells than it does successes. That said, Willow is a talented artist and can read people through their art. When her unpleasant neighbor Evangeline is found stabbed after a painting party, Willow puts her skills to the test to clear her own name and find the real killer with, or without, mysterious detective Lucian Taylor.

I like Willow. She is relatable and curious without being a busybody or pushy. I absolutely adore her animals – familiar owl Rembrandt, pig Mortimer, and cat Luna. They bring so much color to the tale. The members of her coven are very different from each other which really comes into play as the story progresses. There is obviously some sort of supernatural connection between Willow and Lucian, and the truth of his character is slowly revealed. I look forward to seeing how things develop there. Other supporting characters are equally varied and engaging.

The mystery of Evangeline’s death is complex with plenty of suspects to weed through and clues to rut out. Each clue and red herring left me second guessing the killer’s identity and motive right up to the surprising climax. Oh, the betrayal!

A Brushstroke with Death is a breath of fresh air in the world of paranormal cozy mysteries. I cannot wait for the next installment to be released.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this book from the Goodreads Giveaways for an honest review.
Enjoyed this story. The main character, Willow, is not the typical super nosy cozy heroine, which makes her more likeable for me. She is a witch but isn't pushy about it. She lives in a small town where her mother is the mayor and her grandmother has a farm. They come from a line of witches although her mother doesn't 'practice'. There is a book of spells that Willow uses occasionally. Her powers are more centered around things to do with art. She has 2 friends who are also witches and they each have differing powers. She has 3 animals that live at her place and each has it's own special characteristics.
Willow holds a painting class for some local merchants and afterwards one ends up dead, she also happens to be Willow's neighbor and no one liked her. The woman's nephew has just returned home and he is Willow's former boyfriend and becomes a suspect. There are lots of suspects and a new detective in town is weeding thru them. Willow had painted a man and his dog prior to the detective showing up and it is turns out to be him. There is a connection between the two and later on we learn he is a magical person also and is there to help protect her. There seems to be more going on then just the murder of her neighbor and Willow wants to find out what that is. It seems her mother and grandmother are hiding some things from her. Willow is trying to sort out her feeling for her former boyfriend while acknowledging the attraction for the new detective.
I enjoyed the interaction between the characters and the mystery. Thought the ending needed a little more as the killer was taken away by magical people and there was no mention of what the local townspeople thought. Should have added some type of explanation. Look forward to more books in this series.

[Imjussayin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nightmare, An Owl & Crescent Mystery 01
Chronological order is not necessary but recommended.
2 stars ⭐️⭐️

In a Nutshell:

Willow Bellamy is an artist in Pennsylvania who transforms an old barn into an art school. During a painting session with local merchants, antique pruning shears vanish, coinciding with the murder of a disliked restaurant owner, Evangeline Fletcher.

The Protagonist(s):

Willow possesses a unique ability to perceive things unseen by others, a trait shared with her mother and grandmother. The image of a person in one of the paintings turns out to be Declan Hunter, the investigating special detective, special because he is not all that he seems.


Why Read It?:

I would not have missed out if I had never read this book. It is far from a must-read; it’s an okay read, hence two stars ⭐️⭐️.

The paranormal element attracted me but never really took centre stage, occasionally flowing in from the shadows.

The book’s pacing was choppy, slowing in the middle. Willow was okay as the protagonist but not a compelling character. I liked Declan, so I would have liked to see more of him. The cast of characters was also underwhelming.

In summary, The book has an interesting premise and is not taxing, but then I would not expect a cosy to be other.


Book Rating

Sexual Content: U
Language: U
Violent: U
Would I read the next one or reread ?: If stuck for a read

My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in the new "Owl and Crescent" mystery series, which is an offshoot of the author's "Lucky Paws Pet Sitting" series. Main character here is Willow Bellamy, young artist and witch.

Willow enjoys hosting painting parties in the converted barn on her property. When local merchants gather for one of her parties, she creates a still-life scene for them to paint, which includes a pair of pruning shears. After the party, one of the participants is found dead in the woods that run between her property and Willow's. Evangeline Fletcher had plenty of enemies, but when the police focus on her nephew, and Willow's former flame, Derek, she takes it upon herself to prove his innocence. Willow is aided by her coven, consisting only of friends Astrid, Pepper, and herself. She wants to prove the compelling Detective Lucien Turner wrong in his assessment of Derek. The odd thing about the detective is, Willow painted a portrait of the man before she ever met him.

It was an interesting story, peopled with interesting characters. Most of them I found likable, but I didn't much care for Lucien. I enjoyed reading about Willow's eccentric pets, which included a cat, a rescue pig, and the owl who lives in the rafters of her barn. The plot built slowly, but it flowed in a smooth manner. The ending, however, was unsatisfactory. I emphatically did NOT like that the murderer turned out to be someone close to Willow, whom she trusted, and, despite the fact that I never warmed up to Lucien, I also didn't like that he skived off at the end without saying goodbye.

Very good, for the most part, but I'm knocking a star off for that less-than-stellar ending: four stars

[Sara Kreps · Rating 3 out of 5]

overall, this was a good story. there is a lot of magick going on so that it feels as much fantasy as mystery. the victim was quickly established as hateable and then killed off. it seems many mysteries don't kill the victim until keeping them around so long the reader also hates them but that kind of makes me dislike the other characters for letting the victim treat them so badly. the main characters were likeable enough and the animal characters were great! but somehow the book just didn't click with me. I think what I didn't like most about this book was that there wasn't world building but you were dropped into a world already established. which would've been fine if this wasn't the first book in a series. it seems the series is a spinoff of another one by the author but I've read similar series situations (started a series that was a spin off of another without having read the previous) and didn't feel so out of the loop. kind of like trying to start watching game of thrones with the last season. the villain's motive also felt weak, more like the author was trying to pull a gotcha (which it was) than having written it that way from the start. and some things about Lucien just seemed a bit too convenient. while I have some interest in seeing where it goes if I come across the sequel, I didn't like it enough to seek out said volume.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

First in a new series. The story centers around Willow Bellamy, an artist living in a cozy little village. She runs a studio hosting parties with food and art, as well as producing her own art. She is also part of a family of not quite successful witches, with a heredity spellbook. She is a member of what she calls the worlds most disorganized coven, with two of her childhood friends. She is protected by a cat, a rescue pig, and an owl.

She’s hosting a art and wine party with members of the chamber of commerce, including her obnoxious neighbor, Evangeline who has infuriated, harassed, or offended everyone present. The night is eventful with animosity and the unexpected high school boyfriend, nephew of the despised Evangeline. The evening ends with Willow and Derek discovering the murdered body of her aunt.

And then a compelling and mysterious police detective arrives, a man with a great deal of familiarity with magical practices..

Very enjoyable and with an ending I did not see coming....and a cute little crossover from the authors other series...

[M.L.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but insta-love plots are never my favorite. And I'm not entirely sure the author played fair in laying out clues--seems the *really* pertinent info comes out at the end. Basically, while I love to have magical cozies, the ones that deal with secret magical societies, especially evil ones, are less fun for me to read. Because usually the murderer is always someone from the evil society, and it's harder for the reader to solve those--because we're not privy to the details of the said evil society. It's just...not as fun for me. Seems to me that the authors, in maintaining the evil society as secret, have a harder time in plotting clues about how it relates to the crime. Anyway, that's a critique in general about Evil Magic Society books, not just this one.

I'm disappointed to see that there aren't any more of these books currently planned, because I did love the characters and the menagerie of animals.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am struggling with how to review this book. I finished it, and there were some interesting aspects to it that I liked. But ultimately, I found myself . . . I guess, unsatisfied is the best word I can come up with.

First, I never really warmed to Willow. She felt wishy-washy to me, and I'm more drawn to strong and capable main characters. She was nice, but she just never really connected for me so that didn't help.

Then some of the plot points were just disappointing. I understand how they fit into the overall story and why the author put them in there, but I didn't like them. Again, I felt disappointed by how things played out, particularly the ending to the book.

This might be a great read for some readers, but I was ambivalent about the book and won't read others in this series.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this first book in (hopefully0 a new series by Bethany Blake. Willow Bellamy is a witch with an ability to connect souls and memory to artwork. She has a barn behind her house that she has turned into a studio in order to offer art classes as a business. One night after an art class for members of the local chamber of commerce, the most unlikeable member of her community is found dead that same night with one of the items from Willows barn used as the murder weapon. Willow is surrounded by her mother, grandmother, her friends (and coven) and a whole host of characters from her quirky community. Add in her animal familiar menagerie (a cat, an owl and a pig) and one of the sexiest detective-love interests I have come across in cozy mystery series, and I am a fan! I will definitely be looking for the next book in this series.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willow Bellamy has opened an art school in her barn in Zephyr Hollow, Pennsylvania. Her two friends Astrid and Pepper and she have formed a magic coven, but she doesn't think of herself as a witch. However, when a murder occurs after an painting event in her barn, a detective shows up who reminds her of a figure in one of her own paintings. The victim was not well liked in town so there are many characters to suspect, including her ex-lover. Willow is "protected" by an owl, pig, and cat who add some humor to the story. Blake is the author of the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries and is an enjoyable cozy author.

[Kav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy / sad over this new-to-me series. Happy because I thought I'd found a new cozy mystery to binge read. Sad because this seems to be the only book and it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. Sob! I really enjoyed the paranormal aspects of this cozy and the way the mystery developed. I was pretty sure who the murderer was early on which made things a little more angsty as the story progressed. Loved, loved, loved the light touch of romance. I know that isn't always a plus for cozy mystery readers but I really enjoy a romantic thread in my cozies so I was all kinds of happy...and then that ending! Sob!

[Darla Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willow Bellamy has gifts that both her mother and grandmother have and can get visons through her art. She has converted an old barn on her property into an art school although there's a barn owl she calls Rembrandt who still lives there. Willow also has a cat and a rescued pig who has his own house on the property. Willow is hosting the business association members for a class one night when her old boyfriend comes into the barn because her pig had escaped and was banging on his window at the house next door. The following morning he returns because his aunt, Evangeline hasn't returned home. They go looking and find her murdered body in the woods between the two houses. When a new detective shows up at the scene, Willow is shocked because she had painted both him and his dog before ever meeting him.

This is a Barnes and Noble exclusive book and it was a great read. I really enjoyed it and was hooked from beginning to end. I do wish there had been a bit more detail at the end but that's just my curiosity getting the better of me. I highly recommend the book which was full of intrigue. The twists and turns will keep you guessing. I truly hope there'll be another book to come.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in an IG giveaway and absolutely enjoyed every page. I’m the type of reader that basically has books in every room, for mood/location reading... until I just have to finish a book because the characters have me caught up in their story. The town the author set this in was very vividly portrayed in my mind. The characters and their paranormal activities and quirks along with the murder mystery had me intrigued, add in a little possibility of a romantic development and this book had it all. I’d definitely grab the next book.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Owl and Crescent is what prompted me to pick up the book. This was a great vacation read and I enjoyed it while lying on the beach and next to the pool. It fits all the criteria of the usual cozy: a quirky heroine, not one but three animals, a group of friends, and lots of suspects. Oh, and how could I forget: the mysterious detective. So it checked all the boxes and it was a quick and fun read. It's not going to stand out as one of my favorite series, yet. But there might be potential there.

[Crystal Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a 3.75 ⭐️, I rounded up. A delightful cozy murder mystery with a paranormal twist. Willow, small town artist, business woman, and witch; becomes a murder suspect when her very disliked neighbor is murdered. The detective assigned to the case is straight out of one of her paintings! Did she conjure him or is there a more sinister reason he’s in town? I found the cast of characters interesting and the aspect of a small town Coven with not so powerful witches interesting. I loved Willow’s menagerie of animals and just how protective they were of her.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable cozy mystery. I love the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery Series by this author so I was really excited when this one came out and was not let down. Willow Bellamy, owner of the Owl and Crescent studio, is an artist with some extra special talents. When her neighbor Evangeline Fletcher is murdered, Willow uses her gifts in an effort to help find the killer, with the help of a handsome investigator she may have conjured from one of her paintings. Join Willow on her hunt for a killer for a spell. Recommend and cannot wait for book 2.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book, but it just wasn’t there. It had a great premise, interesting setting, and a colorful cast of characters. But the “secrets” were contrived and too drawn out, the friends and their advice unlikable and illogical, and the ending left me feeling bereft. I’d like to think this series will get better as it goes, but I’m not sure I’ll be there to see it.

[Christine Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bethany has brought a magical new cozy mystery. Willow, a art witch, must use her powers to find out who killed Evangeline which isn’t easy a suspect list a mile long. Then she has to figure out the new hunky detective who has his own secrets. This mystery will keep you guessing and surprised until the end.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this as a mass market paperback from Hamilton, so I expected it to be well edited.
Not so.. the author and the editor both missed the misuse of the word phase.
Using it for Faze.
But despite that glaring error (made twice) I loved this book.
An inept witch and her perilous life made amusing and soft reading.
I will be buying more books written by Bethany Blake.