The adventures continue with Florrie Fox and the crew at a bookstore called Color Me Read. A weekly coloring group introduces some new faces to the characters from the first book. Dolly Cavanaugh in particular has had quite the storied life, with four husbands, an estranged daughter and a love of finding a deal at local estate sales. When she uncovers a rare botanical coloring book from the 1700's called The Florist, she is a bit too open about the find and sadly, pays with her life. I like Davis' use of color--Florrie spends a lot of time sketching ideas for the coloring books she creates and the descriptions are very lifelike. I also like how her sketching helps bring the case into focus. The characters work well together, and her sister Veronica still plays the ditz role as far as men are concerned. Bookstore owner Professor Maxwell has an interesting back story, and I hope that is explored in another story.

Adult coloring books are everywhere today and it's no surprise that this theme is working its way into the cozy market. I appreciate the brief history of adult coloring from the 1700's. Florie's friend Dolly comes into the book store with an extremely rare coloring book. Dolly ends up dead and the book is missing in this murder who done it. This is an easy read that can stand alone. The mystery is pretty well contained in the know characters from previous books. It's good to revisit with them. This is book 2 in the Pen & Ink series. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This the second book in the Pen & Ink Mysteries and I think I enjoyed this one more than the first. Florrie Fox continues to manage The Georgetown bookstore by day and design adult coloring books by night. She has made friends with several members of the weekly coloring group, especially Dolly Cavanaugh. Dolly has struggled to make ends meet since her last husband was killed, so she enjoys bargain hunting at estate sales. When she finds a rare copy of "The Florist", an adult coloring book from the 1700's she is interested in finding out what it is worth. That doesn't happen, as she is found dead shortly after with a small piece of the book in her hand, the book itself, missing. Florrie, wondering what happened to her friend as well as worried about what will happen to her tenants, begins to investigate. As secrets begin to come to light, Florrie is left to wonder how well she really knew Dolly. Was The Florist the motive for Dolly's murder, or did a secret from her past catch up with her?

Florrie is a great main character. She loves her job, her home and her friends. Going to an estate sale with Dolly and her friends is a fun way to spend the day and learn all about the bargain hunters who attend as well as those who curate the sales. As more characters are added to the mix, the plot of this story picks up and there are twists that I did not expect. Could a daughter kill her own mother, even if they were estranged? Who is the mysterious man claiming to be looking for his father? Why is someone following Florrie? There were so many red herrings that I changed my mind about the killer so often I was getting dizzy. When it all came together at the end, I felt satisfied, but thought the ending was a bit too fast and furious. I would have liked a few more details. This was a fun mystery and I do recommend it to cozy mystery lovers, especially fans of Krista Davis. Of course, if you love adult coloring books, you will want to purchase a physical copy of this book so you can color the cover and don't forget to check out the recipes at the end. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book to read upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

This was a fun book with a great setting. You feel like Color Me Read is a real place you want to put on your list of places to visit. The mystery and characters are enjoyable - everything one comes to expect from a Krista Davis novel.

“The Coloring Crook” earns 5/5 Packs of Crayons…Clever and Entertaining!

Coloring is not just for kids anymore! Krista Davis has penned a delightful cozy centered around the friendship and foibles of a group of coloring enthusiasts who just happen upon…murder mysteries. Florrie Fox manages the Color Me Read bookshop, designs coloring books, and leads a weekly club in the very rewarding hobby of “coloring.” Dolly Cavanaugh, a member of the coloring group, is also keen on yard sales and thrilled during one of her searches to get an extraordinaire deal on the find of the century: a copy of “The Florist,” a coloring book published in 1760, worth more than a lifetime supply of crayons for sure! But Florrie finds Dolly dead and the coloring book missing putting Florrie in conflict with law enforcement and on the trail of a thief and a killer. The mystery is very engaging with several lines of questioning and twists and turns in the murder investigation, but it’s the discovery of issues in Dolly’s past, including the mystery behind the bookcase, that adds to the drama. Krista’s writing style compliments the first-person narrative sharing Florrie’s “I” perspective, inner thought, vivid descriptions, and entertaining banter. Print book lovers will enjoy the real coloring opportunities, but us eBookers can enjoy the delicious easy-to-follow recipes: Salted Chocolate Brownies, Coconut Cupcakes, Blueberry Cake with Pecan Streusel, Mini Cheesecakes, and Killer Cocktail! Don't overlook reading the “Acknowledgements” and “Epigraph” offering a few tidbits, background, and quote from “The Compleat Gentleman” (1622).

The second book in Krista Davi's Pen & Ink Series, The Coloring Crook, is a mystery involving a rare colouring book , a literal skeleton found in a closet, and a whole lot of secrets. I like the small town and bookstore aspect to this series and, as with all of Krista Davi's books, the mouthwatering treats being created by the main character. A fun read with an interesting cast of characters. I'll be picking up the next instalment.

I like the premise of this series. This was another quick fun read and another good book in this series. I enjoy this author and look forward to the next one

Florrie Fox, manager of the Color Me Read in Georgetown, has once again gotten herself into a mess when a friend has brought her a copy of a rare manuscript. A coloring book of sorts called The Florist that not only has a cult following, but also people desperate enough to kill for it.

The story gets a bit twist and if it was not for Ms. Davis explaining the rational of the criminals involved, I am sure that I would have gotten a bit confused at the ending. Sometimes crimes can be over thought, but in doing so the story of Dolly Cavanaugh, and her love of estate sales, ends up with her death, a body in a wall, stories of multiple dead husband’s, a supposed college student in his own search, and a group of friends that each in their own way, help to find a killer and return a treasure.

There is a great deal thrown in with an endless stream of characters that might be off putting for some, but once you get the flow, the story takes off. Though a part of a series, the author goes into detail explaining who everyone is so do not feel that you have to start at book one to understand where everyone is within this story. I do hope that the butler, Mr. Dubois, will be a steady recurring character since he is the one bright and shinning character that has stayed with me throughout.

I love cozy mysteries and coloring to relieve stress is a passion that I love introducing others to. Although I would have loved to read more about the art of coloring, I enjoyed this book very much. I loved the characters and the writing style developed nicely. I liked the twist and turns in the story and thought this was a very good second effort in the series. I will definitely read the future installments. Thanks to Kensington Publishing for the gift of the arc through netgalley. The opinions in this review are my own thoughts.

Florrie is living a life of happiness. She has a job as a manager at the local bookstore, she creates and publishes adult coloring books, has her own apartment and a new romance with a local police sergeant. What more could she ask for? Definitely not the murder of a vibrant member of the weekly coloring club. Is her murder over the recently surfaced oldest known coloring book or did Dolly have a sordid past? Florrie finds herself in the middle of the chaos that ensues from Dolly's death. Join Florrie and friends as skeletons in and outside the closet are discovered.

This is the second Pen and Ink mystery and each one keeps getting better. I am not an adult coloring book fan but if I keep reading this series I may become one. There is something as you read that makes the back of your mind wiggle with a "maybe you should try it". If you are an adult coloring fan, you need to buy the print format of the books as the cover is able to be colored by the reader.

The mystery is great in The Coloring Crook as the red herrings kept me guessing until the end. I had no idea who the killer was until revealed.

I am enjoying the budding romance between Florrie and Eric. The hiccup in this book was very entertaining. I cannot wait to see how it progresses in book three.

I am not a huge fan of Florrie's whiny little sister who seems to not be able to survive without her big sister's help and direction in her life. I hope Veronica "grows up" in the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught.

The Coloring Crook: Pen & Ink Mystery
By Krista Davis
Kensington
December 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

Managing Georgetown’s Color Me Read bookstore has introduced artist Florrie Fox to a whole new group of friends. Dolly Cavanaugh, one of the founding members of the Hues, Brews, and Clues coloring club, introduces Florrie into the intriguing world of yard and estate sales, where Dolly makes an astounding discovery. Purchased at a bargain price, Dolly has become the owner of The Florist, a rare 1760 limited edition of floral sketches and paintings worth millions. In her enthusiasm, Dolly inadvisably posts her find on Facebook, which leads to a succession of mysterious visitors knocking at Color Me Read’s doors. It almost overshadows the news of a notorious art theft being released from prison, until Florrie and her sister Veronica discover Dolly collapsed in her home, barely managing to gasps a few last breaths.

Despite Florrie’s protests that Dolly was in possession of a treasure that is now missing, police are slow to declare her death a murder. Evidence soon changes that, but unfortunately it also implicates Florrie’s friend and coloring club member Zsazsa Rosca. Florrie is further disturbed at Dolly’s estranged daughter Maisie’s resentful attitude, since Dolly’s succession of marriages all seemed in order to benefit her daughter. Rivaling Dolly’s misfortune and poor taste in men is Florrie’s sister, who has become intrigued by a completley inept estate sale manager. Florrie is having much better luck with police Sergeant Eric Jonquille, especially in light of the obsessed suitor her parents attempted to set her up with and who continues to follow her around town. When she’s not filling her sketchbook with designs for her adult coloring book, Florrie is sketching the faces of the many suspects who are following her around town, breaking into the bookstore, or declaring their interest in purchasing The Florist at any cost.

Within the Color Me Read bookstore, prolific cozy author Krista Davis creates an enviable home perfect for book lovers seeking a welcoming reading nook. Florrie’s family is at times both loving and exasperating, and the relationship between the sisters is realistically depicted as they occasionally annoy one another. What stands out is Florrie’s love of books and her art, and the craft of coloring is highlighted for its therapeutic and soothing benefits. A mystery involving roving bookstore owner John Maxwell continues to play out throughout the series, with readers becoming as invested as Florrie in seeing a resolution. Family dynamics and evolving relationships are explored in this second of the series, building towards a completely unexpected conclusion that will more than satisfy mystery readers looking for compelling puzzles and well-crafted plots. Even those not tempted to take a pen or colored pencil to the cover of this novel will find themselves intrigued by this witty and artful mystery.

I got this book as I enjoy both coloring books and mysteries. I expected the mystery to have a lot of coloring references which didn’t really happen. There were references to drawing and to the group which meets to color but coloring was not the focus of the mystery.

The main sleuth of the story, the manager of Color Me Read, is Florrie Fox who is also a coloring book illustrator and artist. She works through mysteries which her drawing abilities as well as weighing the evidence.

In this book, a friend of the group meets an untimely death after finding a rare item. The story takes off with lots of twists and turns.

I didn’t figure out the ending as there were several that might have worked. It made sense and the clues were there in hindsight.

There are personal relationships which are growing and, while the book can be read stand-alone, I’m inclined to want to read the first in the series so I can understand how the group came together.

I’m looking forward to more in this series primarily as someone who enjoys mysteries. The coloring aspect is fun but would not be what would make me return to the series again. The excellent plot development and writing does that on its own.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

Florrie Fox runs the bookstore, Color Me Read. She is busy with customers and is particularly pleased with her coloring club. An array of quirky personalities somehow works for the time they come together at Color Me Read for coloring and destressing.

Dolly Cavanaugh is an avid garage sale aficionado and often discovers rare finds among junk. One day, she discovers the book. The Florist. If it is genuine, the book would be worth millions. Dolly is so excited with her find, she posts it on Facebook. Soon people wanting to get their hands on the book come out of the woodwork. One who is willing to murder to get it.

Dolly is found dead in her home. Soon a skeleton is found in her home, as well. Florrie, her boyfriend, Sargent Eric Jonquille and a variety of cast and characters attempt to solve the mystery of Dolly’s death, the disappearance of the book and who the skeleton might be.

This is a fun, easy to read mystery. It contains a number of red herrings which results in a quagmire in solving the mystery before the people in the book do. I usually figure out “who did it” early in the book. This was so well written that I genuinely did not know until it was revealed.

I enjoyed the plot, the characters and the narrative. There are just enough sane people to balance those who could be considered odd.

Definitely a must read. Grab it now and read it over the holiday.


I received an eBook ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or ratings of this book.

I always enjoy books authored by Krista Davis, and THE COLORING CROOK did not disappoint. A wonderful community backdrop and great characters come together with more than one murder mystery to hit all the right cozy mystery notes.

I adore the bookstore setting and am quite envious of protagonist Florrie’s carriage house. Florrie is a notable amateur sleuth, smart and competent, inquisitive without being nosy. The supporting cast is appealing, and I especially like police sergeant Eric and Florrie’s parents. The characters central to the mystery provide a great pool of suspects, and the clues allow the investigation to constantly evolve. The story is well paced and kept me guessing for most of the book.

I really like the Pen and Ink Mystery series and recommend THE COLORING CROOK to any cozy mystery fan.

I received an ARC of this title through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

The Coloring Crook by Krista Davis is the second A Pen & Ink Mystery. Florrie Fox is the manager of Color Me Read, a bookstore in Georgetown, Washington D.C. She also creates adult coloring books in her spare time. Dolly Cavanaugh is introducing Florrie to estate sales and how you can sometimes find a diamond in the rough especially at sale run by Percy McAllister. Florrie leaves Dolly browsing while she hurries off to work. At the Hues, Brews and Clues Coloring Club later that day, Dolly shows Florrie the wonderful find she uncovered. Dolly discovered a rare copy of The Florist, the earliest known coloring book which was published in 1760. As far as Florrie can tell, it is an original. Dolly left her purse at the store and requested that Florrie drop it off on her way home. Florrie finds Dolly dead in her apartment clutching a piece of The Florist in her hand and sees someone fleeing out the back. Dolly posted the news of her find on social media and people are anxious to obtain the rare book which has now disappeared. When Dolly’s daughter asks Florrie to evaluate her book collection, and Florrie stumbles upon a skeleton hidden behind a bookcase in the attic. Zsazsa Rosca becomes the prime suspect in Dolly’s murder, and Florrie knows someone is setting her up. Florrie studies the case and digs into Dolly’s past hoping to uncover some clues. Can Florrie prove Zsazsa’s innocence? Who is the skeleton in the closet?

The Coloring Crook can be read alone if you have not had time to pick up Color Me Murder. There is a colorful cast of characters in this series that aid Florrie in solving the crimes and in running the bookstore. I like that Florrie creates adult coloring books and that sketching helps her think through the crimes. The various mysteries in The coloring Crook are woven together into one entertaining cozy mystery. While the older murder has a complete resolution at the end, I felt the Dolly’s whodunit was not explained completely. I thought it unrealistic that Dolly’s daughter would be able to dispose of her belonging before the crime had been solved (the will had not been read nor probated). The Coloring Crook is well-written with steady pacing and developed characters. There are a number of characters and it can be hard to keep them all straight. The coloring club for adults is a clever addition and the benefits of coloring is explained (helps stress). There are many delightful cozy moments in The Coloring Crook. Florrie’s romance with Eric is progressing nicely and they have something humorous in common. I am giving The Coloring Crook 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). There are recipes at the end for some of the delectable delights whipped up in the book. Krista Davis has infused The Coloring Crook with engaging characters, a charming bookstore, a cute cat, mouthwatering food, coloring, friendship, murder, books, romance and mayhem. I look forward to returning to Color Me Read and Georgetown in the next A Pen & Ink Mystery.

There's a novel new entry into the cozy mystery genre. While many of the features are familiar, i.e. the amiable artist heroine dating a local law enforcement, the nosy neighbor/friend, a murder and books, this one has a new twist. First, it's set in the real neighborhood of Georgetown in Washington DC and it plays to the adult coloring trend with a cover that is colorable. The protagonist Florrie is an artist that creates adult coloring books and holds coloring sessions in her local store. When one of her regular customers, an avid collector comes by with a vintage and valuable coloring book from the turn of the century Florrie is dumbfounded. When her friend turns up dead, it's off to the races trying to learn who could've killed the old woman. Suspects abound and the ending took me a little by surprise which is a good thing. This is a worthy new series to begin and follow as it tweaks the tenets of the cozy genre just enough to give it new life.

The Coloring Crook is the second book in the Pen and Ink series. Florrie Fox is the manager of an independent bookstore, and is also working on producing an adult coloring book. When one of her friends comes across the find of a lifetime--the first known coloring book, almost 300 years old--at a garage sale, Florrie is excited. That is, until she finds her friend dead. Florrie and her new boyfriend, police sergeant Eric, set about finding out who would kill Dolly. I absolutely loved the previous book, and really liked this one as well. Krista Davis is a very good author, with great mysteries and story lines. I'm not feeling as much of a connection with Florrie as I have with some of the other main characters in Krista's other books, but I am admittedly not into coloring or drawing, so that may be why. Having said that, I do highly recommend this book and this series.

Continuing adventures of Florrie Fox, though each mystery is a self-contained story. We catch back up with Florrie, still managing Color Me Read and living in the carriage house. Estate sales are the name of the game in this installment and a CMR regular brings a particularly rare find to Florrie for identification. Then things get complicated when people come out of the woodwork to buy the item and the owner winds up dead and the item goes missing.
This is another delightful tour through Georgetown, Washington DC with fun characters who feel like they could be friends in real life and I very much enjoyed this book and look forward eagerly to the next book in the series.

This is a terrific second story in the series. Many surprises at the end, well, even some along the way. I like the main characters and am eager to read more about them.