Wasn't sure what to expect as this was a new-to-me author and I've never read anything from Hallmark, but this was a charming story. I would love if this was a series and there were more of them. The story was really well crafted and it was hard to figure out the killer until the end. Really fun read!

Out of the Picture by Tracy Gardner was a quickly paced cozy mystery that I enjoyed reading from the first chapter to the last chapter.

Ms. Gardner's writing style is smooth and easy and she develops her characters well as she introduces each one throughout the story. I liked all three sisters, Savannah, Skylar and Sydney, as they were all unique but the family bond was clear. The mystery was slightly complex with just enough twists to keep me guessing until Savannah, with her art background, began really looking at all of the pieces of the puzzle. There is a light romantic touch throughout the story but nothing to detract from the mystery. I hope there will be more with the Shepherd sisters and their charming small town.

I am so excited that Hallmark is releasing its first mystery! This was the perfect cozy mystery to curl up with on a rainy day! The three sisters were a delight to get to know. They were believable and relatable. Reading about Caroline, who was like a grandmother to them, made me want to walk right into her house (as they had done since they were little) and have tea with her! It was fascinating learning about the process of authenticating paintings as well. Dare I hope that this will become a series and we might get to read more of Sydney's story?

**I received a complementary copy via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

If you- like me- are a fan of the movies from Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, chances are you are going to love this cozy mystery just as much as I did! Like the many movies that we have come to love and expect from the network, this book from Hallmark Publishing is the perfect blend of mystery and yes a little bit of romance too. As a Hallmark read, you can rest assured that you won't find any foul language or inappropriate content. Likewise, despite the rather heavy topic of murder, it still manages to not lean too dark or scary. Personally, I tend to prefer this type of mystery over those darker toned ones in the genre.

I loved this story of art forgeries and the lengths that someone might go to keep such thing a secret, but what I really loved was the way the author introduced to a variety of characters that had the motive...and the suspicious behaviors too. Though you'd start to feel like perhaps you had it figured out already, there was always that little hint of doubt being cast elsewhere that had me wanting to turn the page to figure it all out. I couldn't put it down.

While there is a little bit of romance throughout the story, I would say it wasn't the main focus, so for those who enjoy a clean mystery without the romance, this one could still be quite enjoyable.

I loved this book, and cannot wait to see more from the author in the future.

Out of the Picture is perfect for fans of the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel! This story was more about the mystery than the romance. I loved all three of the Shepard sisters and would love to read more stories on them. I felt like I was part of their family. The suspense in this novel kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn't want to stop reading, even late into the night. I highly recommend this book for mystery novel fans!

I thoroughly enjoyed Out of the Picture. The banter between the three sisters kept me giggling, the mystery had enough twists and turns to keep my interest from beginning to end, and I loved the beginnings of a romance between Savanna and Aiden.

Caroline Carson is a pillar of the community, and about to turn 90. Savanna recently returned home from living in Chicago, and is commissioned by Caroline, the grandmother-of-her-heart, to do a mural on her parlor wall. When strange and disturbing things begin to happen in Caroline's home, Savanna goes into full protect mode, enlisting her sisters, parents, Caroline's handsome widower doctor, and local police detective to figure out what's going on. This mystery was different from the romances I'm used to reading from Hallmark, but it was an excellent read. It kept me guessing until the end!

Out of the Picture by Tracy Gardner is a Shepherd Sisters Mystery and a very good one at that! Savanna Shepherd leaves her disastrous romance and art authenticator job in Chicago to return to her small Michigan hometown where her parents and two sisters still reside and becomes embroiled in trying to solve a murder and an art forgery scheme. Very good mystery with very likable characters.

OUT OF THE PICTURE by TRACY GARDNER (Review originally appeared on my blog, Beneath Still Waters)

*I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review.*

The story follows Savanna Shepherd, an art authenticator turned elementary school art teacher as she readjusts to life back home with her family. She is commissioned to paint a mural for a family friend, Caroline Carson. Strange events – an unexpected death, a suspicious accident, and a break-in - leave Savanna wondering if something more sinister might be occurring. With the help of her sisters and an attractive doctor, Savanna searches for the truth about these puzzling events.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, being new to both the author and to Hallmark Publishing. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised! This book is described as a “cozy mystery” and this description is a perfect fit for the book. The writing was fluid and I was interested in the story. It may have started out a tad slow, but never so much that I wanted to stop reading. For me, about ¾ of the way in was the real climax – the rest of the book flew by!

I really enjoyed the sisterly interactions of the three Shepherd sisters, although I did feel like the other two – Skylar and Sydney – had a bit more personality than Savanna, who could have been fleshed out a bit more, or at least earlier on in the story. I absolutely LOVED the art details and learning more about the different paintings and the authentication process. I also liked that the romance wasn’t a central part of the book and it was not overly cliché. The mystery portion was woven in nicely. There were a variety of suspects with enough of their own motives and incriminating evidence to keep me on my toes!

I did feel that the ending to this book needed a few more paragraphs. It felt slightly abrupt to me. There were also some typos I noticed, including “Mollie” suddenly getting spelled “Molly” once.

Overall, this was a pleasant, clean read. It appears to me like it’s set up to be a series. If so, I would definitely read the next one!

Tracy Gardner
Out of the Picture.
A new author for to add to my list, and definitely didn’t disappoint.
Savanna coming home to join her sisters after a break up.
Fun read, a great story line, a little romance, intriguing mystery to solve .
All these kept you hooked .
Loved it all .
Many thanks to Hallmark Publishers and to NetGalley for a advance copy for my honest review.
Can’t wait for the next book to come out.

Out of the Picture is a great cozy mystery with interesting and well developed characters. The storyline is entertaining. I would read more by this author.

Savannah has come back home after a nasty breakup with her fiance in Chicago. Small town, using her art degree by teaching and painting murals, she is on hand to notice some problems with some of the paintings at her adopted grandmother's house. There are three sisters, so hope to see more books in this series. A nice cozy mystery, that was quick and fun to read. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed this book. I really liked all the details especially about the forgeries and the personalities of the characters. It felt like I really knew them. #OutOfThePicture #NetGalley

I'm so glad that I requested this book. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, since I'm not familiar with the author, however, it was absolutely fantastic.
The story pulled me in from the beginning and I was glued to the pages until the very last sentence.
Sydney, Skylar and Savannah are sisters, who unite together to find out who is targeting their beloved close friend.
Once the sisters put their mind to something, there is no stopping them.
This story is well written, full of twists and turns and the characters are all very likable and easy to relate to.
I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

This is a delightful cozy mystery featuring Savanna and her sisters Skylar and Sydney as they try to determine if someone is trying to do harm to their adopted grandmother Caroline. Savanna has returned to her Michigan home town where she is the art teacher at the local elementary school. Her adopted grandmother Caroline has asked her to paint a mural on a wall in her home, and when Savanna goes there to talk about it she finds Caroline's friend there as well. The three women are served wine by Lauren, Caroline's granddaughter, and the wine turns out to have been spiked with a drug, which leads to the friends death, as she was the only one who drank the wine. When Caroline is late injured in her home by a poorly installed stair railing, Savanna and her sisters fear someone is out to kill her and, with the help of good looking Dr. Aidan Gallagher, they try to figure out who and why. This is a fast paced mystery with interesting, relatable characters and just the right amount of romance for Savanna. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Much like the Hallmark Movies, fun, clean, and enough action, suspense, and romance to keep it interesting and keep the reader guessing. Well Done.

What's not to love about this story!! It has action, suspense, mystery, romance and a wonderful recipe at the end. This book will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Best of all it's a Hallmark book so you know it's going to a good clean read. Thank you Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.