I loved this debut book in a new series by Cheryl Hallon. Thw small town setting was perfect. Fhe characters quickly became friends. The plot line was very well played out - so much so that I could not find the killer!

Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon is a fabulously written mystery filled with history, food, and drinks.

Will Miranda find the killer or lose her inheritance?

Miranda Trent
Miranda is our sleuth, and she is an artist, business owner, and the sole beneficiary of her late Uncle Gene's family farm. Yet, she is forced to become a sleuth to clear herself. I think that Miranda is a terrific character. She paints beautiful pictures, knows how to make moonshine, and she can fly fish. Miranda does have her issues, though.

The Mystery
Miranda's cook, Mrs. Childers, is killed at Miranda's first official cultural event. So, lots of people around, but none with motive. What I enjoyed was the historical aspect of the story, mixed with the mountain culture, which includes the cuisine, drinks, and their manners.

Four Stars
Ms. Hollen has a beautiful way of relating the past and wrapping it into a present-day mystery. I enjoyed Still Knife Painting and can't wait for the next book in the series to see what Miranda is up too. My rating is four stars, and I highly recommend this book to all of you, cozy mystery readers out there.

Don't forget to check out the recipes for cocktails and a few foods to pair them with for the best results. You could have your dinner party, just hide the knives.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon.

This Guest Review is for Baroness' Book Trove.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

Have you ever been to a paint & sip event? Or maybe it was something else crafty like yarn art, but you probably had some sort of adult beverage while you were being creative. If you haven’t been to an event like that, you’ll get a taste of what it’s like in Still Knife Painting,..hopefully without the murder!

Miranda has spent the last few years of her life eking out a living as an artist in New York City. When she hears that she’s inherited her Uncle Gene’s home and land, she happily makes the move to Kentucky. The place is paid for, but she’s got to pay the property taxes. Since art is Miranda’s life, she decides to combine art, food, and moonshine to create her new business: Paint & Shine.

The setting of Still Knife Painting couldn’t be more beautiful. I’ve always wanted to live by the ocean, but living in the mountains would be wonderful too (just no bears or snakes please). This setting is perfect for Miranda’s business too. She aims to take tourists to a beautiful spot to paint while they hear a little about the history of the location. After the art excursion, there will be good old home cooking paired with locally made moonshine.

But the best laid plans often go awry… Miranda’s first tourist group ends up in the middle of a murder investigation when one of the cooks winds up dead in the kitchen. Since this is a cozy mystery, we know Miranda is going to wind up as either a suspect or the one who solves the crime…or both! Miranda’s got an advantage over the average amateur sleuth since she’s an artist. She’s got a keen sense of observation and can sketch out suspects and settings to help her keep things straight.

As with lots of first books in new series, we meet a lot of characters with whom we’ve got no to get acquainted. I feel like I’ve got a pretty good grasp on Miranda and a couple of the other characters, though I’m sure as the series progresses, they and others will gain more depth of personality. I’m always drawn to the quirky characters, and there are a few in here that I hope to get to know better.

I think Still Knife Painting is a cozy mystery you’ll enjoy, and the Paint & Shine Mystery Series is off to a good start.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of this cozy mystery. All opinions are my own.

I like Hollon’s Glass Shop Mystery so I was excited to see the announcement of a new crafty cozy. I like the premise of this book. Miranda has inherited her uncle’s farmhouse. She starts up a new business called Paint & Shine where she takes customers on a hike in Daniel Boone Nat. Forest and teaches them to paint a popular landscape. Afterwards, they return to her farmhouse to enjoy a Southern meal and moonshine tasting. Her first outing doesn’t quite go as planned when her cook turns up murdered in the kitchen.

I enjoyed the Kentucky setting and really liked the scenes that took place in the park as the group painted Lover’s Leap. Such a neat concept and I like that the park ranger shared the history of the area they were recreating and also became a part of the cast as a potential love interest. My knowledge on moonshine is very limited, but I found that part of the story interesting as well. I also liked Miranda. It was easy for me to relate to her introvert tendencies.

The mystery stumped me since there were so many suspects to work through both locally and as tourists. There were a lot of people to keep up with! As more of cook’s pasts was revealed, I started picking up on what had happened - just not who was actually involved.

Some of the characters seemed to have a childlike immaturity similar to Myers Pennsylvania Dutch series - especially the deputy. It was stated numerous times how the locals are set in their ways which made some of the conversations and stereotypes off putting at times. The big discovery at the end was too easy as well.

I’ve never heard of Ale-8-One so I had to look that up.

This series has potential especially as Miranda’s business grows and expands. The book concludes with several recipes.

Great start to a new series! Miranda’s fledgling tourist business takes a hit when a murder occurs. To save her home, livelihood and freedom, she must unveil the real killer. Great writing, a fast pace, great characters and multiple story lines make this a great read. I’m looking forward to future installments. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.

Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon is the 1st book in A Paint and Shine Mystery, and it's off to a good start. I love Ms. Hollon's A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery series, and I was excited to start this new series. Miranda inherited her uncle's Red River Gorge homestead in Eastern Kentucky in the middle of Daniel Boone National Forest. Miranda is an artist, so she came up with a business of Paint & Shine. Miranda takes people for a hike in the forest, than they stop and paint the beautiful scenery. Afterwards she takes the group back to her house to sample moonshine and eat southern cooking. When Miranda best biscuit baker cook is found dead in the kitchen, the sleuthing begins. I found this book to be a good read, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Still Knife Painting is Book 1 in the Paint & Shine Mystery series by Cheryl Hollon.

The premise of this new series is promising. Miranda moves to a house she inherited and is using her artistic abilities to lead clients on a hike to a location to paint. They then return to her place for a meal of local food paired with moonshine.

Overall, I enjoyed it. The locale is interesting. Austin seems like a good guy. Mrs Hobb, the county sheriff, and county coroner seem like good people.

There were some things in the story that weren’t followed through. Miranda didn’t follow up with the reporter or mention it with Austin. Considering the impact on her business, that didn’t make any sense. Also the way she went for Dan for a comment he made. He’s an important part of her business.

It was kind of uneven, but since it is the first book in the series, and based on the author’s Webb’s Glass Shop series, I expect it to even out in the next book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the I free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. #StillKnifePainting #NetGalley

I really liked the idea of someone doing trails, painting and Southern cooking as a type of adventure tour. I'm not sure I'd be thrilled with the trail idea or the moonshine tasting (I've tried it in Tennessee and don't care for it), but the painting sounds fun along with the authentic Southern meal. I liked Miranda a lot but at times, I wondered if she was thinking straight when sometimes all she'd do was talk about being the prime suspect even though no one had approached her yet--aside from the press skewing an article. Her little pup sounded adorable, and I liked the secondary characters of Austin (oh yeah!), Mrs. Hobb--and Sheriff Larson grew on me after a little bit.

I thought I guessed the killer but it was just another red herring. I kind of figured the showdown might happen when it did. It was short but very good. I always enjoy when there's a wrap-up at the end which in this book took place after the murdered woman's funeral. There was a little side mystery that got its answer at this time too. I'll definitely be interested in reading the next book. I think this idea has lots of potential, and what a great setting for lots of different mysteries.

A clever new business. Some interesting insights on life in Kentucky. Didn't care about the victim and wasn't sure I wanted to continue reading. So glad I kept going as the story became more involved and the characters more interesting.

It took me a long time to finish this. I never really got into the story. The dialogue was very strange, Miranda is off-puttingly rude, and for no reason I could think of. Even her clients are weird. I don’t think it’s NYC at fault, or Kentucky. I also thought it was a bad strategy to open up a business when you had no cell phone reception, or even a phone connection. I couldn’t figure out why she didn’t start with the painting lessons without the moonshine lunch, until she figured out her distillery, spruced up her farmhouse and maybe had a gazebo or something where she could serve a picnic lunch - it’s probably just me but I’d rather not have random people wander into my bedroom, as her clients do. Oh, and she’s completely unaware of her surroundings - there’s a rattler breeding area around her property and she lets her clients wander around everywhere. This was a lawsuit waiting to happen.

There is a mystery, but I was mystified by how clueless Miranda and her friend Austin seemed to be. One character specifically mentions an event that happened in the murdered woman’s life, and there are hints that another character is researching along the same lines. But when they come across the actual evidence that this is indeed relevant, both of them act as though this is news to them. What happened to connecting the dots? I mean it’s okay if you don’t really do it, but for someone who is determined to do detective work for absolutely no reason (the police call it an accident, there’s only a rumor that Miranda is a murderer because she stupidly gives an interview to a reporter who twists her words), this quality is a requirement? At least there’s got to be a reason they went around talking to potential suspects, yeah?

This was a disappointing start to the series. I’d want to read a second one before I wrote it off completely, but I’m not holding out hopes.

Excellent concept for a story background. I have attended a couple of Wine & Design events at a local outlet and found it to be quite enjoyable. The idea of a hike, painting, food pairing with shine is a step above and a wonderful idea for a start up. I enjoyed how the idea was not only presented but also paired with some wonderful recipes although I did have a bit of a challenge with locating the “shine” parts. Thankfully the ABC store does carry the Smokey Mountain Shine and in darling little mason jars that are just the right amount for a cocktail for one or in our case, two. I am used to pairing food, mainly a more savory selection of food with wine so I am intrigued with the sweet pairing and look forward to enjoying it over the 4th of July holiday weekend. On to the story aspect… Miranda makes a great character whom you can’t help but to cheer for and want to see her succeed not only with her painting classes but also with the distillery. I look forward to the next book which surely will discuss that aspect a bit more. The story line was very good and the cast of characters was jumbled up just enough to not be obvious. I had no idea who killer was or why they committed the crime until the big reveal. In fact there were several red herrings that kept you glued to the pages be they paper or digital. A nice bit of rivalry between local law and the big town law with plenty of backstory to draw on as the series progresses. I also like the fact that even though Miranda isn’t a local she is actually “home” as many of the characters point out. There is even a touch of possible romance which is what rounds out this new series. I enjoyed the story so much that I am going to look and see if such a cultural experience exists not too far from the Smokey Mountains and my neck of the woods.

Maybe Read A Later Edition
This book has a very good setting and plot. I loved everything about it. Except for the plot holes. Except for the stereotypes of rural, mountain people. It almost seems to be written like a play with weird breaks in the story like vignettes. I read the first Sixteen Chapters (104 pages) before I just had to quit. The enjoyment of the book was absolutely overrun by the errors. I thought that the author was a novice by the types of errors I was seeing. Finding out that she has written another complete series was quite surprising. I gave this book a lower rating because, as an experienced author, this book should have cleaned up better. I am disappointed. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Totally enjoyed this story and the characters I got to hang with. Some of them may have you shaking your head. I bet you know someone like some of these folks. Don’t you love when you can relate so well to the characters? I would love to go painting with Miranda and then enjoy the great food and drink. I love getting in on the beginning of a new series. I can’t wait to read the next book. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Still Life Painting by Cheryl Hollon is the first in a new series and is full of promise, if the first one left a little to be desired. To be fair, a lot has to happen in a new series: lots of new characters to set up; a new setting; new job, new interests, new relationships... Miranda is at Hemlock Lodge, an auspicious name to be sure, on the opening day of her new venture: "Paint and Shine." The fee includes a lesson in painting a landscape here at the lodge and then to her farmhouse for an authentic meal accompanied by moonshine, well, several different kinds of moonshine. Some of the people in the community were teetotalers and totally against the moonshine portion of the program but Miranda was adamant. When she inherited the farm from her great-uncle Gene, it was part of the deal. She had to have a still up and running within a certain length of time or she lost her farm. Whether some of the locals liked it or not, the shine was here to stay. Miranda had arranged for a couple of local women to be her cooks, in exchange for a donation to the church roofing fund, not for pay. It was looking like a good day...until one of her cooks ended up with a knife in her chest and the other one passed out cold from the shock.

The story was a little "busy." Lots going on, some of it important, some of it not, but a little hard to keep track of-first in a series. Miranda looks like she will be a good character. Anxious to get out of New York City, she has this plan. Lots of tourists are looking for experiences, hence, paint and shine. Her moonshine guy is another small business, like her, so when something happens he has to ditch her to deal with it. That's real life. She's out in the middle of nowhere with no phone (cell reception is non-existent) or internet, so someone had to run to the neighbor's to cal 9-1-1. When she needs to talk or get on line, Miranda has to drive down the road and park in a certain spot. This is life in rural America. It is this kind of rich detail that gives me hope for the future of this series. That, and well, Cheryl Hollon is a proven cozy author. I have high hopes. It is always fun to be in on the beginning of a series. I recommend you give it a try. I, for one, am looking forward to the next book.

I received an invitation to read an ARC of Still Knife Painting from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #stillknifepainting

A very good beginning to a new series. The characters were great! Of course, what do you expect when the setting is very rural Kentucky smack dab in the middle of moonshine country? The mystery was good and very involved. It kept you guessing and involved lots of history of the area and of the time. A very promising beginning.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.

Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon is book one in the Paint and Shine mystery series.
This easy to read cozy has everything you need in a mystery. There is a great story with great characters and setting. It also has plenty of plot twists that will have you guessing until the end and just enough humor. I can't wait for book two.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington for an honest review.

In this serie's debut, Miranda Trent inherits a farm in Kentucky from her beloved uncle with the stipulation that she have a distillery up and running on the premises within 90 days. Pressed for time and money, she creates an event drawing on Kentucky's beautiful landscapes and cultural history....Paint and Shine. She offers a painting lesson in the scenic hills followed by a home cooked meal of regional favorites paired by different types of legal moonshine. However, a murder on the opening day jeopardizes her fledgling business and leaves her scrambling to clear her name. While the premise for this new series is sound and the mystery intriguing, I never warmed up to Miranda. I'm rounding up from three and a half stars because of its potential and my faith in Cheryl Hollon's
storytelling ability.

An excellent start for a new cozy series: excellent storyline and characters and a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I found it engrossing and entertaining, can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

A strong start to a new series! I enjoyed reading about Miranda’s adventures, as she starts over in a new town. She has a new beginning and is figuring out how to make it all work. The idea for her business is very creative and I can see it inspiring a lot of story lines for the series in the future. As an introvert, I enjoyed reading about a cozy protagonist with a more introverted personality. It doesn’t happen very often and is a nice touch!

Still Knife Painting was a fun start of a new series. The plot was well done and engaging, in addition to a few threads that surely will be continued in future books. The characters were complex and interesting, which is a good thing, so they don't seem like one-dimensional cookie-cutter characters. I also liked the concept of painting, food and moonshine.