Florrie Fox is the manager of the Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown when her boss is arrested for the murder of his odious nephew. His plea was for Florrie to investigate and prove his innocence. The mystery was fairly plotted and I didn't guess it. As the first in the new Pen and Ink series by Krista Davis, there was a good bit of exposition and characters that I'm sure we'll get to know better as the series develops.

Krista Davis has several cozy series available but this is by far my favorite. Set in a bookstore in Georgetown, Washington DC , run by manager Florrie Fox , this cozy has lots of great characters. Florrie has been taken under the wind of Professor John Maxwell the owner of Color Me Read. He asks her to move into his carriage home to prevent his nephew from becoming a resident. Said nephew turns up dead at the bookstore and of course Max is the main suspect. I especially liked the homeless character, Jim and his backstory. I can't wait for book two in this new series. I received a free ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love Krista Davis's Paws and Claws series, so I was happy to see she had a new series coming out. I had high hopes for this one, and happily, it lived up to my expectations.

Florrie Fox is a fun main character, who manages a bookstore and also creates unique coloring books for adults and I enjoyed her slightly eccentric boss as well. Why can't I have a boss like that? Haha.

The book was well plotted and fast moving. I pretty much devoured the book in one sitting. My only complaint was that as I had an ebook version, I couldn't color the cover!

I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Welcome to Georgetown, a new location for Krista Davis's considerable mystery talents. Bookstores are a favorite setting for murder mysteries, and the historical building in Color Me Murder does not disappoint as a location. The Pen & Ink series is off to a great start with a suitably vile victim and a stalwart amateur sleuth with a kind heart. Delicious recipes are included and I look forward to seeing more of Georgetown's wonderful architecture as the series progresses.

This is the first book in the new Pen and Ink mystery series, and I loved it. Florrie Fox manages the Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown owned by her boss, Professor Maxwell. On her own time, she creates intricate adult coloring books and is a talented artist. One day Florrie is surprised to find a rude young man in the Professor's office who turns out to be his nephew Delbert. When she finds Delbert's dead body hidden in the bookstore, both she and the Professor become suspects for his murder. Florrie starts to investigate to clear their names.

The characters were fun and quirky and the plot was well constructed and interesting. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Florrie Fox loves her job as a bookstore manager, her new home in coveted Georgetown, her “after hours” gig as an adult coloring book artist, and her boss Professor Maxwell. When Florrie finds Maxwell’s scheming nephew Delbert’s body, obviously murdered, in the bookstore, Maxwell quickly becomes the prime suspect. Before he is carted away to jail, he implores Florrie to find the real killer by using her gray cells and her artist’s eye (a fun nod to Christie’s Poiroit). This leads her down a dangerous path, hitting too close to home for comfort.

I am a big fan of Krista Davis’s books and was over-the-moon to see this new series. COLOR ME MURDER is fantastic.

The adult coloring book craze is still going strong, but I think the Pen and Ink series has the potential longevity to live on far beyond the trend (if the trend ever wanes). Florrie’s art helps her think through the mystery, and it makes perfect sense. This is not some kitschy theme.

I really like Florrie. She is relatable and personable. I admire her loyalty, honesty, and dependability. I think we could be friends. I also greatly enjoyed butler Mr. Dubois, Professor Maxwell, love interest Jonquille, and homeless man Jim. Florrie’s parents are a hoot, and her relationship with her sister Veronica rings true. Truthfully, there are not any characters that are not well developed and interesting, even the most unpleasant of the bunch. There are even a lovable cat and an adorable dog thrown in. I cannot wait to get to know them all better in forthcoming books, of which I hope there are many.

The mystery surrounding Delbert’s death makes for compelling reading. COLOR ME MURDER was hard to put down. I felt invested in the characters and their plight. Davis’s writing is descriptive and conversational, the pace steady and quick. I was blown away by the killer’s identity and loved how all of the pieces fit together neatly at the end. I impatiently await the next book in the series. I cannot get enough.

Highly recommended.

Florrie Fox, manager of Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. is looking for a better apartment. She is stunned when her boss, Professor John Maxwell, offers her the carriage house in the back of his property. When she realizes his nephew wants the carriage house for himself, Florrie starts wondering if she made a good move. When Maxwell’s nephew is found murdered and Maxwell is the prime suspect, Florrie decides to investigate. Without the help of a delicious looking cop and some delectable desserts, Florrie may be next on the murderer’s hit list.
This was a great start to a new cozy mystery series. I loved Florrie’s independence and compassion, and the way she didn’t always need to fight with other characters. She seemed very mature. I also found the way the main characters helped a homeless man in his plight to be very kindhearted. Overall, the characters were clearly defined and individualistic. Some of them you loved, and some you loved to hate. The plot of the story was very twisty, but not confusing. The only thing was I didn’t know who the culprit was until the end. I literally stayed up most of the night finishing this wonderful book. An advanced reader’s copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Color Me Murder by Krista Davis is the 1st book in the Pen & Ink Mystery series, and I loved it. Ms. Davis is one of my favorite authors, so I was really excited to read this book. At one point I almost stopped reading because the main character Florrie Fox's parents really made me angry, I'm so glad I continued to read. Florrie works at Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington D.C. And she also draws and sells adult color books. When Florrie gets the opportunity to move into her boss's, Professor Maxwell, guest house rent free, she jumps at the chance. There are a lot of twists and turns, laughs, and of course a dead body. I strongly recommend this book for all cozy mystery lovers, I can not wait for Florrie's next adventure.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Wow, what a book! This novel had me hooked from the first few pages with the beautiful descriptions of the beautiful book store, Color Me Read. Of course as a reader, I am drawn to books that involve books and this book was not the exception! When I first received this ARC from Kensington, I was over the moon not only did the story sound captivating but the cover was amazing!!! Not only did it have a beautiful and intricate design wrapped around the cover, you could customize it by coloring it anyway you wanted!!! Woot! th

I fell in love with the characters right away with this book! Florrie was such a relatable character. She loved others to a fault, was bookish, was open-minded and was an animal lover. Her passion and loyalty to her job as manager at Color Me Read, gave Florrie the drive to be a great amateur sleuth. I loved that her knowledge from detecting and figuring out what is what came strictly from her being a bookworm. I always knew reading too many mysteries could benefit me in a adventurous way. I loved Florrie’s interactions with the fellow customers, coworkers and a local homeless man, Jim. She always looked out for everyone else and tried to see the best in them.

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The mystery of this story was well thought out. I thought for sure I had things figured out early on but of course I was wrong. The plot had great descriptions of the settings and the characterizations but still had a steady pace that was perfect for the outline of this story. Overall, this was hands down one of the best cozies I have read in awhile. This book was so much fun but it also had all the details that us bookworms love. I felt like I was in the middle of the book with Florrie and think I enjoyed her adventure and new home way too much! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good cozy and/or anyone who loves to read books that involve books. I thought it was a very unique take to have Coloring Book Artist/Book Store Manager as our amateur sleuth. This is the first book I have read by Krista Davis but it surely won’t be my last!

Well, color me happy with this new series by Krista Davis. I am a big fan of her other two series and was eager to read Color Me Murder. Would she be able to win me over - again? Oh, yes. The characters are people I would love to know, especially the butler. The bookstore would be a wonderful haven for a biblioholic and I covet Florrie's new digs. As for the mystery, I found it very satisfying. The nephew, Delbert, is a real nasty piece of work, the perfect murder victim. Good riddance to bad rubbish as the saying goes. Only problem? Florrie's wonderfully eccentric boss, the owner of the bookstore she manages and the carriage house where she lives, is the prime suspect. His nephew was letting it be known that he intended to take over both the bookstore and the carriage house. Unfortunately his uncle, Prof. Maxwell, tells her that he will take care of the situation, right before the dead body turns up in his bookstore. There is then plenty of reason for Florrie to try to get to the bottom of the mystery - she, too, has a stake in the outcome. It will affect her home and her job.
This new series will be a great addition to my must read list and I have no doubt that I will be reading the next entry with pleasure.

This is a great book; this is the first book in the Pen & Ink Mystery series and is written by Krista Davis. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Color Me Murder by Krista Davis is the first book in the new A Pen & Ink Mystery series. Florrie Fox is the manager of Color Me Read in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C. At night she uses her artistic skills to create adult coloring books. When Florrie arrives at work, Professor John Maxwell (her boss) asks if she is still looking for an apartment. Florrie wishes to move closer to work to cut down on her commute. Professor Maxwell offers Florrie his carriage house (rent free) on the condition that she move in that day. Liddy Woodley, Professor Maxwell’s sister, wants her son, Delbert to live in the carriage house. The last thing Professor Maxwell wants is his odious nephew living on the property. After meeting Delbert, Florrie can understand Professor Maxwell’s feelings. That night someone tries to break into the carriage house. The next morning Florrie stumbles on the third-floor landing. The carpet was not lying flat. Upon investigation, she finds a trap door which opens to reveal a hidden compartment. Inside is Delbert with a spear sticking out of his back. Professor Maxwell is arrested for Delbert’s murder, and he is relying on Florrie to solve the crime. There are many people who disliked Delbert due to his various schemes. Florrie, with the aid of her friends and her sketches, works to cover a killer and free Professor Maxwell.

Color Me Murder was an entertaining cozy mystery. The story drew me in right away. I thought Color Me Murder was well-written and had a steady pace (and good flow) which made it easy to read. Krista Davis has an appealing writing style. Florrie Fox is a delightful character. She works at the bookstore and designs adult coloring books which I found unique. While working on solving the murder, she uses sketches (instead of notes). Florrie interprets what she is told into visual images which aid her in solving the crime. Florrie is creative, intelligent, loyal, likeable and she rolls with the punches. There are a couple of quirky characters in the story. Mr. DuBois, the butler, is a hoot. Professors Rosca, Goldblum and Bankhouse are friends of Professor Maxwell’s and are helpful in gathering intel for Florrie. I do hope we get to see more of Professor Maxwell in the next installment (he is a lively gentleman). The author provided lovely descriptions of Georgetown where the bookshop is located and Florrie’s new residence. The mystery is well-constructed and clever. Many readers will be surprised by the culprit’s identity. All the loose ends tie together and are wrapped up neatly at the end of the book. I appreciated that the focus of the book was on the mystery. There is a touch of romance, two adorable animals (a cat and a dog), a beautiful old home with some hidden secrets, an unwanted admirer, humor, a gorgeous necklace and an unexpected ally for Florrie in Color Me Murder. The cover of Color Me Murder (for those that purchase a hard copy) can be colored which ties into the story. There are recipes at the end of the book. I finished Color Me Murder with a grin on my face (no silly characters or inane antics in this story). My rating for Color Me Murder is 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it). I am eager to read to the next A Pen & Ink Mystery.

Established cozy author Krista Davis (The Domestic Diva Mysteries and the Paws and Claws Mysteries) has another hit on her hands with this first installment in her new Pen & Ink Mystery Series, Color Me Murder. Florrie Fox is a coloring book artist and the manager of Color Me Read, a bookstore in the tony Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. When not-so-nice guy Delbert is found brutally murdered and stuffed into a hiding place in the bookstore, Florrie must work to solve the murder and clear the name of Professor Maxwell - bookstore owner, Florrie's landlord, and Delbert's uncle. Lots of suspects - Delbert's former roommates, his coworkers, even Florrie's sister! Very nicely written, and plenty of room for future installments. Many interesting characters as well, and I really look forward to (hopefully) additional books in the series. Very highly recommended!

This is a delightful debut that is sure to be the start of a very successful cozy series ! I am a fan of the authors work so I was thrilled to receive this ARC for review.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the advance reading copy. My opinions are my own.

Florrie Fox works in a book store and is a adult coloring book artist. She receives a quick offer from her boss to move into a cottage apartment he owns rent free surrounded by beautiful gardens. The cottage is charming so she accepts and looks forward to sketching the gardens for her coloring books.. The landlord's greedy nephew is trying to take over the property and he hopes Florrie will prevent the nephew from claiming the property.. When the nephew is found murdered in the cottage, Florrie begins to investigate to clear her landlords name as he quickly becomes suspect number one.
This is such a well crafted mystery and such a delight to read. The beautiful gardens, her coloring book art and her quick thinking make Florrie a favorite new protagonist on the cozy mystery scene. This avid mystery reader enjoyed the twist and turns of the sleuth which did keep me guessing throughout. I love the supporting characters who all add to the story. I found myself reading this book cover to cover.
This is promising to be a great series. i look forward to the next book and many more . I highly recommend Color Me Murder for your reading enjoyment for all mystery fans. Bravo to the author !

Her employer offers Florrie Fox a fantastic apartment in his carriage house, rent free. The catch is that she has to move her things in immediately so that his greedy nephew, Delbert, won't try to weasel his way onto the property. She immediately falls in love with the apartment and its lovely gardens, which are sure to provide all sorts of inspiration for the adult coloring books she illustrates, but Florrie worries about what she's gotten herself into...then Delbert is found dead and her boss is arrested for the murder.

I picked up this one because the adult coloring books sounded like an interesting element and quickly found myself caught up in Florrie's life and relationships. Her coloring books don't play a major role in the story, but the way she looks at the world and finds inspiration around her definitely make Florrie an enjoyable character to spend some time with.

Florrie Fox is delighted when her boss offers his carriage house as a place for her to live. It’s only a few blocks from the bookstore she manages. Her boss, Professor Maxwell, doesn’t want his nephew, Delbert, to move in, so it is perfect. Florrie begins to have her doubt when she meets Delbert, but the last thing she expects to find is his dead body. With Professor Maxwell arrested for the crime, Florrie needs to work fast to prove his innocence.

This is a delightful start to a new series. Florrie is a strong main character, and I love her friends and family as well. I already can’t wait to visit them again. The plot is complex with multiple twists and turns that surprised me. I did feel the climax was a bit weak, but it certainly did explain everything that had happened. Florrie also designs adult coloring books, and as an added bonus, the physical book features a front and back cover ready to be colored.

Florrie runs an old bookstore. The quirky, kind-hearted, spirited Professor Maxwell owns it. When Florrie discovers a dead body hidden in the trap door of the third floor of the bookstore the police suspect Maxwell as the killer. Florrie and all of Maxwell's friends have to try to uncover the truth behind the murder to free Maxwell. By the way, Florrie has to put up with the extremely loyal, and dramatic, butler, Mr. DuBois. I really love how Mr. DuBois' character is written, if I ever had the chance to have a butler, I'd want Mr. DuBois, he could be my BFF, he's fantastic.

Jonquille is an officer who initially responds to the murder investigation however he is not the main detective. That detective is portrayed as an old grump, stuck in his ways, believing Maxwell is guilty. Jonquille though is in the picture quite a lot, and the head detective just seems to disappear from the story. I feel like Jonquille should have just been written in as the main detective.

Krista Davis does an excellent job at imagery and I could easily picture what the Maxwell Mansion must have looked like, the historical old book store, and many of the characters. I look forward to reading what comes next in this new series.

Also, Norman was so obnoxious! Well written, I hated the guy. Kudos to him though for keep on trying though.

Special thanks to #NetGalley and #KristaDavis and her publisher #Kensington for allowing me an Advanced Review Copy of this book! #ColorMeMurder

Color Me Murder is the first book in the A Pen And Ink Mystery series.

This is a great start to a new series by Krista Davis. A well-plotted and told story with a developed and interesting cast of characters.

At 9:30 on a Saturday morning, Florrie Fox gets a frantic phone call from her boss Professor John Maxwell owner of Colored Me Read bookstore, asking her if she has found a different place to live yet. Florrie answers in the negative and Maxwell offer her the carriage house with the understanding that she can be done moving in by 6:00 PM. Maxwell’s sister, Liddy, wants the carriage house for her son, Delbert to have. Delbert is the ultimate “spoiled child” and has a history of being a con man and Maxwell wants nothing to do with him.

After getting moved in Florrie heads to Color Me Read to work until the store closes. Showing a gentleman upstairs for a book on Churchill she starts to head for downstairs but hears noise from the third floor. When she goes to investigate, she finds someone sitting at Maxwell’s desk. She informs him that this a private office. The person replies that when he owns the business, she will be toast. Florrie had just met the worthless Delbert. When she tells Maxwell of the encounter, he says he will have it handled by Monday.

On Sunday, as Florrie was heading to the rare book room to check on a couple books that a customer called about, she trips on the carpet of the landing going to the third floor. She didn’t remember the carpeting being like that yesterday and upon close examination, she finds that there is a trapdoor in the landing. Wondering if Professor Maxwell knows about this she proceeds to open the trapdoor and is shocked to find the lifeless body of Delbert, stabbed by a spear. Once the police learn of Maxwell’s comment about taking care of the problem, he is arrested for the murder of his nephew.

So, with the help of Bob Turpin, an employee at Color Me Read, Florrie sets out to find who really murdered Delbert and clear Maxwell. Also helping Florrie are several of Maxwell’s professor friends and Jim, a homeless man, who is always sitting on a bench in front of Color Me Read.

I particularly enjoyed a most interesting cast of characters, the professors are all interesting and prove to be a great help to Florrie. I also liked the character of Jim. A man of few words, for the most part, but for being a shabby homeless fellow he is pretty much ignored which allows him to see a lot without being caught looking. I’m looking forward to seeing where the author will take this character.

Delicious sounding recipes are also included.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

First in the series. When Netgalley offered this book,I had to request it. I really enjoy Krista’s Paws And Claws series.
This one does not disappoint. I enjoyed that our sleuth, Florrie, works in a bookstore in Georgetown, can walk to work and is a coloring book artist. She is strong, resilient, and has a sense of humor.
The supporting cast is well developed. I like that Krista gave us a listing of most of the characters in the front of the book. That way if you get confused, you can easily go back and sort it out.
I wish I lived in the carriage house. It sounds so quaint.
I look forward to a little romance, a lot more sleuthing and just fun. Take a chance and read this book.
Krista Davis also writes the Domestic Diva and Paws & Claws cozy mystery series.

Want to know what I love more than a new book from a favorite author? The first book in a new series from a favorite author, which promises more books to come! When Krista Davis – author of The Domestic Diva series and the Paws and Claws Mysteries – announced her new book, Color Me Murder, was the first in a new series set in Washington DC, I was thrilled.

And I was right to be excited about it: I’ve read the ARC and it’s an awesome book. Set in a bookstore in the Georgetown neighborhood, the main character, Florrie, likes to bake, creates adult coloring books, and manages the bookstore. (So, as a bonus: the cover of the book is color-able!)
Florrie Fox is a smart, loyal, and loveable character with a great supporting cast to be found in friends, family, and of course, a good-looking police officer that likes – and feels protective of – Florrie.

When her boss’s obnoxious nephew Delbert is found dead in the bookstore, her boss, Professor John Maxwell is arrested. Florrie knows he isn’t a killer and knows to save him, she must look into the murder herself!

With lots of twists and turns and a few red herrings, the page-turning mystery intrigued me and made me want to dive into another story about Florrie and friends. To save me while I wait for the next book, Krista includes some delicious recipes to tide me over.

This is a five-star read.

THANKS to Kensington, NetGalley, and Krista Davis for the opportunity to read this great little book. All opinions are my own.