This cover just gives the perfect feels for this story. I love love love arts and craft festivals so this would be perfect for others who feel the same (hopefully less eventful). I also love stories with retirement communities and older characters so this would be good for others who enjoy them too.

Fabulous plot which I could not put down. Brilliant characters, and twists and turns. Highly recommend to other fans of this genre!!

Cleo Mack, head administrator of the Harbor Village retirement community, has a lot on her plate the end of March when Fairhope, Alabama is hosting its Arts & Crafts Festival. Just before opening day, Cleo needs to check out the Art that is for sale to get something for the main lobby. She has also been invited to an anniversary dinner for her friends and her "boyfriend" has the new house being redecorated just for her.

When she returns from the anniversary dinner, she's told that Twinkle Thaw, sister of one of residents has been taken ill after her sister's birthday party. Later, Cleo finds out that Twinkle died of poisoning. Need to protect Harbor Village, Cleo sets out to find the murderer.

It's great when the protagonist is a few years older than normal and the other regulars are seniors. The story had multiple layers as well as a few good laughs.

While I'm not normally one to read books out of order (in fact, I'm rather OCD about it), I could not pass up the opportunity to read this one after reading the description. It was definitely a good call, because this was a cozy mystery that kept me guessing almost until the very end. A fun, eclectic cast of characters pulled me in quickly and has me putting the preceding books of the series high on my "to be read" list!

Cleo is trying to decide if she should move in with Riley and how their relationship will be affected regardless of her decision. So many "what ifs" going through her mind and it doesn't help that this week is the annual Arts and Crafts Festival in Fairhope, Alabama; the town where she is the executive Director of Harbor Village a lovely retirement community. Several artisans reside in Fairhope, one of which is retired art teacher, Georgina, who hosts a lovely and cozy dinner for some of her former students, which ends with her much younger sister Twinkle, becoming sick and then later dying in the hospital a victim of a supposed nut allergy. Turns out Twinkle made some friends and some enemies during her lifetime and has a slightly shady past with regards to touching up another's picture and then selling it is as an original Twinkle Thaw. Lots of interesting facts to be learned from this one especially about China Wood, oh and if you ever get a chance definitely take time to play Mexican Train as a family game night option. The characters are definitely developing more and more with each story, although you do not need to have read the 2 previous stories to know that Riley is crazy about Cleo, that Cleo really enjoys the community she lives in and the friends she has made such as Nina and Jim, or that she isn't sure if she is truly finished with the world of academia. I guess we will just have to wait for the next installment since this one is a bit of a cliff-hanger.

A Cozy mystery set in Fairhope Alabama inlvovling an art’s and crafts fair and a retirement home. It was pretty sweet. I love forward to other books in the series.

The Arts and Crafts Festival is in town, and Fairhope, Alabama is busy hosting various artists, including Twinkle Thaw. Twinkle hasn’t endeared herself to the residents of the Harbor Village retirement community. After all, she still owes a fiftieth anniversary portrait to residents Jim and Nita Bergen. Unfortunately, someone is angry enough with Twinkle to murder her and now Cleo Mack, the executive director of Harbor Village, finds herself smack in the middle of another murder investigation.

I love that Cleo is a social worker! G.P. Gardner does a great job at showing another dimension to the profession and I thoroughly appreciated that she made Cleo a caring, thoughtful, and reasonable character. I was a little confused about Cleo’s relationship with Riley, however, as they appear to be close to moving in together and yet their communication level isn’t always the best.

MURDER AT THE ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL is the third book in the <i>Cleo Mack</i> series. While the mystery itself is a standalone story, I suspect readers more familiar with the characters will enjoy this one more than readers new to the series. Cleo and Riley are at a significant juncture in their relationship and having the foundation from the earlier books likely makes the dilemmas in MURDER AT THE ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL more poignant.

The residents of Harbor Village are a lot of fun! I enjoyed visiting with them, whether it was the discussions over the new artwork, the debates over who likely killed Twinkle, or just a day out with Katherine Roka attempting a new style of drawing. I look forward to further adventures with Cleo and the other Harbor Village residents!

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

This is the first novel I’ve read from this series, and it won’t be the last! It is a complex, challenging mystery with an eclectic group of energetic seniors and staff who I like and enjoy. The setting is fresh and fun, an active adult retirement community, located in Alabama, from where I’ve not read many novels.

Cleo first came to Fairhope to consider what she would do after retiring as a department chair in a social work program in Georgia. Her ex-husband Travis offered her the position as Executive Director at Harbor Village among this delightful witty and artistic group of active seniors. Her first, and best, friend at Harbor Village is Nita, who is now celebrating her 51st anniversary with her husband Jim. They introduced her to Riley, who she has been dating for several months and now wants her to move into the house he just purchased for them to live in. Nita and Jim, Riley and Cleo, and Katherine, mother of Harbor Village’s business manager, are going to celebrate the anniversary.

Cleo’s neighbor Georgina, an artist and retired art teacher, is having a small dinner party for her former students who arrived in town for the weekend’s Arts & Crafts Festival. Georgina’s sister Twinkle arrives in town a couple days earlier than planned and decides to join the dinner party. Katherine’s husband Solly is one of Georgina’s former students, so he will attend. Katherine chose to go to the anniversary dinner instead, since Twinkle had tried to break up their marriage a few years earlier.

Cleo and Riley seem to rarely have enough time together to talk about what’s going on in their lives other than the house he bought for them that he is now being remodeled at great expense because she hated it at first site. This weekend is the “big reveal” when the renowned decorator will be finished and Cleo can see it for the first time. Both Cleo and Riley have secrets right now – things they didn’t intend to keep from the other, but they simply haven’t had a chance to talk. Riley has been offered a consulting job that might take him away for several months, and Cleo has heard there might be interest in her to become dean of a social work school at a larger university.

When Cleo arrives home from the anniversary dinner, Georgina’s party with former students is already over. Her sister Twinkle suddenly became very ill, and the party broke up. Later that night, Cleo is up when her cat awakens her, and sees Georgina in the courtyard where the party had been set up. Georgina said she is taking Twinkle to the emergency room as she is getting worse. The next morning, a note was on her door that Twinkle died at the hospital.

Lieutenant Mary Montgomery makes several visits to Cleo and those who attended Georgina’s party as they believe Twinkle may have been poisoned. However, with many thousands of visitors in town for the weekend for the Festival, the police department has its hands full. Cleo’s hands are full as well, juggling her workload, extra tasks related to the Festival, and a mysterious, well-dressed woman who is seen on the property but seems to dash away when she sees Cleo. In the meantime, a murderer is on the loose and Cleo feels responsible for those who live at Harbor Village.

I enjoyed meeting everyone, and feel I got to know them well in this novel! While I have not read the first two in the series, the author has done well with current and historical information about the primary characters. I like Cleo, even though her personality is much different than mine, and it is clear her job is not at all easy. I also enjoy Nita and Jim; they are both fun to be around. Katherine is likable, and Jacques, the architect, brings excellent, fascinating information.

There are excellent plot twists that make guessing the bad guy difficult. The means of murder is unique, not a method most people would figure out. I admire how the author uses each of the friends to try to find who the killer at Harbor Village might be. I’m not sure how I feel about the end, however, or if the suspect is really the bad guy. I usually like resolutions tied up neatly, and several things seems to be left open. I do, however, appreciate how well-written the novel is written and recommend it for that reason, and I would certainly read another based on the complexity of the mystery and resolution.

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

Murder at the Arts and Crafts Festival has some great characters and storyline. It's charming, fast paced and has a few red herrings thrown into the mix.

Another great book in the series. Love all the characters and the murder mystery kept me interested. Wonderful setting and love that the main character is middle-aged. So tired of all the cozy mysteries that only show a woman in her late 20s or early 30s. Looking forward to the next in the series!

Cozy Murder in Coastal Alabama
In this episode, there is another murder involving the retirement community. I have read all of the books in this series and this episode fits right in. I am not sure how well any of these books would stand alone. I tend to think that it is vital to read these books in order. This book ends at an odd place. It is almost a non-ending that the reader needs to read the next book to find out how this book ends. I hate that! Other than that, I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to see how it ends in the next book. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Murder at the Arts and Crafts Festival is a fantastic cozy mystery. It is well written and a must read. Great characters and storyline.

It is great to see the portrayal of a strong, capable cast of characters over the age of 50. The setting and plot are a bonus.

Entertaining cozy mystery. Well written plot, Fairhope, Al is a great setting as is the arts and craft fair. A great addition to the series and I look forward to reading more books in this series. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

This is one of my favorite series and it never fails to entertain and deliver an engrossing and entertaining plot.
I was happy to meet again the lovely cast of characters and be back in their world.
The mystery is solid and it kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I have found my future retirement community in Fairhope Alaska. While there are a lot of deaths at Harbor Village, that is a boon for a cozy mystery fan such as me. I want to be Cleo Mack. She has such an exciting life even though her job helping retired people may be a bit stressful at times. In this book, there is a Murder at the Arts and Crafts Festival.

I love the Harbor Village staff and residents. It feels like returning home for the holidays when reading the latest entry, the third, in the series. If you love cozy mysteries with eccentric characters and ingenious plotting, you should read Murder at the Arts and Crafts Festival. 4 stars!

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Murder at the Arts and Crafts Festival by G. P. Gardner is the 3rd book in the Cleo Mack mystery series, and another enjoyable adventure. Cleo lives in Fairhope, Alabama, working as the director of Harbor Village retirement homes, where she also lives. The town is getting ready for the tourist to arrive at the Arts & Crafts Festival, unfortunately there is also a murder of an artist. Cleo and her friends start sleuthing to find out what they can. In her personal life, her boyfriend, Riley, has asked her to move in with him, but she's not sure. I love this series, have from the very first book. The books are well written, and I feel I really know these characters. I am looking forward to where the next book will take them. Ms. Gardner please keep them coming. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

This is the 3rd in the "Cleo Mack" Mystery series by author G.P Gardner. I have not read the previous in series yet I had easily understood the charcters and background set so well by the author. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own. I look forward to reading the first in series after loving this 3rd in series . I was unable to put this book down !

Our protagonist is Cleo Mack. She is the executive director of Harbor Village, a retirement community of very active outgoing fun seniors. I love the descriptions of the seniors and the humor the author infused into the story with the charcters. It is a delight to read about seniors and I thank the author for making her seniors active, intelligent and part of the narrative.

Cleo has her hands full with her normal duties at the senior village . When a festival is taking place and a artist drops dead (love the name- Twinkle Thaw) of poisoning Cleo cannot help but get involved in the mystery. I love the fast pace, the wonderful twist and turns and surprising conclusion of the sleuth. The author did a wonderful well crafted story around fun charcters with humor, surprise and a fun sleuth. Very well done to the author.

Series: A Cleo Mack Mystery - Book 3
Author: G.P. Gardner
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Hobby
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Page Count: 225

From Lyrical Press comes the third book in the “A Cleo Mack Mystery” cozy mystery series by G.P. Gardner. A fun and profoundly intriguing story that will leave readers stunned.

In this new cozy mystery, Cleo has issues, not only does she have a retirement community that is still recovering from a murder a few months previously, some very rambunctious residents. But now there is the arts and crafts fair which leads to the death of an artist. She isn’t sure what to do or how to help, but she knows that she has to find the culprit before things get out of hand.

The characters in this cozy mystery series are always a delight. They make readers want to retire and live in Fairhope so that they can watch the mischief these characters get into. The plot keeps you on your toes, and if readers don’t pay attention, they will miss vital clues as to the killer's identity. Even though I knew who it was before the end of the book, this story kept me second-guessing myself. Murder at The Arts and Crafts Festival is a fast-paced action attention-grabbing story with enough red herrings and twists so that readers will be happy until the very end.

I am happy to see this cozy mystery series expanding, and I hope it continues for many more books to come. I enthusiastically recommend this series to readers who enjoy all types of mysteries and cozies.

Cleo Mack left academia to become the executive director of Harbor Village, a retirement community in Fairhope, Alabama. The community is filled with energetic seniors with lots of ideas for projects. In Murder at the Arts and Crafts Festival by G.P. Gardner, little did Cleo know she would find murder as well. When artist Twinkle Thaw is poisoned, there are plenty of suspects including the people who a attended a dinner party with her. Cleo aims to clear her staff and discover who wanted Twinkle's lights turned out. The resolution of the crime was a bit unsatisfying.