I absolutely loved this book. I am not sure what mystery I wanted solved first the murder or who was Harry the skull. There was so much stuff going on early in the book I couldn't put the book down because I needed to know what happened next. I highly recommend this book and series. There is never a dull moment in a Pen and Ink mystery book and I can't wait to read the next book

Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis is the third book in Pen & Ink Mysteries.

This is the first book that I have read and maybe that was why I didn't enjoy it as much as I like her other series.
I found main character a bit childish, relaying on others too much.
I was very excited about holiday book but found curses, ghosts, seances and all other references to be too heavy for my liking.
I really enjoyed reading about Georgetown and all the holiday decorations. Main heroines day job is a dream and I loved reading about her bookstore.
I also really liked how her drawing helped her solve the case.
Too many characters as well as too many twists and turns made it too difficult to follow and enjoy as much as I hoped I would.

Florrie Fox is the manager of Color Me Read, a Georgetown bookstore. For Halloween, the store is going all out with a presentation by psychic author Hilda Rattenhorst. Before her talk is barely underway, Hilda has a vision of a rolled up rug with a foot sticking out. She also feels a violent presence in the room and faints. Florrie and her police officer boyfriend, Eric, go to the location where Hilda says she ‘saw’ the body, but there’s no sign of it.

In the meantime, a mysterious box is delivered to the store containing a skull identified only as Harry and accompanied by a note from a man named Ellis. As Halloween gets closer, Harry travels throughout the store, sometimes appearing in the front window, on a newel post, or the counter. No one will admit to moving him.

Hilda predicted there would be more violence, a killing to be precise. There’s an attempted murder, an actual murder, a disappearance, a phone call from someone who wasn’t there, a stalker, and mysterious noises to worry about. Florrie manages to hear gossip the neighbors won’t tell the police, but is it enough to stop a killer?

This is book three in the series. Florrie and Eric have a good relationship even with both of them working a lot of hours. Readers will want to pay close attention to the character’s names as there are a quite a few of them to remember: employees, customers, neighbors, businesses along the street, friends, and spouses of those friends. A particular favorite is Mr. DuBois, the butler who works for Florrie’s employer and landlord. There’s also a cat and several dogs—always a plus.

Find recipes at the back of the book—Russian tea (part black tea, part orange juice), cinnamon apple pancakes, pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and French apple cake with sweetened whipped cream.

Look for A Colorful Scheme, fourth in the series, coming in the fall of 2022. The first chapter follows the recipes, just to make you want

Such a fun and unique series! It is very creative to have a main character who is coloring book creator. That is one I haven't seen in any other series. I haven't read the first two books in this series but I was able to jump into this one anyways so it can certainly be read as a stand alone. There is plenty of character growth that I'm sure carries over from the first two books though so start at the beginning if you can. As usual for Davis's series this one is full of characters that are very likeable and relatable and a lot of wit. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.

This is the third book in the Pen & Ink Mystery series and it’s a joy to meet back up with Florrie, Eric and the rest of the gang at Color Me Read bookstore. I’m a huge fan of the way Krista Davis writes not only her mysteries, plenty of clues and false leads without losing the plot, but I love how authentically she portrays her characters. Plus this book’s Halloween setting adds awesome atmospheric vibes. FYI: You can color the Front and Back Cover of the book!

I love any books set in my hometown but a series set in Georgetown, where I spent most of my teen years and some of my twenties, holds a special place in my heart. I can picture everywhere they go (even if I hadn't grown up there, Krista Davis does a great job of laying everything out) and I feel like I'm home. This particular mystery had so much going on: Halloween theme with ghosts galore, a murder (or two), and a skull, that it was hard to put down. I loved the characters and the way the historical mystery is woven into the present day. I waited so long for this third book in the series, I don't think I can wait as long for the next one but if I have to, I know it will be worth it.

I have enjoyed every book that I have read by this author, and this book was no exception. It's almost Halloween and Georgetown is getting decorated for the holiday. Color Me Read bookstore is hosting a psychic for a reading and book signing, but things don't go as planned when she has a vision and then passes out. Florrie calls her boyfriend, who is a police officer, to report what the author saw but when he goes to check it out he doesn't find anything. Things get more interesting when Professor Maxwell receives a human skull in the mail and strange things start happening in the bookstore and in the neighborhood. I really like Florrie and the other characters in this series. The mystery kept me guessing and I was surprised how things turned out. I loved this book and it really put me in the mood for Halloween.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Murder Outside the Lines is the third book in Krista Davis’ Pen & Ink Mysteries series. The storyline is well plotted, the delightful characters are well developed, the twists and red herrings kept me turning the pages. Ms. Davis’ writing style is very descriptive and makes the reader feel as if they are experiencing everything first hand.

Florrie Fox is the manager of the Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown in Washington, DC, and enjoys creating adult coloring books. She lives in the carriage house on her boss’, Professor John Maxwell, estate, has an adorable tabby cat named Peaches who often accompanies her to the bookstore, and is dating Sergeant Eric Jonquille. A wooden crate containing a skull, a scrying mirror, and a note identifying the skull as Harry’s is delivered to Professor John Maxwell, the owner of Color Me Read. Florrie Fox arranged for a psychic author and medium, Hilda Rattenhorst, to read from Spooktacular Ghost Stories, but unfortunately, the evening didn’t proceed as planned. Before the reading, Hilda claims she had a vision of a foot sticking out of a rolled-up rug in a nearby doorway, and during the reading, Hilda declares she feels the presence of a killer in the store in the store. Eric investigates Hilda’s claims of the foot sticking out of the rug and finds nothing, but in the coming days, people are attacked in their homes, and then Florrie finds the foot sticking out from under a decorative coffin in a neighbor’s yard. Meanwhile, random screams believed to be emanating from Harry are heard, and the skull is never in one place for very long, adding to the spooky Halloween season.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This is my first Pen & Ink Mystery Novel and I loved it. Florrie and Eric are thoroughly likeable, as well as all of the surrounding characters in the series. The setting in Washington D.C. has a mystique that was enchanting. The mystery was well done and had me guessing. I can't wait for more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

MURDER OUTSIDE THE LINES, the third book in the Pen & Ink Mysteries by Krista Davis, is a hauntingly great story that provides just the right amount of shivers to put me in the mood for Halloween! A spooky ambiance via decorations is created, not only in Color Me Read, the bookstore where protagonist Florrie Fox works, but around the neighborhood as well. The author’s descriptive voice brings the ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, and witches to life as neighbors try to outdo each other in creating creepy tableaus. Adding to the spirit of the holiday, Ms. Davis weaves in an element of ghost stories and the paranormal into the mystery. Florrie Fox is a delightful character. She’s inquisitive yet is unobtrusive in her quest for finding answers. Her cheery helpfulness endears her to friends and customers alike. Surrounding her are a cast of entertaining and downright quirky characters. How about a mysterious skull, named Harry, that seems to move about on his own when no one is around? Or Hilda Rattenhorst, a psychic author, who “sees” a foot sticking out of a carpet on her way to the bookstore? These, and many more, make the story a page turner.

Hilda’s insistence that a murder has taken place, leads Florrie on a search to find out if Hilda is merely trying to create publicity for herself, or if in fact, a crime was actually committed. Twists, turns, and shivers abound as the clues unfold. The plot is well-paced and when the body(s) turn up, Florrie delves into who could have done the dastardly deed. With the victims well-known to Florrie and her friends, it seems like the killer might be someone they know. This opens up a list of suspects for Florrie to weed through and readers will be kept on their toes as they follow the clues. With a heart stopping reveal, the spider webs of the plot come together to create a story that’s perfect for a frighteningly good Halloween read!

One of the things you can count on when reading a book penned by Krista Davis is that there will be mouthwatering mentions of food and delightful recipes at the back of the book. Ms. Davis doesn’t disappoint and has included several autumn-themed recipes in Murder Outside the Lines.

Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis follows Florrie Fox a adult coloring book author and book store manager in Georgetown D.C. as she tries to get to the bottom of a spooky halloween themed mystery. It all starts with a psyche who is doing a reading and meet and greet at the bookstore who predicts a murder in the neighborhood. When her vision comes true it's up to Florrie and her detective boyfriend to sift through all the local characters and legends to ge to the truth. There are many branches to this mystery, red herrings and side stories to keep you entertained and guessing. There's even a potentially haunted human skull!
You really connect with Krista Davis' characters and she has a fantastic ability to make her mystery settings so detailed and visual that you can picture them so vividly in your mind as you are reading. I really enjoyed this complex cozy and would recommend!

Florrie has arranged for local psychic author Hilda Rattenhorst to come to give a talk at Color Me Read. Hilda claims to have seen some things both before the talk and during the talk. Florrie isn't sure she believes Hilda, but she enlists the help of her boyfriend to check out what Hilda claims. When the things that Hilda was seeing start coming true, will Florrie start to believe in the supernatural?

I adore this series. I love Florrie and her personality. I love that she draws coloring books and uses the drawing to figure out what is happening in the mysteries that she's trying to solve. I love the people that she has relationships with. It's really interesting to see Georgetown! I'm loving this series. I can't wait to see what's next!

*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis is a mystery that takes place at Halloween, but is mostly not a Halloween mystery. It is an enticing mystery which takes place in and a round a bookstore, Color Me Read, and Florrie Fox, its manager. There is a lengthy cast of characters, with a list and thumbnail of each kindly supplied by the author. People are dying. They seem to be connected but it is difficult to work out the connections. It started out with a guest author, Hilda Rattenhorst, who is a psychic and has written a book about ghosts. . . appropriate for Halloween. While she is at the bookstore, she sees a body wrapped in a rug, its foot sticking out, lying on a doorstep. The police are called, well Florrie's boyfriend, Eric, and no such thing is found. Florrie and her dog at her neighbor, Coralu Throckmorton's, later find it, under the Halloween coffin in her yard. A skull is delivered to the owner of the bookstore, other folks die, some are rescued from death, and everyone is in a state.

Although there are a plethora of characters, they are all clearly delineated and pertinent to the story. Some are regulars to the series so that makes them familiar. Despite the fact the murders are solved, there are unanswered questions that remain. Florrie is a sweet young woman, who genuinely wants the best for everyone. It is handy having a police detective as a boyfriend. It is also handy to live in the carriage house of the house lived in by you employer and have his butler come clean your house when he is anxious to escape his own. It is also terrific to be able to work with one's sister every day. In short, this is a lovely cozy mystery series and this is a genuinely interesting book.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder Outside the Lines by Kensington Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #kensington #murderoutsidethelines #kristadavis

3.5 Stars

It’s almost Halloween and strange things are happening in Georgetown where Florrie Fox manages the Color Me Read bookstore. For starters, Florrie witnesses an assault, a psychic author doing a reading of her new book claims there is a murderer in the shop, and then rumors go around that a ghost attacked someone in the store. When Florrie discovers a murder victim, she gets involved in the investigation as well as some potentially supernatural events.

This is the third book in the Pen and Ink series and the third I’ve read. I think each book stands on its own fairly well. Krista Davis’s Domestic Diva series is one of my favorites, but I haven’t warmed to Florrie and her friends in the same way. Florrie is likable, but with the exception of her boyfriend, Eric, her friends aren’t compelling to me. I love the premise that Florrie designs coloring books for adults and although a coloring book provides an important clue in the murder, i was disappointed they didn’t play as big of a part as in the prior book. I felt that was one of things that made the series so unique. Florrie also enjoys sketching people she has encountered each day which is not only interesting to read about, but also gives Florrie something to refer back to in order to investigate the case.

Sometimes the descriptions in the book and the plot got confusing to me. There are also so many conversations among the characters on whether or not ghosts are real that the debate starts to overshadow the actual investigation. I was happy that the latter parts of the book got a lot better. Just when it seems the case has been solved, a couple of twists occur before the very end that really surprised me. Some aspects of the story such as a screaming human skull that keeps changing locations in Florrie’s shop, possible ghost sightings, and an eerie nighttime cemetery walk make this an entertaining, spooky read for Halloween. I don’t love everything about the book but the mysterious things going on in Georgetown, Florrie’s sense of humor, and the surprising ending help make this an entertaining cozy mystery overall.

~ Christine

Murder Outside the Lines is unique in the amount of characters and backgrounds that it gives the reader. This was a fun seasonal read with interesting cast characters, unexplainable happenings, a spooky and possibly haunted skull, and a mysterious murder. *Note: this is a series but I did not feel like I was missing by not having read the previous books before this one, so I, personally, think you'll be fine if this is the one you start with.

Perk for anyone who picks up a physical copy, this book includes a colorable front and back cover!

i loved this book! lots of interesting complex characters and a wonderful fast pasted story with lots of twists and turns This is a real page turner that will capture you on the first page! . A must read!

Oh this was such a fun and awesome Halloween read! I already knew this author was a champ when it came to telling Halloween stories with just the right amount of creepiness, so this mystery definitely didn't disappoint! One of the side stories that was pretty hilarious at times involved a human skull named Harry that was sent to Prof. Maxwell. There were a couple other side stories, and it seemed like everyone had some type of secret, but was it worth killing over it?

The showdown was exciting and very Halloween appropriate. I loved how things were explained yet some left just a teensy bit of doubt. The murders and any attempts were all cleared up though. And yes, Harry lived happily ever after too! ;)

I won a copy of the paperback of this book, and also voluntarily read and reviewed a digital ARC of the book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis is the 3rd book in the Pen & Ink Mystery series, and another great read. Ms. Davis is one of my favorite authors, so I'm always really excited to read one of her books. Florrie Fox works at Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington D.C. And she also draws and sells adult color books. Florrie has arranged for a pychic author, Hilda, to read at the Spooktacular Ghost Stories October event. When Hilda arrives to the event she claims to have seen a foot rolled up in a carpet. Florrie's and her boyfriend Segeant Eric Jonquille are on the case. There are a lot of twists and turns, laughs, and of course murder. I strongly recommend this book for all cozy mystery lovers, I can not wait for Florrie's next adventure. 
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I would like to first thank Kensington and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity for reading and reviewing this book.

I gave this book 4 stars. It is the third book in the Pen & Ink Mystery. For the most part I was able to catch on for not having read the first two books in the series. I actually read this book fairly quickly and enjoyed myself while reading. The book is barely over 300 pages.

The main character is a manager, Florrie at a book store called Color Me Read. This story takes place in Washington DC during October. The owner of the store, Professor Maxwell receives an odd package in the mail. This package has a human skull and a mirror. The package came from a friend, Ellis Willoughby the Fourth.

The store has a reading one night and the author, Hilda Rattenborst is known for physic abilities. She sees something just before her reading and is a little weirded out. She is able to go on with her reading and then something else happens during this time that she actually faints. She tells everyone that there is evil in the room. And she also tells them that she saw a foot rolled up in a rug. Florrie is wondering if this is just a roost to sale more of her books.

Fast forward a few days and Florrie does find a foot rolled up in a rug in a neighbors yard. It ends up being the employee of the bakery shop where she buys things for the book store. Who killed him and why is he buried the front yard of the neighbors? There also ends up being another murder and this one is Ellis who sent the skull to Maxwell. Again why is he killed? Do the two murders connect or are they separate? What is happening to their small town?

There are a lot of characters in this story and it was hard to figure out if they have any reason for being in the story. Some did even if they had a small part. Everyone seem to know everyone. The setting of Halloween really made this story because it gave it a spooky vibe.

I will be reading more about these characters and will back track to the first book for more background on the characters.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Florid and the gang are back at it. It’s Halloween, and the bookstore is busy! When the owner’s ex-wife invites a psychic to give a reading there, and she sees a dead body, Florrie is skeptical. However when a body shows up in her neighbor’s yard, Florrie is swept into another mystery.

I like this series. It has a similar feel to Davis’ other series, The Domestic Diva, and the characters are all likeable. The end of the book did reveal some surprises, which is always a good thing. Again, she does place a lot of emphasis in describing the wardrobes of her characters and what her pets are eating, which can be a little... odd, but I enjoy the series and always look forward to a new one. Definitely recommend.