I loved the mystery behind the murder. Jill receiving threatening letters and later on, being stalked by the killer, piqued my curiosity.

Though a first in the series, this didn't feel like one. The spotlight was on a murder mystery rather than character introductions and series-plot setting - something that I really liked.

Having said that, I didn't like the characters - main or supporting. Also, I identified the killer long before Jill could - the clues were all there but Jill was too distracted wanting to prove someone else guilty of crime.

Overall, this was an okay read.

Likeable cozy series debut. When Jill Madison returns to her home town to set up and operate a new community art center named after her mother, she runs into the usual obstacles like an irascible board member. What she wasn't expecting was to find a body in the basement. Once the identity of the body becomes known, there will be no stopping of her attempt to discover the truth. Even though I figured out the identity of the murderer when we were introduced early in the book. It did not decrease my enjoyment of the lively writing and engaging characters.

This is the first in a new series by an author I have not read before, and with a cover that I did not appreciate much at first glance. I am still not sure what encouraged me to pick this up, but whatever it was, I am glad I gave this a shot.
This is a very tight mystery which functions within this small world that revolves around an art center that our lead protagonist wants to spearhead. She feels like her job is in jeopardy at every turn, thanks to demands and reactions from the board. I must admit it was quite obvious who the culprit was, but even with that small point, I enjoyed the investigation. The town that the author describes, as well as the central characters that the story revolves around, are all interesting. The concept of an art center and the reasons behind championing it were also intriguing.
A body is found during a planned renovation of the building set to house the center. This opens a lot of conversations that people were surprised they had not had earlier. Since it directly impacts Jill in more ways than one, she decides to figure things out. She looks at all avenues possible to identify the culprit, ultimately landing in her own dangerous situation.
It was a satisfying adventure, with no romantic angles distracting Jill from the task at hand, something that happens very infrequently in this genre. I think I see the possibilities for the future, but that did not alter anything here.
I would recommend this to fans of this genre. I also recommend the author since I found it an easy read without any hangups I sometimes encounter in such stories.
I received this book as an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Jill Madison is an artist, returning to her home town to develop an Art Center, named for her deceased artist mother. Only a burglary and the body of an old friend prove a rocky start. Not the most organized, Jill misplaces things and often is on the wrong side of board members. Still, she is persistent in her efforts to find out who killed her friend, especially when there’s a second murder.

This is the first in a new cozy mystery series, though not the first for Susan Van Kirk. Death in a Pale Hue was engaging and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Jill. There are twists and turns, enough action to keep the story moving at a good pace, and an unexpected killer. I’m looking forward to the next in the series. If you like cozy mysteries and small town secrets and happenings, this is one you’ll enjoy.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

Jill Madison has come back to her home town to get an art centre up and running. The centre is named after her late mother, an artist of some fame, who stipulate the art centre as centre for the community.

Despite being the daughter of the people who left the money for the art centre (and not merely the idea, I imagine) Jill has to deal with a board of trustees that has little faith in her. Personified by token bad guy Ivan. Throughout the story I kept puzzling why this man is on a board of trustees. For one, he’s a micromanager. Board members should deal with the overall picture, not every nitty-gritty little detail. And secondly, why are neither Jill or her brothers on that board? Didn’t their parents think any of them would be interested in guarding their mother’s legacy?

Anyway, a killer deadline for opening the centre is not all Jill has to deal with: there are some questions of the structural integrity of the building (which is an issue dealt with five weeks before opening), there was a burglary at the centre where a favourite sculpture of her mother is stolen, and to top if off the builders uncover a body in the basement.

The body belongs to Carolyn one of Jill’s BFF’s in high-school. Jill has always thought Carolyn ran off with a college student, sent a few postcards and then nothing for ten years. This makes me question how close Jill and Carolyn really were. They lost touch so easily - when the age of e-mail and Facebook had already began. Jill herself reminisces a lot about Carolyn, Angie and herself to be the Three Musketeers, but barely a thought is given as to how they had just faded out of each other’s lives.

However, she wants to make amends now and bring justice to Carolyn by helping the police to investigate. After talking to a few of the people that saw Carolyn in the days before she disappeared Jill receives an envelop with pictures. It seems she has a stalker.

The story is well-written, but annoyingly follows a number of cozy tropes. I kept thinking that Jill didn’t know her friend all that well, and didn’t reflect on that point at all. It made me like Jill less than I could have liked her.

This is a quick and entertaining read. There’s a decent plot, engaging characters, and good writing. Nothing unusual, but plenty to keep a reader engaged whether snuggling on the couch on a lazy Sunday afternoon or commuting to work on the train. This is especially appeal to art lovers.

It took me entirely too long to get to 80% before finally giving up and skipping to the end to see if my suspicions (raised at 25%) were correct. It's not badly written, not by any stretch, and it has a great cast of characters, and an interesting premise, so it might be this just wasn't the right time to read this, with all that's going on at work and not being able to focus properly on much of anything else; it just didn't grab me for some reason.

I'm in the minority with my feelings on this one, so I would suggest giving it a go. It's a light mystery that will appeal to many.

I loved the cover and the title of this book at first sight.

Death In A Pale Hue was a good read.
The story was well written, the characters were a very nice bunch, the small town depicted in all its glory and flaws, but I found the culprit and the reason of the murder pretty soon.
I've still enjoyed to follow Jill in her quest of the murderer and into her working life full of mishaps.

Who says you can’t go home? Jill Madison will tell you tan you can go home, but it might not be as easy as you thought. After all, Jill takes a job at the performing arts center in her old town and comes home to a theft and murder right out of the gate. When the body turns out to be one of her two best friends from her youth, the friends are devastated, but when another body adds to the count, it doesn’t even phase Jill as she works to find out who did such a thing to her old friend.

With the goal of keeping her job, finding a killer and succeeding in both, Jill has her hands full. She just has to hope she can be successful while staying one step ahead of the killer, who may be coming for her next!

A good start to a new series! I’ll be looking for the next entry and. can’t wait to see what comes Jill’s way next!

The first book in the series. I enjoyed Jill as the main character. It was a fun mystery with lots of surprises. Overall a good start to a art filled series.

#DeathinaPaleHue #NetGalley

A most promising start to a new series. With engaging characters, good story plot and enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Will be looking to see how the story progresses! Thanks #netgalley and #LevelBestBooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Death In A Pale Hue" the first Art Centre Mystery by Susan Van Kirk.

A break in.
A break in and a theft.
A break in and a theft and a body in the basement wall.
And thus begins Death In A Pale Hue.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and the first in what should be an interesting new series featuring artist-turned-arts centre manager and - after a body is found - amateur sleuth.

Based in a small town where everyone knows your name (her brother is a cop and her other brother runs a store, her mother was an acclaimed artist, and all of her friends and foes from school are neighbours), Jill Madison has returned to run the Arts Centre named after her mother.

The story gets off to a promising start with a break-in and robbery and escalates to encompass a decades-old murder and a current one, all of which Jill decides (with the help of her best friend) to investigate; never mind leaving it up to the professionals!

Like many a 'cozy' mystery, the protagonist/investigator makes a lot of missteps, puts themself in danger, discovers clues that the pros missed, and ultimately works to solve the case(s). And of course, there's the 'arch enemy' working against them.

Recommended.

This is the start of a new cozy series and there's a lot potential. As in any starting book we got to know the characters and the setting.
Jill is an interesting character, there's the ghost of the past who are still hauting her, but there's also a lovely brother and strong friends.
The mystery was solid, I loved the art center setting, and it kept me guessing.
There's some wish-to-die moments when Jill is a bit too reckless but I appreciated the final part.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Princess Fuzzypants here: Jill moves back to her home town and realizes there will be ghosts from the past that might haunt her. But she is determined to make a success of managing the new arts centre named after her late mother. Some board members scoff at her ability and her age including one particularly nasty nemesis. But the biggest challenge truly is a ghost from the past. The corpse of one of her best friends is found buried behind a wall. Everyone had thought she had escaped her horrible step-father and was off seeing the world with her Prince Charming. Jill and Ally the two surviving members of the three musketeers are shattered and determined to find out who killed her.

Jill’s brother, Tom, is a detective and while he does not want her pushing the envelope, he is willing to accept insights from Jill and Ally Jill, who has her entire professional life and the legacy of her mother at stake, still goes where angels would fear to tread. Threats to her and a second murder do not slow her down much. And when the killer pounces, Jill will require every ounce of courage and wit to walk out alive. There are times when she seems cavalier about her safety which does jar. All is forgiven with the exciting climax of the story. I confess I did have the killer pegged but it did not detract.

It will be interesting to see where the stories go from here. For now, I give it four purrs and two paws up.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Level Best Books and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A nice start to a new cosy mystery series, one of my favorite genres. Susan Van Kirk writes with such imagery you feel as if you're there.

The idea of a mystery set in a community art center instantly got my attention. This wonderful cozy focuses on community and family. It is set in the small town of Apple Grove, Illinois where Jill (the main character) and her brothers reside. It is so nice to see a family supportive of each other and the friends Jill is able to surround herself with. The town seems like it would be nice to visit and once the art center is up and running it should benefit the community nicely.

Jill's job description doesn't just focus on the fun and rewarding side of running an art center. It does not seem like an easy job for sure with having a low budget, board members to report to, a burglary, death and more.

This is the first book I have read by Susan Van Kirk. I will consider continuing the series but did not find this story so exciting that I am on pins and needles waiting for the next. It is not a cookie cutter cozy mystery story of which I am grateful.

This was a great start to a new cozy series. I always love getting a glimpse into the art world and this one provided that. The mystery was well done and I adored the cast of characters. Looking forward to book 2.

Death in a Pale Hue by Susan Van Kirk.
An Art Center Mystery.
Who knew going home could be deadly?
I will show them success. Artist Jill Madison repeats this mantra when she returns to her small hometown to restart her life. Hired to manage a new community art center, she vows to make it successful so the people of her town will have what she did not have—an education in the arts. She no sooner accepts the job than a burglar makes off with an expensive sculpture and an uninvited corpse is discovered in the basement. Even worse, the body belongs to someone Jill knew…well. Investigating what happened places Jill right in the path of a murderer.How will she keep her job, run her first big event, and escape a killer who plans to paint her out of the picture permanently?
A really good read.i liked Jill. Wasn't who I thought it was. 4*.