A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis

We saw Professor Maxwell and his author and second wife Jacquie fall back in love with each other in the first few books of the series. Now, they are finally going to be married again. And Florrie's sister is planning the wedding and Florrie is helping. When the book opens, she is helping find Jacquie who has suddenly disappeared. Luckily, she does turn up in time for the wedding; the wedding that has any number of odd characters popping up.

Some of the guests include other authors. One in particular stands out, Arthur Bedlingham, as he is a former flame of Jacquie's. He wasn't actually invited but somehow managed to show up anyway. Also in attendance is a critic who has had harsh words for almost every author there. 

The characters are lively and interesting. The mystery is really loosely put together and there is a lot in this story that relies on coincidence but I think regular readers will enjoy this story and new-to-the-series readers will be able to follow along. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out August 30, 2022

Follows Murder Outside the Lines

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis

Florrie Fox is happy managing Color Me Read. There have been some disconcerting incidents (read here: murder) in the store but that doesn't make her any more prepared to see that the latest package delivered to the store is a skull (apparently named Harry). It's sent to her boss, Professor John Maxwell, who is sort of like a modern day Indiana Jones, by oane of his compatriots, Ellis, who tends to take a lot of risks.  

Harry is just the beginning of a number of mysterious circumstances. A local psychic is doing a reading but she comes in overexcited because she's seen a foot hanging out of a rug. But when Florrie goes to look, the rug (and the foot) are gone. Later, she has a vision of a murder being at her reading and a man tries to walk out with Harry. That man later ends up dead, wrapped in a rug. 

There are a LOT of people and red herrings in this book. If you can read this in one sitting, it might be easier to keep track but I had problems with putting the book down and picking it up again, even having read the other stories in this series. I am very grateful that Florrie is sticking with one guy and not getting involved in the love triangles that are so overdone in most cozy series. Also appreciated? The fact that they have differing opinions on a subject and each is able to see the other's side. Maybe not understand it, but at least appreciate it. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 28, 2021

Follows The Coloring Crook

Followed by A Colorful Scheme

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Coloring Crook by Krista Davis

Florrie Fox and the Color Me Read characters are dealing with another murder. This time, it's one of their own. Coloring club member Dolly Cavanaugh loves to attend garage sales and she has an eye for a bargain. At the latest sale, she snaps up a rare book infuriating the previous owner, the man who was directing the estate sale, and any number of people who read about her find when she posted it on various social media platforms.
When Dolly turns up dead, it appears to be a heart attack. But Florrie knows better. And she's going to make sure that her friend gets justice.
I wish we could have seen more of Dolly's life and even had more development of some of the other suspects. It felt like we glance off of all of them.

Three stars
This book came out November 27

Followed by Murder Outside the Lines
ARC provided by NetGalley; Opinions are my own