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Shepherd Sisters Mysteries #2

Behind the Frame: A Shepherd Sisters Mystery from Hallmark Publishing

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Savanna Shepherd, an art expert turned elementary art teacher, is planning the Art in the Park festival for her hometown of Carson. But apparently, someone isn't happy that Carson got to host the event: the beloved statue in the park is destroyed. Not long after, Savanna finds the dead body of one of the people on the planning committee.Savanna and her sisters are convinced that the arrested murder suspect didn't do it, despite strong evidence to the contrary. With the help of Dr. Aidan Gallagher, Savanna's new romantic interest, they uncover hidden resentments and intrigue. Several people in Carson had a motive for the murder. Can they find out which one of them is behind the framing of an innocent person?

360 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2019

61 people are currently reading
359 people want to read

About the author

Tracy Gardner

9 books272 followers
Tracy Gardner is a multi-award winning mystery and women's fiction author and Edgar Award nominee. Under pseudonym Jess Sinclair, the author's book club fiction book What We Could Have Been won the 2024 Storytrade Women's Fiction Award and USA Southeast Fiction award.
Currently, Gardner's five book Shepherd Sisters Mysteries series is rapid-releasing through Tule Publishing in 2025.
A Detroit native and mother of three, Tracy is the daughter of two teachers. She lives with her husband and best friend of thirty years and a menagerie of spoiled rescue dogs and cats, and is a strong believer in the power of baked goods, live music, and girlfriend therapy as staples to a happy life.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
Profile Image for theliterateleprechaun .
2,447 reviews217 followers
March 11, 2025
Who doesn’t love a good mystery?!

Murder on Display is book 2 of the Shepherd Sisters Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone.

Author Tracy Gardner has her finger on the pulse and has crafted a compelling small-town cozy mystery that places human relationships in the foreground.

She’s given readers a real sense of place by focusing on ordinary life in a quaint setting. Carson, Michigan is ramping up for their Art in the Park festival when one of their committee members is murdered. Gardner shows how the murder affects this communal setting and roots the murder in place.

“𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒓?”

Gardner has also crafted authentic sibling relationships; the interactions between the Shepherd sisters make the narrative richer because of each sister’s distinct personality. I’m the oldest of three sisters and this story resonated with me in many ways. Savanna, Sydney and Skyler have a wonderful dynamic and work hard to make Carson a better place. As the oldest sibling and a teacher, I could see some of my personality traits reflected in Savanna. I smiled as I connected with her and noted her approaches to problem-solving.

If you love puzzling over evidence and trying to decide which character you suspect, love ordinary people being extraordinary, love learning as you read, enjoy a romantic subplot, and love to read about a canine character, this one’s for you!

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Profile Image for JoAn.
2,459 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2020
Behind the Frame: A Shepherd Sisters Mystery by Tracy Gardner was a winning addition to this cozy mystery series.

Savannah is on the committee for the Art In the Park festival in her hometown of Carson, MI and becomes deeply involved in another murder investigation when a committee member is murdered in his home. The plot moved swiftly, the clues sprinkled throughout caught my attention (for once) and the twists kept me turning the pages. I had actually figured this one out before the reveal but not by much. The characters are developing and growing in this one. I felt like I could relate more to each one of the sisters in this book. The romance between Savannah and Aidan is slow and sweet but never took over the mystery story line. I do have one small complaint about Savannah and that is that she "dog ears" book pages. Ack! Shame on her for book abuse. A great afternoon read and I am eagerly looking for the next one in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Annu.
238 reviews36 followers
August 16, 2020
This was a good cozy, with lots happening. The shepherd sisters and their family were quite endearing. Each of the sisters character is quite distinct. I hadn't read the first book, but now I've already bought it as I want to know how it all starts off. The romance between between Savanna and Aidan is quite cute. The mystery had me guessing but I pegged the murderer a little towards the middle. All in all, it was quite an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Hallmark Publishing and Netgalley for an opportunity to review this book.
Profile Image for Carrie Schmidt.
Author 1 book507 followers
August 20, 2020
The Shepherd sisters are a lot of fun to hang out with on the pages of Gardner’s delightful cozy mysteries. After really enjoying book 1 so much, I was excited to read this book too and it didn’t disappoint! I love that the three sisters have such different jobs from one another & the genuine friendship they have between them. Engaging characters, a plot full of twists, and a dash of swoony romance make this a great way to spend a few hours!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first appeared on Reading Is My SuperPower
Profile Image for Kristina Anderson.
4,053 reviews83 followers
August 9, 2020
Behind the Frame by Tracy Gardner has Savanna Shepherd helping to organize the Art in the Park festival for Carson, Michigan. It appears that someone is not happy that Carson won the event because the statue of Jessamina Carson was defaced. On Sunday, Savanna heads to John Bellamy’s house with more art submissions. She finds John dead in his home after being stabbed with a knife. When Joe Fratelli is arrested for the crime, Savanna and her sisters work to prove the chef’s innocence. Behind the Frame is the 2nd book in A Shepherd Sisters Mystery series. It can be read on its own for those who have not delved into Out of the Picture. I thought Behind the Frame was well-written with developed characters in a charming small Michigan town. The sisters are friendly and relatable. They have caring parents who support their children. I like the close relationship the Shepherd family enjoys. The romance between Savannah and Aidan progresses at a nice slow pace. I like that they are not rushing their relationship and that it did not dominate the story. The mystery of who killed John Bellamy had several suspects who all had motive to harm the councilman. People are questioned and clues are obtained. The whodunit can be solved before the reveal if you paid close attention to the details like Savanna. It is great that she notices that minutiae that others tend to miss. There is a good wrap up where all the loose ends are tied up. There was suspense and action as well. Behind the frame is an engaging character driven cozy mystery. I look forward to the next book in A Shepherd Sisters Mystery series. Behind the Frame is a crafty whodunit with art in the park, a killed councilman, a bloody blade, a dedicated detective, a tire tragedy, a cute canine, and the Shepherd sisters,
Profile Image for Janet Graham.
2,506 reviews11 followers
August 23, 2020
Cozy Hallmark Mystery on the Shores of Lake Michigan
This is a wonderful cozy mystery that is part of the Shepherd Sisters Mysteries. There are so many neat background pieces to this story! There 3 sisters that are separated by 2 years each. The oldest is an attorney who is married with a child. The middle sister is an elementary school art teacher. The youngest runs a dog grooming salon. Their parents also live in this small beachside town. A murder brings out all things crazy. And, without revealing anything important, this is a great mystery! I always enjoy a cozy mystery that does not go overboard describing every meal, every bottle of wine, and/or every outfit of clothing ad nauseam. I loved the first book in the series and this one may be better. I want to read everything that this author writes. I truly hope that this series becomes Hallmark mystery movies. In reading the book, one can easily envision the scene as played out on the screen. The story is sweet and clean with a great deal of humor. There is no on-screen violence or intimacy. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, clean mystery with a good and surprising ending. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Savannah Hendricks.
Author 30 books369 followers
September 10, 2020
Book two doesn’t disappoint with its cast of characters in book two of this mystery series. I enjoyed the relationship of Savanna and Aidan in a charming setting amongst the intrigue of finding out who-done-it. The story had just the right amount of red herrings to be suspenseful.
Profile Image for Micky Cox.
2,317 reviews38 followers
September 15, 2021
The Shepherd Sisters are a group of intelligent, hardworking, creative, pretty young women with middle sister Savannah having a knack for finding discrepancies in things. In this book, a local restaurant owner beloved by the sisters is accused of a crime and the sisters won't let that stand when they know there is no way that he could have done it. Plot twists and excellent writing keep the entertainment rolling and the reader guessing as they uncover multiple potential suspects. The narrator is outstanding on the audio book and I highly recommend giving this book or rather the series a listen if you are an audio fan!
Profile Image for Carrie Padgett.
Author 6 books70 followers
August 20, 2020
I've reviewed several Hallmark romance books, but this is my first mystery.
Savannah Shepherd left her art curator job in Chicago to return home and teach art in the village of Carson. She has a developing romance with a local doctor and she's planning a big art festival. She gets drawn into solving a murder when a town councilman is killed and a chef is arrested. Savannah and her two sisters work together to clear the innocent chef.
This is a typical small town, amateur sleuth, cozy mystery. The fact that all three sisters' names begin with the same letter made it a bit confusing until they could be sorted out. They are different characters though, with different jobs and lives and traits, so that helped.
The mystery was good, with enough red herrings mixed with the clues to be suspenseful. The murderer was unmasked and caught "off stage," which is an odd choice. I prefer to see the bad guy get caught myself.
I enjoyed the small town setting and the characters. The mystery wasn't particularly compelling, and the writing is okay. This is the second book in a series, but reads fine as a stand alone.
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I was given a free advance copy of the book from Hallmark Publishing, but that did not induce me to review the book, favorably or not.
Profile Image for K.A. Davis.
Author 4 books491 followers
August 2, 2020
BEHIND THE FRAME is the second book in the Shepherd Sisters Mystery series by Tracy Gardner. Published by Hallmark Publishing, this entertaining cozy mystery has all the ingredients that you would expect from Hallmark. Well-developed characters that have charming personalities, close family relationships in which they can rely on each other, a sweet love interest, and a charming setting. Protagonist, Savanna Shepherd is an art expert turned elementary art teacher and I enjoyed the details the author interjected into the story about planned art projects with her cute students. I also appreciated that Savanna couldn’t drop everything and leave her students to go sleuthing. Instead she devoted her time to her students and sleuthed around the school schedule, at least until school let out for the summer. This brought a realistic quality to the book. Sharing the spotlight with the protagonist, Savanna, are her two sisters, Sydney and Skyler. I’ll admit I had a bit of trouble keeping the “S” names straight at times of which sister was which, but it wasn’t too much of a distraction. Again the author interjects a dose of reality between the three girls with their squabbles and gentle teasing. It made them seem completely relatable and brought to mind my own childhood growing up with two sisters.

As the town gears up to host the Art in the Park festival, spearheaded by Savanna, a vandal seems to be targeting the venue. Could someone be trying to sabotage the event? And when a murderer targets one of the committee members and one of Savanna’s friends is a suspect, she can’t help but get involved. She not only wants to clear her friend’s name but also needs to save the festival which will bring much needed business to the townspeople. As she ask questions around town, she discovers the victim wasn’t what he seemed. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing and the clues sprinkled throughout made the unfolding of the mystery entertaining as I tried to follow the twists and turns. With a satisfying conclusion which wrapped up the threads of the plot and subplots, this character-driven cozy mystery has me looking forward to reading additional books by Ms. Gardner.

Savanna’s family has a long-standing tradition of gathering together for a weekly meal, taking turns to prepare a feast. There are plenty of delicious dishes mentioned, including individual rhubarb pies for dessert. I was happy to see that the author includes a recipe for the mini rhubarb pies at the back of the book.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Jaymie.
2,300 reviews21 followers
September 17, 2020
[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

4 stars - Great! Might re-read.

I love this series! I can see this playing out on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, easily. The ensemble sleuthing, with each sister bringing something to the investigation, is so fun. I love Savanna's family. And the author does a great job with balancing the requisite "Don't start snooping; you could get hurt." with the actual snooping, some with support or approval. The LEO cautions Savanna to be smart and leave things to them, but he also respects her and listens to the insights and clues she brings in. The characters are my favorite thing about this - some nice developments for all three sisters in their personal lives.

The mystery in this was great. I was guessing until the very end when Savanna put all the final pieces together. I enjoyed the complicated and twisty path to get to the solution. I hope there will be more books in this series because both have been a delight. Cozy fans should not miss these!
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,541 reviews13 followers
April 19, 2025
Love this series! Great small town setting with lots of quirky small town folks. The mysteries are complex yet still light enough to be cozy. Such a great family as the core characters, I don’t have sisters but if I did I’d want them to be like Skyler, Savannah and Sydney! Art in the park sounds like such fun and after all the shenanigans got cleared up it was! Can’t wait to see what these sisters get up to in the next story!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author 1 book86 followers
August 11, 2020
This is the second book in the Shepherd sisters mystery series. In this book an art in the park festival leads to a murder investigation. I liked this even more than the first book. A nice cozy mystery with a little Romance.

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Profile Image for Kim.
717 reviews14 followers
July 26, 2020
Excitement is in the air for the Shepherd sisters and the town of Carson. The Art in the Park festival signals summer for the residents, but something sinister lurks beneath the surface. Someone hijacked the celebration plans and ruined an important landmark.

Once again, Savanna stumbles upon a body and rattles the town. When a friend is arrested, she investigates a slew of leads and suspects, which lands Savanna dead center as a target. Following clues and her instinct is gravely dangerous in Carson.

Twisting plots and likeable characters in this clean, cozy series provide enjoyable reading. Readers will laugh out loud and cringe, too. I hope to see much more from author Tracy Gardner.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.
Profile Image for Carla.
7,619 reviews179 followers
August 13, 2021
Savanna Shepherd, is on the planning team for the Art in the Park festival being held in Carson, MI. This is a coup for the town, but it seems others are not as happy as the committee is. A beloved statue in the park is destroyed, and shortly after that, the councilman who is the chairperson of the event is killed. Savanna finds him when she goes over to sort through applications to the Art Contest that is part of the Festival. When a local chef is arrested for the murder, Savanna and her sisters are convinced that he didn't do it. The evidence is piling up though and they need to find the real killer soon. Several people in Carson had a motive for the murder. Can they find out which one of them is behind the framing of an innocent person?

I am really enjoying this series. It is well-written and plotted with well-developed characters in a charming small Michigan town. The sisters are extremely likable, friendly and relatable. They all have very different jobs and personalities, along with an amazing relationship. Savanna is very observant and notices things that no one else sees, which helps when trying to solve a mystery. The romance between Savannah and Aidan progresses at a nice pace, that is a pleasant part of the story, but does not overwhelm the mystery. The mystery of who killed John Bellamy was intriguing. There were several suspects who all had motive to harm the councilman. There is suspense, action wonderful characters, family and some romance, all integral parts of the story. Of course, there is a cute dog in the story, that I really enjoyed. Another entertaining Hallmark Mystery to read or listen to. Karissa Vacker does a great job wit the narration. Some of the voices are a bit odd, but overall, I recognize the speakers and enjoy her expression and tone as she performs for the readers.
Profile Image for Miss W Book Reviews.
1,770 reviews155 followers
April 9, 2025
Behind the Frame is the second book in the Shepherd Sisters Mystery series by Tracy Gardner.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series and this book is equally fantastic.

The characters are well developed. There is a lovely setting and a little romance to add to the mystery.

The Art in the Park Festival is under way when one of the committee members is murdered.

The mystery was perfectly paced with a few twists that kept me guessing.

I love the sister's relationship and their different personalities.

This makes for a great read. I loved this book.

I look forward to the next book in this incredible cozy mystery series.
Profile Image for LibraryLaur.
1,718 reviews68 followers
June 24, 2021
I'm pretty impressed by this new series from Hallmark Publishing. This is the second in the series, billed as a cozy mystery, and it's really well-done. (Higher quality than the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies, honestly, though I do have a weak spot for them.) The Michigan setting doesn't hurt. I'll definitely be following the Shepherd Sisters in their further adventures.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
570 reviews7 followers
August 15, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Behind the Frame by Tracy Gardner is a fast-paced mystery, with lots of family fun and a bit of romance.
Will Savanna and her sister figure out who killed the councilman?
The Shepherd Sisters
Skylar, Savanna, and Sydney are the Shepherd sister. Skylar, the oldest, is married with a little boy, and she is an attorney. Sydney, the youngest, is single and owes Fancy Tails & Treats, a dog grooming, and treats business downtown. Savanna, the middle child, is also single. She recently moved home after breaking up with the fiancee. Savanna is an elementary art teacher and our sleuth. 

All of the sisters are involved in the investigation. However, they are doing to assist Skylar in proving that their friend Chef Joe isn't a killer. I enjoyed being in Savanna's head, and she keeps the story going. Oh, and her dog Fonzie is so adorable. 
The Mystery
Behind the Frame CRSavanna finds the councilman, John Bellamy, dead when she arrives at his house for a meeting. This murder, following some vandalism at the local park, makes Savanna worried about the town's upcoming Art in the Park Festival. As the sisters poke around, John's assistant is pushed down her basement stairs at home. Let's say that I didn't figure out what was going on until Savanna did. I was caught up in one of the red herrings. 
Four Stars
The story is well written, the characters are developed nicely, and the Michigan setting is scenic. I love a great midwest, small town. A lot is going on as the sisters have busy lives. I enjoyed the book, and therefore my rating for Behind the Frame by Tracy Gardner is four stars. It would be nice if Hallmark picked up this series as one of the Original Mysteries.


First Book in Series

Out of the Picture by Tracy Gardner

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Profile Image for Lola.
1,983 reviews275 followers
February 28, 2024
I was in the mood for a cozy mystery in a series I already started. When scrolling through my audiobooks I spotted this one I knew it was the perfect book for my mood. And it turned out I was right. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was even better than the first book in this series, which I really enjoyed. It has everything I look for in a cozy mystery, likable character, a fun small town setting, an interesting and engaging mystery as well as fun daily life scenes.

I really enjoyed Behind the Frame. It's the second book in this series and takes place about half a year or so later. I liked catching up with Savannah and her two sisters, as well as the rest of the family. This time Savannah is helping organize The Art in the Park festival when she finds one of the people on the planning committee murdered in his house. After a friend of the family gets accused for the crime the three sisters jump in action to find out who really did it.

The mystery was a good one, plenty of suspects and it kept me guessing. I managed to guess who the murderer was, but only toward the end, and it was satisfying to be proven correct when everything came to light. The mystery itself has plenty of progress with new information coming to light, suspects getting ruled out and new ones popping up. I really liked it and it made for a satisfying read. I also appreciate how Savannah and her sisters get involved in the mystery in a way that makes sense and how they go about investigating in a smart manner.

I also enjoyed the daily life scenes as Savannah is more settled back into her home town. I liked reading about her interactions with her sisters and the rest of the family. There's a visit with Caroline Carson from book 1. And then there is the detective who is a competent detective, which I like seeing in cozies, and with whom they visit frequently to discuss the case. I also really liked her romance with Aidan. This is one of the better romances I've read in a cozy mystery. It's sweet and I really like them together, their dates are fun to read about and I just love seeing them spend time together and grow closer.

To summarize: I really enjoyed this book! I liked returning to Carson and reading about Savannah and her sisters as they try to solve another mystery. The mystery had plenty of progress with new information coming to light, suspects being ruled out and new suspects popping up. It kept me guessing, but toward the end I managed the guess the murderer correctly, which was satisfying. I like reading about Savannah's daily life as well, with her job as a teacher and organizing the festival. I like seeing her interact with her family and the romance with Aidan is well written and sweet, one of the better romances I've read in a cozy mystery. The narrator was great and I enjoyed listening to this one.
Profile Image for Madoka Kamimura Mason.
328 reviews10 followers
August 15, 2020
Tracy Gardner brings us Savanna, Sydney, and Skylar Shepherd. These three sisters all live in Carson, Michigan. Sydney owns Fancy Tails & Treats, a grooming salon and organic treat shop for Carson's canine population. Savanna and her dog Fonzie who recently returned from Chicago and restarted her life as Carson's elementary art teacher stop by with coffee and treats They are soon joined by Skylar, the lawyer in their family. They all gather and catch up before Sydney has to open up the store for the customers. They mostly talk about Savanna and Dr. Aidan Gallager whose schedules limited their time to get to know each other. She is also excited about the Art in the Park festival she is helping out with for her town. Their town won the privilege of hosting this year's festival. She sets out to the park to meet up with Britt Nash, a colleague from her former life as an art authenticator, city councilman John Bellamy, and a liaison from the Art in the Park state committee. She realizes that the head of an important statue had been defaced. When Savanna goes to the councilman's house to drop off some registration forms, she finds a visible leg sprawled on the floor with the shoe half off and completely still. Calling the police, Savanna finds herself trying to get away from nosy neighbors and ends up seeing Detective Jordan holding a knife covered in blood. This leads the police to arrest Joe Fratelli, the chef of a restaurant since they found his fingerprints on the knife. Because Skylar is representing Joe, this leads the sisters to start investigating the murder of the councilman believing in Joe's innocence.

Will they be able to figure things out before it's all too late? Will Savanna and Aidan ever get time to spend together or will their busy lives end up defeating them? This is another case for the Shepherd sisters to help solve!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for this privilege.
Profile Image for Mechthild.
389 reviews7 followers
October 19, 2020
More mysteries in Carson
The author of multiple books, Tracy Gardner, presents "Behind the Frame. A Shepherd Sisters Mystery from Hallmark Publishing". Savanna Shepherd, art teacher at the local elementary school in her hometown, the little beach town Carson, is highly involved trying to assure that the Art in the Park Festival will be help in Carson this year. But there seem to be forces at work trying to stop the festival. The shocking beheading of the statue of Jessamina Carson in the park and the red spray-painted words "Never Carson" on the base of the statue, and a dead body only being three of the disturbing happenings. Are the destructions linked to the murder? Can Aidan, Savanna's new love interest keep her and her sisters Skylar and Sydney save? And most of all, will the festival take place. You can find the answers to these questions and more in Gardner's book.
This is the second book by Tracy Gardner which I have read. It is also the second one in Gardner's series about the Shepherd Sisters. I want to read more of her novels and cannot wait for the third volume of the series. The book holds real and well developed characters. It is easy to read and enjoyable and as usual, one of the typical Hallmark recipes, this time for Mini Rhubarb Pies, is included. I highly recommend this book to all the readers who want a break and like romantic mysteries.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#BehindTheFrame #NetGalley
Profile Image for Randi Sampson.
1,752 reviews92 followers
August 12, 2020
Behind the Frame is the second book in the Shepherd Sisters Mystery series by Tracy Gardner. Those who have read the first book like myself will enjoy getting to rejoin these sisters for another mystery... but those who have not can still enjoy this as a standalone as well. There are a few references made to events in the previous book, but nothing that would keep a new reader from fully appreciating this story on it's own.

In this book, we join back up with Savanna as a new mystery is about to begin. When she comes across her partner murdered, the small town of Carson finds itself once again at the center of a crime... and one not short on suspects. There are many possible suspects and motives given as the story unfolds to help keep you guessing. I found myself a bit surprised by the final reveal myself, which is always fun as a reader.

If you love watching Hallmark mystery movies, you will certainly appreciate this series. The same clean and somehow lighthearted despite the murders style that you find in those movies are exactly what you'll find in their mystery novels as well. They're not too dark, but an enjoyable and intriguing mystery nonetheless. I personally cannot get enough and this book was no exception. There is a hint of romance, but honestly I don't feel like it was a primary focus in this book at all, so those who prefer their mysteries without the romance would likely still enjoy this one too.

While I must say that the first book was still my favorite in this series so far, this was a good read nonetheless. I cannot wait to see more from these sisters!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
Profile Image for Marsha Keeper Bookshelf.
4,290 reviews88 followers
August 14, 2020
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

‘Behind the Frame‘ is the second title in the ‘Shepherd Sisters Mystery‘ series, a delightful Cozy Mystery that will keep you on your toes and making guesses throughout.

Really, everything you should know before starting is in the Cover Description and I won’t be giving away spoilers. What I can tell you is that once again we find Savanna smack in the middle of a murder mystery and the twists, turns, and surprises just keep coming as the victim wasn’t exactly what everyone in town thought they were. Although it seems as though the police have their murderer, Savanna isn’t buying it so the sleuthing begins which brings danger right straight to her own door.

The ongoing, developing romance between Savanna and Aidan is sweetly in the background, we’re aware of it and it shows but romance is not the focus of ‘Behind the Frame‘ – murder is.

I had fun with this Cozy Mystery and if you love solving puzzles then ‘Behind the Frame‘ is perfect for you. There are red herrings, some surprises, as well as the close-knit family that we knew from ‘Out of the Picture‘ just keeps getting more familiar as we settle into this series. I figured out the culprit just before the reveal, so it really did keep me guessing almost to the end.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Profile Image for Ali.
77 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2020
A classic Hallmark Mystery - SO freaking good, words can’t explain it right now. So this is technically the second book in the Shepard Sister series, but I wasn’t a part of the hallmark review team last year so I didn’t get a chance to read the first book before diving into this one. BUT, I can certainly say that I didn’t feel it necessary to have read the first book to fully understand this one (but I will certainly be purchasing and reading the first book pronto because I NEED MORE!).

Savannah Shepard, along with Councilman Bellamy, is in charge of the upcoming Art in the Park festival in Carson, MI and everything is proceeding smoothly until one day when she is going over the Councilman’s house to discuss some details and finds him dead in the living room…

Feeling connected to the murder since she was the one to discover him, Savannah can’t help herself but get involved to help figure out what happened to Bellamy. When one of their good family friends is initially convicted in the murder, Savannah and her sisters Skylar and Sydney do everything in their power to help prove him innocent.

However, as it typically goes, getting involved in a murder investigation can quickly put you in harm's way. Especially if you find yourself digging up information the murderer that is still at large doesn’t want you finding.

Don’t forget this is a Hallmark book - so naturally, there is a little romance thrown in (Savannah and Dr. Aiden = heart eyes!)

I easily give this book 5 out of 5 stars! I finished in just a few short days and absolutely loved every minute of it. A light-hearted murder mystery with a bit of romance is everything I needed to read right now. Definitely make sure you check this one out along with the first book in the series - Out of the Picture.
157 reviews2 followers
August 18, 2020
Behind the Frame is the story of Savanna Shepherd, who has returned to her hometown of Carson, MI, where her sisters and parents still live. Savanna, former art expert now art teacher, is leading the effort in planning the Art in the Park Festival for Carson. This is the first time Carson has been awarded the festival, and it would seem that someone is not happy about it as the Carson statue in the park is found beheaded with the an ominous note attached to it. Shortly after the statue is found beheaded, town councilman John Bellamy is murdered. The police quickly zero in on one suspect, however Savanna and her sisters do not believe the suspect possible of the deed and take it upon themselves to defend the person they feel is wrongly accused, as well as to find the real culprit.

In the midst of all of this is the developing relationship between Savanna and Dr. Aidan Gallager, the hometown doctor. There are many twists and turns, numerous possible suspects and as Savanna begins to unravel the murder, she quickly becomes a target.

This is the second book in a series and stands alone, as the author does a great job bringing the reader "up to speed" on the characters . Hallmark Publishing has done a wonderful job with this "cozy mystery with a bit of romance." The reader quickly gets drawn into the story, into the life of Savanna and her family, and is behind Savanna all the way in bringing a successful Art in the Park to Carson, as well as solving the murder! Looking forward to further adventures with Savanna!
Profile Image for Jennifer Ritter.
1,137 reviews31 followers
August 20, 2020
Behind the Frame is the second book in Tracy Gardner’s Shepherd Sisters mystery series. Art authenticator, now art teacher, Savanna Shepherd has been instrumental in gaining their small lakeside town of Carson, Michigan, the prestigious Art in the Park event. Savanna has worked with her good friend and former colleague, Britt Nash, and Councilman John Bellamy to organize this event with a very special banquet for supporters and sponsors. The night after the banquet, when Savanna goes to meet with the Councilman to work on some event details, she sees him through the window sprawled on the floor and immediately calls 911. She fears he has fallen or perhaps had a heart attack, but what the emergency workers discover is that he has been murdered and the knife that did the deed belongs to the chef that had catered the event the night before.

When Savanna’s sister Skylar becomes the Chef’s attorney, Savanna and Sydney sign on to help their sister however they can. Once again Ms. Gardner has woven an intriguing tale of the victim’s family secrets and political hijinks of opponents as it twists such that the reader is still following clues when all is revealed. Along with a wonderfully spun mystery, this series is also a well done story of the Shepherd family and those in their lives. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
473 reviews
August 11, 2020
I received this book in exchange for an honest exchange. You can receive your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Frame-S...
This is a book in the Hallmark Publishing’s Cozy Mysteries series- there are four books in this series. I have not read the previous two books, but I do have the one after this book and cannot wait to read it after reading this book! Especially after reading Amanda Flower’s Death and Daisies not too long ago! I am excited to read her Hallmark book! Unlike some of the other books that I have read by Hallmark, this book was not based on a movie and I do not see a Hallmark movie yet in the future. I am hoping for one, though. You can see it unfold as a TV movie as you read it…” carrying three steaming coffees and a white bakery box of frosted cinnamon rolls.” This book begins in Fancy Tails & Treats, a grooming salon that doubled as a organic treat shop for canines. Soon after the book begins, a twelve foot tall statue is missing a head! There are also the words NEVER CARSON in blood red letters. This book gets interesting as the investigation gets underway, there is a red herring, a frame job and more. The characters were well developed and cute, but to be quite honest, there was just a little something missing in this book that I cannot put my finger on. I do look forward to reading the next book in the series, though!.




Profile Image for Susan.
1,561 reviews19 followers
August 16, 2020
As soon as I finished this delightful mystery I had to get a copy of the first in the series that I had missed. This one works fine as a standalone. The first thing to catch my interest was the art theme. Savanna is an art expert turned elementary school art teacher. Her life turned upside town and she returned to her family in Carson, Michigan. She and her sisters make a great team investigating murders.
The town has been active getting ready for Art in the Park and it looks like smooth sailing until somebody starts vandalizing the event and one of the committee members is found murdered. When a friend of Savanna becomes the prime suspect she and her sisters set out to find the true killer. Turns out that the victim had more than a few enemies and the twists, turns and red herring kept me guessing to the very end.
If you are a fan of the Hallmark Mysteries as I am, I'm sure you will enjoy this series. The puzzle is satisfying, the setting is cozy and the relationships between family and friends is great. There is even the right amount of romance. The perfect stress relieving escape reading.
My thanks to the publisher Dreamscape Media and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
508 reviews7 followers
August 23, 2020
Savanna Shepherd, an art expert turned elementary art teacher, is planning the Art in the Park festival for her hometown of Carson. But apparently, someone isn’t happy that Carson got to host the event: the beloved statue in the park is destroyed. Not long after, Savanna finds the dead body of one of the people on the planning committee.

Savanna and her sisters are convinced that the arrested murder suspect didn’t do it, despite strong evidence to the contrary. With the help of Dr. Aidan Gallager, Savanna’s new romantic interest, they uncover hidden resentments and intrigue. Several people in Carson had a motive for the murder. Can they find out which one of them is behind the framing of an innocent person

This is a good book to take to the beach or set in front of a fire. There is a mystery involved in the book as well as the beginning of a romance between Aidan and Savanna. All Savanna wants to do is hold Art in the Park. Little did she know that she would be investigating a beheaded statue, vandalism to her car, and to top it off a murder. Who would what to kill one of the planning committee members. The more she digs into the background of the victim the more suspects she finds.

I was given this book by Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
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