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Pen & Ink Mysteries #4

A Colorful Scheme

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Coloring-book creator and Washington, DC, bookstore owner Florrie Fox is attending the wedding of her wealthy boss and a famous romance author, who are taking their vows—for the second time—on the grounds of the gorgeous Maxwell mansion. But it soon becomes clear that the soothing vibe of coloring books is very different from the stress and backstabbing in some corners of the literary world.

Arthur Bedlingham, for example, barely makes a living despite the many awards he’s won—and his chances for better sales haven’t been helped by the vicious review he just got from another guest at the party. Then there’s an ex–FBI agent whose popular thrillers are a magnet for female fans; a less-successful romance writer; and an ambitious waitress who’s intent on a career in journalism.

When Arthur’s assistant, an aspiring writer, is murdered during the festivities, Florrie realizes this is no color-by-numbers case, and she’ll have to sort out the complicated secrets among this creative crowd of suspects . . .

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2022

176 people are currently reading
4034 people want to read

About the author

Krista Davis

35 books3,246 followers
Krista Davis lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she writes mysteries. She lived in Northern Virginia for many years and resided for a time in Old Town Alexandria where her Domestic Diva Mysteries take place.

Krista also writes the Paws and Claws Mysteries, which debuted with MURDER, SHE BARKED. Her Pen & Ink Mysteries featured covers that can be colored! Read the book and have fun coloring the cover.

WEBSITE: https://www.kristadavis.com

NEWSLETTER: https://bit.ly/3Wi0jcR

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/KristaDavisAu...

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kristadavisauthor

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
Profile Image for BonnieM☂️.
310 reviews
May 4, 2022
I really enjoyed A Colorful Scheme. It was a fun read. Florrie Fox is the main character who works for Professor John Maxwell owner of Color Me Read book store. She lives in the carriage house behind the professor's main house with her cat Peaches. She designs coloring books. Florrie's boyfriend, Eric Jonquille is a policeman. Jacquie, a famous author, is marrying the Professor for the second time. The first part of the story takes place at their cocktail party and marriage that introduces the other characters to the reader. The day of the cocktail party Jacquie has disappeared. but later found by Florrie. Jacquie is acting very strange. Sunday after the wedding the butler, Dubois finds the body of Evan McDonald drowned in the pool. He works for another author name Arthur Bedlingham. It is discovered that brownies laced with a substance are in his stomach... A reporter by the name of Cara believes that Florrie's mother is the missing Caroline and follows Florrie who has words with her and later is murdered. Florrie becomes the main suspect. This is where the story takes off with the characters entangled in strange happenings to the exciting end of who the murderer is. The ending has a surprise and happy ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for this ARC.
Profile Image for Jenna (readinginjennaland).
951 reviews31 followers
February 5, 2023
This was such a good mystery. I loved following the clues with Florrie. I laughed many times and cried. This is my first book in the series but I was able to read it as a standalone. I'll definitely be going back and reading the beginning of the series. I'm hooked.
Profile Image for LORI CASWELL.
2,839 reviews326 followers
October 6, 2024
Dollycas's Thoughts

The wedding of bookstore manager and coloring creator Florrie Fox's boss John Maxwell and a famous romance author Jacqueline Liebhaber brings some interesting people together including author Arthur Bedlingham, romance author Gabriella Archambeau, thriller author Buzz Powers, Arthur's assistant Evan McDowell, artist Mia Woodham, literary agent Sloan Rogers, book reviewer Margarite Herbert-Grant, and aspiring reporter Cara Melton. When Arthur's assistant, an aspiring writer himself, is found dead at the bottom of the swimming pool several guests are questioned and some are high on the police's suspect list. Florrie knows it's time to get out her sketchbook and try to determine why Evan McDowell was murdered and who did the deed.

____

Ms. Davis has created a wonderful cast of characters for this story/series. Florrie has become quite an amateur sleuth with her unique ability to sketch suspects and victims in a way that makes clues come together or strike recollection of something that had initially seemed unimportant but was very important. Her relationship with Sergeant Eric Jonquille continues to grow. Her sister, Veronica took on the job of wedding planner for a surprise wedding and Florrie was happy to help every step of the way. Her boss, John Maxwell has a huge heart but a tragedy of the past always lingers. Mr. DuBois, the Maxwell's butler always grabs my heart. He strives to do everything for everybody and most of the time succeeds at just that. He knows where he is needed before you even need him. He is a huge fan of Eric and his police friends but not a fan of Florrie's cat Peaches. We also meet a delightful new character in Jezebel Fish. She is a hoot and a half and I immediately wanted to be her friend. 

Ms. Davis blends the murder mystery and subplots seamlessly keeping her readers totally entertained. Twists, turns, and surprises kept everyone on their toes including me. I did figure out one minor mystery quicker than Florrie. Another character ended up getting her just desserts. The main mystery was complicated with a lot of moving elements. Florrie's worries were spot on regarding a situation. After that key observations were made, clues started to fall into place, and a curious group led the way for an excellent rescue, reveal, and satisfying takedown.

Ms. Davis is a marvelous storyteller. Her stories are filled with intriguing mysteries, dynamic characters, touching moments, and tons of humor in all the right places. A Colorful Scheme has all that in abundance. I was captivated from beginning to end. Sadly, this is the final book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Profile Image for Micky Cox.
2,300 reviews37 followers
September 6, 2022
This series just gets better and better with each book! Florrie and crew are back with grand events in store for the cast, but a murderer is lurking amongst them! A new detective has decided that Florrie looks good for the crimes and is intent on proving it, while the real killer may just be coloring Florrie as the next victim! Exciting plot with lots of twists to keep you guessing who the killer might be! The characters are so vibrant that they seem like real friends rather than characters on a page! I absolutely can't wait for the next colorful book to come out!
Profile Image for Shawn.
61 reviews
September 22, 2022
Another wonderful addition to the pen and ink series. Once again it had me thinking and not realizing who the killer was until the end. Can't wait for the next in series to come out.
Profile Image for Carla.
7,512 reviews175 followers
September 4, 2023
The Pen & Ink Mystery series features Florrie Fox, the manager of a Washington DC bookstore and colouring book creator. In this book she is attending the wedding of her eccentric, professor boss and a famous romance author. This is the second time around for this couple. Several authors are in attendance, Arthur Bedlingham, who has received many literary accolades but hasn't sold a lot of books, an ex–FBI agent who writes popular thrillers, a literary reviewer and more. When Arthur Bedlingham's assistant and up and coming author is found dead in the pool, Florrie is on the case to help figure out who killed the aspiring writer and why.

It had been so long since I read the previous three books in this series, that I only remembered Florrie. Saying that, I realize that you can read these books easily as standalone stories. I enjoyed the characters in this book, Florrie and her sister Veronica work at the store, Maxwell, who owns and runs Maxwell Manor, his staff and the various authors who are in and out of the story. There were a few different storylines in this one that kept me listening and waiting to see how they would all come together. With an annoying character that has been after Florrie in previous books turning out to be a PI, some characters whose marriages are over, so they are sneaking around and some backstabbing authors, this book kept me guessing until the end. One thing that is different about this series are the covers. If you purchase the paperback, the cover can be coloured in. It is a great endorsement for adult colouring books and the benefits are mentioned in the story. The audiobook is narrated by Rebecca Mitchell, a voice actress that has narrated many books I have listened to. She does a great job giving individual and recognizable voices to the main characters and adding expression and emotion.
Profile Image for Bridget.
2,789 reviews131 followers
September 4, 2022
Krista Davis pens an illuminating tale in this fourth instalment of her Pen & Ink Mystery series. Set in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Florrie Fox is the manager of Color Me Read bookstore and she is a guest at her boss, Jacqueline Liebhaber's marriage to Professor John Maxwell. It's to be an extravagant affair and Jacqueline is a famous author. Many of the guests are writers of different ilks and capabilities, some wealthy and some not. One of the guests is Arthur Bedlingham, there with his assistant, Evan McDowell, a wannabe writer. The wedding venue is Maxwell Mansion, a huge property with a carriage house, attics and secret underground passages. There is a cocktail party for everyone but Jacquie has disappeared. Then Evan is found dead...

With a fantastic and smart protagonist, this was a great cozy with its adult colouring book theme. The mystery was terrific and I loved trying to work out whodunit whilst sipping my tea and scoffing a cupcake. If you enjoy a well-executed, creative cozy, I'm sure you'll love it too!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
4,032 reviews2,858 followers
October 31, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Very cool cover. Love the little piggy! 😂

This is the second book I have read in this series and again it was a solid read. Well written and well paced. The plot was engaging and offered plenty of twists and red herrings. The characters remain likable and plentiful, and the bonus recipes sound yummy! What more can one ask for in a cozy mystery?! 👍🏻👍🏻

**ARC Via NetGalley**
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,161 reviews112 followers
March 31, 2022
There is so much I want to say about A Colorful Scheme by the very talented Krista Davis.
Florrie Fox is the manager of Color Me Read, a bookstore that sounds incredible.
The owner is Professor John Maxwell, who is wealthy and enjoys the finer things in life.
As the story opens John and his ex-wife are getting remarried after the tragic disappearance of the only daughter.
Florrie and hervsister Veronica are excited about the wedding and everything seems to be going as planned.
Unfortunately, things take a tragic turn of events, and a guest winds up dead, and other guests have some secrets that they need to keep quiet.
The mystery itself was riveting and very well played out, but my favorite part is the introduction of Jezebel Fish! Oh my, she is the best character I have seen in a while, and her determination and spunk really made the book exceptional.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this fantastic series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#AColorfulScheme #NetGalley
Profile Image for The Cozy Review.
568 reviews42 followers
August 27, 2022
Romance is everywhere around Florrie’s bookstore; everyone is excited about the upcoming party at Maxwell’s mansion, from the writers to the patrons. With her boss, John Maxwell, getting married to his former wife, romance writer Jacquie, Florrie couldn’t be happier or busier. Unfortunately, she finds a dead man floating in the pool when the wedding ends. That’s when the romance stops. No one can figure out why Arthur Bedlingham’s assistant was in the pool or why he was killed, but when another body shows up and Florrie becomes the prime suspect, she is determined to find out, even if it means getting in the way of a killer.

A Colorful Scheme is the fourth book in the Pen & Ink series and might be the most interesting one. I enjoyed the introduction of Jacquie, the romance writer and ex-wife of Florrie's boss; I hope she will play a significant role in future books, and we will find out what happened to their missing daughter. Bedlingham's assistant, Evan, was an empathetic victim, but it is the second victim I was more enthralled with. Other characters were fun to revisit, and the bookstore has always been a wonderful setting. I felt that some of the sub-characters, such as the writer/FBI agent, could have been a bit more entertaining, but overall, the cast is a great group of different personalities that makes the story shine. I hope Jezebel Fish will become a regular; she is fantastic. I enjoy a good coloring book myself, so this series reminds me to buy a new one every so often or just color the cover of these books.

The evidence leads the reader around by the nose. There are a great many possibilities, and I am pretty sure Florrie follows every one of them. The guests at the wedding, consisting of several romance authors, other fiction writers, and the social elite, keep readers happy and guessing. I was sorry to see the assistant die but wasn’t invested in his story. The second victim was annoying but someone readers could relate to in the end. The finale is full of excitement and tension. I am happy to admit that this is the first time in a long while that I did not guess who the killer was or the motive early in the story.

Readers will be thrilled to spend a few hours with Florrie and the cast. Hopefully, the new additional characters will help fill the pages of other books with romance, curiosity, and a few laughs along the way. A Colorful Scheme will keep readers guessing from start to finish. This book has charm and sophistication, with just a hint of quirkiness and a cast that will leave readers craving more. I look forward to the next installment, one hopefully where no writer’s assistants will be harmed. They work way too hard to become victims of deranged killers!
Profile Image for K.A. Davis.
Author 4 books483 followers
August 5, 2022
A COLORFUL SCHEME is the fourth book in the Pen & Ink Mystery series by Krista Davis. You can always count on this author delivering a topnotch story with a riveting mystery, colorful characters, and a charming setting, and this newest release doesn’t disappoint. Protagonist Florrie Fox is a delightful young woman, sweet as she is kind, to both her friends and customers alike. Not only does she manage a bookstore, but she’s also a talented adult coloring book creator. The supporting characters are equally well-rounded and are people you’d like to spend time with. I enjoyed that Florrie’s sister, Veronica, has a greater role in the story, acting as the wedding planner for Florrie’s wealthy boss who is marrying a famous romance author (their second time marrying). A bit of humor is thrown in with Veronica needing to tackle wedding plan issues… until an issue turns serious with the discovery that the bride is missing.

There are multi-faceted mysteries for the reader to muse over in the story and I greatly enjoyed the literary thread of writing and publishing set amongst the wedding festivities. From an agent, to authors, to author and journalist wannabes, to a literary critic, Ms. Davis creates stressful situations that might lead to strife and even murder. On top of that, Florrie discovers she has a stalker who won’t leave her alone even when confronted. When a murder victim is discovered after the wedding festivities, Florrie can’t help but become involved. With plenty of suspects to choose from (there were over 500 guests at the wedding and reception!) it takes Florrie’s sharp mind and colorful art pencils to narrow down the list. The creative use of Florrie’s artistic skills to capture details of the people and clues involved in the case is unique and added another layer of entertainment to her sleuthing. I’ll admit I was way off the mark in guessing who the culprit was, but it was a fun read following along with Florrie’s investigations. As the story concluded, all questions were answered and the subplots fit together quite satisfactorily. It left me wanting to immediately color the inviting coloring book cover before picking up the next book in the series.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for June Price.
Author 6 books82 followers
May 16, 2022
A wedding camouflaged as a party, a lost and found bride, and, oh, yeah, murder. This is what faces coloring book artist and book shop manager Florrie Fox as the book opens. I was hooked from the beginning and found myself compelled to finish. I liked Florrie and the surrounding cast of characters. Each came off as a unique, well rounded personality with their own quirks, strengths and weaknesses and seemed like people I'd like to know. The plot was face paced and multi-layered. Heck, I lost track of how many mysteries were revealed and solved by the time to book ended. Loved it.

I won't detail the plot, a synopsis is easily found elsewhere, but will say that what starts as party crashers ends with a seemingly innocuous man dead in the pool. Florrie is stunned to find herself a suspect in not just this death but that of an admittedly annoying wannabe journalist who had been stalking her. While I could understand why Sgt. Bridges might focus on her as a suspect, the ol' wrong place, wrong time thing, that did seem a bit obsessive. Boyfriend and police officer Eric noted that it was Bridges first big case and he was frustrated, a thought that while it didn't make Florrie any happier, did calm her own nerves and frustration somewhat. A highlight of the book was the introduction of Jezebel Fish, grandmother of Eric's friend Fish Gordon. Jezebel is a force onto herself and I hope to see more of her in future books. Yes, I'm already looking forward to seeing what is next for Florrie and her friends, particularly those who write. Now I'm off to find my crayons to color that lovely cover art.

Top notch. Put it on your "Must Read" list. Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for sending me the invite to the party/wedding and letting me hang out with Florrie, Jezebel, and the rest. Loved every minute of it.
Profile Image for Maria.
2,912 reviews95 followers
August 31, 2022
I always have mixed feelings reading books about places I've lived but especially Georgetown since I grew up there. It's difficult to reconcile the place I know with the new one that's presented in the book and I spend so much time trying to figure out exactly where everything is and frequently come up short. Despite this, I really enjoy this series. It allows me to reminisce but also see the area with new eyes. This mystery was well paced with tons of new fun characters thrown in. I had no idea who the killer was until the very end and enjoyed my journey to the satisfying conclusion.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
Profile Image for QNPoohBear.
3,563 reviews1,560 followers
November 10, 2022
Florrie Fox is excited to attend the wedding of her boss, Maxwell and his estranged wife Jacquie at the mansion next door. ONLY 500 people are invited and Florrie hopes she can hide in the crowd. However, things don't get off to a great start when the bride is missing the morning of her wedding! Fortunately she's found and all is well, except for cupcake favors arriving late, uninvited guests causing trouble and the tabloid press thinking Florrie is Maxwell and Jacquie's long lost daughter Caroline! An annoying reporter won't leave Florrie alone but Florrie deals with the situation and doesn't think anything of it. The morning after the wedding, a body is found floating in the mansion pool and Maxwell is worried Jacquie knows more than she's telling, as the drowned man was a fellow writer. As Florrie pursues clues, she finds herself in the world of eccentric authors, tough reviewers and would-be blackmailers. To make matters worse, someone locked Mr. DuBois in the closet and someone is following Florrie, making her uneasy. Then someone else ends up dead and Florrie becomes the prime suspect! Can she connect the dots and figure out

This story had a lot going on. I figured out the murderer pretty quickly and another secret too. Florrie should have guessed both right away. I was still shocked by a good portion of the reveal though. There were some questions left unanswered. I thought we were finally going to learn more about what happened to Caroline and possible find her but that turned out to be a dead end. We do learn a tiny bit more about what happened that day. Did the police even do their jobs? There's obviously somone who messed up or did something bad to Caroline and it seems obvious to me who that is. I was excited when Florrie ventured into Wisconsin Avenue and to Foggy Bottom, parts of DC I know. I've never been to the Watergate but I've been by it so I could picture it. Even with some flaws, I enjoyed this one best of the series.

I had trouble connecting with the characters in this story to begin with but I'm warming up to them. I can relate to Florrie being an introverted bookworm but I can't relate to her because I'm not an artist or a cat person. I like her better now she's less insecure and better able to handle her mother and sister. I even like Veronica. She's found her purpose in life and is trying hard to be a responsible adult. I don't like how she dodged a guy she didn't care for but she has Florrie to point that out to her. The mansion characters really shine. Maxwell is so eccentric. I want to know more about him and his travels. He has a big heart and loves Jacquie dearly. He also can't say no to his sister or be tough and insist Mr. DuBois think about retirement. Mr. DuBois isn't ready to retire yet, of course. He's the devoted family retainer, the proper butler and also a nosy gossip. He cracks me up. Mr. DuBois is afraid to leave the house but he knows all the local gossip and enjoys sharing it with his adopted family of Maxwell, Jacquie and Florrie. He's amazing and everyone should have a Mr. DuBois! If only I were that rich! Jacquie is nice and a lot of fun but somewhat clueless about reality at times. Eric, Florrie's boyfriend, is a prince. He's devoted, supportive and doesn't tell her what to do or not to do. He stands up for her when she needs him the most.

Mxwell's sister Liddy returns to stir up drama. She's still nasty. She's extra nasty to Florrie because she blames Florrie for her son's death. How horrible! Liddy takes no responsibility for how she spoiled her son or any other actions. She likes causing trouble and blaming someone else. Liddy makes life miserable for Mr. DuBois, treating him like her own personal slave. This time though, I actually sided with Liddy- sort of. She brings along a little pet pig, Rosie. Rosie is sooo adorable and comes dressed for the wedding in a jeweled collar. She interrupts the ceremony in the cutest way and I couldn't help but be charmed by her. However, Liddy should have ASKED if it was OK to bring Rosie! Liddy's poor husband, Walter, is under her thumb and suffers for it. It's not a love match and really sad for him. Florrie's mom managed to be cool for once and not so annoying. Norman returns in his usual clueless way and his mom is unintentionally hilarious. Florrie eggs her on. Bob, the Color Me Read employee, has zero personality. He's not even really in the story but when he is, I always forget who he is.

There are tons of new characters, mostly authors. Arthur Bedlington is an author of literary novels so boring no one wants to read them. Color Me Read doesn't even stock them. His first was a hit and the rest duds. He used to date Jacquie and I infer, from the plots of certain novels, he was controlling and she left. They're still really close and she'll drop everything to help him. I don't know why! He's unpleasant, rude, and snide. He crashed the party as a plus one for someone else even though Jacquie considers him a friend. That says a lot. He behaves boorishly and is very arrogant. I suspect he thinks Jacquie was his muse and wants her back at any cost. He came to the wedding to cause trouble. His assistant, Evan McDowell, is a frustrated author. He has trouble sending his books out for publication. His anxiety keeps him writing and editing on repeat without submitting. He's Arthur's assistant and perhaps maybe Arthur's ghost writer for the first book! I'm certain Arthur stole that story or else why are the rest of his books so bad? Poor Evan ends up dead- murdered! Poor Evan! He didn't deserve to be murdered. He sounded like a nice guy. I thought it was Arthur who was going to end up dead.

Sloan Rogers, Jacquie's literary agent, is in attendance and she seems over eager to sign authors who have no business publishing, like Arthur. I don't really like her much. Margarite Herbert-Grant is a tough as nails literary critic. She's rude and snobby towards everyone and bossy too. She especially hates Arthur and he seems to feel the same way. Yet, she ends up a well-rounded character and almost likable. Gabriella Archambeau, a romance writer and good friend of Jacquie's, is fun and likable but somewhat standoffish at times. Her husband, Griffin Corbyn, is an enigmatic writer of thrillers. He's reclusive and never ever does interviews, signings or press. Very few people have ever met him and he doesn't attend events. Gabriella caused a lot of trouble bringing someone else to the wedding. Did she do it on purpose?

Mia Woodham, an artist drawing portraits at the wedding, has a lot in common with Florrie. She seems nice enough to begin with but for some reason she doesn't seem interested in being friends with Florrie. When information is revealed about her private life and she gives her side of the story, it makes her out to be a sad woman. I'm not 100% certain she was telling the truth though. Cara Melton is a would-be journalist interning for a tabloid. She's eager to get a good story to kickstart her career but she lacks ethics and research skills. She has somehow latched on to the idea that Florrie or her mother is the long-lost Caroline Maxwell. Florrie isn't old enough so surely it must be her mother. Cara persists in spite of Florrie's protests and won't leave Florrie alone. She's always snapping pictures with her phone and causes the mild-mannered Florrie to lose her temper. This woman is trouble with a capital T and doesn't seem to learn anything in the process.

We also meet the neighbors, Grady and Celeste Sorello. Caroline was last seen at their daughter's birthday party. Surely they must know something, remember something after all these years. I don't trust her husband at all. He sounds controlling and nasty. Celeste is nice but she's a bundle of nerves. She's very anxious all the time and worries a lot. I feel so bad for her. Caroline disappeared on her watch and that must really cause her some mental distress. How do you even process that and let go of the guilt? Sargeant Bridges, in charge of the murder investigation, is suspicious and nasty. He's very stupid and doesn't let go of an idea once he has it. He'll never solve this one on his own. Eric's friend Fish is really nice. He's a decent human, a loving grandson and a good policeman. His grandmother, Jezebel, is hands-down the best new character! An elderly woman who lives alone, she resists all attempts to control her. Her antics are hilarious and I love them and her! Florrie is certainly sympathatic but also understands the family's concerns. Florrie takes a nice approach, helping Jezebel but letting the family know she's OK.

This mystery kept me reading late into the night. Krista Davis is a great plotter even if sometimes I don't always love the characters.

Profile Image for Jerri Cachero.
653 reviews48 followers
May 21, 2022
Florrie Fox, bookstore manager and coloring book artist, finds herself in the middle of two very different events - the lovely wedding of her boss and his ex-wife and an event that brings only sadness, the murder of a wedding guest. Before either one of the second time newlyweds are arrested, Florrie has to solve the mystery for a happy ending!

Florrie is one of my favorite main characters. She's not flashy & doesn't rush into danger when she is sleuthing, but uses her observation and artistic talents to solve mysteries. In a Krista Davis mystery, the development of the characters makes them seem to "jump off the page" and in this series, as well as her Domestic Diva series, the characters become "old friends". It's one of those mysteries, you can't put down!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
967 reviews27 followers
December 17, 2022
I enjoy the characters and the setting. They all have a nice relationship The mystery kept me guessing, and I like how when you get the physical book, you'll be able to color the cover.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Amy Marie.
882 reviews320 followers
September 30, 2022
A fantastic addition to this series! I am in love with Florrie as a character. Jacquie and John are an amazing couple. Loved their wedding! The reveal for this was a lot of fun.
Profile Image for Dawn Michelle.
3,037 reviews
August 21, 2022
Krista Davis has got to be one of my absolute favorite authors. I have read all three of her series' and I love them all [I only dislike that I am caught up on all of them and have to W A I T for each new one now! LOL] This series started off slow for me [but with a very intriguing setting and even more intriguing main character - Florrie is really fantastic], but now, with book 4, I am ALL-IN, and was truly excited to see a new one in this series. I am here to tell you that it absolutely did not let me down.

There is a wedding. There is a murder. There is a stalker and crazy accusations. There is the totally annoying and icky sister [of John Maxwell, and if you have read the previous books, you SO know what I mean. She. IS. ICK. ] showing up with a PIG! There is a lot of shadowy characters. And there is a huge lesson in what being jealous and petty and not really a nice person will get you in life [y'all please. IF you have something going on and need to make things right or need to confront someone, even to simply move on, please do it. This book shows just what can happen if you don't]. Overall, it is a really great read and just left me wanting more of Florrie and company.

IF you are looking for a new series and love bookstores and adult coloring books and a great main character with the BEST side characters [Jezebel. Seriously. IYKYK], this series is absolutely for you. I cannot recommend it high enough. ♥

Thank you to NetGalley, Krista Davis, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Maria.
1,159 reviews14 followers
April 8, 2023
2.5 stars

I'm not sure if I was in the wrong head-space for this book, or if it actually was (partially) as lack-lustre as I felt it was.

The characters had somehow lost a bit of their charm.
Especially Florrie sometimes got on my nerves by sprouting random ideas that seemed just so ... stupid.

Example: Her boyfriend pulls out a chair for her - and she gushes over him and how she can't believe people still actually do things like that nowadays, in her internal monologue.
After a bit, I was like: "What kind of barbarian world do you actually live in? A man pulling out a chair isn't even remotely remarkable!" 🙄

Another example: Directly after pulling a dead person out of a pool, all Florrie can think about is her wet t-shirt thankfully being purple and not white so it doesn't give her a "true wet t-shirt look", or whatever. Because what if anyone sees her boobs!?! That would be bad!
I'm listening, like: "Gurl.... Someone is dead on the ground in front of you. If anyone is actually bothering to look at your chest during these circumstances, they are just as daft as you're being, right now." 🙄

The mystery was sort of fun though, actually.
Frankly, it's always "fun" when authors start killing each other in mystery books.

However, I'm not sure I will return for a 5th time around. This series isn't a perfect fit for me, even if it's pleasant enough.
Profile Image for Anita (Hearts and Whodunits).
994 reviews12 followers
August 28, 2022
Coloring book creator Florrie Fox is attending the wedding of her wealthy boss and a famous romance author. They are marrying for the second time on the grounds of the Maxwell mansion. But when someone is poisoned during the festivities, Florrie realizes that someone doesn’t want a happily ever after.
This was an interesting cozy mystery. With so many suspects, it was hard to figure out whodunnit. The plot was suspenseful and kept me guessing. Florrie is a very likeable main character. She’s intelligent, and capable, I wish we could see more of her artistic side. I want to read the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Lacey Harrington.
372 reviews8 followers
April 12, 2022
First of all how cool is the cover! I love adult coloring books. Florrie Fox, the manager of Color Me Read Bookstore, attending her boss’s wedding to a well-known romance novelist. All was well until a guest turned up dead. Florrie jumps into action. Enjoyed overall mystery.
#AColorfulScheme #NetGalley
Profile Image for Laura Salas.
Author 124 books162 followers
June 11, 2022
This was my first read in the Pen & Ink series, and it was all right for me. I found it frustrating that, almost halfway through the book, they're still not even sure if a murder has taken place or not. It's hard to get invested in a solution when it might've been an accident. There are also a lot of characters and backstory, and maybe if I'd read the series from book 1, it would've been more cohesive and engaging for me? I read to the end, and I did want to know who the killer was, so it was successful in that regard. And the main character's artistic skills and the plot of the book felt fairly disconnected. Overall, it just was okay for me.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Joy.
743 reviews
November 4, 2022
Another engaging installment of the Pen & Ink Mystery Series. The established characters find themselves celebrating a surprise wedding as the book opens, and the reader feels the warm welcome and the happiness in the air. Of course, the book being what it is, that aura can’t last, but kudos to Krista Davis for bringing us right back to the D.C. mansion and into the world of old friends. A new character will join the cast by the end of the book, and she is a lovely addition.

The pacing of this one is good. There is enough time along the way for further development of personalities and relationships, for some baking and enjoyment of the results, and of course for some sketching, coloring, and general book reveling.

Not so successful are a couple of the side stories (supposedly red-herrings, but not all that convincing) and the reveal. I was legitimately rolling my eyes as the details of the mystery were explained. From her other books, I know Krista Davis can be more smooth than that.

Looking forward to book 5.

Thank you to Krista Davis, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Eden.
2,193 reviews
October 19, 2022
2021 bk 322. Krista Davis has again provided us with a comfortable cozy, set in a Georgetown that does not revolve around the government, but around a bookstore and the people who work and shop there. When the owner decides to marry / re-marry his first wife, Florrie and her sister are called in to help. Veronica as the wedding planner, Florrie as friend and confident to the pair. The morning of the wedding dawns bright and clear, the 500 guest think they are coming to a garden party and the bride is missing, for a while. The real tension here is between the guests - many of whom has known and distrusted each other for years, and when the next day dawns, one of the guests is found dead in the backyard pool. Well put together mystery.
Profile Image for Cindy.
458 reviews9 followers
June 15, 2022
This series follows Florrie Fox, a bookstore manager and coloring book artist. She runs the bookstore for her boss Maxwell who is marrying his ex-wife again in this book! There is a body found in the pool after the wedding and some mysterious happenings surrounding the new wife Jacquie and her old boyfriend. This mystery also dredges up old issues surrounding Jacquie and Maxwell's missing daughter.
Florrie gets wrapped up deeper in the mystery when she herself becomes a suspect in another attack. There are multiple mysteries and lots to be intrigued by in the story.
Profile Image for Margie.
1,714 reviews25 followers
July 30, 2022
A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis is book #4 in the Pen and Ink series. This was a truly fascinating whodunit. Following the festivities surrounding the wedding of John Maxwell and Jacqueline Liebhaber the aspiring author Evan McDowell, who also is the assistant to author Arthur Bedlingham, was found dead in the swimming pool at the Maxwell estate. From the time of the discovery of the body I was hooked on finding out who the murderer was. It was fun following the logic of amateur sleuth Florrie Fox as she worked on solving the mystery. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Taryn.
1,101 reviews27 followers
September 20, 2022
In this fourth book of the series Florrie is attending a wedding for her boss who is marrying a romance author. She soon realizes that the guest list is filled with a variety of not so savory people and some who will do anything to get to the top. When Arthur Bedlingham's assistant is murdered during the party Florrie has a long list of suspects that she can investigate. She soon learns that secrets abound with this group and finding the truth might not be as easy as she had hoped. Follow along and see if Florrie can figure out who the killer is before anything else bad happens.
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