Draw and Order

Cheryl Hollon

Jun 2021 · A Paint & Shine Mystery Book 2 · Kensington Cozies

About this ebook

Appalachian artist and local guide Miranda Trent opens a new murder investigation after her Paint & Shine tour group discovers the remains of a missing hiker along an ancient trail . . .
 
For her latest excursion, Miranda is thrilled to take a close-knit group of rock climbers, the Risky Business Adventurers, up the challenging Battleship Rock Trail to paint and sample moonshine. But the outing is cut short when they discover a skeleton near the trailhead. Even more startling, the bones belong to Howard Cable, Miranda’s cousin…and a former classmate of the Risky Business group.
 
The sheriff chalks it up to a hiking accident, but Miranda isn’t convinced that Howard, an experienced woodsman, died within sight of a well-marked trail. So, with the help of Ranger Austin Morgan, Miranda sets out on her own investigation and discovers that the Risky Business group is keeping plenty of secrets. But is one of them hiding the truth about Howard’s death?  

Praise for STILL KNIFE PAINTING:
 
“With its colorful characters, charming Southern setting, and well-plotted mystery, the Paint & Shine series is the perfect blend of all things cozy.”
—Ellery Adams, NYT and USA Today best-selling author

"Using a palette of clever plot twists and intriguing characters, Cheryl Hollon creates a richly drawn world that's both bucolic and dangerous in Still Knife Painting. Readers will take a shine to this addictive new series!"
—Agatha Award-winning author Ellen Byron

Ratings and reviews

Draw and Order by Cheryl Hollon is the 2nd A Paint and Shine Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you have not had a chance to indulge in Still Knife Painting. I thought Draw and Order was well-written with a developed main character. The author captured the beauty of the area with her picturesque descriptions. I love the sound of Miranda’s farmhouse and barn. Miranda is trying to get her distillery up and running while conducting Paint and Shine Cultural Adventures. The fates seem against her distillery as she has one set back after another. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story. Miranda needed the patience of Job to deal with Ron, the handyman. Miranda’s cousin has been missing for five years. While on a tour with Risky Business Adventurers, they stumble upon a skeleton at Battleship Rock. Miranda’s Aunt Ora asks her to investigate and gets justice for her cousin, Howard Cable. Miranda has the assistance of Park Ranger, Austin Morgan who is her neighbor and potential romantic partner. There are a handful of suspects some with stronger motive than others. I like how the mystery tied into local legends and the area where Miranda takes her excursion clients. The whodunit does get off to a slow start with it picking up steam toward the middle of the book. The reveal is anticlimactic. It depends upon your sleuthing prowess on when you solve this mystery. I liked the why and how it related to our main character as well as the local area. I enjoyed learning more about Miranda and her family. I do sometimes find Miranda frustrating, but she is a generally likeable and a relatable character. We get to see Miranda and Austin’s relationship deepen as they spend more time together. Draw and Order is an enjoyable read. I look forward to the next A Paint and Shine Mystery. Draw and Order is a joyful journey with a missing man, plein air painting, crispy chicken, an irritating repairman, several suspicious suspects, a curious cave, and smooth moonshine.

About the author

Cheryl Hollon now writes full-time after she left an engineering career designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for oil painting and creating glass art. Cheryl and her husband live in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Visit her online at CherylHollon.com, on Facebook @CherylHollonWriter, on Instagram @CherylHollonAuthor, or on Twitter @CherylHollon.