Book Review: Murder in Pastel

Book: Murder in Pastel by Josh Lanyon

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Ten years ago Cosmo Bari vanished, taking with him his legendary masterpiece, Virgin in Pastel. Since that day no one in the seaside art colony of Steeple Hill has heard from the eccentric painter.

Surrounded by an extended family of Cosmo’s colorful compatriots, mystery writer Kyle Bari believes he has come to terms with being abandoned by his famous father. Then his ex-lover Adam MacKinnon arrives with his new partner, the beautiful but poisonous, Brett.

Brett has an unerring instinct for other people’s weak spots and soon the quiet colony is seething with hostility and suspicion as Brett begin to hint he knows what happened to the missing artist.


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I was surprised by this because even though it did start off slow it had a very intriguing mystery.

Murder in Pastel centers around 27 years old writer Kyle Bari who has always wondered about the disappearance of his father Cosmo Bari, a famous painter. Since he still lives in his childhood home in Steeple Hill, the small seaside town that he grew up in, his father's disappearance is always a constant reminder. Also, is the mystery of his father's missing masterpiece, Virgin in Pastel.

While Kyle was working on his next book the unexpected arrival to town of his old crush and neighbor 34 years old Adam MacKinnon and Adam's 20 years old boyfriend Brett were the first signs that trouble was brewing. From the moment Brett showed up he seemed to stir up all kinds of trouble in the small town including not so subtly making comments about the disappearance of Cosmo and his famous painting.

When Virgin in Pastel was suddenly found it seemed to bring up more questions especially about Cosmo's disappearance. Kyle had always thought his father took the painting when he left but with it turning up, it made him start to question his own memory.

But when Brett was found murdered and Kyle becoming the most likely suspect (among a whole list of others), he started to believe that Brett may have uncovered something that got him killed. As Kyle investigated he found out that his small town held a lot of secrets and was starting to wonder if they were worth killing over? He was starting to see the people he knew for years in a new light.

This was a very good mystery that had a bit of a Murder, She Wrote feel to it (albeit with a few racy scenes). The writing had drama and suspense but it was surprisingly humorous at times. I found the story had some interesting plot twists as it uncovered many secrets. I love when a mystery can hold my attention and keep me guessing. However, there was one thing that kind of annoyed me and that was it seemed like Kyle and Adam got together a little too quickly after Brett's death. However, they did back off a bit especially with Kyle still trying to sort everything out.

I thought the description was a tad misleading in regards to Adam and Kyle being ex-lovers, those two had never been in a relationship or dated. They didn't get involved until after the death of Brett.

This was my first time reading something by the author and since I enjoyed this story I may look into seeing if there are other stories that might interest me.