Still Life in Brunswick Stew by Larissa Reinhart

Still Life in Brunswick Stew by Larissa Reinhart

by CarolNo Comments
First, I have to admit I had no idea what Brunswick Stew is. Apparently, it's a Southern dish, a tomato-based stew filled with local beans, vegetables, and originally small game meat such as squirrel or rabbit, though today often chicken or smoked pork. The Brunswick Stew Cook-Off is a major draw at the annual festival in Sidewinder, Georgia where Cherry, a painter, and her friend Eloise Parker, who makes Raku pottery, have set up an art booth. It's not a good day. A bunch of people end up with food poisoning and it kills Eloise. Cherry, of course, is convinced it wasn't an accident and is determined to figure out who killed Eloise. The mystery is not the strongest part of the book. I guessed who the killer was fairly early, but really didn't care so much. The characters and the small-town antics are what drives the book. Cherry is a mess, but likable. She's broke, her love life's a disaster,...
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Portrait of a Dead Guy by Larissa Reinhart

Portrait of a Dead Guy by Larissa Reinhart

by Carol2 Comments
As a small-town portrait artist, Cherry Tucker works hard to make a living. So when she hears that the wealthy Branson family wants a portrait of their trouble-making son, Dustin, she jumps on it. Yeah, painting a dead guy in a coffin is a little odd, but she can handle it. Then she finds herself accused of trespassing and stealing from a corpse. She's also the suspect in a murder. She needs to figure out who killed Dustin if only to save her reputation. Cherry is a fun character. She's sassy, smart, and talented. She has a weakness for pretty men and is firmly loyal to her friends and family. We've got the usual quirky characters and a stubborn goat, but it's all done with a bit of Southern charm and flare. The mystery itself was good. I guessed who the killer was but didn't know the motive. There were several clues and enough red herrings to keep Cherry on her toes....
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