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Aurora Anderson Mysteries #5
Ghosts of Painting Past
It’s Christmastime in the quiet Los Angeles County city of Vista Beach, home of computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast Aurora (Rory) Anderson. The magic of the season fills the air as residents enjoy school concerts, a pier lighting ceremony and the annual sand-snowman contest.
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Rory plans on painting ornaments to sell at the local craft fair and joining in on the holiday fun. But she finds the season anything but jolly after the house across the street is torn down, revealing a decades old crime. Past meets present when her father is implicated in the murder.
Fearing for her father’s future, Rory launches her own investigation, intent on discovering the truth and clearing his name.
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GHOSTS OF PAINTING PAST by Sybil Johnson | A Henery Press Mystery. If you love one, you’ll probably love them all.
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Rory plans on painting ornaments to sell at the local craft fair and joining in on the holiday fun. But she finds the season anything but jolly after the house across the street is torn down, revealing a decades old crime. Past meets present when her father is implicated in the murder.
Fearing for her father’s future, Rory launches her own investigation, intent on discovering the truth and clearing his name.
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GHOSTS OF PAINTING PAST by Sybil Johnson | A Henery Press Mystery. If you love one, you’ll probably love them all.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2019
About the author
Sybil Johnson
32 books356 followersMy love affair with reading began in kindergarten with "The Three Little Pigs." Visits to the library introduced me to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where I continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, I decided to try my hand at writing mysteries. My short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, I now live in Southern California where I enjoy tole painting, learning ancient languages and spending time with friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 20, 2019
The house across the street from Rory is being torn down, so she is trying to drown out the sound of construction vehicles with Christmas carols when the sound suddenly stops. The crew has found bones buried under a building in the backyard. It isn’t long before the police have been able to identify the bones, but their identity puts Rory’s father in the role of suspect. Rory tries to help out with a variety of holiday events planned in the community, including finishing up her own ornaments to sell at the craft fair despite what is happening in town, but when a new body turns up, the stakes are raised. Can she figure out what happened in the past and how that is impacting the present?
Mysteries that involve the past can be great when there is a compelling reason for the characters to care about it today. That’s definitely the case here. Rory has a couple of reasons to make sure this case is wrapped up in time for Christmas, and she gets plenty of clues and red herrings to keep her guessing. The pace is fast, and the climax answers all our questions. The series’ tone is a bit darker overall, and that’s the case here again as well, but we do have some Christmas fun to help lighten the mood. I really enjoyed the fact that this book is set in Southern California, so, while we get plenty of holiday spirit, we do it without snow. I could relate. The main characters continue to grow, and the new characters are just as strong. With Christmas fast approaching, now is the perfect time to pick up this book.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Mysteries that involve the past can be great when there is a compelling reason for the characters to care about it today. That’s definitely the case here. Rory has a couple of reasons to make sure this case is wrapped up in time for Christmas, and she gets plenty of clues and red herrings to keep her guessing. The pace is fast, and the climax answers all our questions. The series’ tone is a bit darker overall, and that’s the case here again as well, but we do have some Christmas fun to help lighten the mood. I really enjoyed the fact that this book is set in Southern California, so, while we get plenty of holiday spirit, we do it without snow. I could relate. The main characters continue to grow, and the new characters are just as strong. With Christmas fast approaching, now is the perfect time to pick up this book.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
November 23, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Christmas in California should be bliss for Rory Anderson but all the holiday magic is sucked out of the atmosphere when a skeleton is found on the property across the street from her house and another is found on the beach. It appears the deaths are connected and Rory’s father is right in the middle of it. Rory is bound and determined to show her father is not involved. Clearing his name means digging up his past which he has always painted with a pretty broad brush. She learns a lot about her parents but knows her father is no killer.
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This time Rory’s family, friends, and neighbors all get in on the investigation. There were a few funny moments as Rory and the rest of the nosy neighbors tried to see what the big discovery was on their street. When they found out it was a skeleton and again when the skeleton was identified the story took a more somber tone. The situation really tugged on this mother’s heartstrings.
Ms. Johnson has created a wonderful cast of characters. The recurring characters continue to grow while the new characters bring new energy to the story. I really enjoyed reading about how Rory’s parents met and their love story. Rory has the perfect job for an amateur sleuth, working from home, in charge of her own time, allowing her to drop everything at a moment’s notice to follow a lead.
The story was filled with twists and moved along nicely. I loved that the past and present were tied together in a top-notch mystery.
Celebrating Christmas without any snow would be hard for me but it was fun to read about all the festivities. The author does an excellent job of bringing the various scenes to life. The lighted trees lining the pier, the snowman contest on the beach and even the craft sale.
Ghosts of Painting Past is a great addition to this series. It checks all my cozy boxes and left me excited for the next book in the series.
Christmas in California should be bliss for Rory Anderson but all the holiday magic is sucked out of the atmosphere when a skeleton is found on the property across the street from her house and another is found on the beach. It appears the deaths are connected and Rory’s father is right in the middle of it. Rory is bound and determined to show her father is not involved. Clearing his name means digging up his past which he has always painted with a pretty broad brush. She learns a lot about her parents but knows her father is no killer.
____
This time Rory’s family, friends, and neighbors all get in on the investigation. There were a few funny moments as Rory and the rest of the nosy neighbors tried to see what the big discovery was on their street. When they found out it was a skeleton and again when the skeleton was identified the story took a more somber tone. The situation really tugged on this mother’s heartstrings.
Ms. Johnson has created a wonderful cast of characters. The recurring characters continue to grow while the new characters bring new energy to the story. I really enjoyed reading about how Rory’s parents met and their love story. Rory has the perfect job for an amateur sleuth, working from home, in charge of her own time, allowing her to drop everything at a moment’s notice to follow a lead.
The story was filled with twists and moved along nicely. I loved that the past and present were tied together in a top-notch mystery.
Celebrating Christmas without any snow would be hard for me but it was fun to read about all the festivities. The author does an excellent job of bringing the various scenes to life. The lighted trees lining the pier, the snowman contest on the beach and even the craft sale.
Ghosts of Painting Past is a great addition to this series. It checks all my cozy boxes and left me excited for the next book in the series.
September 8, 2019
Rory Anderson is busy preparing her crafts to sale at the craft festival; she noticed that the construction at the house across street has stopped. Rory learns that the workers have unearth a skeleton. After the identification, as Ricky Zeppelin who left years ago to surf around the world.
Rory becomes aware that her Father had a motive and additional information is found incriminating Rory's Father. Among Rory other activities, she set out to clear her Father's name in the 5th installment of the Aurora Anderson mysteries. I HIGHLY recommend this book and series.
Disclosure: Thanks to Henery Press for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Rory becomes aware that her Father had a motive and additional information is found incriminating Rory's Father. Among Rory other activities, she set out to clear her Father's name in the 5th installment of the Aurora Anderson mysteries. I HIGHLY recommend this book and series.
Disclosure: Thanks to Henery Press for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
June 29, 2020
This was such a fun read! From the whimsical and quirky cover to the main character Aurora “Rory”. There is just something about a mystery from the past that gets my reading brain pumping!
There is nothing better than reading a Christmas cozy! You can read them in July or during the season and this book did not let me down!
I love that Rory is trying to clear her father’s name from a crime that happened years and years ago! I love the fact that the author didn’t give the reader the clues to the crime. Everything flowed very nicely and the red herrings were perfectly timed and paced.
This was my first book in the Aurora Anderson series and it won’t be my last!
*I was sent an ARC by the author but my review is my own opinion.
There is nothing better than reading a Christmas cozy! You can read them in July or during the season and this book did not let me down!
I love that Rory is trying to clear her father’s name from a crime that happened years and years ago! I love the fact that the author didn’t give the reader the clues to the crime. Everything flowed very nicely and the red herrings were perfectly timed and paced.
This was my first book in the Aurora Anderson series and it won’t be my last!
*I was sent an ARC by the author but my review is my own opinion.
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November 28, 2019Christmas in Vista Beach in sunny California is filled with sandmen instead of snowmen in the new Aurora Anderson cozy mystery, Ghosts of Painting Past. Rory is working on a programming job in her home office when a body is found across the street during the teardown of the Zeppelin House. Along with the skeleton, a tole-painted heart was also found. Who was the victim? Why was he killed? What other dominos will fall within the town now that the body has been unearthed? When Rory’s father, Swan, is suspected of the crime, Rory must work with her best friend real estate agent, Liz, to solve the mystery. All while not angering her detective boyfriend, Martin.
I utterly adored that the conclusion of Ghosts of Painting Past tied up every loose end of the plot. There were so many different mysteries here that I was impressed that the author provided a clear end to each of them in the last few chapters. While discovering whodunit wasn’t very difficult, I enjoyed meeting the Anderson clan and respected their family’s closeness. Rory’s nervousness about meeting her boyfriend Martin’s parents is understandable and thoroughly relatable. Growing up in my own Los Angeles County beach community, I can assure everyone that it is very realistic (though I never created a sandman—because to Californians, the 50-degree Winter weather on the beach is freezing and best avoided, lol). I loved the characters in this book and will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. 4 stars!
Thanks to Henery Press and Edelweiss+ for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
I utterly adored that the conclusion of Ghosts of Painting Past tied up every loose end of the plot. There were so many different mysteries here that I was impressed that the author provided a clear end to each of them in the last few chapters. While discovering whodunit wasn’t very difficult, I enjoyed meeting the Anderson clan and respected their family’s closeness. Rory’s nervousness about meeting her boyfriend Martin’s parents is understandable and thoroughly relatable. Growing up in my own Los Angeles County beach community, I can assure everyone that it is very realistic (though I never created a sandman—because to Californians, the 50-degree Winter weather on the beach is freezing and best avoided, lol). I loved the characters in this book and will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. 4 stars!
Thanks to Henery Press and Edelweiss+ for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 18, 2019
This book kept me hooked and was an action packed trip to Vista Beach. I enjoyed how the mystery spans multiple decades and multiple generations of Rory’s family are involved. The dynamic between the characters is enjoyable and they seem like people you’d want to be friends with.
June 24, 2020
Ghosts of Painting Past is another wonderful book in the Aurora Anderson Mystery series. I’m so happy to be visiting Vista Beach again. Rory, Liz, Martin, and Rory’s parents are back in a mystery that pulls on the memories of citizens of Vista Beach. Swan and Arika Anderson are swept back into their pasts as high schoolers in Vista Beach when the discovery of a missing classmate rocks the community.
The story's setting is during the Christmas season in Vista Beach, California. As the town is gearing up for the festivities, Rory is assisting in the preparation of the Christmas craft show, the lighting of the trees along the pier, and the annual sand-man contest. As she’s working at home though, a disturbance across the street pulls her away. The property soon becomes a crime scene and past and present collide into an unsavory case for Martin, Rory’s police officer boyfriend.
There are several storylines in Ghosts of Painting Past that are seemingly distinct, but the author takes each thread and magically weaves them all together. Ghosts of Painting Past is engaging, flows well, and keeps the reader on their toes. The red herrings tossed in will keep the reader guessing what exactly is going on and then near the end everything seamlessly falls into place.
Rory is a great character, very compassionate and determined exonerate her father, even if it means taking unsafe and unnecessary chances. Her boyfriend, Detective Martin Green, is a wonderful character and we see a bit more of their romance but also some doubts. The couple has some emotionally charged scenes and I’m happy to see their characters are human and imperfect.
I enjoy the fact their romance doesn't overshadow the other threads in the book. Martin is my favorite character in the book. He's capable and competent, and I love his interactions with Rory, even when things are tense. I loved Liz, Rory's friend, and Arika, Rory's mother. They were unique and added to the story.
The story was a quick and easy read. There wasn't anything confusing or hard to understand. The dialogue between all the characters was fluid and comfortable. The author does a great job creating a world that grabs the reader and pulls them in, keeping them engaged from start to finish. The characters are vibrant and exciting for the most part. I really enjoyed Ghosts of Painting Past.
The story's setting is during the Christmas season in Vista Beach, California. As the town is gearing up for the festivities, Rory is assisting in the preparation of the Christmas craft show, the lighting of the trees along the pier, and the annual sand-man contest. As she’s working at home though, a disturbance across the street pulls her away. The property soon becomes a crime scene and past and present collide into an unsavory case for Martin, Rory’s police officer boyfriend.
There are several storylines in Ghosts of Painting Past that are seemingly distinct, but the author takes each thread and magically weaves them all together. Ghosts of Painting Past is engaging, flows well, and keeps the reader on their toes. The red herrings tossed in will keep the reader guessing what exactly is going on and then near the end everything seamlessly falls into place.
Rory is a great character, very compassionate and determined exonerate her father, even if it means taking unsafe and unnecessary chances. Her boyfriend, Detective Martin Green, is a wonderful character and we see a bit more of their romance but also some doubts. The couple has some emotionally charged scenes and I’m happy to see their characters are human and imperfect.
I enjoy the fact their romance doesn't overshadow the other threads in the book. Martin is my favorite character in the book. He's capable and competent, and I love his interactions with Rory, even when things are tense. I loved Liz, Rory's friend, and Arika, Rory's mother. They were unique and added to the story.
The story was a quick and easy read. There wasn't anything confusing or hard to understand. The dialogue between all the characters was fluid and comfortable. The author does a great job creating a world that grabs the reader and pulls them in, keeping them engaged from start to finish. The characters are vibrant and exciting for the most part. I really enjoyed Ghosts of Painting Past.
June 11, 2025
4 Stars for story, 2 stars for audiobook. Ghosts of Painting Past is the 5th book in the Aurora Anderson Mystery series. Each book in this series can easily be read as a standalone story. It’s Christmastime in Vista Beach, and the magic of the season fills the air as residents enjoy school concerts, a pier lighting ceremony and the annual sand-snowman contest. Rory has been painting ornaments to sell at the local craft fair and joining in on the holiday fun. At the same time, there is a house across the street being torn down, but demolition stops when a body is found. Thirty years earlier, a local boy, Ricky Zeppelin, left town to surf all the best places and catch the highest waves, but was never heard from again. Now it seems that he never left, but was buried in the garden of his parent's home. As Detective Green investigates, it appears that Rory's father and Ricky had a serious argument on the last night he was seen. Fearing that her father will be arrested and charged with the murder, she launches her own investigation to find the real killer and clear her father of suspicion. When another body is found, the investigation ratchets up to find the culprit before someone else dies.
In this seasonal cozy mystery, Rory finds herself right in the middle of a crime investigation, this time, her father the main suspect. A cold case is always more difficult to solve, as memory and witnesses who may no longer be in the area causes problems. There are lots of possible persons of interest, several motives and red herrings that make this one harder to solve. With some drone video, pictures from the past and a few witnesses that have major secrets, Rory is able to bring evidence to the police with her suspicions. This book involves issues of adoption, family secrets, infidelity and greed, which are a bit different for a cozy mystery. I thought the conclusion was well done and the culprit was on my radar. Fortunately there was enough Christmas fun mixed in to keep this from getting too dark. I listened to the audiobook with virtual voice and am not a fan. I will not be looking for others narrated this way.
In this seasonal cozy mystery, Rory finds herself right in the middle of a crime investigation, this time, her father the main suspect. A cold case is always more difficult to solve, as memory and witnesses who may no longer be in the area causes problems. There are lots of possible persons of interest, several motives and red herrings that make this one harder to solve. With some drone video, pictures from the past and a few witnesses that have major secrets, Rory is able to bring evidence to the police with her suspicions. This book involves issues of adoption, family secrets, infidelity and greed, which are a bit different for a cozy mystery. I thought the conclusion was well done and the culprit was on my radar. Fortunately there was enough Christmas fun mixed in to keep this from getting too dark. I listened to the audiobook with virtual voice and am not a fan. I will not be looking for others narrated this way.
November 22, 2021
There's no snow for Christmas in Vista Beach, California, but there still plenty of Christmas cheer to go around - and a murder or two!
Computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast, Rory Anderson, is happily painting ornaments and getting ready for the town's annual craft fair when a skeleton is found during demolition of a house across the street from her own. It turns out to be a high school friend of her dad's who went missing years ago. When an old friend of Rory's dad remembers the two boys fighting the night before the disappearance, her dad becomes the number one suspect. Things go from bad to worse when another body is found at the annual Sandman contest on the beach. Scared that her dad is about to be arrested, Rory and friend Liz dig in to uncover the truth.
The story had a lot of twists and turns. Even though I thought I had figured the mystery out fairly early on, I was never quite sure if I was right. Even though this is book #5 in the series, it was the first one that I've read and it read just fine as a standalone. Though some backstory I've missed was hinted out, there was still enough information that I didn't feel like I was lost as to what was going on. It was a fun Christmas themed read.
Computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast, Rory Anderson, is happily painting ornaments and getting ready for the town's annual craft fair when a skeleton is found during demolition of a house across the street from her own. It turns out to be a high school friend of her dad's who went missing years ago. When an old friend of Rory's dad remembers the two boys fighting the night before the disappearance, her dad becomes the number one suspect. Things go from bad to worse when another body is found at the annual Sandman contest on the beach. Scared that her dad is about to be arrested, Rory and friend Liz dig in to uncover the truth.
The story had a lot of twists and turns. Even though I thought I had figured the mystery out fairly early on, I was never quite sure if I was right. Even though this is book #5 in the series, it was the first one that I've read and it read just fine as a standalone. Though some backstory I've missed was hinted out, there was still enough information that I didn't feel like I was lost as to what was going on. It was a fun Christmas themed read.
February 2, 2022
Ghosts of Painting Past is an intriguing mystery with equally intriguing characters. As Christmas approaches, Rory's plans for holiday fun are stymied as the demolition of a neighboring home uncovers a decades old murder in which her father is implicated.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery and look forward to reading more in the series. This is book number five - I read out of order without trouble but as there are ongoing character relationships it's probably best to read in order.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery and look forward to reading more in the series. This is book number five - I read out of order without trouble but as there are ongoing character relationships it's probably best to read in order.
November 20, 2019
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.Ghosts of Painting Past by Sybil Johnson is a marvelous mystery wrapped around a recently found skeleton and a recent murder in the beach resort town of Vista Beach.
Will Rory find out who is framing her father before it's too late?
Rory Anderson
Rory is our sleuth, point of view character, computer programmer, and she is dating a local detective for the police force. Rory has helped the authorities in the past, but this time, her dad is the main suspect. So, she has to find out who is trying to cover up the 40+-year-old murder before her boyfriend arrests her dad. Rory investigates with the help of her best friend Liz and two of her elderly neighbors. Things keep her busy throughout the book, but with a little luck, the killer is dropped in her lap.
I liked Rory's personality and how she handles certain situations during the story. Also, her friendship with Liz is nice. They really have each other's back. I didn't find much that I don't like about Rory. I loved all of the characters.
Mystery and Story
The mystery is well put together. The clues were laid out perfectly with a few red herrings. I enjoyed the old case parts as well as the more recent additions.
I think my favorite part of the book is where Rory, Liz, and Rory's parents are part of the town's celebrations. They make time to help others, even while they are looking for clues.
Five Stars
I enjoyed the entire story from the mystery to the characters, the setting, and the history of the town. Ms. Johnson does a marvelous job of combining the past and the present. So, I am giving Ghosts of Painting Past by Sybil Johnson five stars. I highly recommend this book as it is brilliant.
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Prize: (3) Kindle Copy Ghosts of Painting Past (An Aurora Anderson Mystery) by Sybil Johnson
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Will Rory find out who is framing her father before it's too late?
Rory Anderson
Rory is our sleuth, point of view character, computer programmer, and she is dating a local detective for the police force. Rory has helped the authorities in the past, but this time, her dad is the main suspect. So, she has to find out who is trying to cover up the 40+-year-old murder before her boyfriend arrests her dad. Rory investigates with the help of her best friend Liz and two of her elderly neighbors. Things keep her busy throughout the book, but with a little luck, the killer is dropped in her lap.
I liked Rory's personality and how she handles certain situations during the story. Also, her friendship with Liz is nice. They really have each other's back. I didn't find much that I don't like about Rory. I loved all of the characters.
Mystery and Story
The mystery is well put together. The clues were laid out perfectly with a few red herrings. I enjoyed the old case parts as well as the more recent additions.
I think my favorite part of the book is where Rory, Liz, and Rory's parents are part of the town's celebrations. They make time to help others, even while they are looking for clues.
Five Stars
I enjoyed the entire story from the mystery to the characters, the setting, and the history of the town. Ms. Johnson does a marvelous job of combining the past and the present. So, I am giving Ghosts of Painting Past by Sybil Johnson five stars. I highly recommend this book as it is brilliant.
Other Books in the Series
Prize: (3) Kindle Copy Ghosts of Painting Past (An Aurora Anderson Mystery) by Sybil Johnson
Tour Organized by:
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This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
December 13, 2019
This was my first book by Sybil Johnson and of the Aurora Anderson Mysteries. It will not be my last. You can paint me a fan. What a great holiday read. If you think you need snow and cold for a mystery or two at Christmas time then this story will change your mind. I enjoyed meeting the characters in this neighborhood. They were funny and warm and friendly. The plot kept me guessing right to the end. Great read.
January 2, 2020
Ghosts of Painting Past is another wonderful book in the Aurora Anderson Mystery series. I’m so happy to be visiting Vista Beach again. Rory, Liz, Martin, and Rory’s parents are back in a mystery that pulls on the memories of citizens of Vista Beach. Swan and Arika Anderson are swept back into their pasts as high schoolers in Vista Beach when the discovery of a missing classmate rocks the community.
The story's setting is during the Christmas season in Vista Beach, California. As the town is gearing up for the festivities, Rory is assisting in the preparation of the Christmas craft show, the lighting of the trees along the pier, and the annual sand-man contest. As she’s working at home though, a disturbance across the street pulls her away. The property soon becomes a crime scene and past and present collide into an unsavory case for Martin, Rory’s police officer boyfriend.
There are several storylines in Ghosts of Painting Past that are seemingly distinct, but the author takes each thread and magically weaves them all together. Ghosts of Painting Past is engaging, flows well, and keeps the reader on their toes. The red herrings tossed in will keep the reader guessing what exactly is going on and then near the end everything seamlessly falls into place.
Rory is a great character, very compassionate and determined exonerate her father, even if it means taking unsafe and unnecessary chances. Her boyfriend, Detective Martin Green, is a wonderful character and we see a bit more of their romance but also some doubts. The couple has some emotionally charged scenes and I’m happy to see their characters are human and imperfect.
I enjoy the fact their romance doesn't overshadow the other threads in the book. Martin is my favorite character in the book. He's capable and competent, and I love his interactions with Rory, even when things are tense. I loved Liz, Rory's friend, and Arika, Rory's mother. They were unique and added to the story.
The story was a quick and easy read. There wasn't anything confusing or hard to understand. The dialogue between all the characters was fluid and comfortable. The author does a great job creating a world that grabs the reader and pulls them in, keeping them engaged from start to finish. The characters are vibrant and exciting for the most part. I really enjoyed Ghosts of Painting Past.
The story's setting is during the Christmas season in Vista Beach, California. As the town is gearing up for the festivities, Rory is assisting in the preparation of the Christmas craft show, the lighting of the trees along the pier, and the annual sand-man contest. As she’s working at home though, a disturbance across the street pulls her away. The property soon becomes a crime scene and past and present collide into an unsavory case for Martin, Rory’s police officer boyfriend.
There are several storylines in Ghosts of Painting Past that are seemingly distinct, but the author takes each thread and magically weaves them all together. Ghosts of Painting Past is engaging, flows well, and keeps the reader on their toes. The red herrings tossed in will keep the reader guessing what exactly is going on and then near the end everything seamlessly falls into place.
Rory is a great character, very compassionate and determined exonerate her father, even if it means taking unsafe and unnecessary chances. Her boyfriend, Detective Martin Green, is a wonderful character and we see a bit more of their romance but also some doubts. The couple has some emotionally charged scenes and I’m happy to see their characters are human and imperfect.
I enjoy the fact their romance doesn't overshadow the other threads in the book. Martin is my favorite character in the book. He's capable and competent, and I love his interactions with Rory, even when things are tense. I loved Liz, Rory's friend, and Arika, Rory's mother. They were unique and added to the story.
The story was a quick and easy read. There wasn't anything confusing or hard to understand. The dialogue between all the characters was fluid and comfortable. The author does a great job creating a world that grabs the reader and pulls them in, keeping them engaged from start to finish. The characters are vibrant and exciting for the most part. I really enjoyed Ghosts of Painting Past.
October 22, 2019
Ricky Zeppelin had finally come home. Ricky had left home twenty years earlier to surf the world’s great beaches. He had identified most of them in those final months before the end of high school, locating decals that he had plastered on his surfboard so others would know his planned destinations as he traveled the world.
And now he had returned home. At least his bones did.
Home for Ricky and the other characters in Sybil Johnson’s newest book is a seaside town in Los Angeles County, California. The discovery of Ricky’s bones raised questions - when did he die, where did he die, how did he die? And did any of the current residents know more than they were saying? Aurora (Rory) Anderson lived across the street from where the bones were discovered. She, her family, her friends, and her neighbors, would soon find themselves in the midst of the decades-old mystery that could and did have deadly consequences.
The story did not stall - moving from one piece of evidence to another. Rory is an independent IT consultant, working from her home, though the events in this book would seem to leave her little time to work at her computer. I expect most contractors would be disappointed in the amount of effort she gives to her primary career. Of course, if Rory spent more time at her keyboard, the events of that Christmas season would not have been nearly as exciting. Though not crucial or distracting from the story, readers should be aware that the story is LBGT friendly.
A well-written cozy mystery that reflects much of 21st-century culture for those living in Southern California. For those looking for a Christmas themed cozy mystery centered on the warm shores of the Pacific Ocean, Ghosts of Painting Past is worth reading this holiday season.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.
And now he had returned home. At least his bones did.
Home for Ricky and the other characters in Sybil Johnson’s newest book is a seaside town in Los Angeles County, California. The discovery of Ricky’s bones raised questions - when did he die, where did he die, how did he die? And did any of the current residents know more than they were saying? Aurora (Rory) Anderson lived across the street from where the bones were discovered. She, her family, her friends, and her neighbors, would soon find themselves in the midst of the decades-old mystery that could and did have deadly consequences.
The story did not stall - moving from one piece of evidence to another. Rory is an independent IT consultant, working from her home, though the events in this book would seem to leave her little time to work at her computer. I expect most contractors would be disappointed in the amount of effort she gives to her primary career. Of course, if Rory spent more time at her keyboard, the events of that Christmas season would not have been nearly as exciting. Though not crucial or distracting from the story, readers should be aware that the story is LBGT friendly.
A well-written cozy mystery that reflects much of 21st-century culture for those living in Southern California. For those looking for a Christmas themed cozy mystery centered on the warm shores of the Pacific Ocean, Ghosts of Painting Past is worth reading this holiday season.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 23, 2019
This is another fun Aurora Anderson mystery. It's a fast-paced story with lots of intrigue and mystery in this small beach community. I was especially fond of the way the older surfing culture was blended into it. Highly recommend.
October 30, 2019
Ghosts of Painting Past by Sybil Johnson is book 5 in the Aurora Anderson Mystery series. This was the first one I have read but was able to get caught up quickly.
Rory is busy getting crafts ready to sell at the annual Christmas craft fair and finishing up the plans for the sand snowman contest when a skull is found on a neighbors property. When it's identified as an old surfing buddy of her dad's, he goes to the top of the lists of suspects. Then when a second body is found in the sand snowman that Rory and her dad had made for example all eyes remain on him. Rory knows in order to have a Merry Christmas she will have to clear her father and find out who the real killer is.
The story has likeable characters, romance and a great setting. There are twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.
It will have you wanting to go to a craft fair.
I was given an ARC for an honest review.
Rory is busy getting crafts ready to sell at the annual Christmas craft fair and finishing up the plans for the sand snowman contest when a skull is found on a neighbors property. When it's identified as an old surfing buddy of her dad's, he goes to the top of the lists of suspects. Then when a second body is found in the sand snowman that Rory and her dad had made for example all eyes remain on him. Rory knows in order to have a Merry Christmas she will have to clear her father and find out who the real killer is.
The story has likeable characters, romance and a great setting. There are twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.
It will have you wanting to go to a craft fair.
I was given an ARC for an honest review.
November 19, 2019
A nice and well written cozy mystery, engrossing and entertaining.
It's the first I read in this series and won't surely be the last as I appreciated the plot and the cast of characters.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and even if I guessed the culprit quite soon part of the solution came as a surprise.
The cast of characters is likeable and the setting interesting.
I appreciated the fact that Rory is an independent IT consultant, something that is not the usual baker or shop owner.
A good read, recommended.
Many thanks to Henery Press and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's the first I read in this series and won't surely be the last as I appreciated the plot and the cast of characters.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and even if I guessed the culprit quite soon part of the solution came as a surprise.
The cast of characters is likeable and the setting interesting.
I appreciated the fact that Rory is an independent IT consultant, something that is not the usual baker or shop owner.
A good read, recommended.
Many thanks to Henery Press and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
January 9, 2020
Ghosts of Painting Past is the first book I've read by this author and it definitely won't be the last! It's getting close to Christmas in the town of Vista Beach and Aurora Anderson is getting ready for the local craft fair. When the house across the street is torn down and a skeleton is found gossip runs rampant. When the identity is made known and Aurora's father is being looked at as a suspect she starts her own investigation. The characters are well written and the mystery is written in a way that will have you turning the pages. Highly recommend!
December 1, 2019
Rory is a marvelous amateur sluth
Solving a murder that took place 25 years ago and one in real time have Rory and Friends very busy. The police are stymied, too. Then it all comes together....
Ms. Johnson has created very after characters and a very enjoyable series.
Solving a murder that took place 25 years ago and one in real time have Rory and Friends very busy. The police are stymied, too. Then it all comes together....
Ms. Johnson has created very after characters and a very enjoyable series.
October 4, 2019
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this and really enjoyed it. I already can't wait for the next in the series!
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