“Easier Dead Than Drawn” is the new book by Bailee Abbott
“Easier Dead Than Drawn,” the second part of the Paint by Murder crime series by Green author Bailee Abbott, continues the combination of art and murder in a small New York town.
A floating amphitheater was important to Whisper Cove’s tourism economy but didn’t bring in enough money, so it was sold to Mayville, another tourist town on Lake Chautauqua. Now it’s back, thanks to a town promoter who insists business will be better this time and who has invested his own money in the project.
Chloe Abbington owns the art studio Paint with a View with her sister Izzie. She recommended that the city commission Lana, a famous artist and friend, to paint a mural promoting the theater. Some residents are unhappy with this decision, nor with the return of the amphitheater, fearing the extra traffic and noise will disrupt their peaceful community.
Lana arrives with her boyfriend Nick and two assistants. They are doing a little groundwork when the ladder Lana is using collapses, although she is not injured. The team calls it a day and agrees to meet up for drinks later, but Lana stays to continue working. When Chloe goes to pick her up, she finds Lana on the floor next to the mural with a broken neck.
Chloe’s ex-boyfriend is getting married; although Chloe has a new lover, she’s not sure what to make of it. Yet he may be the only person who isn’t suspected – including Chloe herself. The small-town setting, with its bickering and political disputes, is well-drawn, as is the relationship between Chloe and Izzie. Her employee Willow completes the detective trio (they like to use the word “detective work”).
“Easier Dead Than Drawn” (238 pages, softcover) costs $16.95 from Level Best Books. Bailee Abbott also writes the Sierra Pines crime series about a bed and breakfast in a ski resort under her real name Kathryn Long.
“Pizza, cucumber and apple pie”
“Pizza, Pickles and Apple Pie: The Stories Behind the Food We Love,” a middle-grade nonfiction book by Columbus cartoonist David Rickert, is a mix of history, silly social studies and a few poop jokes.
Rickert has selected a dozen common foods and traced their origins, stretching back as far as 5,000 years to Native Americans who would throw corn kernels into a fire and wait for them to pop. The evolution of commercial popcorn, pizza, ice cream and even salad is depicted in colorful illustrations. (Did you know that Thomas Jefferson loved waffles so much that he hosted “waffle frolics”?)
Rickert points out that various foods, such as breakfast cereals and yogurt, became more popular and unhealthier when manufacturers began adding sugar and artificial flavors.
The multicultural history tidbits are followed by information about training to become a food historian and the creation of a food comic, as well as a few recipes.
“Pizza, Pickles and Apple Pie” (128 pages, hardcover) costs $19.99 from Kane Press and is recommended for ages 8 to 12. A second book, “Checkups, Shots and Robots: True Stories Behind How Doctors Treat Us,” is planned for November.
Events
The William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage Series has announced its 2024-2025 season. Writers include Julia Quinn (the “Bridgerton” series), Abraham Verghese (“Cutting for Stone”), Shelby Van Pelt (“Remarkably Bright Creatures”) and Erik Larson (“The Devil in the White City”). Series tickets are $175; individual event tickets are $35 and go on sale later in the season. Events will be held at Case Western Reserve University’s Maltz Performing Arts Center. Go to https://case.edu/maltzcenter.
Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library (Willoughby Hills branch, 35400 Chardon Road): Elizabeth Acevedo will read from “The Poet X,” winner of the National Book Award and a Carnegie Medal, and speak about “The Power of Poetry” in a virtual event for grades 9-12, Tuesday from 2-3 p.m. From 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Gail Bellamy will sign “Cleveland Summertime Memories.” Register at we247.org.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Parma Heights branch, 6206 Pearl Road): Vince Guerrieri speaks about “Ten-Cent Beer Night: A Date That Will Be Remembered in Shame,” Tuesday, 7 to 8 p.m. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Ashland Public Library (224 Claremont Ave.): Allison Lawrentz Barnhart will speak on “The Record Keeper: Uncovering a Family Secret in the Age of Genetic Genealogy” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Register at aaashland.lib.oh.us.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Middleburg Heights branch, 16699 Bagley Road): Douglas Westerbeke will speak about his debut novel, “A Short Walk Through a Wide World,” on Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Lakewood Public Library (15425 Detroit Ave.): LaTonya Fenderson-Warren speaks about “Give Me Flowers While I’m Here” on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Register at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org.
Fireside Bookstore (29 N. Franklin Street, Chagrin Falls): The 2024 Authors’ Festival features 21 authors, seven daily Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. See the list at firesidebookshop.com.
UnBar Café (12635 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights): Lamont Jones, author of “The Gist of Bid Whist: The Culturally Rich Card Game from Black America,” will discuss the history of the card game with University of Kentucky professor Adam Banks on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and include a copy of the game, a deck of cards and a one-hour lesson.
Learned Owl Bookstore (204 N. Main St., Hudson): Ralph Davila signs “When Willie Got His Wheels,” Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Barnes & Noble (28801 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere): Pennsylvania author Paula Panariello will sign copies of her historical novel “The Timepiece,” Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m.
Music Box Supper Club (1148 Main Ave., Cleveland): Janice and Mike Olszewski join radio host Jim LaBarbara and former Cramps drummer Miriam Linna in the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party series to discuss “Mad Daddy: Myers, Mintz and the Moondog and how Cleveland, Ohio, changed rock radio” Saturday at 2 p.m. Dinner is $25; the talk is free. Visit musicboxcle.com.
Advance notice of a guaranteed sold-out event: Thriller author Brad Thor (“The Last Patriot”) will speak about his new spy novel, “Shadow of Doubt,” at the Parma-Snow branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library on August 7. The $30 admission price includes a signed copy of the book. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Email information about books of local interest and event announcements to [email protected] at least two weeks in advance. Barbara McIntyre tweets at @BarbaraMcI.
Book talk: Kate Burkholder investigates gruesome crime in “The Burning”
Book talk: “Silver Light & Red” is a gripping story about Native American teenagers
Chris Jericho on his recent CMLL appearance
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/ZQOKHC4AARD7NEHANK45PTGVBA.jpg "Batavia Woman’s Club hosts shopping event to fight hunger – Shaw Local")
Batavia Woman’s Club hosts shopping event to fight hunger – Shaw Local
Jon Hardy of MEXICAN APE-LORD – “Everyone hates the sound of his voice”
About The Author
