Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artistic License to Kill | 2021 | Paula Darnell | Buy |
| 2 | Vanished into Plein Air | 2021 | Paula Darnell | Buy |
| 3 | Hemlock for the Holidays | 2021 | Paula Darnell | Buy |
| 4 | Killer Art in the Park | 2023 | Paula Darnell | Buy |
| 5 | Halloween Hue-Dunit | 2024 | Paula Darnell | Buy |
The Fine Art Mystery series is Paula Darnell’s primary ongoing work, running five books from 2021 to 2024. The protagonist is a painter whose involvement in the local art community keeps putting her at the scene of crimes. Artistic License to Kill launched the series, and subsequent entries like Vanished into Plein Air, Hemlock for the Holidays, and Killer Art in the Park use art-world settings as backdrops for murder mysteries.
The series title tips its hand about what readers can expect: cozy mysteries set in the fine art world, where gallery openings, outdoor painting events, and art festivals become the scenes of crime. Halloween Hue-Dunit (2024) is the most recent entry, continuing Darnell’s approach of pairing artistic settings with punny titles and lighthearted sleuthing.