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Secret of the Painted Lady (Danger Cove Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,119 ratings

From USA Today bestselling authors Christina A. Burke and Elizabeth Ashby comes the first book in an exciting multi-author series...

If these walls could talk...they'd scream murder.

Alex Jordan is the owner of Finials and Facades Renovation and Restoration Services, making her able to pursue her love of restoring Victorian-style homes in the town of Danger Cove. But her recent acquisition of the stately Marlton House has led to a showdown with town real estate mogul, and now she has needs to restore the old house and flip it for a profit as quickly as possible. But Alex gets more than she bargained for when a Hawaiian shirt-clad tourist with a bullet in his head turns up in the home's bathtub. Pairing up with the unlikely partner of the town florist, George Fontaine, Alex vows to solve the murder before her flip flops

As Alex worries over deadlines, she stumbles across another body on the cliffs of Danger Cove. However, this "body" is a super-sexy man with amnesia...or so he says. Throw in a stash of stolen diamonds, a matchmaking grandmother, a foulmouthed parrot, and a mysterious killer with Alex in his sights, and Alex is in a race against time to salvage the job, solve the murder, and save her own life.

What critics are saying about the Danger Cove Mysteries:

"I am a frequent visitor to Danger Cove, and eager to stay for a long time. Clever and Engaging Fun!"
~ Kings River Life Magazine

"Secret of the Painted Lady is one funny read! I started reading and was just sucked right in...a great mystery with twist and turns."
~ Night Owl Reviews

"The Danger Cove series continues to entertain as it showcases the talent of the GHP writers. Each book reads well as a stand-alone but is better in the serial context!"
~ Authors on the Air

About Danger Cove:
Welcome to Danger Cove! We're a sleepy little town in the Pacific Northwest and home to renowned mystery novelist, Elizabeth Ashby. While Elizabeth swears the stories she writes are fiction, you can find the inspiration for her murderous tales all over Danger Cove...from the intriguing cast of local characters to the places to eat, play, and explore in Danger Cove.

The Danger Cove Mysteries follows different heroines in the small town of Danger Cove. Enjoy murder, love, and laughter in each book about different heroines, each one written by a different author. Books in this series can be read in any order!

Rating: This story does not contain any graphic violence, language, or sexual encounters. Its rating would be similar to PG-13 or what you would find on a Hallmark Channel movie or TV series.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christina wrote her first novel, a time-travel romance, more than twenty years ago. Writing fell by the wayside as family and career obligations took over. She earned advanced degrees in business, taught for colleges, managed staffing agencies, and started several entrepreneurial ventures, until she found her way back to fiction writing through the unlikely avenue of metastatic breast cancer. She believes laughter is the best medicine and hopes her readers find a cure for what ails them following the wacky antics of the characters she creates. Christina, her husband, Jim, and their two children live in Dover, Delaware with the family sidekick, a shitzu-poodle mix named Max.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00UXX3R68
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing (March 18, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 18, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4622 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 233 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,119 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,119 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story intriguing and hard to put down. They enjoyed the book and found it enjoyable and worth reading. The characters were great and colorful, staying true to their personalities throughout the book. The story was entertaining with all the twists and turns that keep them interested. The humor was delightful and lighthearted, making them laugh out loud every few pages. Readers appreciated the Victorian architecture and the fast-paced story. Overall, they found the book enjoyable and a nice who-dunnit along the lines of Agatha Christie's works.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

73 customers mention "Twists"73 positive0 negative

Customers find the story interesting and hard to put down. They say it's a fun mystery with relatable characters that keeps you guessing until the end. The story is told in first-person and includes other characters from the series.

"This was so interesting to read due to the many different aspects of this whole story...." Read more

"Pretty good cozy mystery. The setting and the Victorian architecture made it interesting...." Read more

"...The stories are entertaining, enjoyable, and funny. Each story is told in the first person and includes other characters from the series...." Read more

"...It is a complete story with just hints to keep you wanting to read the next story when it comes out, namely what will we discover about George?..." Read more

72 customers mention "Readability"72 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book. They found the stories entertaining and funny, making it a fun, easy summer read. The lead character was described as witty and talented.

"This was so interesting to read due to the many different aspects of this whole story...." Read more

"...The stories are entertaining, enjoyable, and funny. Each story is told in the first person and includes other characters from the series...." Read more

"...MC stays true to her personality throughout the whole book and is a delight...." Read more

"Good book. Moved a little slow at first but then picked up. Something in many books that always puzzles me:..."threw back his head and laughed."..." Read more

51 customers mention "Character development"51 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters' development. They find the heroine unique and true to her personality throughout the book. The characters are described as colorful, suspenseful, and humorous.

"...No, I'm not giving away any secrets, but he sure is a smooooooth character! I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I did." Read more

"...Each story is told in the first person and includes other characters from the series...." Read more

"...But this book, was wonderful. The MC stays true to her personality throughout the whole book and is a delight...." Read more

"Fun cozy. Pretty light, easy read. Fairly Interesting plot and characters. I got it free thru bookbub and am happy to have read it." Read more

36 customers mention "Fun story"36 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging story with its twists and turns. They find it fun to see the characters interacting and spilling secrets. The plot keeps readers turning pages until the end.

"...The stories are entertaining, enjoyable, and funny. Each story is told in the first person and includes other characters from the series...." Read more

"...the final act (on a dark and stormy night natch), it was fun to see them all interacting and spilling their secrets...." Read more

"Fun cozy. Pretty light, easy read. Fairly Interesting plot and characters. I got it free thru bookbub and am happy to have read it." Read more

"...This book is fun with a good mystery. It gets you from the start and keeps you guessing to the end...." Read more

32 customers mention "Humor"32 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find it delightful and laugh out loud frequently. The writing is lighthearted and refreshing, with witty and sarcastic characters. The book is described as a cute, quick read that makes them want to read more about Danger Cove.

"...He provides wonderful comic relief as well as some creepy moments when he makes his negative feelings about certain people known.)..." Read more

"Fun cozy. Pretty light, easy read. Fairly Interesting plot and characters. I got it free thru bookbub and am happy to have read it." Read more

"...She’s smart, talented, and has a good sense of humor. Flower shop owner George is a great sidekick...." Read more

"...the main characters and the secondary characters and found the humor delightful...." Read more

12 customers mention "Architecture"12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the Victorian architecture in the book. They find the setting and renovation of Victorian homes interesting. The story is described as lovely, suspenseful, and cozy.

"Pretty good cozy mystery. The setting and the Victorian architecture made it interesting...." Read more

"...were the characterizations. They were so vivid and unique, even Alex's grandmother's bird had so much personality!..." Read more

"...The history of the area and the type of architecture made for an interesting read...." Read more

"Chose to read this because of my love of mysteries and architecture and was not disappointed...." Read more

7 customers mention "Pace"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's fast pace and the change of pace between the main protagonists. They find the story moving at a good pace.

"I enjoyed the characters and the setting, and the story moved at a good pace. There were good twis with characters and their secrets, too!..." Read more

"This story was a very good mystery. The plot was fast moving and full of twists and turns...." Read more

"...The gender twist of the two main protagonists was a delightful change of pace. Loved it." Read more

"...It caught me in the first chapter. I love all of the characters. It went too fast. I'm ready for the next one!" Read more

5 customers mention "Likability"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's characters. They find the main and secondary characters likable, and the mystery interesting.

"...Flower shop owner George is a great sidekick. He’s just adorable, and as her Gram keeps telling her, he’s single, too...." Read more

"...I love the good guys, both the main characters and the secondary characters and found the humor delightful...." Read more

"...I found the main character, Alex, to be entertaining and likeable, as well as the other characters in the book...." Read more

"...One of the best who-dun-its along the line of Agatha Christie." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2024
    This was so interesting to read due to the many different aspects of this whole story. I enjoyed having to put the book down occasionally so I could go over the characters and see how each one interacted with each other, such as how they added to, subtracted from, or were involved in this story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Keep an eye on George. No, I'm not giving away any secrets, but he sure is a smooooooth character! I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2021
    Pretty good cozy mystery. The setting and the Victorian architecture made it interesting.
    The Painted Lady is an old Victorian home being restored and flipped. This book involves
    murder, theft, and people being other than they seem.
    Danger Cove is the small town setting of this series. Apparently each book is written
    by a local author , Ms. Ashby, along with various co-authors, highlighting a different
    main character— so, Alex Jordon, MC of the first book isn’t the MC of the second, etc.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2022
    I have read most of this series by Elizabeth Ashby and her friends. Very few were read in consecutive order. I've decided to treat myself and restart from the beginning with the books I have. I hope to fill in the missing stories by the time I reach their numbers.

    Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but more is gained by reading as many as possible. The stories are entertaining, enjoyable, and funny. Each story is told in the first person and includes other characters from the series.

    It's interesting to get the point of view of characters I've met in other books, but didn't hear their voice before. Relationships develop from book to book. Its all so much fun!

    Having read a later story of the main characters in this book, I understand that book so much better. This chance to reread the series in order is a wonderful gift to myself.

    Grab any book in this series and start now!! The varied authors are great! It will be a plus to your day!!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2024
    I have recently read the first few books in 2 different series that were supposed to be funny romance with a side of mystery. They failed miserably. They tried too hard to be zany and madcap and the MC was always doing things that made her TSTL. But this book, was wonderful. The MC stays true to her personality throughout the whole book and is a delight. The funny things that happen are enough to keep the book light but not so much that you can't keep it within the realm of plausible. Even the age old trope of gathering all the suspects together at the end did not ruin the book. It is a complete story with just hints to keep you wanting to read the next story when it comes out, namely what will we discover about George? Definitely recommend.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2024
    I have never read these authors…this was a real fun first read! And I love old houses though I would never buy one! And the twists and turn. I will read the 2nd book!
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2022
    Good book. Moved a little slow at first but then picked up. Something in many books that always puzzles me:..."threw back his head and laughed." I've never seen anyone throw back his head and laugh.

    A few too many commas. "Lie low," and "lay low." Other than those few things, very well written.

    Cookie-cutter confession by the killer (as in many books), going into great detail about how he/she committed the crime.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2015
    This book grabbed me on the very first page. I loved the author's voice (She's equally adept at descriptive prose and dialogue.) and was instantly drawn into the story. Tough, independent, and preferring work boots to stilettos, old home restorer Alex Jordan is a far cry from your typical girly girl heroine, which made the story feel fresh. Alex works in a male-dominated field and doesn't shy away from manual labor or any of the icky stuff she runs into while doing renos. At least not until she finds a dead body in the bathtub of the Victorian house she just bought.

    That murder and its subsequent investigation impede Alex's plan to restore and flip the house, so she takes it upon herself to figure out what happened to the victim. Adding to the mystery is the unconscious man Alex pulls from the ocean. He can't remember who he is or what he's doing in Danger Cove (Convenient!), but Alex can't help wondering if he's somehow tied to the murder. She also can't help noticing how gorgeous he is. Mr. Amnesia isn't the only man who figures into Alex's life/investigation. Her flirty neighborhood florist, George, is very keen on helping her find the murderer, and his motives aren't altogether clear. Alex is simultaneously suspicious and attracted to both men. Are they good guys, or bad? You'll have to read the book to find out!

    What I enjoyed most about Secret of the Painted Lady aside from the peek behind the curtain of what goes on during a house reno (No surprise there since I can't get enough HGTV!) were the characterizations. They were so vivid and unique, even Alex's grandmother's bird had so much personality! (He provides wonderful comic relief as well as some creepy moments when he makes his negative feelings about certain people known.) When all the suspects are rounded up in the final act (on a dark and stormy night natch), it was fun to see them all interacting and spilling their secrets.

    The story concludes in a satisfying way, but it definitely left me eager for more. I look forward to the next Danger Cove Renovation Mystery and will be sure to check out more of Christina A. Burke's work. If you're a fan of cozies with entertaining dashes of humor and romance, add this one to your TBR pile!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2015
    Fun cozy. Pretty light, easy read. Fairly Interesting plot and characters. I got it free thru bookbub and am happy to have read it.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Nikkib
    5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't put this book down...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2022
    1st in a new series of cozy mysteries to me, with new authors I've not read before. If the following books are as good as this was then I'm going to love them. I read the 1st book in 2 sittings, I couldn't put it down.

    Set in Danger Cove, Seattle, this book centers around Alex, a renovations expert who buys run down houses and does them sympathetically, to sell on. She doesn't expect to find a body in the bath tub when she buys her latest project.

    There's lost property, bats, a dishy florist and am amnesiac man in this book.

    I've already downloaded the 2nd book, hope it lives up to the 1st book.
  • Ray
    5.0 out of 5 stars Building a future
    Reviewed in Australia on June 29, 2022
    A good murder mystery,with twists and turns at every stage.Loved the bird and his involvement.Lots of villains and lots of heroes too.A great outcome for our heroine.
  • Brenda Bee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on May 12, 2015
    I really enjoyed this book ... Great twist with interesting characters.
  • Julie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Flip or flop
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2024
    I enjoyed this book. There was a lot going on with the house restoration disasters, the stranger with amnesia, the missing diamonds and the murder. It was nicely woven together to keep you either chuckling or guessing. The mystery was wrapped up rather differently and made me think of a black and white noir film. I must admit I had no clue who Nick and Nora Charles were and had to Google them as they were mentioned so much. I had my suspicious when everybody sat down for dinner who the killer was but the clues were subtle and had me guessing for a while. The love triangle or which may she should trust got a bit tedious but I liked the characters and knew who I was rooting for. Of course the parrot stole the show. This series of books are written by different authors and about different characters but I would look out for more books involving Mr and Mrs Charles, sorry Alex and her man friend.
    When Alex buys a house unseen to refurbish and sell, she had no idea she was buying a house with a dead body in the bathtub. Then she stumbles over a man in the water suffering from amnesia. Are the two strangers connected? Alex hopes not because her grandmother asks him to stay with them while he tries to recover his memory. Alex joins forces with the local florist, who has his own secrets to hide, when the police seem to think she was involved in the murder. The local developer also seems very interested in her new house and keeps getting in her way. Can she finish the house in order to sell it and find a killer? She might if she figure out who to trust and who the diamonds everybody is looking for are.
  • Olivia
    4.0 out of 5 stars Left wanting more
    Reviewed in Australia on May 10, 2015
    I so wish another book was to come out with these characters. But I have read the next overview of the next book and it doesn't seem that that will happen. It was a lovely story non the less.

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