Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon

"Still Knife Painting" by Cheryl Hollon is the first book in a new series, and it does not disappoint! First, the story is set in beautiful, mountainous Kentucky. The heroine, Miranda, has moved into her late uncle's home, which she has just inherited. An artist by trade, she starts a new business involving a scenic hike, an outdoor painting class at a striking overview, and a traditional southern meal combined with moonshine cocktail pairings. I loved all the descriptions of the area, as well as the details about how to paint a landscape provided as Miranda taught her classes. A local ranger stops by during each class to share information about the area and answer questions; I learned a lot from that as well. Another thing I learned about was MOOONSHINE COCKTAILS! Growing up in an area with a plentiful supply of the beverage, I had never realized all the different things that could be done with it cocktail-wise. Recipes are included, and I'll definitely be trying some as soon as possible. (Southern food recipes are included as well.) Miranda as a character is a bit unique within the cozy genre. She is a bit of an introvert, and knows this about herself. I enjoyed watching her try to overcome this as she ran her business and investigated the murder. Unlike most cozy heroines, she's not always nice, either. She often snaps at people, or says things that are rude or inappropriate. Sometimes she is aware of this, sometimes not. She's a nice person overall, but I like the fact that she's not perfect and has areas of her personality to improve on as the series moves forward. These flaws make her seem more like a real person. I also appreciated the well-written mystery storyline. There are plenty of suspects, between the locals and the tourists who attend Miranda's "Paint and Shine" tours. It was interesting to observe Miranda trying to learn more about everyone to help solve the mystery. I liked the way she used her artistic talent and highly-observant nature to help in her investigation. Another unique aspect of this book is the rivalry between the local sheriff and his department vs. the "big city" law enforcement contingent from Lexington. I hope the issues between the two lead police characters are given even more attention in upcoming books. Unusual in a cozy, we also get to see part of the story from the point of view of law enforcement, making the police officers into real characters, not just caricatures. I enjoyed this perspective, and hope this feature continues going forward. I must also mention Miranda's adorable rescue puppy Sandy. The puppy antics are lots of fun, and I liked that Miranda actually thinks about what's best for Sandy when she heads out for various reasons. All in all, five out of five yummy slices of provolone!