An elegant woman named Avyanna Menken stops by Gabriella Alegré’s cart and asks her to draw a portrait of her. Gabriella’s morning was interrupted but Avyanna was impressed with the portrait. Gabriella caught Avyanna’s elbow and helped her to sit down when she lost her balance and almost fell over. Avyanna had five daughters and asked Gabriella to paint a family portrait in oils. Gabriella agrees, and they arrange for her to take her friend Amara to dinner so that Gabriella can meet everyone. At Menken’s residence, Gabriella asks to use the bathroom and finds Avyanna on the floor. Gabriella investigates Avyanna’s death in Portrait of a Murder: A Gabriella Alegré Mystery by Bob Seay.

Portrait of a Murder: A Gabriella Alegré Mystery by Bob Seay is a short read but is packed full of action. There was so much happening that I could not put it down, not even for a minute. I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. It kept my attention from the start. The plot is exciting and with so many twists and turns, there was never a dull moment. The characters were strong and well-developed. Every character’s background was described in detail. I could relate to them in that they could have been any of my friends. Bob Seay is a talented writer and the story had all the components that are needed to be a success.

Portrait of a Murder is the second volume of the Gabriella Alegré Mystery series by Bob Seay. After helping solve the murder of a fellow busker, Gabriella Alegré is back to drawing caricatures and portraits on Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado. While her boyfriend Noah is imploring her to move in with him, her landlord has basically put out an eviction notice. But her fortunes may have at last changed for the better when she is approached by Avyanna Menkin, one of the wealthiest women in Boulder, who asks her to draw a family portrait while her five daughters are in town. However, things take a turn for the worse when Avyanna dies under suspicious circumstances. Committed to drawing the family portrait, Gabriella must now also keep an eye on a potential killer. But doing so may put her own life at risk.

Portrait of a Murder is yet another scintillating addition to the Gabriella Alegré Mystery series. Filled with catchy dialogue, vibrant characters, and a captivating plot with timely reveals that will keep your eyes glued to the pages, Bob Seay's masterful narrative doesn't leave room for a single ounce of fat. The plot is tightly paced, with just the right number of expository scenes to provide backstories of some secondary yet important characters. Gabriella and Amara's friendship continues to be one of my favorite things about this series, and their banter and quick back and forth in this installment do not disappoint. Recommended to readers who love whodunnit murder mysteries.

Gabriella Alegré was a portrait and caricature artist who struggled to make a living, but that wasn’t all. She was also an amateur sleuth with a penchant for finding dead bodies and solving murders. Gabriella had moved to Boulder, where she worked as an artist on Pearl Street, scraping pennies together. The wealthy Avyanna Menken approached Gabriella to paint a family portrait, which was a financial breakthrough for the artist. However, she first had to visit Avyanna’s home to meet her family. Things went south when Gabriella found Avyanna dead at home. Her life was also on the line. Who killed Avyanna? Gabriella must expose the murderer before she is silenced in Portrait of a Murder: A Gabriella Alegré Mystery, Vol. 2 by Bob Seay.

Portrait of a Murder by Bob Seay was fun to read, concise, and filled with laughter, drama, and many lessons. I loved the themes, brilliant storyline, strong plot, and dominant characters. For a short book, the characters were well developed, the story had depth, and the plot twists were well executed. The enemy lives within, and they hide in plain sight. I never suspected who the murderer was because Destiny, Jerica, Alyssa, Valena, Theresa, and Carson all had motives. They all appeared to be guilty as well. Greed blurs the lines of familial loyalty and turns even saints into monsters. I loved the dialog, transitions, and suspense. Bob is a talented writer, and I cannot wait for Gabriella’s future discoveries. Thank you, Bob, for a beautiful book.