Paint by Murder — Kate Kingsbury

MEET ELIZABETH HARTLEIGH COMPTON. SHE'S THE HOUSE-RICH, MONEY-POOR KEEPER OF THE MANOR--AND KEEPER OF THE PEACE...

In WWII England, the quiet village of Sitting Marsh is faced with food rations and fear for loved ones. But Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton, lady of the Manor House, stubbornly insists that life must go on. Sitting Marsh residents depend on Elizabeth to make sure things go smoothly. Which means everything from sorting out gossip to solving the occasional murder...

Lady Elizabeth can't imagine who could have killed her tenant, Pr Basil Thorncroft. A quiet, seemingly harmless man, he spent most of his time painting sunsets and seascapes near the village cliffs. He didn't like to talk about himself, but that doesn't mean he had a dark secret. Or does it? Meanwhile, when several mysterious strangers are spotted in town, the Housewives League is convinced there is an invasion of German spies. It's up to Elizabeth to quiet the rumors and uncover the truth about Thorncroft's death before Sitting Marsh becomes a sitting duck for more trouble...