In Halo, Georgia, folks know Cherry Tucker as big in mouth, small in stature, and able to sketch a portrait faster than buckshot rips from a ten gauge — but commissions are scarce. So when the well-heeled Branson family wants to memorialize their murdered son in a coffin portrait, Cherry scrambles to win their patronage from her small town rival.
As the clock ticks toward the deadline, Cherry faces more trouble than just a controversial subject. Between ex-boyfriends, her flaky family, an illegal gambling ring, and outwitting a killer on a spree, Cherry finds herself painted into a corner she’ll be lucky to survive.
Larissa loves small town characters with big attitudes, particularly sassy women with a penchant for trouble. Her Cherry Tucker Mystery series, beginning with PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (Henery Press), received a 5/5 Star review from the Examiner.com, is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, a 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial finalist. The second book, STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW, arrives in May 2013 followed by HIJACK IN ABSTRACT. A Cherry Tucker prequel will appear in a December 2013 mystery anthology, THE HEARTACHE MOTEL.
After moving around the midwest, the South and Japan, Larissa now lives in Georgia with her husband, daughters, and Biscuit, a Cairn Terrier. When she’s not writing about Southern fried chicken, she writes about Asian fried chicken at her blog about life as an ex-expat at http://theexpatreturneth.blogspot.com. You can find Larissa chatting on Facebook on her author page; on Twitter as RisWrites; on her website and on Goodreads. She loves pinning on her Cherry Tucker and other boards at Pinterest.
Cherry Tucker is smart, sassy and talented. Right from the beginning, I was drawn in by her infectious attitude. She’s definitely one of my favorite characters! Cherry is a struggling artist in the tiny town she grew up in. When she hears that a former classmate has passed away, and his stepmother wants a portrait painted of him, Cherry jumps at the chance. Of course, it’s not that simple. Things get complicated when Cherry is trying to paint the portrait after hours in the funeral home, and she gets knocked unconscious. The family starts to think that she was trying to rob them of something. Cherry also has to deal with ex-boyfriends (one of whom is the stepbrother of the deceased).
This story has it all: a cozy, small-town feel; an awesome main character; a great mystery. This is a wonderful cozy and I’m really looking forward to reading the next installment in the Cherry Tucker series.
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Sandie
Sounds like a fantastic read!
Larissa Reinhart
Thanks Sandie! I hope you enjoy Cherry Tucker. She’s a hoot to write.
Larissa Reinhart
Hi Brooke,
Thanks so much for having Portrait on your blog today. I’m so glad you enjoyed Cherry! She’s a lot of fun to write. Her second book, Still Life in Brunswick Stew, comes out May 21!
Your blog is adorable, btw. I love your squeezy cat picture!
Brooke
You’re welcome, Larissa! Thank you so much for creating a great series. I love my squeezy cat 🙂
Larissa Reinhart
I grew up with a black Siamese named Tippy. Your cat is adorbs!
Brooke
Thank you! Mine is Cullen 🙂
Kim
We did an interview with Larissa recently! She’s had quite the interesting life. You can read it here.