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kristirose's review against another edition
4.0
When there is a murder in the small town of Excelsior, Minnesota during the Halloween season, the local residents rush to blame their local Wiccan and microbrewery owner, Leona Cunningham. However, needwork store owner, Betsy Devonshire, is convinced that her friend is innocent. As the suspicions against Leona escalate, Betsy rushes to discover the identity of the true culprit.
When I began this book, I didn't really know what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised. I really liked the story. It was well written. While the prejudice in the town against Leona bothered me, I think that it was presented in a very realistic manner. I loved how Betsy and Godwin stood up for their friend. The mystery was interesting. I did not put the pieces of the puzzle together until it was revealed. Basically, I think that it is another great installment of the Needlecraft Mystery series.
When I began this book, I didn't really know what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised. I really liked the story. It was well written. While the prejudice in the town against Leona bothered me, I think that it was presented in a very realistic manner. I loved how Betsy and Godwin stood up for their friend. The mystery was interesting. I did not put the pieces of the puzzle together until it was revealed. Basically, I think that it is another great installment of the Needlecraft Mystery series.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
This was a busy book and perfect for my commute. Plenty to pay attnetion to and keep straight but not so much as to be distracting. All fell into a line as the story went on.
I like that there is a sort of main character, Betsey Devonshire, is a woman of substance. She has her own business, Crewel World, and she has a good set of friends. Though there's a main character of sorts, the story is told through many eyes and voices. Godwin and Leona might be my favorites. Godwin works for Betsey and Leona owns the local brewpub. Godwin is a sweetie looking for love for himself and for Betsey. Leona is Wiccan and wants Betsey to find out how a man died and have the rumors stop about her casting a curse on him.
Betsey follows the clues, makes mistakes, straightens up and keeps moving along. Not always forward or in a straight line, it's sometimes a crooked backwards direction. But she keeps trying. She wants to help her friend.
There are bits of needlework spread out through the book and it makes me want to get back to my cross-stitch. I enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed this book.
I can definitely recommend this book and this author. I look forward to more from this series.
I like that there is a sort of main character, Betsey Devonshire, is a woman of substance. She has her own business, Crewel World, and she has a good set of friends. Though there's a main character of sorts, the story is told through many eyes and voices. Godwin and Leona might be my favorites. Godwin works for Betsey and Leona owns the local brewpub. Godwin is a sweetie looking for love for himself and for Betsey. Leona is Wiccan and wants Betsey to find out how a man died and have the rumors stop about her casting a curse on him.
Betsey follows the clues, makes mistakes, straightens up and keeps moving along. Not always forward or in a straight line, it's sometimes a crooked backwards direction. But she keeps trying. She wants to help her friend.
There are bits of needlework spread out through the book and it makes me want to get back to my cross-stitch. I enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed this book.
I can definitely recommend this book and this author. I look forward to more from this series.
sheltzer's review against another edition
2.0
This one was not my favorite. I figured it out, which is not something I do often, and very early on in the book. I almost felt like this was a transition book. Perhaps the series is moving in a slightly different direction with the next book?
jeannemurray3gmailcom's review against another edition
4.0
Another very enjoyable Needlecraft Mystery by Monica Ferris. Relaxing to read. I didn't know "who did it" until the end. Very good.
inkyinsanity's review
2.0
2.5 stars
The only thing I can come up with right now for a review is: meh.
The first clue isn’t found until three quarters into the book. That’s kind of a problem in a mystery story.
The only thing I can come up with right now for a review is: meh.
The first clue isn’t found until three quarters into the book. That’s kind of a problem in a mystery story.
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
A man mysteriously dies without a mark on him and Leona Cunningham, a local brewmeister and practicing Wiccan, is the gossip's front-runner for a murderer. But Betsy Devonshire knows that Wicca is a form of worship, not a black arts, voodoo-y sort of deal. She's determined to find out not only who is spreading the rumors (even before Ryan McMurphy is declared to be a victim of murder) but who actually killed Ryan. All this while planning the parade for the fall festival.
scarlettletters's review against another edition
4.0
This is a light-hearted, somewhat formulaic cozy mystery set in a needlework shop. I've read all of the books in this series at this point and one of the things I like about them is that they make me kind of excited about getting back into some of my craft projects. I kinda wish I had a needlework store where I could just hang out and work on projects, or at least one that offered interesting classes (read: NOT KNITTING!!!). I guessed who the killer was pretty early on, but the way s(he) did it was pretty inventive. I also like the fact that the needlework is incorporated into the plot and is usually instrumental in solving the mystery. This ain't high literature or anything but it's a fun quick read and I'm hoping another one will come out soon.
writerlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Almost 4 stars. This is vintage Betsy Devonshire. You have to go back more than 5 books to find one as strong and together as this one. Blackwork works. Plot wise, character wise (Betsy is the lead character again finally), Goodwin is there in support and the colourful friends of the needle shop are all there in character and not chewing scenery. Most of all, the needlework is an integral part of the mystery/story. It's not used as infodump section. It's fun, it's interesting and it's smart. This is a very nice surprise. I had almost given up on this series.