Reap What You Sew

A Southern Sewing Circle #6

by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

Sweet Briar is chosen for the setting of a new movie, and everyone is hoping to be cast as an extra-and lucky Tori Sinclair lands the gig. But fame has its price, as the town learns when the film's leading actress is found murdered. When suspicion falls on a member of the sewing circle, Tori must catch the killer to keep the tight-knit group from coming apart at the seams.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Southern, Crime, Contemporary

278 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 3, 2012

Reviews

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A movie crew under the direction of Warren Shoemaker comes to Sweet Briar to shoot some scenes and they're looking for extras . Both Tori Sinclair and Leona Elkin get parts. Tori to be an extra but Leona gets to be a stand in for leading lady Anita Belise, when Warren becomes smitten with her. Anita becomes jealous of Leona because until then she and Warren had a relationship.
Anita Belise was very hard to work with and the movie crew didn't like her much. Leona bought in some brownies with nuts for Warren and his cast, made by her twin Margaret Louise. Anita is very allergic to nuts of any kind. Unfortunately she eats one of those brownies and the next morning she is found dead in her RV. Now the local Chief of Police thinks she was murdered and begins his search to find the Killer. Since Leona bought the brownies to the cast and Margaret Louise baked them and Tori told Leona that Anita had a nut allergy all three become suspects. Tori must pull out her sleuthing skills to find the real killer. The Chief has a one track mind and needs all the help he can get.
I always like to try to solve these mysteries . Most of the time I'm completely wrong as I was this time too. I think that's what makes a cozy mystery really good. I was looking in the wrong places just like the Chief. Thank goodness for Tori and her gift to be able to unravel clues and find answers
If you enjoy cozy mysteries or Laura Bradford's mysteries you will love this entire series. Reap What you Sew is the 6th book of this 12 book series. I would recommend starting with book one because the characters are carried over to the other books in the series. References are made in each book to things that have happened in the previous books. I highly recommend A Southern Sewing Circle Mystery series to you.
I downloaded a Kindle ebook copy of this book from the Ohio Digital Library. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read by the pool.. I've been meaning to get back into this series for a while and I knew a vacation would be a great way to do it. The mystery plot could have been a bit stronger but it was a nice, well-written, "classic" cozy and I look forward to continuing on in the series...

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Casey/Ms. Bradford has provided another great addition to this series. Sweet Briar has now become a movie set and tensions are running high between cast and crew members. Tori was selected as an extra and is on the scene when the murder victim was discovered. With her friends Margaret Louise and Leona possible suspects, Tori knows she has to work fast to clear their names. This was an entertaining afternoon read.

[Heidi Prockish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was really good. I enjoyed seeing how Tori handled things with Annabelle, and the mystery was so fun to try and figure out. I did not figure it out, by the way. My favorite part of this whole series is how the sewing circle ladies care for each other. I am looking forward to more books, and Tori & Milo's wedding.

[Gail]

A fun loving cozy mystery. Great cast of characters that make you feel like part of the story. A story that will keep you guessing until the very end.
I am loving this series and can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quaint, cozy, Sweet Briar is about to get full of drama, lots of drama! Warren Shoemaker has chosen Sweet Briar to be the setting for his next movie. Everyone in Sweet Briar, including every member of the Southern Sewing Circle is dreaming of stardom hoping to be cast as an extra in the movie. One of the members even plans to snag a leading role. Tori Sinclair is the lucky one to actual earn a part as an extra. She is very excited to step out of the library and into a movie based on one of her favorite books.

The cameras stop rolling very early as everyone waits for the leading actress to arrive on the set, but we soon learn she is not just late or being the diva the whole crew knows her to be. She is found dead in her trailer, murdered and more than one of the sewing circle members turns out to be prime suspects in her death. The show most definitely will not go on until Tori can uncover the truth and catch the real killer. The set is anything but quiet as she pieces together the clues that will sew up all the drama plaguing the lovely town of Sweet Briar.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Everyone needs a group of friends like the ladies of the Southern Sewing Circle. These ladies have each others back whether they are trying to survive a break up with a boyfriend, dealing with their kids, facing the task of what to do with an aging parent or keeping someone’s butt out of jail. A certain lady in the group gets herself in a bunch of hot water in this installment and at times can be exasperating at her thoughts that even though she may not have committed the crime, she is still happy “that woman” is out of the “picture”. As I have said before these friendships are the core of this series. Each of their different outlooks and personalities bring the perfect contrast to this group of characters. Each character is brilliantly written.

The movie plot touches home with me as my little hometown here in Wisconsin was used as a backdrop for a bit of Johnny Depp’s movie Public Enemy. The scenes rang true to everything I heard and observed during that time. Little towns just go crazy when there movie stars walking about.

The victim and I share something too. I can’t tell you what but you will see when you read this wonderful story.

There are the surprises and twists that Elizabeth Lynn Casey stitches in each of her mysteries. She says snippets (ideas) find the way to her “happy place” and stories are born. She has done amazing things with these snippets. I hope her “happy place” overflows with these ideas and lead to many more fun stories like this one. You cannot go wrong with an Elizabeth Lynn Casey mystery. They are fun, entertaining and definitely “must reads”!!

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the things I hate about starting a new series is that you never know if they'll be outstanding or underwhelming. Unfortunately, I found this the latter. Nearly 300 pages and absolutely no effort is made toward the investigation of the crime until the last 100 or so pages. No clues are uncovered until the last 50. Too much time was spent on subplots involving other characters. I love libraries, but I really don't need to hear all about the new children's room half a dozen times. Fewer reminders that one of the characters is currently carrying her eighth child and another just delivered her first would also have sufficed. Nearly 200 pages of fluff having nothing to do with the actual mystery is a bit too much. Then, due to all that fluff, the killer is easily giving away in one otherwise unnecessary scene with a bit of otherwise unnecessary information. Still, you slog through another seventy or so pages to get to the end. I think this author could easily do with a little more planning on her plot so that there is more mystery and more interconnected clues/information scattered throughout the book and a little less filler. Please, a little more mystery and a little less cozy.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Sweet Briar all a flutter about the fact that a movie (or at least part of a movie) is to be filmed there, and the fact that extras (or background people) will be needed, two other pieces of news almost get overlooked.  The first is that Tori's assistant has had a baby boy and the second is that Margaret-Louise and Leona's mother has moved to town.

When it comes to the day of the filming the whole town (it seems like) has turned out hoping to be briefly on screen and Tori is one of lucky people picked (which means Dixie needs to add more hours in at the library so she is happy!), Leona also manages to get behind the scenes and this is where the problems start for the Sewing Circle ladies.  Three of them are in the cross-hairs for killing the leading lady and another for theft - Tori needs to find out the truth and quickly in order that her wedding preparations can go ahead, without any of the people she wants in the wedding party having to get a day pass from jail!

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this light-hearted series. This one was fine, but the discovery/resolution of the actual case was sudden and just sort of "hanging" in place. I mean, you know but you don't get much else. Leona's rabbit is one patient bunny to get hauled around like she does. And it was nice to meet one of the mother's and to have Milo more involved again.

The ladies of Sweet Briar's Sewing Circle are always worth a visit, and it was just what I needed to start my week!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series bit it was okay.

[Gale Penton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Great characters and mystery.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series had a powerful first few books but as they go on they are getting boring. Except for the murder, nothing changes. There is no character changes, additions or growth. Even between Tori and Milo. There is always a supper scene, bedtime phone calls and Milo waiting on the porch scene. I hope this series comes up with new material for the next instalment.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Southern Sewing Circle ladies are at it again...they are fully mixed up in the latest and quite spectacular murder to hit the gentle streets of Sweet Briar, South Carolina.

This time it is a harmless (or was it?) comment made to Leona, passed on to Margaret Louise by our main sleuth, Tori. Just a comment that evolved into a death of opportunities, for some.

A movie is going to be Shot in Sweet Briar's streets and the 'extra's' are going to be selected from only local residents. Tori laughs at this until she reads that the movie is a book she loved, then she finds herself with the rest of the town, holding a photograph of herself and hoping.

To use a well worn cliche...all that glitters is not gold...and the woman cast as the Leading Actress, is hated and also a block to Leona's aspirations. When the woman is murdered, Tori realizes she had better work quickly to save her friends and herself!

There was also a poignant under-story line that was very delicately written.

This was the best in the series yet...my problem? I've run out of stars to give.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy this cozy series. Perfect for library lovers, fans of small towns, and those, of course, who love to sew. I don't sew, but I do love Tori's strong friendships and the little details of her library life. This is definitely a series to read in order so that you can enjoy the evolving relationships. The plot line around Lenona and Margaret Louise's mother was an excellent addition.

[Lynn Cahoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reap What You Sew is a nice addition to the Southern Sewing Circle series. Adding in a new circle member brings to life the issues a lot of women face in today's world, being sandwiched in between their own family, the grand kids, and their own parents. Ms. Casey weaves a tale of mystery around a family dynamic that hits home to many. Great, great read.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel despite it taking a while (for me) to finish. The characters are well thought out and given depth. Multiple suspects exist with good reasons. The unveiling of the killer had an interesting twist this time. Fun read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like Elizabeth Casey's writing very much...she writes entertaining cozy mysteries with sewing and library themes thrown in...love both of them as well as the down-home friendships she weaves into her stories.

[Jennifer Farr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy these books. I think Tori is a little obnoxious though. She is always so distracted that she can't focus on her wedding???? She's more self centered than I want her to be.

[Linda Klinedinst · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Good Mystery...I love this book. It kept your attention the whole way through and you can't hardly put it down once you start reading this.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy summer reading.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tori and Milo. Enjoy the Sweet Briar community. Even Paris the rabbit

[Julia Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book; unexpected ending.

[Dyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sixth in the series is a light-hearted read/cozy mystery. This is my favorite so far even though it was slow reading at times and the action portion didn't happen until near the end. Each of the ladies in the Sweet Briar (South Carolina) Ladies Society Sewing Circle has a distinct personality. That helps to keep track of the characters who meet each Monday night for a time of sewing and chit chat with each other. Not much sewing going on in this book. Included in the back are the usual sewing tips and a pattern for a rag quilt.

A movie production company has come to town to film a few critical outdoor scenes for a movie adapted from one of Tori's favorite books titled "Memories of Autumn". They are going to use extras from the town's residents; and when the casting begins, most of the town shows up at the town square hoping to be cast as an extra. Leona, the southern belle, intends to get the leading part in spite of the fact that the part is already cast with a professional actress. Tori actually gets a part as an extra while Leona is rejected by Todd who is casting extras. Leona has to sneak on set and is immediately caught. She claims she knows the director, Warren Shoemaker, and to let him know that "Pooky" wants to see him. Warren really doesn't know Leona but becomes enamored with her and gives her the part of stand-in for Anita, the leading actress. Anita Belise is a real diva and has alienated the cast and crew with her daily harangues regarding her allergy to nuts and how careful everyone must be. Anita becomes jealous of Leona because she is seeing Warren. Anita begins to follow Leona and Warren around everywhere. How can Leona get rid of her?

In desperation, Leona goes to Tori for advise on how to stop Anita from following her and Warren everywhere. Tori makes an off-hand remark which leads Leona to con her sister Margaret Louise into baking brownies filled with nuts, so she can take them to the set for the cast and crew. That should distance Anita so she can have Warren all to herself. Well, that was a mistake because Anita is later found dead from anaphylactic shock with her body lying next to a brownie. Since Tori, Leona, and Margaret Louise could all become suspects, Tori must do some questioning and sleuthing to find the killer before all three of them come under suspicion. Tori makes her own list from the crew that she suspects. Tori' gift is to compile clues and sift thru them to discover the murderer. Remember, the police chief has a one track mind and when he finds a suspect for a murder, it is very hard to change his mind.

A couple of subplots include:
- Annabelle Elkin, the mother of twin sisters Leona and Margaret Louise, is moving in with Margaret Louise. She has an uncontrollable impulse that has her being watched constantly. In the end, it is her affliction that helps solve the murder. This is a poignant story line that is handled with kindness, especially by Tori. Leona also makes a surprise announcement at the end regarding her mother.

- Tori is finally beginning to prepare for her marriage to Milo Wentworth. We even get to meet Milo's mother.

- P.S. Nina, Tori's assistant at the library, has her baby. And Dixie, the former librarian, is thrilled to spend more time helping out at the library while Tori is an extra and doing some sleuthing.

My pet peeve is that all the characters, except Milo, call Tori Victoria. The author keeps referring to her as Tori. We do see some character development in this book, and I enjoy the little southernisms sprinkled through out. Paris, Leona's pet bunny, is a favorite. Poor Sweet Briar - the town had no record of a murder until Tori moved there!!!

[Holly Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tori Sinclair has found a sense of home with the Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle. During their get togethers, she can relax with her sewing and listen in on Sweet Briar's latest gossip. But when Sweet Briar is chosen for the setting of a new movie, everyone is hoping to be cast as an extra---and lucky Tori lands the gig. But the town learns that fame has it's price when the film's leading actress, Anita Belise, is found murdered. When suspicion falls on a member of the sewing circle, Tori must work to uncover the truth--- not only to catch the killer but to keep the tight-knit group from coming apart at the seams. This is a large print edition and the first book by Ms. Casey I've read a volume in her Southern Sewing Circle Mystery series and I liked it. Small town tight knit friendships small town gossip with a rag rug sewing project and sewing tips thrown in...

[Hailey Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book of this series I have read. As an avid fan of murder mysteries I continue to feel these books miss the mark for my personal taste. In lieu of focusing on the investigation and finding clues, there's a great deal of time spent developing other elements of the story. This would probably be fine if there was a more thorough reveal and confrontation of the murder suspects the end. However, the endings of both novels I've read just wraps the whole thing up in one chapter at a social gathering which is quite a let down.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, this was beyond ridiculous. I like a light, easy read tho help me relax for bed. But it was inane and forced. The murder weapon is a brownie with nuts in it. The victim is so afraid of nuts she grills everyone who has food within a hundred feet of her, yet she mysteriously eats a brownie from a batch that is described as having a whole bag of walnuts in them. Nowhere in the entire book does anyone ask how she failed to see them before she ate it. Or why she accepted it from someone she didn't like. Lazy.

[Lynne Tull · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is one thing about these Southern Sewing Circle 'cozy' mysteries-the solution to the crime is fast. In the last few pages the perpetrator identified and in jail. The story leading up to that point is about life of Lori, a small town librarian, and her sewing circle of friends. Also, on the side she now has a fiancé and is getting ready to plan a wedding. Great late night reading. You will not be kept awake worrying about our heroine and the crime.

[Alicia Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one more. The scenario was interesting with a murder taking place on a set. They still lack for me. You didn't really know the victim so you didn't get a true sense on why they were murdered. The murder you didn't seem to have sufficient reason to murder. Tori for me is just not likeable because she is suppose to be so likeable.

[Nadine Augustyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why 2 stars? This book is "Leona centric" and she's not my favorite character in this series. I think she is extremely rude, critical and judgmental. I didn't like who the author picked as the killer. I thought the motive they had for killing someone was very weak. The wrap-up of the mystery was weak.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another addition to the Sewing Circle mysteries, I enjoy the simple series about all things South, friendship and of course a mystery. Toni is very likable and her friends are a hoot.