Embroidering Shrouds

DI Joanna Piercy #6

by Priscilla Masters

A spate of robberies targeting elderly women has shocked the normally sedate town of Leek to its core. And now it appears that the robbers have moved on to murder. At the eerily named Spite Hall, the body of Nancy Lawrence has been found bludgeoned to death, lying over the tapestry she was in the process of embroidering. When Detective Inspector Joanna Piercy begins her investigation she is surprised to find that the victim's next door neighbor is Nan's brother with whom Nan has not spoken in years. With the aid of her colleagues, Joanna unravels a mystery - the tangled threads of which are rooted years in the past.

Genres: Crime

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Priscilla Masters' writing career started in 1987 when she published Mr. Bateman's Garden, a children's book set in Biddulph Grange Gardens belonging to the National Trust. After that she created Inspector Joanna Piercy and has now also written a number of Medical Mysteries.

Priscilla Masters lives in Shropshire, England. She works part-time in Staffordshire as a practice nurse.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back to the wonderful Joanna - I feel like i'm meeting old friends now when i read these novels. This one was as wonderful as always. Priscilla writes an excellent novel that always leaves you guessing till the end and utterly captures your interest while reading. I can't wait to read the next :)

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Joanna Piercy is faced with investigating a growing number of attacks on elderly woman which are starting to form a pattern. Is there a gang in the area targetting women who live on their own? Joanna is concerned that the attacks might escalate into murder and when an elderly woman is attacked and killed in her own home she is afraid her forebodings have taken on a life of their own.

The murder investigations reveals links with the past as well as revealing that the corpse was very far from being a likeable individual when she was alive. The remaining members of her family seem to have plenty of secrets which they are very reluctant to share with Joanna and her team.

This is an interesting and well written police procedural crime novel set in and around the town of Leek. I have read others in the series and I'm never sure whether I completely like Joanna herself. She is clearly good at her job but her private life seems to be conducted with an element of childish petulance at times which I find slightly irritating. That said, the plot kept me reading and I did not work out what was going on until very close to the end of the book.

If you enjoy crime novels with interesting plots and believable motivations then give this series a try - they can be read in any order.

[Gary Van Cott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally ok. For a book like this in a generally rural setting, I think it needs to bring in more of the local environment to reach a higher level. This series is set in the Peak District, one of the more interesting in England, but except for the first book you wouldn't know it.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Investigating a series of burglaries on the elderly, of the town of Leek, DI Joanna Piercy and DS Mike Korpanski are alarmed when the burglaries take a different turn, and two of the elderly victims are attacked. When the next victim Nan Lawrence is found dead, Joanna becomes suspicious that there may be more than one gang involved but is that possible in the small town of Leek?

Sixth in the Inspector Joanna Piercy series, this is more than a police investigation. Skilfully woven into the story are the relationships between families. As Joanna probes, she meets with blank resistance from the women attacked, and in the immediate family of the murdered victim, she is confronted with hatred that appears to have its roots in the past.

Whilst attempting to gain some understanding of the emotions festering under the surface of the victims, both she and Mike Korpanski are struggling with their own family problems. Joanna is now living with Matthew Levin, in an idyllic cottage, but their idyll is shattered when Eloise, Matthew’s daughter comes to stay for half term. For Mike Korpanski a visit from his mother-in-law is proving a considerable strain.

The mystery is complex and only by uncovering the secrets of the past will the murderer be found.

It is always interesting to see how the characters in a series develop, and this is certainly true with this series. Both Joanna and Mike have matured, Joanna in her handling of situations and Mike in his relationship with a female superior officer. After a shaky start they have become a good working team.

Priscilla is adept at creating intriguing mysteries coupled with excellent characterisation of the investigating officers. More please.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes

[Carol Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new case for a newly promoted D I Piercy but the staff are not as one. There are a spate of robberies and a missing person, who happens to be a local nurse who works at the doctor's surgery. She's found in a very compromising position but it turns out it could be natural causes or suicide for the DI it is not quite all as it seems, the woman has spent a lot of money on designer goods to commit suicide and she is a bit young for natural causes. The pathologist after a 2nd autopsy found a puncture mark so now it's murder. The staff doesn't seem to be forthcoming and her sergeant is not all that cooperative at times. It held my interest but sometimes you can understand why her staff are like they are as she is not very likable, but a good story just wish the author put more into the players as they sound like a mix-and-match bunch.

[Laura Poppenwimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun easy reading book, the characters were very interesting and many suspects. I loved the description of the scenery, made we want to take another trip to the UK. The plot moved in some unexpected ways and some of the back story on the main characters added depth. I did start this series with this book and found it did stand alone because there were tidbits of what happened in past books. I will definately

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This instalment of the box set I have is packed with secrets.

A woman is found murdered, there is a family feud...

I am enjoying this series of British crime thrillers. I like the fast pace, the plots and the mystery.

Joanne is a strong character and I wonder why she is with Matthew...I hope she sticks to her word; but then will he leave her?

Overall, this was a good, twisty police drama.

Recommended.

[R.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine murder mystery. Detective Joanna Piercy is slowly being accepted by the others in her department. In this story she must work hard to put all the clues together and figure out if all the crimes against old ladies are linked. Why have the thieves turned to murder? The victim is not a pleasant person though, so does her demeaner have something to do with it?

[chowchowgrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously Grisly and Human to the Depths

Oh, this was fun! Every character was a complex and conflicted human with secrets to be revealed. I could read this again just to track the author’s artistry. The mysteries were so unconnected and confusing at the beginning, but in the last pages all the pieces fit. Brava!

[Marge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard To Guess Conclusion

Priscilla Masters is well named. She is a masterful writer and I really enjoy reading her books. I was genuinely surprised. The one criticism I have is that she doesn’t wind up the threads to my satisfaction. I’d like to have known what happened to everyone else.

[Jess Firth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant mystery

I’ve just finished this book in the series and it certainly lived up to my expectations. Twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the end. Now for the next one. Thanks Priscilla. Joanna and Mike are my current favourite detectives.

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the style of a very traditional crime novel and I like that, although it is gruesome in places. The characters are well developed and the detective is both plausible and likeable. No 6 in a series but works well as a stand-alone. I will be reading more.

[Ivana Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another gentle mystery set in Leek, Staffs.

[Janet Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really unexpected ending. Wow!

This book had the best twists and turns I have read in a long time. It is worth a read.

[Saadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

engrossing murder

Unpacking the motives of the local people in order to get to the murderer…. Very analytical yet compassionate. A great read.

[Irene Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

To date the most clever book in the series. Enjoyed this one very much.

[Marie C. Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I downloaded all the titles in this series. Very enjoyable.

[The Poisoned Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, a little slow to begin with but it was a good read. 👍🏻

[Dilys Myhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read so enjoying this series.

[David Stimpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is a cracking series . Lots going on and a very good mystery

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reasonable read. Didn’t enjoy it as much as previous books in this series.

[Jules Barraclough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gread read

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanna and Mike solve another difficult case...

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the series so far. The characters have grown, matured. and settled into their lives. The murder(s) both parallel their personal lives and urge them along the path to resolution.

My only problem was that I was sure of the murderer's identity as soon as she/he was introduced. But, as in the best of mysteries, it is not the solution that holds us till the end, but the story.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a nice engaging who done it with some great tangible characters and a good twist