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A Needlecraft Mystery #15
Threadbare
In the latest needlecraft novel from "USA Today" bestselling author Monica Ferris, Besty gets embroiled in an embroidery mystery.
When an elderly homeless woman is found dead on the shore of Lake Minnetonka, she's wearing something that holds the key to her identity but also opens up a mystery. Embroidered on her blouse is her will, in which she bequeaths everything she owns to her niece-Emily Hame, a member of the Monday Bunch at Betsy Devonshire's Crewel World needlework shop!
Emily's aunt turns out to be the second homeless woman to be found dead under mysterious circumstances. It's up to Betsy to discover the common thread between the deaths-and to determine if a murderer may strike again...
When an elderly homeless woman is found dead on the shore of Lake Minnetonka, she's wearing something that holds the key to her identity but also opens up a mystery. Embroidered on her blouse is her will, in which she bequeaths everything she owns to her niece-Emily Hame, a member of the Monday Bunch at Betsy Devonshire's Crewel World needlework shop!
Emily's aunt turns out to be the second homeless woman to be found dead under mysterious circumstances. It's up to Betsy to discover the common thread between the deaths-and to determine if a murderer may strike again...
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
63 people are currently reading
727 people want to read
About the author
Monica Ferris
27 books487 followersHas published as
Mary Monica Pulver (real name)
Mary Kuhfeld
Margaret Frazer (with Gail Frazer)
[from the author's own website)
Mary Monica Pulver (her maiden name) is an incidental Hoosier — Terre Haute, Indiana, had the hospital closest to her parents’ home in Marshall, Illinois. She spent the later part of her childhood and early adult life in Wisconsin, graduating from high school in Milwaukee.
She was a journalist in the U.S. Navy for six and a half years (two in London), and later attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is married to a museum curator.
Mary Monica sold her first short story, “Pass the Word,” to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, in 1983, and has since sold more than two dozen short stories to anthologies and magazines, including some in Germany, England, Italy and France.
She has appeared in such anthologies as The Mammoth Book of Historical Detectives, The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunnits, Shakespearean Mysteries, Royal Whodunnits, Unholy Orders, Murder Most Crafty, and Silence of the Loons. Her first mystery novel, Murder at the War, appeared from St. Martin’s Press in 1987 and was nominated for an Anthony as Best First Novel. The Unforgiving Minutes and Ashes to Ashes followed in 1988; but Original Sin was sold to Walker, who also presented the fifth book, Show Stopper, in May of 1992. Berkley Diamond brought these mysteries out in paperback. They feature detective Peter Brichter – a cop one reviewer said was “a hardboiled sleuth who’s somehow landed in a cozy mystery”.
Berkley published six medieval mysteries Mary Monica wrote in collaboration with Gail Frazer under the pseudonym Margaret Frazer: The Novice’s Tale, The Servant’s Tale (nominated for an Edgar as Best Original Paperback of 1993), The Outlaw’s Tale, The Bishop’s Tale, The Boy’s Tale, and The Murderer’s Tale. The detective in the mysteries is a nun, Dame Frevisse, a niece by marriage of Thomas Chaucer, the legendary Geoffrey’s son. The stories take place in England in the 1430s. Gail presently continues the series alone.
In 1998 Mary Monica began writing a new series for Berkley featuring amateur needleworking sleuth Betsy Devonshire. Set in Excelsior, Minnesota, Crewel World came out in March and was followed by Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by A Thread, Cutwork, Crewel Yule, Embroidered Truths, Sins and Needles, Knitting Bones, Thai Die, Blackwork, and Buttons and Bones. Threadbare will appear in December of 2011, and she is at work on And Then You Dye. The first six were paperback originals. Subsequent books were hardcovers followed by paperback editions. These light and traditional novels are written under the pseudonym Monica Ferris, and all have gone to multiple printings – the first one is in its eighteenth printing!
Mary Monica has taught courses on mystery writing to children at North Hennepin Community College, gifted children in District #287, and adults at one-evening seminars at Hennepin and Ramsey County libraries. She does lectures and signings, and has appeared on panels at mystery and science fiction conventions, including Bouchercon, Minicon, Diversicon, Magna Cum Murder, and Malice Domestic.
She has spoken to stitchery guilds on local, state, and national levels. She has won a place on national and local best-seller lists, including USA Today and the independent mystery bookstore compilation. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (a national organization that promotes women who write mystery fiction), remains a paid speaker on the life of a mystery author, and is a volunteer for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, and in
Mary Monica Pulver (real name)
Mary Kuhfeld
Margaret Frazer (with Gail Frazer)
[from the author's own website)
Mary Monica Pulver (her maiden name) is an incidental Hoosier — Terre Haute, Indiana, had the hospital closest to her parents’ home in Marshall, Illinois. She spent the later part of her childhood and early adult life in Wisconsin, graduating from high school in Milwaukee.
She was a journalist in the U.S. Navy for six and a half years (two in London), and later attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is married to a museum curator.
Mary Monica sold her first short story, “Pass the Word,” to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, in 1983, and has since sold more than two dozen short stories to anthologies and magazines, including some in Germany, England, Italy and France.
She has appeared in such anthologies as The Mammoth Book of Historical Detectives, The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunnits, Shakespearean Mysteries, Royal Whodunnits, Unholy Orders, Murder Most Crafty, and Silence of the Loons. Her first mystery novel, Murder at the War, appeared from St. Martin’s Press in 1987 and was nominated for an Anthony as Best First Novel. The Unforgiving Minutes and Ashes to Ashes followed in 1988; but Original Sin was sold to Walker, who also presented the fifth book, Show Stopper, in May of 1992. Berkley Diamond brought these mysteries out in paperback. They feature detective Peter Brichter – a cop one reviewer said was “a hardboiled sleuth who’s somehow landed in a cozy mystery”.
Berkley published six medieval mysteries Mary Monica wrote in collaboration with Gail Frazer under the pseudonym Margaret Frazer: The Novice’s Tale, The Servant’s Tale (nominated for an Edgar as Best Original Paperback of 1993), The Outlaw’s Tale, The Bishop’s Tale, The Boy’s Tale, and The Murderer’s Tale. The detective in the mysteries is a nun, Dame Frevisse, a niece by marriage of Thomas Chaucer, the legendary Geoffrey’s son. The stories take place in England in the 1430s. Gail presently continues the series alone.
In 1998 Mary Monica began writing a new series for Berkley featuring amateur needleworking sleuth Betsy Devonshire. Set in Excelsior, Minnesota, Crewel World came out in March and was followed by Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by A Thread, Cutwork, Crewel Yule, Embroidered Truths, Sins and Needles, Knitting Bones, Thai Die, Blackwork, and Buttons and Bones. Threadbare will appear in December of 2011, and she is at work on And Then You Dye. The first six were paperback originals. Subsequent books were hardcovers followed by paperback editions. These light and traditional novels are written under the pseudonym Monica Ferris, and all have gone to multiple printings – the first one is in its eighteenth printing!
Mary Monica has taught courses on mystery writing to children at North Hennepin Community College, gifted children in District #287, and adults at one-evening seminars at Hennepin and Ramsey County libraries. She does lectures and signings, and has appeared on panels at mystery and science fiction conventions, including Bouchercon, Minicon, Diversicon, Magna Cum Murder, and Malice Domestic.
She has spoken to stitchery guilds on local, state, and national levels. She has won a place on national and local best-seller lists, including USA Today and the independent mystery bookstore compilation. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (a national organization that promotes women who write mystery fiction), remains a paid speaker on the life of a mystery author, and is a volunteer for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, and in
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
December 31, 2012
It pains me to say this, but Betsy Devonshire is beginning to bore me. For that matter, so is Godwin, and he was not written as a boring character. The last few mysteries have been - to give it a contemporary rating - "meh." This one is no different. It's a story with good potential, but it feels more like a recitation than a mystery. There's very little internal dialogue for Betsy, and events are provided to us primarily in a linear manner with very little (or so it seems) dialogue amongst the characters. In addition, I appreciate that the author has probably gotten very chummy with the needlework crowd, but please, stop with the name dropping. It feels like a blog post where you're talking about your friends (and their creations) rather than a fictional murder mystery. Perhaps others like this, but I believe it separates us. Also, yes, I do realize that this is a cozy mystery, but please try to ramp up the suspense a bit. There was one point towards the end where it felt as if something was going to happen. A particular character was acting shady and almost maliciously watched Betsy go into the train station, but then he drove away and....nothing. He never appeared again. I will read the next mystery in this series, but I don't know if I will like it. I may have to go back and begin the series again to see why I enjoyed it so much in the first place.
December 10, 2011
A good addition to the series. The mystery was well developed, and I liked Annie, the homeless woman who assisted Betsy in investigating. I kind of hope she appears in upcoming books and that her future takes a turn for the better.
June 7, 2020
This is Monica Ferris' fifteenth "Needlecraft Mystery" and it seems to me that her basic writing level has definitely kicked up a notch. I thought this was happening with the last one (Buttons and Bones), but now I'm positive. There are multiple points of view that are deftly handled, the pacing is excellent, the characters seem indefinably more definite, and the range of topics explored is firmly branching out from "just" needlework to parts of the world around - in this case, the lives and options of homeless women, two of whom are the victims. Betsy Devonshire, the small-town Minnesota needlework shop owner and amateur sleuth of this series, works hard to figure things out and is eventually able to apply logic and evidence to the problem, sorting out who the culprit is in a believable fashion. But I'm most pleased about the author's step up in skill level - it's a great pleasure to see an already-accomplished person get even better.
December 26, 2011
Really wish this series would go back to its roots, the needlework shop. Way too many pages devoted to descriptions of a railroad depot, airline terminal & shelter intake paperwork. Only one meeting of the Monday bunch, oh and we get to hear all about Godwin going to hits golf balls, what that had to do with the mystery is beyond me. Also why is Betsy always angry at everyone, she dislikes her customers, employees and everyone else she comes in contact with. This attitide has been in the last several books. The ending was abrupt and not satisfying. I wish someone else would start a series in a needlework shop, this series has lost its appeal.
February 7, 2024
Another who done it. We'll written keeping you wanting to read one more chapter. Like Monica Ferris's other books, lots of interesting facts. Time to read a non-fiction.
September 23, 2023
Threadbare by Monica Ferris is the 15th book in A Needlecraft Mystery series. Two homeless women are found dead under mysterious circumstances and Betsy is asked to investigate when one of her customers is suspected. I am loving learning a little about neddlework with each book and love that Betsy shares everything she learns with the police and has no illusions about her abilities and that she is just skilled with asking the right questions. The mystery was interesting and I loved Annie who was a great help and hopefully her circumstances will improve. A delightful and enjoyable cozy mystery.
March 27, 2012
Two homeless women are found frozen to death in Excelsior, Minnesota, and the only link between them is that they each had a relative who patronizes Betsy Devonshire's needlecraft shop. Officer Mike Molloy suspects poison, and suspects the relatives. One comes to Betsy, who has solved more than one murder, and asks her to take the case on. It becomes far more complex than Betsy had envisioned, as she learns the plights of the homeless and the shelters that take them in, but she won't stop until she solves the crime.
There were things about this book that I both liked and didn't like. It's well written, with good characters and setting, the details on needlework were interesting, and clearly the author did her homework about homeless issues. What didn't work so well was the awkward infodumps about homelessness issues, and the vast plethora of detail that had nothing to do with the plot. Usually in a murder mystery, detail is there to build the setting or further the plot. Here, I couldn't figure out the purpose of detailing an indoor golfing outing by two characters uninvolved in the main plot, or the Rainman-level detail about taking the train to Fargo (seriously, it could be an instruction manual), or many other things. I love detail, but not if it serves no purpose. Also, I think there was a big plot gaffe, though I could be wrong. A woman comes to the funeral of one of the dead women, gives a eulogy and later tells Betsy about her, but then doesn't recognize her picture. Betsy doesn't comment about that and it doesn't come into the plot at all. Maybe I missed something, but it seemed odd, at least. So, overall, average mystery with no twist--the murderer was one of the few suspects Betsy identified, for clear and obvious reasons.
There were things about this book that I both liked and didn't like. It's well written, with good characters and setting, the details on needlework were interesting, and clearly the author did her homework about homeless issues. What didn't work so well was the awkward infodumps about homelessness issues, and the vast plethora of detail that had nothing to do with the plot. Usually in a murder mystery, detail is there to build the setting or further the plot. Here, I couldn't figure out the purpose of detailing an indoor golfing outing by two characters uninvolved in the main plot, or the Rainman-level detail about taking the train to Fargo (seriously, it could be an instruction manual), or many other things. I love detail, but not if it serves no purpose. Also, I think there was a big plot gaffe, though I could be wrong. A woman comes to the funeral of one of the dead women, gives a eulogy and later tells Betsy about her, but then doesn't recognize her picture. Betsy doesn't comment about that and it doesn't come into the plot at all. Maybe I missed something, but it seemed odd, at least. So, overall, average mystery with no twist--the murderer was one of the few suspects Betsy identified, for clear and obvious reasons.
November 17, 2014
Another cozy mystery set in Excelsior, MN, on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. Betsy Devonshire, proprietress of Crewel World needlepoint and yarn shop is pulled into the mystery of two homeless women who were found dead mere blocks apart. Her sleuthing takes her to Minneapolis and, by train, to Fargo, where she unravels more than just an intent to murder.
These are - to me - mindless brain candy reads, where nothing more is expected of me than to enjoy the story. Monica Ferris has been consistent in her writing I find her mysteries fairly solid and diverse.
I have two minor complaints - one is the rather slow character development. Now with 15 plus books in the series, I would like to see a bit more of the main characters as people, rather than, "owner of a books store" or "former police officer" and their current state emotional state (tired, elated, exhausted, or more typically, crying). We have been introduced to a beau of sorts, but the relationship is coming across as superficial and kinda tacked on in an unspoken promise that there "might be more". Just write in the romance - let the reader feel what Betsy is experiencing!
I have voiced my other complaint before, and not just in this series - portraying the local police force as inept. Now, I will give Ms Ferris credit, she at least stopped making our good Detective an utter ass and demonstrated more of a willingness to work with Betsy. HUGE improvement right there, but I think there is still room for more of a positive give and take between the police and Betsy.
Overall, a good weekend read, perfect for zoning out on the couch during a snowstorm, or taking on a trip. Easily picked up and put down.
These are - to me - mindless brain candy reads, where nothing more is expected of me than to enjoy the story. Monica Ferris has been consistent in her writing I find her mysteries fairly solid and diverse.
I have two minor complaints - one is the rather slow character development. Now with 15 plus books in the series, I would like to see a bit more of the main characters as people, rather than, "owner of a books store" or "former police officer" and their current state emotional state (tired, elated, exhausted, or more typically, crying). We have been introduced to a beau of sorts, but the relationship is coming across as superficial and kinda tacked on in an unspoken promise that there "might be more". Just write in the romance - let the reader feel what Betsy is experiencing!
I have voiced my other complaint before, and not just in this series - portraying the local police force as inept. Now, I will give Ms Ferris credit, she at least stopped making our good Detective an utter ass and demonstrated more of a willingness to work with Betsy. HUGE improvement right there, but I think there is still room for more of a positive give and take between the police and Betsy.
Overall, a good weekend read, perfect for zoning out on the couch during a snowstorm, or taking on a trip. Easily picked up and put down.
January 10, 2012
I'm giving this three stars because I like Betsy Devonshire and her shop, Crewel World. This entry in the series was set in the needlework shop more than some of the other recent ones. I find that I can tolerate a little bit of Betsy's assistance, Godwin, and was really glad that Jill only made a cameo appearance. The mystery is pretty good although I had an inkling about why there were two deaths well before the end of the book. I felt the ending was much too abrupt and the actions of one character were never explained. Betsy has a love interest, Connor Sullivan, although there are apparently some complications. Perhaps those were revealed in an earlier book, but I'll be darned if I can remember what they were, so a re-cap would have been nice.
March 28, 2015
I had really grown tired of this series, so I took a break. That must have been just what I needed because I really enjoyed this book. The characters are likable and I found it to be a quick read.
October 11, 2015
A mediocre read in this series. There gave certainly been better. I do hope that Annie is mentioned in future series.
May 29, 2023
Threadbare by Monica Ferris is the 15th book of the Needlecrafts mystery series set in contemporary Minnesota. Typical of many other books in the series, it's winter. A homeless person is discovered frozen to death in the snow. Betsy Devonshire, owner of Crewel World needlecrafts shop, once again is involved in crime-solving when one of her regular customers is suspected of murder. A second homeless woman is also found. Are the crimes related? Betsy doesn't believe in coincidences. True to form, she interviews everyone she can find who knew either of the victims, and keeps a list of suspects, motives and what to find out next. She enlists the help of another homeless woman, Annie; they travel together to Minneapolis to ask questions where Betsy cannot.
Since Betsy has uncovered many vital clues to solve murders in her small town, detective Mike Malloy is now willing to have her "on board" the investigation (a far cry from resisting her "meddling/snooping" in early books). Red herrings keep the solution from being obvious. As always, Betsy becomes certain she has figured out the killer, plans a final encounter, and it's almost deadly.
What I did not like in this story: a minor character fails to get prompt care for her injured dog. A key clue is provided by that subplot, but prompt care would have provided the clue just as well.
Since Betsy has uncovered many vital clues to solve murders in her small town, detective Mike Malloy is now willing to have her "on board" the investigation (a far cry from resisting her "meddling/snooping" in early books). Red herrings keep the solution from being obvious. As always, Betsy becomes certain she has figured out the killer, plans a final encounter, and it's almost deadly.
What I did not like in this story: a minor character fails to get prompt care for her injured dog. A key clue is provided by that subplot, but prompt care would have provided the clue just as well.
April 17, 2025
In this edition, Betsy investigates two suspicious deaths that may or may not be connected. The pun in the title, "Threadbare," refers to the fact that the central theme of this novel is homelessness. The narrative touches on mental illness and the invisible problem of housing insecurity in places like Excelsior. Betsy makes a new friend who acts as her inside informant in women's shelters, and while on the one hand it's nice that this person is given a voice and, sometimes, narrative voice, one wonders if Betsy is going to drop her like a hot potato as soon as the investigation is over. The mystery in this book doesn't have a ton of twists and turns, and the culprit is not a big surprise. There are references to needlework that drive the plot forward, but the final twist is a deus ex machina that seems a bit too convenient. Despite these criticisms, this book is just as likeable as all the ones in the series. You do not need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one. It was a quick read.
August 31, 2020
Betsy has her hands full with this mystery. Two elderly homeless woman are found dead in two different locations on different days. Are these crimes related in anyway? Neither woman shows signs of poisoning. They just froze to death. Mike Maloy looks at the relatives first. The relatives are clients of Betsy's needle craft shop. One of them requests Betsy to investigate the crimes. Betsy finds herself investigating homeless shelters. She feels out of her element until she befriends a homeless woman named Annie.
Annie wants to help because one of the dead women was someone she liked. Betsy reluctantly works with Annie. However, as Annie gives her good information Betsy trusts her more. They set out to see how the two women are connected. As the case progresses Betsy looks at Annie differently than when they first met. Betsy asks Annie why are you homeless? I would not be surprised to see Annie reappear in future books a out
Annie wants to help because one of the dead women was someone she liked. Betsy reluctantly works with Annie. However, as Annie gives her good information Betsy trusts her more. They set out to see how the two women are connected. As the case progresses Betsy looks at Annie differently than when they first met. Betsy asks Annie why are you homeless? I would not be surprised to see Annie reappear in future books a out
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2020
This is the 15th book in the series. When two homeless women die in Excelsior, one who has embroidered her will on her shirt and is the aunt of one of her regulars, Betsy feels compelled to look into the mystery. While it appears to be a case of alcohol intoxication leading to death by exposure, the police are suspicious that there may be more involved. As she begins to look at the homeless population to see if she can find clues, Betsy befriends a woman who offers to help look behind the scenes. It is unclear whether or not the deaths were connected intentionally or if one death may be a red herring. As she begins to sort out the clues, she may uncover some unexpected secrets that people are intent on hiding, possibly placing herself in danger. As always, the book contains a needlework pattern at the end.
March 16, 2025
As it turns out, the two homeless women died within hours of one another. Initially, the cops thought they froze to death, but with the help of amateur sleuth Betsy Devonshire, owner of a needlecraft store in a Minnesota suburb, the cops begin to focus on murder.
You can read this to understand why Betsy got involved with the cases of the two dead women. But the broadbrush data you need is it’s all about money. Yeah, I know. When is it not about money?
I liked this installment in the series despite the difficulty I had believing in one of the characters. Betsy uses a homeless woman who knew one or both dead women as a go-between to get information. I found the homeless woman’s character too much of a stretch to buy into. The character was too normalized to do anything more than force me to suspend disbelief more than I was willing to.
You can read this to understand why Betsy got involved with the cases of the two dead women. But the broadbrush data you need is it’s all about money. Yeah, I know. When is it not about money?
I liked this installment in the series despite the difficulty I had believing in one of the characters. Betsy uses a homeless woman who knew one or both dead women as a go-between to get information. I found the homeless woman’s character too much of a stretch to buy into. The character was too normalized to do anything more than force me to suspend disbelief more than I was willing to.
February 21, 2018
Again a Monica Ferris book that shames me into getting my embroidery out! 2 homeless women are found dead in Excelsior within days of each other. Amazingly, Mike Malloy of the police department doesn't think they just died from exposure. And when he questions the relative of one of the victims, she goes to Betsy Davenport for help. This has many twists and turns, but the suspect pool is pretty small. The question is how was it done.
I really love Ferris' books, especially since they come with a needlework pattern in the back. The only thing is, this time the pattern is for Hardanger, which is something way beyond my meager capabilities!
I really love Ferris' books, especially since they come with a needlework pattern in the back. The only thing is, this time the pattern is for Hardanger, which is something way beyond my meager capabilities!
March 14, 2020
3.5 Betsy Devonshire owns a needlework shop in a small town in Minnesota and has a reputation as a part time sleuth . An elderly woman is found dead and this woman was a homeless lady who is found wearing an embroidered blouse declaring her intention to leave everything sh owns to her niece. It is winter time in Minnesota and another homeless woman's body is found. Is someone targeting the homeless or is there more to this story? Betsy is asked to help find the answers. The autopsy reveals it may be more than alcohol involved so once again Betsy is on the chase and recruits another homeless woman to help her find the murderer.
July 22, 2021
I found this installment of the mostly still enjoyable Needlecraft Mysteries to be one of the most far-fetched yet! Two homeless women die in Excelsior with relatives who are stitchers who shop at Betsy’s store? And Betsy befriends (exploits?) another homeless woman to get inside info from shelters and even takes her on a trip to ND? Also, while no one should read these for the romance, Betsy’s relationship with Conor was almost nonexistent as she waited for him to choose her again. While I can see the wisdom in not chasing, it would be great if the author came up with something interesting to do with him instead of sticking him on the back burner for most of the book.
September 14, 2022
I thought it could have been cleaner. There were too many things that were inconsequential, like Mark following or waiting for Betsy at the train station. Betsy and Mike don’t seem to ever really know about it, and other than a brief “where have I seen that car before?”, it is absolutely pointless to the story. And there were too many of those kind of things, kind of like the author was trying to mislead the reader, but was way too obvious about it. The mystery itself was okay, which is why I gave it 3 stars, but not terribly complicated.
September 28, 2022
I enjoy Monica Ferris' cozy books.
This one has an interest premise and gives some insight into the plight of the homeless.
At times way too much detail in descriptions of minor character - height, weight, clothing, hair etc felt like filler. Since it's a mystery, I wondered if it would end up being important (no).
As a crafter, I do enjoy the needlework references and they were well-placed and not awkward.
I always cringe when, toward the end of the book, the sleuth confronts the guilty who responds with ' You...bitch'. Ugh.
This one has an interest premise and gives some insight into the plight of the homeless.
At times way too much detail in descriptions of minor character - height, weight, clothing, hair etc felt like filler. Since it's a mystery, I wondered if it would end up being important (no).
As a crafter, I do enjoy the needlework references and they were well-placed and not awkward.
I always cringe when, toward the end of the book, the sleuth confronts the guilty who responds with ' You...bitch'. Ugh.
January 3, 2025
Honestly, 3.5/5
My SIL picked this up from a free book box at her dentist so I didn’t have high hopes but it was better than I thought it would be. I figured out the murder well before Betsy did which was fun. The amount of erroneous information about other people not involved in anything was ridiculous. The book could have been half as long if I didn’t have to hear about weird little side stories. I guess maybe this is to build a community for people who w joy the series? I wouldn’t be opposed to another one of these but it’ll be a long time before I am in that kind of lull.
My SIL picked this up from a free book box at her dentist so I didn’t have high hopes but it was better than I thought it would be. I figured out the murder well before Betsy did which was fun. The amount of erroneous information about other people not involved in anything was ridiculous. The book could have been half as long if I didn’t have to hear about weird little side stories. I guess maybe this is to build a community for people who w joy the series? I wouldn’t be opposed to another one of these but it’ll be a long time before I am in that kind of lull.
May 27, 2017
An elderly women is found frozen to death and needlecraft owner Betsy Devonshire's friend is high on the suspect list. She asks Betsy to help catch the real killer. I absolutely love the "Needlecraft Mystery" cozy series. Betsy is close to sixty years old and it's interesting to me to read about a middle-aged woman instead of a woman in her late 2os and early 30s. Always good stories and good character development. You won't be disappointed!
December 31, 2020
A re- read for me - I’d read this this many years ago when it first came out.
I was pleasantly surprised that this Crewel World novel held up. I think because it was so obviously a mystery based on the problems of homelessness which is still just as prevalent.
All the familiar major characters are here along with newer characters all popping in to add in their two cents worth. A solid mystery that isn’t totally obvious and scattered with clues that perhaps point to future novels.
I was pleasantly surprised that this Crewel World novel held up. I think because it was so obviously a mystery based on the problems of homelessness which is still just as prevalent.
All the familiar major characters are here along with newer characters all popping in to add in their two cents worth. A solid mystery that isn’t totally obvious and scattered with clues that perhaps point to future novels.
December 14, 2017
A nice little mystery. Didn't telegraph the ending. One of the countless books written by authors around a common theme - catering, b&b, quilts, peppers. But fairly well written. Not as good as Earlene Fowler, but pretty good. I wonder if my needlework friends have read her. I'm sure they have.
December 28, 2018
This was a little tedious, getting though the information about the homeless, but about halfway through, this book really got going. It's always nice to see familiar characters and be introduced to new ones whom you hope to see in upcoming books, like Annie. Also, the murderers justification for killing was chilling!
February 15, 2019
Up to her usual standard, maybe a bit above.
Ferriss' series about the owner of a needlework shop who becomes involved in solving local mysteries remains solid. Betsy investigates the deaths of two homeless women. The recurring characters and information about homelessness are included, but don't obscure the plot.
Ferriss' series about the owner of a needlework shop who becomes involved in solving local mysteries remains solid. Betsy investigates the deaths of two homeless women. The recurring characters and information about homelessness are included, but don't obscure the plot.
May 22, 2023
I love this series by Monica Ferris. Susan Boyce narrates this book and does a fine job. Do not turn your back on this book if you aren’t into needlework. This is a cozy mystery about a small business woman who has a talent for finding “who dunnit”.
This particular story also revolves around homelessness and mental health issues. It is very cleverly written and I highly recommend it to you.
This particular story also revolves around homelessness and mental health issues. It is very cleverly written and I highly recommend it to you.
June 30, 2023
Emily Hume’s homeless aunt is found dead on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. Written on the woman’s blouse is her Will leaving her possessions to her niece. Another homeless woman named Carrie is discovered outside a movie theatre. Both woman died from drinking alcohol spiked with an animal anesthetic. It is Betsy Devonshire who is called upon to clear Emily from police suspicion.
A fairly good mystery.
A fairly good mystery.
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