Free Motion Murder: A Liz Murphy Mariners' Compass Quilt Shop Mystery

by Mary Shepherd

Liz Murphy is dismayed to be asked to mentor a volatile young teacher, then distraught to see her collapse and die in front of their students. When Liz, her niece Maria, and her new love interest Ned York are all suspects in the death, Liz, Ned, and Liz's best friend Caroline resolve to discover the truth. Along the way, they follow their suspects, with a mix of success and absurd failures. Between researching and tracking their suspects, Liz continues to teach math at the local high school and help her sister run the best quilting shop in the region. When Liz is threatened and then attacked while riding on a local bike path, sexy detective Jackson looks after her, and starts looking pretty good to her. The three novice sleuths try to stay out of Jackson's way as they bumble along in their pursuit of the killer. Can they figure it out before the killer hurts anyone else? Free Motion Murder has quilting and quilters, but no math!

276 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2023

Reviews

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not worth your time. So many issues.... First, no one with such untreated bipolar disease would be allowed to teach. Second, Liz is supposed to be mentoring the other teacher, but there is no description of such mentoring. The only interactions have to do with the Math Bowl.

There are several inaccuracies. One that comes to mind is that assistant professor is lower in rank than associate professor.

The book is full of typos. It needed to have been proofread better.

There is no way a teenage boy would be permitted to stay with a single female teacher for the weekend.

The murderer is not believable (I won't spoil it).

If Liz is such a good quilter, then she doesn't need help figuring out Flying Geese. And, I doubt she would free motion a twin-sized quilt if she had just learned how to do it.

I would not have finished the book except that it was the only one I had with me to read on a weekend I was away.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable mystery by my longtime friend, Mary Tippey Shepherd! Yes, I’m biased. She did a wonderful job with her debut.

[Melissa Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading a book from a local author. Enjoyed the setting being one I am very familiar with. Overall I enjoyed the book and its incorporation of quilting.