Quilt or Innocence

Southern Quilting Mysteries #1

by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Retired folk art curator Beatrice Coleman knows everything there is to know about quilts, except how to make them. But with her recent move to Dapple Hills, North Carolina, she’s learning all sorts of new things—including how to solve a murder…

As the newest member of the Village Quilters Guild, Beatrice has a lot of gossip to catch up on—especially with the Patchwork Cottage quilt shop about to close. It seems that Judith, the landlord everyone loves to hate, wants to raise the rent, despite being a quilter herself…

But when Judith is found dead, the harmless gossip becomes an intricate patchwork of mischievous motives. And it’s up to Beatrice’s expert eye to decipher the pattern and catch the killer, before her life gets sewn up for good.

Includes quilting tips!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Crafts, Mystery Thriller, Crime

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Author also writes under Elizabeth Craig

Elizabeth is the bestselling cozy mystery author of the Southern Quilting mysteries, the Myrtle Clover Cozy Mysteries, the Village Library Mysteries, and Memphis Barbeque mysteries for Penguin Random House, Midnight Ink, and independently. Find out more about her books and sign up for her newsletter on her website: http://elizabethspanncraig.com . Find her books on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list...

Reviews

[Christina/ The Blog for Teachers, Readers, & Life! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Southern Quilting Mystery Series. I loved this book!

I thought it was quite humorous. Especially, when the sherriff admits that he took the position in this small town so that he would not have to deal with violent and other serious crimes.

Everyone knows everyone else. So when a very disagreeable local woman ends up murdered, the locals are looking over their shoulders and suspecting their friends, neighbors, and Beatrice (the main character) that just moved to town.

The endearing quirky characters will welcome you into this story! :) Even if you don't know anything about quilting, it is still a great read.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in a quaint town in the Carolina mountains.
Beatrice moved to Dappled Hills to be close to her daughter now that she is retired. She is soon drawn in to the Village Quilter's by her eccentric neighbor, Meadow. But when one of the members is found murdered just after the first guild meeting, Beatrice isn't sure just how idyllic Dappled Hills actually is. She is soon drawn into the investigation, determined to find out who was behind the murder. As she grows closer to the women in the group it's hard to believe one of them could be guilty. But as a newcomer it's easier for her to be impartial and draw out the culprit.
A cute, cozy mystery with some of my favorite people, quilter's. I'm just glad my quilting friends are not murderers!
3.5 stars.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just an okay book for me. Overall I liked the characters and story but there were some parts that weren't very believable (the stick your head in the sand mentality of the police chief for example). Nice small town setting. #readforkimberly

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retired museum curator Beatrice Coleman moves from her busy and noisy home in Atlanta to the quiet, serene town of Dappled Hills, North Carolina. Not only will she get to spend time lying in her hammock, reading a book and sipping from a mint julep, but she’ll be living closer to her daughter, Piper. Everything seems perfect. Or does it?

Beatrice is quick to learn that Dappled Hills is anything but quiet. She’s immediately dragged into the Village Quilters guild and put to work. The problem is, she has no idea how to do quilting and no great desire to learn. It’s only adding to her stress level while she’s supposed to be relaxing.

When a prominent member of the quilting guild turns up dead, Beatrice becomes more and more suspicious about her new home town. There’s no shortage of suspects, starting with every member of the quilting guild. In an effort to keep all her new found friends happy, Beatrice does some undercover work on her own as she tries to sniff out a killer.

This is a cozy mystery at its best. I loved getting to know all the wonderful and zany citizens of Dappled Hills. And, yes, there's even a hint of romance in the air. It’s a one-sitting read that sucks you in from page one. It’s the first of a new series and I’m so glad to get in on the ground floor. It’s a must read for all fans of the genre. This is what cozies are all about!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up on the cheap at Book Outlet and decided to give it a go. They generally don't have many cozies and when they do, they're rarely the first in a series. I liked this one pretty well from the start and was even planning on ordering the second in the series, but I liked it less and less as it went on. Meadow was super annoying. And that ending...Beatrice figures out who it is and then goes off on a walk in a secluded area instead of heading directly to the police? What a nitwit! I'd probably read the next in this series if we get one in at the store, but I'm not going to seek it out.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this first book in a new to me series. I did notice that the protagonist's dog, who is normally a female was referred to a "he" a few times towards the end of the book. Just a picky little thing, but as the mother of two little girl doxies I picked up on that. I'm looking forward to moving on with this series.

[Raegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cozy!!!! Feels like Murder She Wrote vibes but Quilts!

[Lisa Cornelius Ashby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book in the Southern Quilting Mystery series. While the book didn’t grab me, it did grow on me. I felt that by the end of the book the characters had grown on me, and the little town had started to grow on me as well. The murder mystery was fairly good. I purchased book #2 from one of my local used bookstores,so I will read it and see if I want to continue the series.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy this book when I first met the main character, Beatrice. She is an older woman, retired from her career as a folk art museum curator, moved to a small town to be closer to her daughter. She liked her alone time and was a little standoffish when her neighbors came to call and interrupted her retirement solitude.
I then realized how much she was like me. Not in all things...I am not retired nor as older as Beatrice, but I could see myself in other aspects...I love my solitude and get a bit cranky when someone interrupts...but I do love it when I come out of my shell and someone helps me out by pushing me along.
So after that realization, I got over myself and I became enamored of the story, the characters and the mystery.
The victim was truly horrid and I could see why someone or everyone would want her gone. No one deserves murder, but can see how it occurred and how the different suspects were viable.
I enjoyed this so much, I pretty much immediately hit the bookstore and bought the next in the series, KNOT WHAT IT SEEMS.
Highly enjoyable!!

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Craig does a wonderful job creating a world of Southern charm in QUILT OR INNOCENCE, a tale that is filled with quilting coziness and murderous intrigue. Craig’s characters are a little off-beat and full of personalities, like any good Southerners should be, and it’s a true delight in discovering their individual quirks. The small town setting is perfect for the closeness of the friends, and the addition of quilting and cooking makes this a series that is sure to become an immediate fan favorite. I, for one, look forward to many more exciting stories to come from Elizabeth Craig and her quilting ladies of North Carolina.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an OK book. For some reason I just didn't feel for the characters like in other books. It was an interesting mystery, but I figured out the murderer before the MC. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the clues that gave it away seemed really obvious to me (don't want to spoil it by giving too many details). I probably would read others in the series if I needed them for a challenge or for Bingo, but it's not on my must read list.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beatrice Coleman has retired and moved to Dappled Hills, North Carolina to be close to her daughter. She had worked as a folk art curator and knows everything there is to know about valuing and displaying quilts. But she has never made a quilt herself and never really planned on ever making one.

Quilting is a big thing in Dappled Hills, in fact Beatrice's new home is right next to the Village Quilters guild president Meadow Downey. Meadow insists Beatrice join the guild. She doesn't even have time to get settled before Meadow is dragging her to a guild meeting. It is there that she meets Posy, the owner of Posy's Patchwork Cottage and learns about Judith, the landlord everyone loves to hate. She wants to raise Posy's rent and if Posy does want to pay she will just find a new tenant.

When Judith is found dead there certainly isn't a shortage of suspects. Beatrice may be able to use her fine attention to detail to help figure out who killed Judith. Hopefully before someone else gets pinned permanently.

Dollycas Thoughts
Quilters are passionate people, extremely passionate about quilting and they want to share their joys with everyone. I know because before my accident I was a very passionate quilter. I loved going shopping for fabric. I love the smell of a fabric store and rubbing the material between my fingers. Finding the perfect combination of fabrics and deciding on the pattern. The creative part, the construction, the quilting and completing the project can give you a personal high. It's addictive. I understand completely.

That's why I actually felt sorry for Beatrice. She was ambushed by a group of crazy quilters who expected just because she knew about quilts she would want to make not just one but many quilts. They pushed and pushed, trying to get her to be just like them. They expected her to make a block for a group quilt when she had never picked up a needle. They thought she would be bored unless she was involved in everything happening around town. I found myself really not liking these characters through most of the story. I wanted to jump into the pages and defend Beatrice. Slow down, she hasn't even finished unpacking.

As the story evolved there was one character that saved the entire story for me. Yes, she is quirky, opinionated and she will definitely keep you guessing whether she is all there or not, but circumstances threw her and Beatrice together and she took the time to get to know Beatrice and let Beatrice do things in her own time frame.

The who-dun-it played out really well as Beatrice used her analytical skills to see things in strangers that long time residents completely missed. It's always those little things that trip a criminal up. Beatrice was on the spot to blow the whistle on the murderer.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series and getting to know the characters and Dappled Hills better. Hopefully Beatrice will be more settled before the next tragedy strikes and she has had a little time to adjust to her new life. Dappled Hills may be small but with this cast of characters I am sure it will never be boring.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quilt or Innocence by Elizabeth Spann Craig is book one of the Southern Quilting Mystery series set in a contemporary small town in North Carolina. Beatrice has just retired from her career as an art museum curator in Atlanta. She chose Dappled Hills because her daughter Piper lives there. Beatrice imagines she will spend her retirement quietly and peacefully relaxing in a hammock in her garden, reading fiction and sipping mint juleps.

Beatrice finds out on her first day in residence that it will not be quiet or peaceful. Her next-door neighbor Meadow literally pulls her by the arm to visit her house. Meadow introduces Beatrice to her friends from the local quilt guild, and assumes Beatrice will join them and learn to quilt. Beatrice is not interested, but Meadow doesn’t hear “no”. Beatrice soon finds herself at the guild’s quilting bee, where most quilters are warm and friendly, welcoming Beatrice to Dappled Hills. However, all is not perfect in their little town – one of the guild members, Judith, stirs up hostility with several quilters. When Judith gets murdered, many of the quilters seem to have motives. Beatrice decides to investigate, to hurry the case along because the local police don’t seem to be making any headway. Of course, as Beatrice comes closer to the truth, she becomes a threat to the killer.

It’s pleasant and easy reading, not difficult to figure out the killer. I originally selected the book because I like to quilt. I did not like the setting, characters or plot enough to continue with the series. Beatrice’s pushy next-door neighbor really got on my nerves. It’s surprising to find recipes in the back of the book (Cheese Straws, Pineapple Cheese Dip, Ham Rolls, Cheese and Bacon Puffs), because food was not a key part of the story, and I don’t recall they ever ate those particular dishes.

[Penny McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I always start a new series with a bit of extra excitement. Will I love the characters? Will I be able to figure out the killer before the end (I hate when that happens)? Can it ever compare to my love of Julie Hyzy and her wonderful White House chef Olivia Paras? Well, Elizabeth Spann Craig has begun a series that is battling for my cozy mystery loyalty. A retired curator moves into a small town so she can be closer to her daughter and meets a quilting guild with characters that seem designed to make mystery solving a challenge. Beatrice is quickly dragged into the quilting guild by her a flaky neighbour and it all comes tumbling down for a woman who planned to enjoy her retirement by reading and drinking her favourite drinks. I felt for her at first - I know how it feels to be dragged away from a good book and great cup of tea - but came to love her neighbours and friends as much as she did. I'm going to suggest this series to many patrons at the library and think I'll go the extra step of buying this title for my own shelf. I'd like to visit this town and quilting guild again.

[Connie N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first in series cozy mystery was fine, but it took me longer to read than usual because it was pretty put-downable. The characters were fine, the story was fairly interesting, the small town atmosphere was nice, and the writing was pleasant, but it didn't grab me. Beatrice is a retired museum curator who moves to a small town in North Carolina to be near her daughter. But immediately after her arrival a woman in the quilting guild is murdered. Since Beatrice is already finding retirement to be more boring than she expected, she starts thinking about the murders and doing some mild investigating. Meadow, her next-door neighbor is overwhelmingly friendly and would be a completely annoying neighbor. Piper, Beatrice's grown daughter is kind of fluttery and doesn't have a big role in the story so we don't really get to know her very well. My favorite secondary character is Miss Sissy, the eccentric elderly lady who sees a lot more than she lets on. I will probably continue with the series since I enjoyed reading about the quilting activities.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have now read several 'cosy' mysteries, by various authors.

This one, I found rather annoying. It seemed like the main character didn't really have a spine and let herself be pushed into all sorts of things she didn't want. The other characters were always arguing, despite supposedly being 'friends'.

One thing that really bugged me, and the reason I won't continue the series, is the dogs. I like dogs, but I despise people who let their BIG dogs jump up on, or slobber on, other people. They just expect you to take it, and like it, with no concern for your own feelings. Since the neighbour of the main character was this type, and also constantly dropping in on the spineless heroine with no invitation, I can't expect much different in any future volumes.

Surely, someone can write these nice little mysteries without a plethora of nosy, manipulative family and 'friends'.

[Angela Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. This town that Beatrice moves into is quite qwirky. I like how all the ladies are very much into quilting and get along well that is except for Judith. Judith managed to start a fight before she left the quilting be and the next morning she is found dead. There are many people in the town that could have done it. Beatrice is having a hard time adjusting to her new retired life and to pass her time decides to try and solve the murder. You will be kept guessing as to who really committed murder until the end of the book. I look forward to learning more about this town and all the residents. I give this book four stars.

[Kelsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't usually write negative reviews but for me the protagonist just was not likable. I don't know if she is meant to be lovably cranky or just cranky in general but her internal thoughts border on nasty toward people who are trying to include her and be her friend and even with her own daughter. I understand that she is meant to grow as a character and fit into this small town over the course of the book but I still didn't care for her in the end. I also found her extraordinarily negative which can be grating after a while. I read cozy mysteries because they are light and are semi escapist and with this one it was more of a chore to finish than anything.

[Judee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful cozy mystery. It is the first of a series that I look forward to reading. I got the book from our quilt guild's library. It is well written, easy to put down but wonderful to pick up again. The story is about a woman who has just retired from being a curator in Atlanta. She moves to a small town in North Carolina to be near her daughter. As she becomes acquainted with the local people, she finds herself investigating a murder. As with all cozy mysteries, the characters are quirky but imitate life. The mystery was not easy to solve and the actual murderer was somewhat of a surprise.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book tremendously, especially the characters that the author has included in the book. Doesn't matter that I don't quilt or like to sew as it doesn't drown you in too much detail. What is included was interesting. I like Beatrice's down to earth style and how she handles all of her new acquaintances from her next door neighbor who "kidnaps" her before she can drink her tea she just brewed to Miss Sissy who thinks everyone is a road hog whether they are in a car or walking on the side walk. Can't wait for the next in the series to come out.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun cozy mystery! I love the characters, especially Miss Sissy (she has to exist somwhere, who could think up this character?) The book is well written, well edited and is a good story about Beatrice moving from Atlanta to live in the same small town as her adult daughter. She hardly has the coffeemaker unpacked and a murder happens - something that never happens in this small, friendly town! Beatrice does her best to solve the mystery. I had no clue really until the end. Enjoy! This is the first of a new mystery series from Ms. Craig and I'm looking forward to the second.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just an ok read for me. I work at the library & put it on hold from our catalog when it was still on order, so I was expecting something more along the lines of Earlene Fowler's books. And I think those must be where the author got her inspiration, but it certainly didn't meet my expectations. For me, it was just so-so.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is set in a Southern town about a small community that loves to quilt!
With lots of characters and a couple of cute dogs,..its hard to put the book down.

I was suprised at "who did it"! and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Julia Hendon · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok mystery, but the characters weren't especially believable or likable. The author had them behaving in ways that were necessary to advancing the storyline but which weren't particularly believable. The killer was pretty obvious despite the author's efforts to make everyone look guilty.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good first in a new series cozy mystery!

[Mary Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is a friend of a friend. Sadly, I don't think she is going to do too well in the quilting mystery category. She does not seem to be a quilter--the buzz words are a bit off.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

When everyone is under suspicion but you keep ignoring one person, it's pretty obvious who the murderer is.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like quilting, but I can only suspend my disbelief so far. Everyone in this town is completely obsessed with it

[Chickie Chip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Noo-noo?

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
I wanted to like it, but found the characters (and dogs) annoying and the storyline too silly.