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A Weaving Mystery #1
Looming Murder
LOOM WITH A VIEW
Della Wright has come to peaceful and picturesque Briar Hollow, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to realize her lifelong dream of owning a weaving studio. To promote her new business, Dream Weavers, Della is offering weaving workshops for all levels of ability. In her first class, she meets half a dozen of the town’s colorful characters, who seem as eager to gossip as to learn how to work a loom. But when a shady local businessman is found murdered, Briar Hollow suddenly appears a lot less idyllic. And when one of her weaving students is suspected of the crime, Della can’t help getting entangled in the investigation—with some help from her criminologist friend, Matthew. But can she weave together clues as well as she weaves together yarn—and stop a killer from striking again?
FEATURES WEAVING TIPS!
Della Wright has come to peaceful and picturesque Briar Hollow, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to realize her lifelong dream of owning a weaving studio. To promote her new business, Dream Weavers, Della is offering weaving workshops for all levels of ability. In her first class, she meets half a dozen of the town’s colorful characters, who seem as eager to gossip as to learn how to work a loom. But when a shady local businessman is found murdered, Briar Hollow suddenly appears a lot less idyllic. And when one of her weaving students is suspected of the crime, Della can’t help getting entangled in the investigation—with some help from her criminologist friend, Matthew. But can she weave together clues as well as she weaves together yarn—and stop a killer from striking again?
FEATURES WEAVING TIPS!
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 4, 2013
33 people are currently reading
856 people want to read
About the author
Carol Ann Martin
4 books51 followersMonique Domovitch (aka Carol Ann Martin) was born in the small town of Hearst Ontario. She is the oldest of ten children. “You can’t imagine the pressure,” she says,laughing. “Anything I did wrong—and I did plenty—was sure to lead my siblings into a life of sin. I therefore accept the blame for any wrongdoings by all member of my family.”
When she was twenty years old she moved to Montreal, where she became a successful model, winning the prestigious Modeling Association of American Contest and continuing on to an international career. During this time, she worked with many top photographers and graced many designer runways. “Modeling was a wonderful career,” she says. “I met so many interesting and talented people. I travelled all over the world. After ten years of facing cameras and audiences, I became very comfortable with the public. I had no idea at the time, just how much this ability would serve me later in life.”
At the age of thirty, Monique retired from modeling and founded Beauties Modeling Agency in Montreal. Through her tutelage, many Canadian models gained international renown. “I wanted to accept my age rather than try desperately to look young for an unforgiving camera. That was the main reason I retired from modeling on my thirtieth birthday.”
Following a difficult divorce and some health issues some years later, Monique sold her agency and turned her focus on the investment business. “The divorce had left me financially and emotionally bereft—by my own doing, I might add—because I just walked away from the financial fighting. It was just easier to sign on the dotted line and walk away than to prolong a painful fight. Even though it made the next few years difficult financially, I never regretted my decision, which propelled me to the next phase of my professional life.
At the age of forty two, Monique, by then a financial advisor with one of Canada’s largest investment firms, was picked to host her own television show, Her Money, a weekly financial-advice show aimed to a female audience. “Her Money, aired nationally for four years on The Women’s Network , and to this day, I still hear from women who tell me that my message, ‘you, and only you, are responsible for your financial security’, helped change their lives.”
During all these careers, Monique’s real passion was always writing. “I used to get up at 5:30 in the morning and write until I went to work. If I’d been alone, I would probably have put my energies into writing. But as a single mother, I had to provide for my children.”
Nowadays, Monique lives with her physician husband and their three dogs. They divide their time between their homes in Canada and La Jolla. “I got lucky. I met the love of my life at the age of fifty. The best advice I can give other women is, don’t settle for second best. I was alone for twenty years until Ed came along. If I’d decided that a mediocre marriage was better than no marriage, Ed and I would most likely have never met. I can’t imagine my life without him.”
Monique also writes under the pen name of Carol Ann Martin, for Obsidian, an imprint of Penguin. “I borrowed the name from my children, combining my daughter’s—Carole Ann—and my son’s—Martin. Her first book in her new series, Looming Murder , will be published in 2013.
When she was twenty years old she moved to Montreal, where she became a successful model, winning the prestigious Modeling Association of American Contest and continuing on to an international career. During this time, she worked with many top photographers and graced many designer runways. “Modeling was a wonderful career,” she says. “I met so many interesting and talented people. I travelled all over the world. After ten years of facing cameras and audiences, I became very comfortable with the public. I had no idea at the time, just how much this ability would serve me later in life.”
At the age of thirty, Monique retired from modeling and founded Beauties Modeling Agency in Montreal. Through her tutelage, many Canadian models gained international renown. “I wanted to accept my age rather than try desperately to look young for an unforgiving camera. That was the main reason I retired from modeling on my thirtieth birthday.”
Following a difficult divorce and some health issues some years later, Monique sold her agency and turned her focus on the investment business. “The divorce had left me financially and emotionally bereft—by my own doing, I might add—because I just walked away from the financial fighting. It was just easier to sign on the dotted line and walk away than to prolong a painful fight. Even though it made the next few years difficult financially, I never regretted my decision, which propelled me to the next phase of my professional life.
At the age of forty two, Monique, by then a financial advisor with one of Canada’s largest investment firms, was picked to host her own television show, Her Money, a weekly financial-advice show aimed to a female audience. “Her Money, aired nationally for four years on The Women’s Network , and to this day, I still hear from women who tell me that my message, ‘you, and only you, are responsible for your financial security’, helped change their lives.”
During all these careers, Monique’s real passion was always writing. “I used to get up at 5:30 in the morning and write until I went to work. If I’d been alone, I would probably have put my energies into writing. But as a single mother, I had to provide for my children.”
Nowadays, Monique lives with her physician husband and their three dogs. They divide their time between their homes in Canada and La Jolla. “I got lucky. I met the love of my life at the age of fifty. The best advice I can give other women is, don’t settle for second best. I was alone for twenty years until Ed came along. If I’d decided that a mediocre marriage was better than no marriage, Ed and I would most likely have never met. I can’t imagine my life without him.”
Monique also writes under the pen name of Carol Ann Martin, for Obsidian, an imprint of Penguin. “I borrowed the name from my children, combining my daughter’s—Carole Ann—and my son’s—Martin. Her first book in her new series, Looming Murder , will be published in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
August 31, 2018
DNF. Did not finish because just after the first murder happened, I was so sick of the heroine I wanted to find the author and punch her out. And while I punched her I would scream at her about character development, "voice", and not stereotyping people from small towns.
The main character, Della, was JUST like that Kelly Flynn from the knitting mystery books by Maggie Sefton. Each woman is supposed to be smart and business savvy. And yet we rarely get a chance to see them be smart because all they ever tell us about is their knitting or weaving. Each woman is obsessed with coffee. Coffee, coffee, coffee, it's all they ever drink. If they are more than a few feet away from coffee, which they are fond of calling things like "rich, dark java", they start shaking with delerium tremens. Both of them probably have that wierd puppy-shit smelling breath you get in people who never drink anything other than coffee and are chronically dehydrated.
The only thing you will ever know about Della is that she
1. Drinks coffee to the exclusion of other beverages
2. Wears minimum four inch heels all the time, apparently from birth. She was probably born wearing a modest 2 inch heel, but when she learned to walk she put on the stilettos and hasn't looked back since.
3. She's obsessed with weight, her own and everyone else's. She would like to be skinny, but likes her curvy figure and food too much to ever do much exercise. Because jogging in Manolo Blahniks is a bitch.
4. She has a crush on her childhood friend, Matthew and obsessively analyzes every interaction they have for signs that he is in love with someone else. Hard to see what Matthew has going for him, but Della is stalkery into him.
5. When Della isn't shotgunning coffee, obsessing over weight, clothing, shoes, or Matthew, she weaves.
That is all you need to know. I will not be picking up any more of these books, but I'm sure they'll do well. These types of crafty mysteries have enjoyed a lot of popularity and seem to do well.
The main character, Della, was JUST like that Kelly Flynn from the knitting mystery books by Maggie Sefton. Each woman is supposed to be smart and business savvy. And yet we rarely get a chance to see them be smart because all they ever tell us about is their knitting or weaving. Each woman is obsessed with coffee. Coffee, coffee, coffee, it's all they ever drink. If they are more than a few feet away from coffee, which they are fond of calling things like "rich, dark java", they start shaking with delerium tremens. Both of them probably have that wierd puppy-shit smelling breath you get in people who never drink anything other than coffee and are chronically dehydrated.
The only thing you will ever know about Della is that she
1. Drinks coffee to the exclusion of other beverages
2. Wears minimum four inch heels all the time, apparently from birth. She was probably born wearing a modest 2 inch heel, but when she learned to walk she put on the stilettos and hasn't looked back since.
3. She's obsessed with weight, her own and everyone else's. She would like to be skinny, but likes her curvy figure and food too much to ever do much exercise. Because jogging in Manolo Blahniks is a bitch.
4. She has a crush on her childhood friend, Matthew and obsessively analyzes every interaction they have for signs that he is in love with someone else. Hard to see what Matthew has going for him, but Della is stalkery into him.
5. When Della isn't shotgunning coffee, obsessing over weight, clothing, shoes, or Matthew, she weaves.
That is all you need to know. I will not be picking up any more of these books, but I'm sure they'll do well. These types of crafty mysteries have enjoyed a lot of popularity and seem to do well.
May 13, 2013
This book has just two flaws:
1) The opening chapter, while it does introduce readers to the leading characters (though we do not officially meet the future murder victim until much later) there is a good deal of rambling. Chapter two rambles as well, albeit to a lesser extent.
2) There is no murder until you are one-third of the way into the book. I know a lot of lifetime mystery buffs, particularly those who have gotten spoiled to having that proverbial corpse by the end of chapter one, may grow impatient as several chapters that follow reveal NO corpse as well. In fact, you will have to wait until the early double-digit chapters to finally see your corpse (and that's the closest I will come to dishing out a spoiler).
What's good about this book?
1) Humor! The leading character, Della's "voice" and internal monologue is both relatable and endearing.
2) Small town gossip! Seriously, what kept me going while I was waiting for my corpse to show up was all the delicious gossip that kept right on foreshadowing just who was about to get himself murdered. And of course there was plenty of gossip about everyone the victim pissed off. In all honesty, it kind of reminded me of a more light-hearted version of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple's most common method for solving cases. Judge the following parallels for yourself:
Miss Marple: The little old lady with the knitting needles, picking up clues by eavesdropping on gossip.
Della Wright: The middle aged woman who gains trust and bonds with the small town locals through her weaving classes. Those small town ladies just love to gossip and fortunately for us, Della is a willing listener.
3) Once the corpse is found...the pace really picks up! In other words, once you get through the first two slightly awkward chapters, it gets good. Then, once the murder is committed it just gets better and better!
Between Della making a fresh start in a small town, the work she does to accomplish her true dream, making new friends, maybe/maybe not falling in love **and** juggling all of that with her amateur sleuthing, I think the best way to sum up this brand new series is that it's "chick lit" meets "murder mystery". It just has all of the charm and humor of a small town and the added element of woman learning how to grab life by its horns, but always with that suspicious backdrop: Should she trust her new friends/acquaintances, lest one of them might be the killer? Light and fun book. Perfect "beach read".
1) The opening chapter, while it does introduce readers to the leading characters (though we do not officially meet the future murder victim until much later) there is a good deal of rambling. Chapter two rambles as well, albeit to a lesser extent.
2) There is no murder until you are one-third of the way into the book. I know a lot of lifetime mystery buffs, particularly those who have gotten spoiled to having that proverbial corpse by the end of chapter one, may grow impatient as several chapters that follow reveal NO corpse as well. In fact, you will have to wait until the early double-digit chapters to finally see your corpse (and that's the closest I will come to dishing out a spoiler).
What's good about this book?
1) Humor! The leading character, Della's "voice" and internal monologue is both relatable and endearing.
2) Small town gossip! Seriously, what kept me going while I was waiting for my corpse to show up was all the delicious gossip that kept right on foreshadowing just who was about to get himself murdered. And of course there was plenty of gossip about everyone the victim pissed off. In all honesty, it kind of reminded me of a more light-hearted version of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple's most common method for solving cases. Judge the following parallels for yourself:
Miss Marple: The little old lady with the knitting needles, picking up clues by eavesdropping on gossip.
Della Wright: The middle aged woman who gains trust and bonds with the small town locals through her weaving classes. Those small town ladies just love to gossip and fortunately for us, Della is a willing listener.
3) Once the corpse is found...the pace really picks up! In other words, once you get through the first two slightly awkward chapters, it gets good. Then, once the murder is committed it just gets better and better!
Between Della making a fresh start in a small town, the work she does to accomplish her true dream, making new friends, maybe/maybe not falling in love **and** juggling all of that with her amateur sleuthing, I think the best way to sum up this brand new series is that it's "chick lit" meets "murder mystery". It just has all of the charm and humor of a small town and the added element of woman learning how to grab life by its horns, but always with that suspicious backdrop: Should she trust her new friends/acquaintances, lest one of them might be the killer? Light and fun book. Perfect "beach read".
July 23, 2013
I honestly don't know what to think about this mystery series. I am hoping that b/c this is the first one, things will improve with the character development. Especially the characters of Della and Matthew, the main ones. Della is fine as a person, but she is an awful friend to Jenny. Jenny is a sweet, open, quirky person, and all Della does is make fun of her. Also, the way Matthew treats Della is just awful. It's pathetic how she falls all over herself when he is around, and all he does is trat her like a child and a helpless female. The author obviously wants the readers to pull for these two, but honestly? I don't see it. There is no chemistry whatsoever. In fact, Della has more chemistry with the dog Winston, then she does Matthew! Also, I like her better with David, who treats her like an equal. As for the mystery, it was okay. I guessed who did it about halfway through the book. Overall, I am hard pressed to read another in this series; but, if I can get it from the library like I did this one, then I might give it a chance.
December 6, 2025
Good debut.
July 4, 2018
That Della is a real piece of work. Something I’ve noticed in the few cozy mysteries I’ve read is that the protagonists are OBSESSED with weight. Their own weight and the weight of others. Della is short and doesn’t have the best figure, so she wears 4 inch heels to compensate, even when she’s just sitting at her house weaving. She absolutely cannot give up food or coffee, except the few times she says she won’t eat something because of the calories. She points out the weight of everyone around her, and it’s just really bizarre.
Also, this takes place in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina, where I’ve lived for 20 years, and she doesn’t think that anyone in town would own a gun? Please. According to her bio, the author splits her time between San Diego and the Canadian coast. I didn’t have to read that to know that she hasn’t spent any reasonable amount of time in small town North Carolina.
Della was just such a weird, ridiculous, and contradictory character that I debated putting this book down a few times, but the mystery was intriguing, that is, when it finally got started around page 100.
3 stars because it’s hard to complain about cozy mysteries. They’re like candy: I devour them quickly and even the “bad” ones are still sweet.
Also, this takes place in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina, where I’ve lived for 20 years, and she doesn’t think that anyone in town would own a gun? Please. According to her bio, the author splits her time between San Diego and the Canadian coast. I didn’t have to read that to know that she hasn’t spent any reasonable amount of time in small town North Carolina.
Della was just such a weird, ridiculous, and contradictory character that I debated putting this book down a few times, but the mystery was intriguing, that is, when it finally got started around page 100.
3 stars because it’s hard to complain about cozy mysteries. They’re like candy: I devour them quickly and even the “bad” ones are still sweet.
April 30, 2018
Fun start to a new series. Weaving is the backdrop and a cool skill set. Della’s new start is going to be very interesting and fun. I look forward to more of these stories.
May 31, 2025
First book in a series about a weaver and her new shop and new friends. Book was easy to read.
April 16, 2018
I'm fairly new to the cozy mystery genre, but am quickly growing to really enjoy them.
I'm a weaver/spinner/dyer, so this book seemed right up my alley. I liked Della and her friends, and I enjoyed the setting (I'm from a small town myself. It's true. Everybody really DOES know everybody).
The murderer's identity totally surprised me. I didn't figure it out at all. Plus, there's a nice romance growing. All in all, a nice book to while away an evening. Will definitely read more in this series!
I'm a weaver/spinner/dyer, so this book seemed right up my alley. I liked Della and her friends, and I enjoyed the setting (I'm from a small town myself. It's true. Everybody really DOES know everybody).
The murderer's identity totally surprised me. I didn't figure it out at all. Plus, there's a nice romance growing. All in all, a nice book to while away an evening. Will definitely read more in this series!
March 31, 2019
2.5 stars.
Some awkward phrasing and so-so plot.
Some awkward phrasing and so-so plot.
January 10, 2017
Della has left a big city to follow her dream and open a weaving shop. But when one of her customers is suspected of murder, Della has to become a detective as well.
Martin does a great job of making Della's weaving shop and the craft itself come alive. The book made me want to take up weaving!
The solution to the mystery definitely features a surprising twist, which I really appreciated. I love a good twist I don't see coming.
I didn't love the main character, Della, like I wanted to. She comes off as a bit inconsistent, and so her choices can sometimes be a bit grating.
I'm not going to run out and buy the next book in this series. But if I see more entries in this series at a used bookstore or book fair, I suspect I would pick them up.
Martin does a great job of making Della's weaving shop and the craft itself come alive. The book made me want to take up weaving!
The solution to the mystery definitely features a surprising twist, which I really appreciated. I love a good twist I don't see coming.
I didn't love the main character, Della, like I wanted to. She comes off as a bit inconsistent, and so her choices can sometimes be a bit grating.
I'm not going to run out and buy the next book in this series. But if I see more entries in this series at a used bookstore or book fair, I suspect I would pick them up.
June 18, 2013
This first in a new series started off really strong, and I thought "yay!" a new series to get excited about. But from there - well, it sort of fell apart. Not completely - it was still a good enough read, but not nearly as good as it's potential.
First, the setting is excellent; small town, at the base of the blue ridge mountains. Most of the action takes place in only two places, so there's not much of a mind map setup, but it wasn't really missed and didn't detract from the story.
Next, the characters. We start with a charity weaving night that introduces us to the main characters and coincidentally, the suspects. I really liked the female dynamic and was all set for a good 'friendship' setup for the series. But Della spends most of the book talking down to her "closest" new friend, Jenny, someone who believes she can read aura's and tarot. Della treats her as a bit of a silly child because of this, and it hurts the book. Della was supposed to have been a Financial Analyst in her previous life, but seems to have no money of her own and needs to take advice from the men in her life about her own financial decisions. Plus, I was over hearing about the damn high heels. Marnie is introduced as a bit of a shrew, but then becomes likeable as the book progresses. And the final female character, Dolores, is portrayed as a nasty, scheming piece of work until the last third of the book where she becomes a bit of a hero in the piece. ?!?! And finally, Michael - the childhood friend/love interest: He is an Ass!!!! One minute he's talking to Della like she's a child and constantly nagging at her and the next, he's blushing and running away from her at the slightest provocation. WTF??? Total turn-off. All-in-all, the characters felt all over the place, I never knew how I was meant to feel about any of them (except Michael, whom I'm sure I am meant to like but really, I'd just like to kick him in the jewels...)
Finally, the plot. Very well done and wow, way to keep me completely distracted with lots of suspects and red herrings and then shock me at the end. Totally didn't have a clue until Della did. Excellent!
Not sure I'll read the next one or not - though I'll admit to finding the weaving bits very interesting. I'll have to see how I feel once the next book comes out.
First, the setting is excellent; small town, at the base of the blue ridge mountains. Most of the action takes place in only two places, so there's not much of a mind map setup, but it wasn't really missed and didn't detract from the story.
Next, the characters. We start with a charity weaving night that introduces us to the main characters and coincidentally, the suspects. I really liked the female dynamic and was all set for a good 'friendship' setup for the series. But Della spends most of the book talking down to her "closest" new friend, Jenny, someone who believes she can read aura's and tarot. Della treats her as a bit of a silly child because of this, and it hurts the book. Della was supposed to have been a Financial Analyst in her previous life, but seems to have no money of her own and needs to take advice from the men in her life about her own financial decisions. Plus, I was over hearing about the damn high heels. Marnie is introduced as a bit of a shrew, but then becomes likeable as the book progresses. And the final female character, Dolores, is portrayed as a nasty, scheming piece of work until the last third of the book where she becomes a bit of a hero in the piece. ?!?! And finally, Michael - the childhood friend/love interest: He is an Ass!!!! One minute he's talking to Della like she's a child and constantly nagging at her and the next, he's blushing and running away from her at the slightest provocation. WTF??? Total turn-off. All-in-all, the characters felt all over the place, I never knew how I was meant to feel about any of them (except Michael, whom I'm sure I am meant to like but really, I'd just like to kick him in the jewels...)
Finally, the plot. Very well done and wow, way to keep me completely distracted with lots of suspects and red herrings and then shock me at the end. Totally didn't have a clue until Della did. Excellent!
Not sure I'll read the next one or not - though I'll admit to finding the weaving bits very interesting. I'll have to see how I feel once the next book comes out.
July 17, 2013
It has always been said that curiosity killed the cat. In the case of a sketchy accidental death and the murder of a prominent real estate mogul, Della Wright seems to be landing safely on her feet at every turn.
After facing a dramatic life change, Della moves to the small town of Briar Hollow to start fresh and live out her dream of owning and operating a Weaving Shop. But little time has passed before she is intrigued by the small yet quirky town with its vivacious cast of inhabitants, and a murder she unknowingly stumbles upon.
I found it entertaining that Della seemed to put herself in harms way despite the open threats to her well being. It was as if she needed more in her life other than operating a Loom and teaching others how to weave. It’s like she felt empty.
Despite this, the Author had a way of directing the story that kept my rapt attention, and I found I couldn’t put it down. I was far gone wanting to know who had actually committed the murder and if Della might come face to face with this unknown killer.
The whodunit feel of the book was riveting, and the end had a very well put shock value because the culprit and their reasoning for the murder were unexpected.
After facing a dramatic life change, Della moves to the small town of Briar Hollow to start fresh and live out her dream of owning and operating a Weaving Shop. But little time has passed before she is intrigued by the small yet quirky town with its vivacious cast of inhabitants, and a murder she unknowingly stumbles upon.
I found it entertaining that Della seemed to put herself in harms way despite the open threats to her well being. It was as if she needed more in her life other than operating a Loom and teaching others how to weave. It’s like she felt empty.
Despite this, the Author had a way of directing the story that kept my rapt attention, and I found I couldn’t put it down. I was far gone wanting to know who had actually committed the murder and if Della might come face to face with this unknown killer.
The whodunit feel of the book was riveting, and the end had a very well put shock value because the culprit and their reasoning for the murder were unexpected.
November 2, 2018
For a Weaver This is a Fun Mystery
I loved it from beginning to end and most likely will purchase the other 3 in the series. As a crafter, this is interesting to have a story along with my art form flowing through the story line.
I loved it from beginning to end and most likely will purchase the other 3 in the series. As a crafter, this is interesting to have a story along with my art form flowing through the story line.
March 24, 2017
Love the weaving angle, but the writing is pretty sub-par.
June 19, 2018
Della Wright has switched homes with her childhood friend Matthew, due to a scandal at her workplace where she was once suspected of embezzling but was cleared when it was discovered that the culprit was in actuality her boss. She's decided to pursue her dream of a weaving studio where she will also sell her wares. But in order to get it off the ground, her first step is in offering classes.
The people who show up are an assorted group who seem interested. She discovers that one of them - David Swanson - has no desire to learn to weave, but is doing so as part of community service, and they're making baby blankets for charity. She also learns he's a real estate agent, which comes in handy when she finds out things didn't work out as planned for Matthew and he's returning home.
When David is showing her a place she's interested in, they come across the reason for his community service: Jeremy, a man he'd recently had an argument with. To make it worse, the man is with David's ex-wife, part of the reason for the argument. They leave abruptly, and later on David asks her if she's still interested in seeing the building. When Della agrees and they enter the apartment above the store they both get a surprise: Jeremy's body, covered in blood. In her haste to leave Della takes a tumble and sprains her ankle.
While the police think David is the murderer, Della's not so sure and offers up the help of Matthew and resolves to find the killer. But in doing so will she be endangering her own life or the life of someone she cares about?...
I enjoyed this book to an extent, but there were some things that stopped me. For instance: Della sprains her ankle and the head cop Mike tells another officer to take her to the hospital. Why? There was an ambulance right there for Jeremy that they didn't need when it was discovered he was dead - but they send it away. Wouldn't it have been easier just to send her in the ambulance?
Secondly, she was a financial adviser but is lacking in cash. Why didn't she have a savings account? I really tire of reading these books where the protagonist always has a nice career but never has any money. Why is she broke? It doesn't make any sense. Was she dumping all her cash into her condo? Why keep the job if you're only making enough to make ends meet? (She's not working at a convenience store; she has a career that should pay a decent wage - just once I'd like to read a book where the woman actually knows how to manage money and has a healthy bank account when she starts a new business). It actually doesn't make any sense to start a new business if you don't have any money, if you think about it.
Then there's the fact that she likes Matthew and Matthew likes her. They're 35 and 37 years old, but are pussyfooting around like teenagers. They have romantic feelings but won't act on them and it comes off as rather ridiculous and because of this misunderstandings ensue.
Aside from this, I also didn't get a feeling about the type of person Della was or what she or Matthew looked like. The author made a point of describing everyone coming to the weaving class, but all we learned about Della is that she's short. There's nothing about her personality to make anyone connect with her, either. She doesn't cook which seems odd since she's in her thirties; I mean, honestly, why do all these women never know how to cook? They should at least be able to make the basics - meat loaf, pork chops, roasts, etc.; those are not difficult things to do. No one is expecting them to make Bouillabaisse.
As you can see, I wasn't enthralled by the characters, but it wasn't a terrible book, either. It was fairly on the average scale. I'm hoping the next in the series will be better. In the end, when the murderer was discovered, it seemed rather ho-hum; it was a different conclusion than the usual which is the reason I give it three stars.
The people who show up are an assorted group who seem interested. She discovers that one of them - David Swanson - has no desire to learn to weave, but is doing so as part of community service, and they're making baby blankets for charity. She also learns he's a real estate agent, which comes in handy when she finds out things didn't work out as planned for Matthew and he's returning home.
When David is showing her a place she's interested in, they come across the reason for his community service: Jeremy, a man he'd recently had an argument with. To make it worse, the man is with David's ex-wife, part of the reason for the argument. They leave abruptly, and later on David asks her if she's still interested in seeing the building. When Della agrees and they enter the apartment above the store they both get a surprise: Jeremy's body, covered in blood. In her haste to leave Della takes a tumble and sprains her ankle.
While the police think David is the murderer, Della's not so sure and offers up the help of Matthew and resolves to find the killer. But in doing so will she be endangering her own life or the life of someone she cares about?...
I enjoyed this book to an extent, but there were some things that stopped me. For instance: Della sprains her ankle and the head cop Mike tells another officer to take her to the hospital. Why? There was an ambulance right there for Jeremy that they didn't need when it was discovered he was dead - but they send it away. Wouldn't it have been easier just to send her in the ambulance?
Secondly, she was a financial adviser but is lacking in cash. Why didn't she have a savings account? I really tire of reading these books where the protagonist always has a nice career but never has any money. Why is she broke? It doesn't make any sense. Was she dumping all her cash into her condo? Why keep the job if you're only making enough to make ends meet? (She's not working at a convenience store; she has a career that should pay a decent wage - just once I'd like to read a book where the woman actually knows how to manage money and has a healthy bank account when she starts a new business). It actually doesn't make any sense to start a new business if you don't have any money, if you think about it.
Then there's the fact that she likes Matthew and Matthew likes her. They're 35 and 37 years old, but are pussyfooting around like teenagers. They have romantic feelings but won't act on them and it comes off as rather ridiculous and because of this misunderstandings ensue.
Aside from this, I also didn't get a feeling about the type of person Della was or what she or Matthew looked like. The author made a point of describing everyone coming to the weaving class, but all we learned about Della is that she's short. There's nothing about her personality to make anyone connect with her, either. She doesn't cook which seems odd since she's in her thirties; I mean, honestly, why do all these women never know how to cook? They should at least be able to make the basics - meat loaf, pork chops, roasts, etc.; those are not difficult things to do. No one is expecting them to make Bouillabaisse.
As you can see, I wasn't enthralled by the characters, but it wasn't a terrible book, either. It was fairly on the average scale. I'm hoping the next in the series will be better. In the end, when the murderer was discovered, it seemed rather ho-hum; it was a different conclusion than the usual which is the reason I give it three stars.
July 2, 2020
Just finished the 1st book in 'A Weaving Mystery' Series by Carol Ann Martin, wherein we're introduced to main sleuth Della Wright a financial planner from the big city North Carolina turned weaving shop owner in the small town of Briar Hollow. She's new to town but the locals catch her up on all the gossip, especially when hot head David Swanson comes to her weaving class. He'd threatened to kill local scoundrel Jeremy Fox, the guy who'd been sleeping with David's now ex-wife, and when Jeremy shows up dead the next day, well... was it David who did the deed? Accompanied by her long-time friend Matthew and new friend Jenny, Della casually works to uncover the mystery.
I really enjoyed this book and finished it in just half a day! Carol gave us a lot of possible suspects, several motives, and created a well balanced narrative. There was plenty of town drama, clues, character developments and introductions, and a ton of personal growth for our main sleuth. She wraps the mystery up in a satisfactory way and sets us up for the next book with a romantic cliff-hanger. I'm a weaver myself and I can attest that the weaving aspect of the book is totally plausible, we just need more actual customers coming in and out to get the sense that things will continue to prosper for Della. The writing was excellent and I would definitely recommend this novel to others.
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars for a few reasons which rubbed me the wrong way. The main sleuth reads a little older than 35. At the time of this review I am 30 years old and although this was published in 2013 (7 years ago), I feel that Della reads more like early 40s. There's a not-so-pleasant attitude toward the Jenny character's sixth sense and her ability to read auras, tarot, etc. Della thinks it's hokey and consistently refers to it as some sort of crazy person ability. I personally don't believe in those things but I don't disparage others who believe in it. Be kind. Also, there's a goth teenager in the book and comments are made about her appearance and her attitude which again, I find unpleasant. Live and let live. She also has a miraculous 3 week transformation from a goth to a non-goth and Della comments about how much prettier she is now. That's not a typical thing, and there are different kinds of beauty - so again, making judgements about a goth person felt mean-spirited.
More Facts for Readers about our Sleuth:
Main Sleuth: Della Wright (age 35)
Business: former Financial Advisor turned Weaving Shop owner
Pet: Winston, a French bulldog
Best-Friend(s): Jenny (age 35?), and Matthew (age 37)
Love Interest: Matthew, a financial advisor turned criminology author (age 37)
Family: Mother, long distance
Location: small town called Briar Hollow but she's from Charlotte, North Carolina
Any Cussing? Yes, very few and in context, but still words like F***, B****, S***, etc.
I really enjoyed this book and finished it in just half a day! Carol gave us a lot of possible suspects, several motives, and created a well balanced narrative. There was plenty of town drama, clues, character developments and introductions, and a ton of personal growth for our main sleuth. She wraps the mystery up in a satisfactory way and sets us up for the next book with a romantic cliff-hanger. I'm a weaver myself and I can attest that the weaving aspect of the book is totally plausible, we just need more actual customers coming in and out to get the sense that things will continue to prosper for Della. The writing was excellent and I would definitely recommend this novel to others.
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars for a few reasons which rubbed me the wrong way. The main sleuth reads a little older than 35. At the time of this review I am 30 years old and although this was published in 2013 (7 years ago), I feel that Della reads more like early 40s. There's a not-so-pleasant attitude toward the Jenny character's sixth sense and her ability to read auras, tarot, etc. Della thinks it's hokey and consistently refers to it as some sort of crazy person ability. I personally don't believe in those things but I don't disparage others who believe in it. Be kind. Also, there's a goth teenager in the book and comments are made about her appearance and her attitude which again, I find unpleasant. Live and let live. She also has a miraculous 3 week transformation from a goth to a non-goth and Della comments about how much prettier she is now. That's not a typical thing, and there are different kinds of beauty - so again, making judgements about a goth person felt mean-spirited.
More Facts for Readers about our Sleuth:
Main Sleuth: Della Wright (age 35)
Business: former Financial Advisor turned Weaving Shop owner
Pet: Winston, a French bulldog
Best-Friend(s): Jenny (age 35?), and Matthew (age 37)
Love Interest: Matthew, a financial advisor turned criminology author (age 37)
Family: Mother, long distance
Location: small town called Briar Hollow but she's from Charlotte, North Carolina
Any Cussing? Yes, very few and in context, but still words like F***, B****, S***, etc.
September 28, 2022
Della Wright leaves her high-powered finance job following a scandal and moves to a small town to open a weaving studio. Of course, murder follows because this is a cozy mystery.
As far as cozy mysteries go, this one is standard fare. Della and another person stumble across the dead body. Her friends could be suspects, so she feels compelled to solve the murder. Those closer to the investigation chastise her for interfering. She continues to interfere. Gossip solves the crime.
Meanwhile, the references to weaving techniques and looms show me just how little I know about the weaving process. Gotta work on that.
As far as cozy mysteries go, this one is standard fare. Della and another person stumble across the dead body. Her friends could be suspects, so she feels compelled to solve the murder. Those closer to the investigation chastise her for interfering. She continues to interfere. Gossip solves the crime.
Meanwhile, the references to weaving techniques and looms show me just how little I know about the weaving process. Gotta work on that.
June 18, 2024
I ordered this for my wife because a member of her weaving group told her about it.
It is evident that this was set up as the beginning of a series because most of the first quarter is spent introducing the characters that will make up the cast of characters. The murder does not even occur until page 98.
This ticks all the marks for the romantic comedy mystery genre. You could change weaving to knitting, baking or a bookstore, and it would be pretty much the same.
If you are looking for a very light summer read, this would be my recommendation.
It is evident that this was set up as the beginning of a series because most of the first quarter is spent introducing the characters that will make up the cast of characters. The murder does not even occur until page 98.
This ticks all the marks for the romantic comedy mystery genre. You could change weaving to knitting, baking or a bookstore, and it would be pretty much the same.
If you are looking for a very light summer read, this would be my recommendation.
September 14, 2024
I wanted to like this one, really I did, but I couldn't like the heroine starting with her often very judgmental thoughts about other characters and what they were wearing. The love interest was a bit of a jerk, butting in and getting involved in her business decisions when they aren't even dating. And...at the end of it the troubled goth teen is miraculously cured and back to wearing a pink tshirt...wtf?
December 17, 2025
Excellent book. Loved the characters, but what is it about the main character and her stupid insistence on wearing high heels? In this day and age, everyone knows they are the worse thing in the world for one's back. How can she be so stupid? But the storyline and plot were fun. There was some good suspense. Very good humor, but she really has to get off the high heels things. It's just plain stupid. Highly recommend.
April 8, 2023
I didn’t even make it through the first chapter. I’m so tired of these cozy mysteries’ hyper focus on the female characters’ bodies and weight. In this one, we learn the main character weighs 115 lbs and considers herself overweight.
I refuse to read books like this, they are degrading and disappointing.
I refuse to read books like this, they are degrading and disappointing.
August 3, 2018
This book was just ok. Didn't really care for the characters. Dell's seemed lazy to me. Shop only open for six hours a day, seemed she was hardly even in the shop. Customers had to ring door bell. May try one more in this series.
September 21, 2019
I Liked most of the book except for the ending. The ending seemed like it was contrived and written in a rush, and I adored jenny's character. I was so happy that she got a romance but I hate when people make excuses for the murderer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2017
Super setting, well developed characters and intriguing mystery.
August 19, 2018
Excellent 1st in a series! Great mystery & very enjoyable characters with whom I look forward to spending more time!
August 25, 2018
Although this is an unrealistic view of weaving as a hobby or occupation, the story line, a mystery of sorts, was interesting enough. Borrow, don't buy.
December 2, 2018
Said the word God a lot.
July 29, 2019
This was a light summer read. I would definitely read more of these!
October 21, 2019
Two stars is a generous rating.
December 28, 2020
Great fun new story, I loved it . Great story to enjoy something new for a change.
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