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A Southern Sewing Circle #7
Let It Sew
Down south, the holidays mean family—and for Yankee librarian Tori Sinclair, family means the Sweet Briar Ladies Society sewing circle. It may not be a white Christmas, but it’s one she’ll never forget—no matter how hard she tries… Instead of spending a nice, relaxing Christmas with her fiancé, Tori Sinclair has been drafted into Sweet Briar’s holiday Decorating Committee. And the season has brought sad tidings as Charlotte Devereaux, a sewing circle founding member who unraveled after her storybook marriage fell apart, has passed away. Charlotte’s last days were foggy, distressed, and feverish… except for the sketches she produced. One detail in particular jumps out at Tori and leads to a shocking Charlotte’s husband didn’t leave her—he was murdered! And as she gets closer to the truth, Tori will discover that just about everyone in town has got notches on the naughty list this year.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
September 16, 2020
Well this book was certainly a baffling mystery as far as Tori Sinclair was concerned. In the midst of the Christmas chaos she finds herself once again caught up in solving a murder mystery that actually happened five years ago before Tori even moved to Sweet Briar. You see, everyone had thought that Parker Devereaux had left his wife Charlotte and ran off with a sweet young thing to God knows where. Then five years later his estranged wife dies from Alzheimer's, or so everyone thinks that's what happened.
Tori gets caught up in her sleuthing only to have all her clues fall apart and nothing is as it seems. Police Chief Dallas, with his one track mind, isn't buying anything of course! Can Tori put together all the baffling clues and get to the bottom of things?
Then there's Councilman Avery Jordon who found an online girlfriend who has moved in with him and his seven year old son. Avery thinks the sun rises and sets on Maime Wellington. Truth is she's not who he thinks she is. She ousted Margaret Louise from her volunteer job as organizer of the town's Christmas Days festival, and has changed all traditions that the town folks knew and loved. Indeed Maime became known as the Grinch who stole Christmas. And when it came to Kyle, Avery's young son , the Grinch made his life miserable. Avery of course being none the wiser about what was happening in his own home right under his nose. Will the Sewing Circle gals be able to get Maime to slip up and show her bad side to Councilman Avery before it's too late?
This book kept me on the edge of my seat a time or two. Tori would put herself in dangerous situations while trying to find more clues. My poor stomach being tied in knots because of the chances she took. Elizabeth Lynn Casey knows how to keep her readers attention and her books only get better and better as the series moves along.
I recommend Let it Sew to all readers who have been following along in this series. If you are a fan of Laura Bradford/ Elizabeth Lynn Casey
You will love this series. It's cozy mystery at its best. You won't be disappointed.
I borrowed a Kindle ebook copy of this book from the Ohio Digital Library. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
Tori gets caught up in her sleuthing only to have all her clues fall apart and nothing is as it seems. Police Chief Dallas, with his one track mind, isn't buying anything of course! Can Tori put together all the baffling clues and get to the bottom of things?
Then there's Councilman Avery Jordon who found an online girlfriend who has moved in with him and his seven year old son. Avery thinks the sun rises and sets on Maime Wellington. Truth is she's not who he thinks she is. She ousted Margaret Louise from her volunteer job as organizer of the town's Christmas Days festival, and has changed all traditions that the town folks knew and loved. Indeed Maime became known as the Grinch who stole Christmas. And when it came to Kyle, Avery's young son , the Grinch made his life miserable. Avery of course being none the wiser about what was happening in his own home right under his nose. Will the Sewing Circle gals be able to get Maime to slip up and show her bad side to Councilman Avery before it's too late?
This book kept me on the edge of my seat a time or two. Tori would put herself in dangerous situations while trying to find more clues. My poor stomach being tied in knots because of the chances she took. Elizabeth Lynn Casey knows how to keep her readers attention and her books only get better and better as the series moves along.
I recommend Let it Sew to all readers who have been following along in this series. If you are a fan of Laura Bradford/ Elizabeth Lynn Casey
You will love this series. It's cozy mystery at its best. You won't be disappointed.
I borrowed a Kindle ebook copy of this book from the Ohio Digital Library. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
June 2, 2019
Ms. Casey/Ms. Bradford provided me a lovely afternoon read. I enjoy every visit to Sweet Briar and the Sewing Circle. All of the women are likable (even when they are being ornery) and I would definitely want to visit with all of them even though I can't sew.
December 10, 2017
This was one of my favorites in this series! It was a perfect read for the holiday season but certainly can be enjoyed at any time of the year. The mystery moved along at a nice pace. Each of the ladies in the Sewing Circle played a role in the book and that helped me remember who they all are, especially since this is the seventh book in the series. Without getting to the actual plot (you can read that in plenty of other reviews), just when I thought I knew the killer(s)?? identity, the plot took more twists and turns until the very end!
While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the books in order for character development. That is just my personal preference with this particular series. I'll definitely be continuing with the next book in the series.. I don't give 5 stars very often but this book definitely earned it..
While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the books in order for character development. That is just my personal preference with this particular series. I'll definitely be continuing with the next book in the series.. I don't give 5 stars very often but this book definitely earned it..
April 3, 2022
I enjoyed reading this story with my friend ZMelissa and. Comparing our notes.
A fun loving cozy. Mystery that keeps you wondering what will happen next.
A fun loving cozy. Mystery that keeps you wondering what will happen next.
September 15, 2018
Tori and the rest of the Sewing Circle are stunned to learn that Margaret Louise has been dumped from the Christmas Decorating Committee in favour of a Councilman's new girlfriend/fiancee, and this woman (who soon gets the nickname The Grinch) is determined to make changes, LOTS of changes, gone are the Dickensian wreathes and swags in rich reds and greens, in are some pink and silver, blink and you miss them decorations. Gone is the Christmas Tree with the decorations partly picked out by the Councilman's late wife, in comes a cartoon tree on a screen! The Grinch is all sweetness and light whilst the Councilman is around, when he isn't she is busy making everyone's lives a misery, in particular Kyle, the Councilman's young son, The Grinch want's to erase any trace of the previous wife.
Whilst all this has been going on there has been a death, a lady whose husband ran off, and then she got dementia, the only thing that seemed to bring her joy was sketching, and it is one of these sketches that leads to the rather gruesome discovery that the husband didn't run away after all but was buried in the grounds of the library! Now Tori and her friends have to figure out what happened, why it happened and make sure that The Grinch is pushed out of Sweet Briar for good!
Whilst all this has been going on there has been a death, a lady whose husband ran off, and then she got dementia, the only thing that seemed to bring her joy was sketching, and it is one of these sketches that leads to the rather gruesome discovery that the husband didn't run away after all but was buried in the grounds of the library! Now Tori and her friends have to figure out what happened, why it happened and make sure that The Grinch is pushed out of Sweet Briar for good!
January 23, 2024
3.5 stars
I didn't realize how much I've missed holding a paper copy of a cozy mystery until this was in my hands. It caused an overwhelming feeling of relief. I read most of my cozy mystery collection on Kindle or Kobo. Electronics will never beat out a physical book in my world. Sure, it's much easier to make notes on a Kindle, but I need that sense of touch.
“Watching your ideas become reality is incredible all on its own. Watching them impact others and knowing you’re responsible for that impact takes it to an entirely different level. Suddenly, all the mistakes you made in life don’t seem so overwhelming’...Jerry Lee was right. Making a difference in another person’s life by way of a dream was something worthy of pride. It made all the stress, all the expense, and all the second-guessing worth it.”
I had not read any of the books in this series until this one. I was worried I wouldn't be able to connect with the characters and follow along, but everything worked out. The Sweet Briar Sewing Club is the kind of club I'd like to join. All its members are lovely. Leona and Margaret Louise are my immediate favourites but they were also the two of the most prominent characters in this novel. Maybe they always are.
“...maybe, just maybe, Charlotte can rest easy knowing that someone saw what she saw at the end even if she couldn’t always put it into words.”
Christmas themed cozy mysteries always kind of rub me the wrong way because murder is not something I want to be thinking about at that time of year. This one wouldn't have been too bad to read closer to Christmas because, though it is sad for other reasons, it warmed my heart, and eventually brought me a sense of peace. I'm not sure what the end of the synopsis is referring to because most of the characters were absolute gems, not making notches on the naughty list. Many more were more misunderstood than unkind.
My heart breaks for Charlotte's last days of frustration at her inability to communicate, the lies that tarnished reputations of innocent people, and for the abuse Kyle had to endure from The Grinch herself, Maime Wellington. The ending of this novel was terribly unsatisfying. It suddenly felt terribly rushed. One part was not resolved and another so unconvincingly that I am still upset about it. I was expecting it all to be wrapped up much better considering how well I was enjoying the rest of this story. That docked a star and a half. I enjoyed everything before the ending though.
I didn't realize how much I've missed holding a paper copy of a cozy mystery until this was in my hands. It caused an overwhelming feeling of relief. I read most of my cozy mystery collection on Kindle or Kobo. Electronics will never beat out a physical book in my world. Sure, it's much easier to make notes on a Kindle, but I need that sense of touch.
“Watching your ideas become reality is incredible all on its own. Watching them impact others and knowing you’re responsible for that impact takes it to an entirely different level. Suddenly, all the mistakes you made in life don’t seem so overwhelming’...Jerry Lee was right. Making a difference in another person’s life by way of a dream was something worthy of pride. It made all the stress, all the expense, and all the second-guessing worth it.”
I had not read any of the books in this series until this one. I was worried I wouldn't be able to connect with the characters and follow along, but everything worked out. The Sweet Briar Sewing Club is the kind of club I'd like to join. All its members are lovely. Leona and Margaret Louise are my immediate favourites but they were also the two of the most prominent characters in this novel. Maybe they always are.
“...maybe, just maybe, Charlotte can rest easy knowing that someone saw what she saw at the end even if she couldn’t always put it into words.”
Christmas themed cozy mysteries always kind of rub me the wrong way because murder is not something I want to be thinking about at that time of year. This one wouldn't have been too bad to read closer to Christmas because, though it is sad for other reasons, it warmed my heart, and eventually brought me a sense of peace. I'm not sure what the end of the synopsis is referring to because most of the characters were absolute gems, not making notches on the naughty list. Many more were more misunderstood than unkind.
My heart breaks for Charlotte's last days of frustration at her inability to communicate, the lies that tarnished reputations of innocent people, and for the abuse Kyle had to endure from The Grinch herself, Maime Wellington. The ending of this novel was terribly unsatisfying. It suddenly felt terribly rushed. One part was not resolved and another so unconvincingly that I am still upset about it. I was expecting it all to be wrapped up much better considering how well I was enjoying the rest of this story. That docked a star and a half. I enjoyed everything before the ending though.
“There was something about the sound of women’s chatter that had always made Tori smile, whether she was hiding behind a sofa listening as her great-grandmother played pinochle with the ladies from the neighboured or simply sitting next to a table teeming with old high school chums at a coffee shop in Chicago. She’d always assumed it was the memory of her great-grandfather covering his ears and his refusal to rat her out that had caused the reaction…Now, looking back, Tori knew it had nothing to do with anything besides the sound of friendship. It hadn’t mattered that she was merely a witness at the time. Happiness was happiness, and it had a way of making a person smile.”
April 1, 2022
I like this series.
February 16, 2018
Well, it was interesting the way Casey handled the character of Brian, since it is difficult to have characters with reduced mental capacity without spending pages dealing with the nature of the character. He's not a major character in the amount of time he is present but is vital to the story.
I think some of the sewing circle would drive me mad if I read too many of this series. I'm not too sure about the Alzheimer patient and her art work. I really liked the way little Kyle was handled, although the prospective stepmother was perhaps a little overdrawn.
Not thrilled about this series.
I think some of the sewing circle would drive me mad if I read too many of this series. I'm not too sure about the Alzheimer patient and her art work. I really liked the way little Kyle was handled, although the prospective stepmother was perhaps a little overdrawn.
Not thrilled about this series.
July 23, 2023
This instalment was much better. There wasn’t the rudeness between the characters like in the last couple books. Just some friendly banter. I liked the murder mystery being an old murder. The project of small stockings filled for the town’s children was the latest sewing circle project. Every book they do a community service project and I love it.
November 28, 2012
Down south, the holidays mean family—and for Yankee librarian Tori Sinclair, family means the Sweet Briar Ladies Society sewing circle. It may not be a white Christmas, but it’s one she’ll never forget—no matter how hard she tries…
The Sweet Briar Holiday Decorating Committee has been taken over by an outsider. Margaret Louise has been replaced without any notice. She has been replaced by "The Grinch" who just happens to be dating councilman Avery Jordan. To try to keep things under control Margaret Louise volunteered Leona, Rose, Dixie and Tori to help "the councilman's little hussy". Tori and Dixie have their hands full with the Holiday Book Extravaganza but can't turn their backs on helping Margaret Louise.
And the season has brought sad tidings as well: Charlotte Devereaux, a sewing circle founding member who unraveled after her storybook marriage fell apart, has passed away. Charlotte loved to draw and near the end of her life while her while her mind was foggy, she sketched some things that make Tori realize her husband didn't leave her - he was murdered!!!
Santa's naughty list will be overflowing as Tori sorts out all the clues.
Dollycas's Thoughts
After 7 stories I feel like the ladies of the Sweet Briar Sewing Circle are old friends I get to see not near enough. Visiting them for the holidays was absolutely perfect. I was as upset about Miss Maime Wellington as the ladies. I have to admit I thought she may be another victim found dead before this story ended. Thankfully my friends had their own "sweet" way to deal with their Grinch.
The actual murder mystery in this story was pretty complex with several possible suspects and the author kept me guessing right up to the end. She is a master at this. I am always one or two steps behind.
I really enjoyed learning about The Devereaux Creek Center and hope the ladies keep up their volunteer work. There seems to be a bit more to to its story.
Elizabeth Lynn Casey has created wonderful caring characters and placed them in a beautiful place. She also puts them in real situations outside the mystery. Whether it be a book fair or a crafting session you will be inspired. She even includes an easy stocking pattern in this edition that will have you wondering if you can do a project just like the Southern Sewing Circle.
I highly recommend a holiday trip over the river and through the woods to Sweet Briar and while there may not be a lot of snow these ladies really know how to Let It Sew!!
The Sweet Briar Holiday Decorating Committee has been taken over by an outsider. Margaret Louise has been replaced without any notice. She has been replaced by "The Grinch" who just happens to be dating councilman Avery Jordan. To try to keep things under control Margaret Louise volunteered Leona, Rose, Dixie and Tori to help "the councilman's little hussy". Tori and Dixie have their hands full with the Holiday Book Extravaganza but can't turn their backs on helping Margaret Louise.
And the season has brought sad tidings as well: Charlotte Devereaux, a sewing circle founding member who unraveled after her storybook marriage fell apart, has passed away. Charlotte loved to draw and near the end of her life while her while her mind was foggy, she sketched some things that make Tori realize her husband didn't leave her - he was murdered!!!
Santa's naughty list will be overflowing as Tori sorts out all the clues.
Dollycas's Thoughts
After 7 stories I feel like the ladies of the Sweet Briar Sewing Circle are old friends I get to see not near enough. Visiting them for the holidays was absolutely perfect. I was as upset about Miss Maime Wellington as the ladies. I have to admit I thought she may be another victim found dead before this story ended. Thankfully my friends had their own "sweet" way to deal with their Grinch.
The actual murder mystery in this story was pretty complex with several possible suspects and the author kept me guessing right up to the end. She is a master at this. I am always one or two steps behind.
I really enjoyed learning about The Devereaux Creek Center and hope the ladies keep up their volunteer work. There seems to be a bit more to to its story.
Elizabeth Lynn Casey has created wonderful caring characters and placed them in a beautiful place. She also puts them in real situations outside the mystery. Whether it be a book fair or a crafting session you will be inspired. She even includes an easy stocking pattern in this edition that will have you wondering if you can do a project just like the Southern Sewing Circle.
I highly recommend a holiday trip over the river and through the woods to Sweet Briar and while there may not be a lot of snow these ladies really know how to Let It Sew!!
January 1, 2013
This is a great series revolving around Tori Sinclair also called Victoria, and her sewing circle sisters. Tori works at the local library, and gets roped into running a Christmas Decorating Commitee normally hosted by one of the sewing sisters has now gone to the council members new girlfriend who has stripped so much holiday cheer out of her plans.
Meanwhile early on in the book Charlotte Devereaux a original sewing circle member dies after battling Alzheimer's disease, her only passion at the end of her time was drawing pictures. One of the pictures ends up leading Tori and fellow sewing circle sisters to discover Charlotte's dead husband Parker. Which creates bigger questions including how a 69 year old woman would bury her dead husband in the yard at the library?
This book is great, warm and cozy it starts at Thanksgiving and leading up to Christmas. What a great cozy mystery I will definitely read more by this great author!
Meanwhile early on in the book Charlotte Devereaux a original sewing circle member dies after battling Alzheimer's disease, her only passion at the end of her time was drawing pictures. One of the pictures ends up leading Tori and fellow sewing circle sisters to discover Charlotte's dead husband Parker. Which creates bigger questions including how a 69 year old woman would bury her dead husband in the yard at the library?
This book is great, warm and cozy it starts at Thanksgiving and leading up to Christmas. What a great cozy mystery I will definitely read more by this great author!
December 17, 2013
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. I hadn't read any in this series before, but I'll definitely be reading more now. It wasn't your typical murder mystery at all, and I won't specify b/c I don't want to ruin anything for those who haven't read it, but let's just say that the premise behind this story was different and refreshing. And I also really liked the delightful main character/sleuth and the cast of supporting characters -- sweet and hilarious older women in a sewing club! :)
May 31, 2014
Love the sewing circle!
December 4, 2018
Okay this book went fast and I couldn't seem to put it down.
There is a Grinch on the loose in the town bent on destroying Christmas. On top of that, it turns out a case of a husband that once was thought to have ran off with another woman, is really now a five year old cold case. The Sewing Circle has their job cut out to save Christmas from the Grinch that is trying to get rid of everything that normally happens in their town for her own evil reasons.
It all starts with a death of one of the sewing circle founding members. She stopped going to the circle and doing anything really outside of her house, five years ago when she spread a story about her husband running off with another woman. She drew a picture for one of her sons, X marks the spot where Dad is. But who really killed him? She really loved him, what could make her be involved in any form in his death?
So many questions and not much to go on. The woman who tried to tell the truth died before she was able to get someone to listen to her. Her mind had turned against her as she had Alzheimer's. So who really killed Parker? Why did they do it? Why did his wife cover it up? So many questions bugging Tori Sinclair about the whole thing that she stops being able to sleep because of it. She won't be able to sleep good until she finally gets to the bottom of it. But will finding out the truth be something different then people are starting to expect that Ethan killed his father and his mother covered it up?
There is a Grinch on the loose in the town bent on destroying Christmas. On top of that, it turns out a case of a husband that once was thought to have ran off with another woman, is really now a five year old cold case. The Sewing Circle has their job cut out to save Christmas from the Grinch that is trying to get rid of everything that normally happens in their town for her own evil reasons.
It all starts with a death of one of the sewing circle founding members. She stopped going to the circle and doing anything really outside of her house, five years ago when she spread a story about her husband running off with another woman. She drew a picture for one of her sons, X marks the spot where Dad is. But who really killed him? She really loved him, what could make her be involved in any form in his death?
So many questions and not much to go on. The woman who tried to tell the truth died before she was able to get someone to listen to her. Her mind had turned against her as she had Alzheimer's. So who really killed Parker? Why did they do it? Why did his wife cover it up? So many questions bugging Tori Sinclair about the whole thing that she stops being able to sleep because of it. She won't be able to sleep good until she finally gets to the bottom of it. But will finding out the truth be something different then people are starting to expect that Ethan killed his father and his mother covered it up?
July 22, 2023
This book in the sewing circle was a little better then the first six maybe because it is set around Christmas. Unless you are the grinch anything around Christmas is merry even murder. I think why I am not a fan of this series is that the author is overly descriptive. Three characters are having a conversation and instead of just letting the conversation play out the author needs to describe everything each character is doing during the conversation. Margaret Louise walked to the refrigerator and took out eggs. Margaret Louise then crossed back to the refrigerator to put the eggs back. Tori crossed her legs. Tori uncrossed her legs and shifted in her chair. Debbie took her ponytail down then put her ponytail up. Who cares? Okay that is a little harsh but this over description drags a story down. This is also the seventh book in the series and I expect some backstory on the town and characters in every book. This allows you to not have to read a series in order. I can respect that but to put so much backstory in the same book multiple times just is tedious. Why am I reading this series? It is because of a bookclub. Even though I am not a fan of the series I love the bookclub. Besides it is just my opinion others in the bookclub really enjoy it. Maybe book eight will be the shining star.
February 25, 2018
I bought this book for my mom because she loves a little light mystery. I didn't realize it was one of series of books and this one is about number 7. Mom enjoyed it even as a stand alone. I can say that I enjoy the fact that the lead character is a librarian, but I wish I had started at the beginning of the series because I felt a little out of sorts with the characters initially. My lack of background hurt me when all the characters are being introduced. The mystery came about 1/4th of the way in and was easy enough to spot. No great mystery, but the warm and joy of the Christmas season was well detailed. Another major point plot is the removal of the head of the Christmas decorating committee to put in the new sweetie of a councilman. Once again this is creates a bit of drama in how she will be handled, but for a quick read during the holidays you don't really want to many twists or trauma. I may buy more of the series for my mom as this is a fun, light, and witty author. If you like to see, she apparently puts patterns in he books at the end.
November 26, 2017
Librarian Tori is confronted with two problems just as the holiday season is starting. Her friend Margaret Louise is no longer in charge of Sweet Briar's Christmas decorations, replaced by a local politician's hateful new girlfriend, who is also making life miserable for his young son. And a former member of the sewing circle has died of Alzheimer's, leaving some strange questions about the disappearance of her husband years ago in her wake. Could that sweet elderly lady have murdered him? It doesn't seem possible, yet she certainly knew things that she wasn't telling. The ending doesn't quite tie up the loose ends, but Tori's sewing circle friends aren't quite as over-the-top as they sometimes are--I'm looking at you, Leona!
March 3, 2018
The characters of Elizabeth Lynn Casey's Southern Sewing Circle series are fun to "visit" anytime, but especially during the holidays. Librarian, Tori Sinclair and her friends in the Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle are kept busy with Christmas decorating and looking into the death of one of their club's founding members. The book cover of this cozy mystery perfectly sums up the story. Tori and her eclectic group of friends, care about Sweet Briar, South Carolina and care about each other! It is so easy to get caught up in this series and feel like you are actually there! This installment has an interesting plot with fun twists and turns!
January 17, 2024
Love the book covers - the reader can see that the picture is just brimming with a story. The plot of this book was a cut above the last few so I had to give it four stars. It's good to be back with the Sweet Briar Ladies Society sewing circle of friends and projects; Tori, Margaret Louise, Leona and her bunny Paris, Debbie, Dixie, Rose, Georgina, Beatrice, and Melissa.
It's almost Christmas time in Sweet Briar and there's a major catastrophy shaping up for the town. As Tori Sinclair puts it "To mess with one of them (Sweet Briar's Christmas traditions) was akin to turning one's personal snow globe upside down and giving it a violent shake." Councilman Avery Jordan has replaced Chairman Margaret Louise on the Sweet Briar Decorating Committee and given it his girlfriend whom he found online, Maime Wellington. Maime is planning on a whole new decorating scheme - from traditionally making the town look like something out of a Dicken's classic to a futuristic nightmare. For example she wants to use pink and silver ribbons wound around the lightpoles instead of red and green, aluminum trees around the square, and the big tree will be a cartoon one projected onto a screen set up in the middle of the square, etc. They nickname her the "Grinch". Leona (Margaret Louise's twin sister) volunteers herself, Tori, Dixie, and Rose to help on the committee. She wants to get Margaret Louise's ideas for decorating in through the back door, so to speak. Will Maime work with them or be a dictator?
Tori's not sure about being on another committee as she, being Head Librarian at the Sweet Briar Public Library, is heavily involved in the Holiday Book Extravaganza put on by the Library. Tori proposes that the sewing club make a hundred Christmas stockings for a new Christmas event for the children called Cookies and Books. The stockings will be handed out by Mrs. Claus. They will fill them with little candy canes and books. AND she's preparing for her upcoming wedding to Milo Wentworth as well.
The mystery in this book centers around Charlotte Devereaux who died recently. She was one of the founding members of the sewing circle. She had been happily married to Parker Devereaux until five years previously when she told everybody he had left her for a younger woman. Charlotte then dropped out of sight when her husband disappeared. After that she sank down into Alzheimers. After she dies, Tori is introduced to her faithful companion and caregiver, Frieda Taylor. She shows Tori Charlotte's sketchbook with amazing lifelike pencil drawings. Frieda gives Tori a drawing of the library. In the sketchbook Tori notices very detailed drawings of Charlotte's husband's study drawn over and over again. In each of the pictures Charlotte put a piece of scrap paper on the mantel of the fireplace and made it look as if it was going to fall off. What is she trying to tell people from her drawings. The last picture shows a picture of the library on the floor of the study with sticks underneath a tree. Tori knows that tree and is horrified. The police dig under the tree found on library property and find a wedding picture and Parker's body. What else did they find?
Now Tori must do some sleuthing and help find the murderer. There are several possibilities including: Frieda Taylor; Brian, the Devereaux's older son who is mentally challenged; Ethan, the younger pampered son who was always looking for handouts from his mother; Jerry Lee, their uncle who now runs the Devereaux Center for the Mentally Challenged that was started by Parker. It's a place where life skills are taught and is manned by volunteers; Jerry Lee's wife Sadie who was jealous of his mentoring relationship with Brian whom he taught how to run the company, etc.
Maime treats Avery's son Kyle very nastily and destroys the present he got his father for Christmas. The sewing circle saves his day. Tori also found out that Maime donated his favorite book gived to him by his mother to the Extravaganza. She wants him to forget his mom. The best part of the plot is how the sewing circle maneuvers Maime into revealing what she's really like to Avery so he will make her leave town. In the back of the book, there is the pattern of the Christmas Stocking that the sewing circle made. I recommend that the reader read this story in order for character development and continuity.
It's almost Christmas time in Sweet Briar and there's a major catastrophy shaping up for the town. As Tori Sinclair puts it "To mess with one of them (Sweet Briar's Christmas traditions) was akin to turning one's personal snow globe upside down and giving it a violent shake." Councilman Avery Jordan has replaced Chairman Margaret Louise on the Sweet Briar Decorating Committee and given it his girlfriend whom he found online, Maime Wellington. Maime is planning on a whole new decorating scheme - from traditionally making the town look like something out of a Dicken's classic to a futuristic nightmare. For example she wants to use pink and silver ribbons wound around the lightpoles instead of red and green, aluminum trees around the square, and the big tree will be a cartoon one projected onto a screen set up in the middle of the square, etc. They nickname her the "Grinch". Leona (Margaret Louise's twin sister) volunteers herself, Tori, Dixie, and Rose to help on the committee. She wants to get Margaret Louise's ideas for decorating in through the back door, so to speak. Will Maime work with them or be a dictator?
Tori's not sure about being on another committee as she, being Head Librarian at the Sweet Briar Public Library, is heavily involved in the Holiday Book Extravaganza put on by the Library. Tori proposes that the sewing club make a hundred Christmas stockings for a new Christmas event for the children called Cookies and Books. The stockings will be handed out by Mrs. Claus. They will fill them with little candy canes and books. AND she's preparing for her upcoming wedding to Milo Wentworth as well.
The mystery in this book centers around Charlotte Devereaux who died recently. She was one of the founding members of the sewing circle. She had been happily married to Parker Devereaux until five years previously when she told everybody he had left her for a younger woman. Charlotte then dropped out of sight when her husband disappeared. After that she sank down into Alzheimers. After she dies, Tori is introduced to her faithful companion and caregiver, Frieda Taylor. She shows Tori Charlotte's sketchbook with amazing lifelike pencil drawings. Frieda gives Tori a drawing of the library. In the sketchbook Tori notices very detailed drawings of Charlotte's husband's study drawn over and over again. In each of the pictures Charlotte put a piece of scrap paper on the mantel of the fireplace and made it look as if it was going to fall off. What is she trying to tell people from her drawings. The last picture shows a picture of the library on the floor of the study with sticks underneath a tree. Tori knows that tree and is horrified. The police dig under the tree found on library property and find a wedding picture and Parker's body. What else did they find?
Now Tori must do some sleuthing and help find the murderer. There are several possibilities including: Frieda Taylor; Brian, the Devereaux's older son who is mentally challenged; Ethan, the younger pampered son who was always looking for handouts from his mother; Jerry Lee, their uncle who now runs the Devereaux Center for the Mentally Challenged that was started by Parker. It's a place where life skills are taught and is manned by volunteers; Jerry Lee's wife Sadie who was jealous of his mentoring relationship with Brian whom he taught how to run the company, etc.
Maime treats Avery's son Kyle very nastily and destroys the present he got his father for Christmas. The sewing circle saves his day. Tori also found out that Maime donated his favorite book gived to him by his mother to the Extravaganza. She wants him to forget his mom. The best part of the plot is how the sewing circle maneuvers Maime into revealing what she's really like to Avery so he will make her leave town. In the back of the book, there is the pattern of the Christmas Stocking that the sewing circle made. I recommend that the reader read this story in order for character development and continuity.
January 27, 2020
Ok, I love mysteries, especially cozies, throw in southern ladies, and a savy librarian and I'm all in. This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last. I loved the plot lines, the subtleties , the Christmas theme and the lengths these ladies go to protect their town, friends, and protect a young boy who is traumatized by a potential stepmother. WEII done and truly enjoyable.
May 31, 2021
Still 'really' cozy. All of a sudden I have plugged into the story and Lori. It happened when I noticed that she pays more attention to her 'girl/sewing' friends than her fiancé. He's getting the short end of this relationship. She seems oblivious to the situation. Actually, she comes across like an uncaring human being and is operating on a junior high level. Certainly, 'adult' doesn't seem to occur to her.
September 23, 2017
A nice holiday edition to a comfortable and enjoyable series with all of our favorite Sweet Briar friends!!!!!! Tori is drawn into another mystery while trying to organize the first big library holiday book sale, plan her wedding and help her friends battle the "Grinch" who took over Margaret Louise's cherished Christmas decorating committee !!!!!!!
September 10, 2020
Fun engaging read
This was a really good read. I enjoyed the sewing group and ALL their adventures, and pains.
I couldn't put it down. I totally mis-guessed the ending BAD GUY, but loved the outcomes of all the issues addressed. Looking forward to more in this series. I hope they're all as enjoyable as this one.
This was a really good read. I enjoyed the sewing group and ALL their adventures, and pains.
I couldn't put it down. I totally mis-guessed the ending BAD GUY, but loved the outcomes of all the issues addressed. Looking forward to more in this series. I hope they're all as enjoyable as this one.
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July 2, 2024I just love this series! Tori is amazing so is the rest of the sewing circle. I love how the stories are not so obvious while reading them that it spoils the mystery or ending. There are still times where I'm still not sure who did it until the very end where its all broken down for you then it all makes since!
Can't wait to get the next book.
Can't wait to get the next book.
April 10, 2019
This is number seven in The Southern Sewing Circle by Elizabeth Lynn Casey. The creative characters including a pet rabbit, South Carolina setting, and an ending the hints of another book in this series. copy right 2012
September 3, 2019
This one centered around the Christmas holidays, a sad little boy, a stereotypically mean soon-to-be stepmother, and a very late to have been discovered murder. It was a bit more trite than most of the earlier books in the series but still a nice little bit of mind candy.
November 8, 2019
I love this series. I'm get a kick out of the all things southern the sewing circle ladies are teaching Torie. It is a pleasure to see how Ms. Casey has combined young and elderly together to create wonderful characters.
December 8, 2016
Still enjoying this series. Not sure why I didn't love this one quite as much, but it was a fun, quick read and kept me guessing.
July 14, 2017
Just plain fun!
September 4, 2017
Great series!
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