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A Needlecraft Mystery #17
The Drowning Spool
In the USA Today bestselling Needlecraft Mysteries, Betsy Devonshire, owner of the Crewel World needlework shop, knows how to untangle even the most knotty of mysteries. But a soggy murder case might have Betsy in over her head…
Even though running Crewel World keeps Betsy plenty busy, a little extra cash on the side doesn’t hurt. So when the local senior complex, Watered Silk, asks her to teach a class on the tricky punch needle technique, Betsy jumps at the opportunity to win over some new customers.
Unfortunately, the business that Betsy drums up is not of the needlework variety. A young woman is found floating in Watered Silk’s therapy pool, and Betsy’s sleuthing skills are immediately called upon to figure out who drowned her. But the list of suspects is more twisted than any Betsy has encountered before. The young woman had three lovers—each with a motive for the murder.
It’s up to Betsy to sort out the snarl of romantic entanglements and find a killer, or the wrong man is bound to get pinned for a crime he didn’t commit…
FREE EMBROIDERY PATTERN INCLUDED
Even though running Crewel World keeps Betsy plenty busy, a little extra cash on the side doesn’t hurt. So when the local senior complex, Watered Silk, asks her to teach a class on the tricky punch needle technique, Betsy jumps at the opportunity to win over some new customers.
Unfortunately, the business that Betsy drums up is not of the needlework variety. A young woman is found floating in Watered Silk’s therapy pool, and Betsy’s sleuthing skills are immediately called upon to figure out who drowned her. But the list of suspects is more twisted than any Betsy has encountered before. The young woman had three lovers—each with a motive for the murder.
It’s up to Betsy to sort out the snarl of romantic entanglements and find a killer, or the wrong man is bound to get pinned for a crime he didn’t commit…
FREE EMBROIDERY PATTERN INCLUDED
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2014
43 people are currently reading
644 people want to read
About the author
Monica Ferris
27 books491 followersHas published as
Mary Monica Pulver (real name)
Mary Kuhfeld
Margaret Frazer (with Gail Frazer)
[from the author's own website)
Mary Monica Pulver (her maiden name) is an incidental Hoosier — Terre Haute, Indiana, had the hospital closest to her parents’ home in Marshall, Illinois. She spent the later part of her childhood and early adult life in Wisconsin, graduating from high school in Milwaukee.
She was a journalist in the U.S. Navy for six and a half years (two in London), and later attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is married to a museum curator.
Mary Monica sold her first short story, “Pass the Word,” to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, in 1983, and has since sold more than two dozen short stories to anthologies and magazines, including some in Germany, England, Italy and France.
She has appeared in such anthologies as The Mammoth Book of Historical Detectives, The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunnits, Shakespearean Mysteries, Royal Whodunnits, Unholy Orders, Murder Most Crafty, and Silence of the Loons. Her first mystery novel, Murder at the War, appeared from St. Martin’s Press in 1987 and was nominated for an Anthony as Best First Novel. The Unforgiving Minutes and Ashes to Ashes followed in 1988; but Original Sin was sold to Walker, who also presented the fifth book, Show Stopper, in May of 1992. Berkley Diamond brought these mysteries out in paperback. They feature detective Peter Brichter – a cop one reviewer said was “a hardboiled sleuth who’s somehow landed in a cozy mystery”.
Berkley published six medieval mysteries Mary Monica wrote in collaboration with Gail Frazer under the pseudonym Margaret Frazer: The Novice’s Tale, The Servant’s Tale (nominated for an Edgar as Best Original Paperback of 1993), The Outlaw’s Tale, The Bishop’s Tale, The Boy’s Tale, and The Murderer’s Tale. The detective in the mysteries is a nun, Dame Frevisse, a niece by marriage of Thomas Chaucer, the legendary Geoffrey’s son. The stories take place in England in the 1430s. Gail presently continues the series alone.
In 1998 Mary Monica began writing a new series for Berkley featuring amateur needleworking sleuth Betsy Devonshire. Set in Excelsior, Minnesota, Crewel World came out in March and was followed by Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by A Thread, Cutwork, Crewel Yule, Embroidered Truths, Sins and Needles, Knitting Bones, Thai Die, Blackwork, and Buttons and Bones. Threadbare will appear in December of 2011, and she is at work on And Then You Dye. The first six were paperback originals. Subsequent books were hardcovers followed by paperback editions. These light and traditional novels are written under the pseudonym Monica Ferris, and all have gone to multiple printings – the first one is in its eighteenth printing!
Mary Monica has taught courses on mystery writing to children at North Hennepin Community College, gifted children in District #287, and adults at one-evening seminars at Hennepin and Ramsey County libraries. She does lectures and signings, and has appeared on panels at mystery and science fiction conventions, including Bouchercon, Minicon, Diversicon, Magna Cum Murder, and Malice Domestic.
She has spoken to stitchery guilds on local, state, and national levels. She has won a place on national and local best-seller lists, including USA Today and the independent mystery bookstore compilation. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (a national organization that promotes women who write mystery fiction), remains a paid speaker on the life of a mystery author, and is a volunteer for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, and in
Mary Monica Pulver (real name)
Mary Kuhfeld
Margaret Frazer (with Gail Frazer)
[from the author's own website)
Mary Monica Pulver (her maiden name) is an incidental Hoosier — Terre Haute, Indiana, had the hospital closest to her parents’ home in Marshall, Illinois. She spent the later part of her childhood and early adult life in Wisconsin, graduating from high school in Milwaukee.
She was a journalist in the U.S. Navy for six and a half years (two in London), and later attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is married to a museum curator.
Mary Monica sold her first short story, “Pass the Word,” to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, in 1983, and has since sold more than two dozen short stories to anthologies and magazines, including some in Germany, England, Italy and France.
She has appeared in such anthologies as The Mammoth Book of Historical Detectives, The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunnits, Shakespearean Mysteries, Royal Whodunnits, Unholy Orders, Murder Most Crafty, and Silence of the Loons. Her first mystery novel, Murder at the War, appeared from St. Martin’s Press in 1987 and was nominated for an Anthony as Best First Novel. The Unforgiving Minutes and Ashes to Ashes followed in 1988; but Original Sin was sold to Walker, who also presented the fifth book, Show Stopper, in May of 1992. Berkley Diamond brought these mysteries out in paperback. They feature detective Peter Brichter – a cop one reviewer said was “a hardboiled sleuth who’s somehow landed in a cozy mystery”.
Berkley published six medieval mysteries Mary Monica wrote in collaboration with Gail Frazer under the pseudonym Margaret Frazer: The Novice’s Tale, The Servant’s Tale (nominated for an Edgar as Best Original Paperback of 1993), The Outlaw’s Tale, The Bishop’s Tale, The Boy’s Tale, and The Murderer’s Tale. The detective in the mysteries is a nun, Dame Frevisse, a niece by marriage of Thomas Chaucer, the legendary Geoffrey’s son. The stories take place in England in the 1430s. Gail presently continues the series alone.
In 1998 Mary Monica began writing a new series for Berkley featuring amateur needleworking sleuth Betsy Devonshire. Set in Excelsior, Minnesota, Crewel World came out in March and was followed by Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by A Thread, Cutwork, Crewel Yule, Embroidered Truths, Sins and Needles, Knitting Bones, Thai Die, Blackwork, and Buttons and Bones. Threadbare will appear in December of 2011, and she is at work on And Then You Dye. The first six were paperback originals. Subsequent books were hardcovers followed by paperback editions. These light and traditional novels are written under the pseudonym Monica Ferris, and all have gone to multiple printings – the first one is in its eighteenth printing!
Mary Monica has taught courses on mystery writing to children at North Hennepin Community College, gifted children in District #287, and adults at one-evening seminars at Hennepin and Ramsey County libraries. She does lectures and signings, and has appeared on panels at mystery and science fiction conventions, including Bouchercon, Minicon, Diversicon, Magna Cum Murder, and Malice Domestic.
She has spoken to stitchery guilds on local, state, and national levels. She has won a place on national and local best-seller lists, including USA Today and the independent mystery bookstore compilation. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (a national organization that promotes women who write mystery fiction), remains a paid speaker on the life of a mystery author, and is a volunteer for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, and in
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
February 21, 2014
This series does not seem to be written by the same author as when it started. The dialogue is juvenile and boring. Every single person introduced is described by their weight - the short plump woman, the tall slender man, the obese woman - really is that the only way you can describe people. Also I don't need to know what everyone is wearing. This book seems like a lot of fluff and very little substance. And what was that one random chapter about coin collecting thrown in for? Maybe while writing this book the author read the reviews of the last book and realized people don't care about Goddy's coin collecting boyfriend. Remember back to the beginning of the series, when Betsy found out she was an heiress? I wish the author did, she writes her as is every penny is a make or break for this woman. I miss the interaction in the needlework shop and the description of designs and techniques.
August 20, 2014
Who wrote this book? I've enjoyed this series up until now. They're always unrealistic, sure, but the local setting and the relationships of Betsy with Goddy and Connor and fairly clever plotting has made them fun reads. This one has so many ridiculous coincidences, so much wooden dialog, important scenes that get cut off and then just summarized later, interspersed with scenes telling in excruciating detail what DMC floss colors someone is changing...ugh. And Betsy is suddenly someone with absolutely NO skill in interpersonal communications. Her conversations with people are painful. I made it about 3/4 of the way through and finally gave up. Realized I really didn't care who killed Teddy. (And the narrator of the audio version is painful, too.)
June 25, 2019
When her usual water aerobics pool undergoes renovation, Betsy finds one she can use at an assisted living facility/nursing home. She meets many of the residents including one woman with Alzheimer's who always turns up a few minutes late saying, "Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Start over." When the water aerobics instructor finds the body of a young pregnant woman in the pool, the security guard who insists he let no one in, loses his job. The chief investigator for the case is quite rude although Betsy continues to feed her information to Mike. The activities director asks Betsy to teach a needlework class, and Betsy chooses punchneedle. The woman comes to Betsy's class, late as usual. She later asks for a counted cross stitch kit, but Betsy holds off on that after identifying the pattern, the complexity of the design, and the cost of materials until she can consult with the activities director. The woman leads Betsy to the place the murderer likely gained entrance to the facilities and then turns up dead the next day. Several viable lying suspects enhance the mystery, but disappointment awaits those who enjoy time spent in the coziness of Betsy's Crewel World because little action occurs there.
I listened to the audio version narrated by Betsy Bronson. While I didn't mind Betsy's voice, many of the other voices were horrible. I suggest people read this one in print.
I listened to the audio version narrated by Betsy Bronson. While I didn't mind Betsy's voice, many of the other voices were horrible. I suggest people read this one in print.
June 23, 2024
The Drowning Spool by Monica Ferris is the 17th book in the Needlecraft Mystery series. Betsy Devonshire, owner of Crewel World, is teaching a punch needle class at a senior living complex, Watered Silk, when the dead body of a young woman is found in their therapy pool. A delightful cozy mystery. I loved learning about the various needlecrafts and it is clever how needlecraft is incorporated in the clues to the mystery giving Betsy a unique advantage. The culprit was rather obvious though. An enjoyable and light typical cozy mystery.
April 7, 2014
I've been reading this mystery series since the first one,Crewel World, and, up until now, I've enjoyed them. They're easy on the brain and a nice break from literary fiction. Plus, as a cross stitcher, I've enjoyed seeing some of the patterns that come with the book or learning about other techniques. (Punch needle was the needlework of choice in this one.)Betsy is completely unlikeable, and seems to act without thought. At one point she asks a woman about her husband's mistress. Mind you, she's never met this person before, and the lady thinks she's there to see her scrapbooks or ask her to conduct a scrapbooking class. In spite of her tactlessness, Betsy's surprised when she's threatened physically. Don't waste your time.
March 23, 2014
Fewer shout outs to designers and brand names and a little more mystery and detecting would make this book so much better. The original Monday bunch characters need to return to help with the mystery not just as filler. Why keep Jill barefoot and pregnant when she and Betsey make such a fun detective team? I hate Betsey's love interest and his songs. When he went to the clubs to help her investigate he was ok but otherwise he was boring.
April 16, 2019
3.5 stars
I really enjoy the characters in this series and one of the reasons that this lost .5 a star was because I wanted to see more of my favorites (Godwin and Jill mostly) and in this one they were mostly banal background characters. Godwin is usually part of the sleuthing and he is mostly there for exclamations (until the end he is randomly redeemed). I just felt that a lot of this book was fluff and padding. Lots of unnecessary details and descriptions. I did enjoy reading about punch-needle. The mystery seemed a bit obvious and I think any police officer could have wrapped it up much more quickly. The A-HA moment was even trivial because there is NO WAY the police would not have thought of that first. I read this series in a random order and I think I need to go back to the beginning because I think those are more well-done.
I really enjoy the characters in this series and one of the reasons that this lost .5 a star was because I wanted to see more of my favorites (Godwin and Jill mostly) and in this one they were mostly banal background characters. Godwin is usually part of the sleuthing and he is mostly there for exclamations (until the end he is randomly redeemed). I just felt that a lot of this book was fluff and padding. Lots of unnecessary details and descriptions. I did enjoy reading about punch-needle. The mystery seemed a bit obvious and I think any police officer could have wrapped it up much more quickly. The A-HA moment was even trivial because there is NO WAY the police would not have thought of that first. I read this series in a random order and I think I need to go back to the beginning because I think those are more well-done.
September 21, 2025
The author of this series died in 2013, this book was published in 2014. I’m not sure who wrote this but the writing definitely felt different. I think I will always love reading a book from this series because they are such comfort reads, but this one did let me down a little bit.
Also, this book had a different narrator than the previous books, and this really upset me. None of the characters sounded right 😑
Also, this book had a different narrator than the previous books, and this really upset me. None of the characters sounded right 😑
April 18, 2017
Betsy Devonshire such a smart woman and she tries so hard to keep her sister's legacy, Crewel World, alive. No matter what she does, she always seems to find herself in the middle of a murder mystery!
November 13, 2014
The best part of the book is the background needlework information such as an intro to punch needle, an explanation of Hardanger embroidery, types of floss, etc. The premise of the book is very good but Betsy Devonshire passing herself off as a PI assisting the police is farfetched and their sharing information on an ongoing homicide investigation is really pushing it. Even that could be overlooked but when she visits a taller, stronger, younger woman on false pretenses, alone, tells the woman that her husband had an affair with the victim is really mind blowing to the reader. Then Betsy is surprised when the woman gets very mad and orders her out of the home! I was disappointed with this book.
January 22, 2015
It always amazes me how an author of a long running series can keep each new book fresh. How they are able to find new ways to commit the crimes, and come up with new locations and settings. But in this seventh installment of her Needlecraft Mystery series, author Monica Ferris does just that.
THE DROWNING SPOOL was a well written mystery that kept me engaged and guessing. I had no idea who had perpetrated the crime until it was revealed.
Ms. Ferris has a knack for creating “visual” stories. This book was filled with vivid descriptions making me feel as though I was in each situation with the story’s heroine, Betsy Devonshire.
There is a fun Embroidery pattern for needlecraft lovers. But be assured, you do not need to know needle work to enjoy this book.
THE DROWNING SPOOL was a well written mystery that kept me engaged and guessing. I had no idea who had perpetrated the crime until it was revealed.
Ms. Ferris has a knack for creating “visual” stories. This book was filled with vivid descriptions making me feel as though I was in each situation with the story’s heroine, Betsy Devonshire.
There is a fun Embroidery pattern for needlecraft lovers. But be assured, you do not need to know needle work to enjoy this book.
April 1, 2014
First, Betsy Devonshire must move her exercise routine, temporarily, to the pool at a retirement community; then she's asked to teach a course for some of the residents. So she's not far off when a woman is found murdered in the pool that's used for water aerobics. People keep finding reasons to involve Betsy in the case, and she finds information the police can't possibly come up with. I usually like this series better, but the plot didn't seem to cohere very well--threads, to use an appropriate metaphor, are picked up and dropped again.
February 17, 2014
Just OK. Kind of predictable, and the ending seemed rushed and incomplete.
February 25, 2014
I always enjoy Betsy Devonshire's adventures. Monica gave us a twist in the end that I didn't see coming, made it really special. I'm a stitcher and totally snoopy too! It was worth the wait!
March 30, 2014
It's been a long time since I read this author--too long! The pace was steady, not too fast. The characters are "old friends" and the relationships good.....what more can a reader ask for!
March 1, 2015
I enjoy this cozy series with interesting characters set in Minnesota.
December 22, 2015
I have listened to this entire series via audio book and now there is yet another new narrator. It is not the same and I don't mean that in a good way.
April 20, 2025
My 330th book of 2024, and I hit my reading goal for the year!
Use of the initialism PoOSSLQ really made my day!
Borrowed on Hoopla through JCPL.
Listening length seven hr 30 min
Use of the initialism PoOSSLQ really made my day!
Borrowed on Hoopla through JCPL.
Listening length seven hr 30 min
November 10, 2017
I always enjoy these stitching books by Monica Ferris, being a stitcher myself. She stumped me this time with her explanation of punch-needle work. I could not follow it at all. There wasn't enough time spent with Goddy and the Monday morning group though. Not enough descriptions of work people were doing, and what was the bit about the coin collecting club? What was its relevance? Did she start with one idea and then forget to take it out when it no longer fit the plot? Also, I have to say, the introduction of Preston and Sony was inept. In the first sentence we read Sonja, and then in the next sentence, literally, the next sentence, she's Sony. I thought the proof reader and copy editor had screwed up. And can't Connor find another endearment than "machree"? I'm sure the Irish have lots of other ways of expressing fondness for someone; it began to sound like her nickname, i.e., Betsy-machree like Betsy-Anne or something. I know this is going to sound really bad and I don't mean it that way, I know lots of men knit and embroider and do beautiful work, but that scene where Betsy and Connor settle down beneath their own little lamps to embroider the evening away was just wet and sappy. I mean, seriously? Not every person in her life has to do hand-work. Couldn't he whittle or collect stamps or something completely unconnected to needlework? I gave this three stars because I thought the mystery was reasonably inventive, although I did work out who'd done it. But. What are the odds that three people in the Monday Morning club are going to be related to suspects? How small is Excelsior? It's starting to feel like Cabot Cove, Maine where everybody Jessica Fletcher knew was I danger of being a corpse or being hauled off for murder.
April 18, 2025
This will be short but not all that sweet.
Amateur Sleuth Betsy Devonshire operates a needlecraft store in Minnesota. She does some private investigating sans a license on the side. In this installment of the series, Devonshire is doing water aerobics at a senior center because they’ve closed her normal place. One of the instructors at the swimming pool finds a dead twenty-something-year-old woman in the pool one day, and the corporation fires the black security guy and the black maintenance guy. Neither of them is worthy of dismissal, and you never hear whether they got their jobs back when the book ends—just one of many, many things wrong with it.
If you read far enough in, you’ll learn about the murder of an Alzheimer’s patient in addition to the newly impregnated girl in the pool.
There’s a lot wrong with this. I put the pedal to the floor and ran it at 2.6X, and it was still more fluff and substance than intriguing plot. Lots of unnecessary physical descriptions of people, and my ongoing ambivalence toward Betsy Devonshire, well, it’s ongoing.
I just struggled to retain any real interest in the plot. I went so far as to see how many books remain in the series. (It appears there are only two), and I must decide whether I’m going to deal with them. I hate being a quitter when I’m this close, but books shouldn’t have to be a marathon slog. Life’s too short for that. The more I write this, the more convinced I am that it’s in the author’s best interest and mine if I bow out be it ever so clumsily and leave the series to others to finish.
The audio narration annoyed me and grated. The plot wasn’t worth downloading a Bookshare copy so I can read it with the braille display.
Amateur Sleuth Betsy Devonshire operates a needlecraft store in Minnesota. She does some private investigating sans a license on the side. In this installment of the series, Devonshire is doing water aerobics at a senior center because they’ve closed her normal place. One of the instructors at the swimming pool finds a dead twenty-something-year-old woman in the pool one day, and the corporation fires the black security guy and the black maintenance guy. Neither of them is worthy of dismissal, and you never hear whether they got their jobs back when the book ends—just one of many, many things wrong with it.
If you read far enough in, you’ll learn about the murder of an Alzheimer’s patient in addition to the newly impregnated girl in the pool.
There’s a lot wrong with this. I put the pedal to the floor and ran it at 2.6X, and it was still more fluff and substance than intriguing plot. Lots of unnecessary physical descriptions of people, and my ongoing ambivalence toward Betsy Devonshire, well, it’s ongoing.
I just struggled to retain any real interest in the plot. I went so far as to see how many books remain in the series. (It appears there are only two), and I must decide whether I’m going to deal with them. I hate being a quitter when I’m this close, but books shouldn’t have to be a marathon slog. Life’s too short for that. The more I write this, the more convinced I am that it’s in the author’s best interest and mine if I bow out be it ever so clumsily and leave the series to others to finish.
The audio narration annoyed me and grated. The plot wasn’t worth downloading a Bookshare copy so I can read it with the braille display.
May 23, 2017
Meh. The mystery was okay, but the way it was woven together at the end was pretty lackluster. It was frankly disappointing. The "who" in "whodunnit" was very predictable. And I could do without all of the boring descriptions of craft related stuff all the time. And long-winded descriptions of pointless crap too. (Seriously. Just tell me she's eating a salad. I don't need an ingredients list.) I appreciated how unconventional many of the characters are as sleuths. An old crafting lady is not something I ever recall seeing as the detective in mystery novel before. (It always seems to be the same old boring late 20's cop with relationship trouble.) So that was refreshing. It didn't make up for the fluffy writing and lame wrap up, but it's nice not to being completely bored with the cast.
So... not terrible interesting but i didn't loathe it either. Very "meh". The audiobook narration was much the same.
So... not terrible interesting but i didn't loathe it either. Very "meh". The audiobook narration was much the same.
May 31, 2021
Betsy had been taking water aerobics at the Courage Center's pool. The pool had to be closed for three months and she had to find another place to go. She is told that Watered Silk, the local senior complex has a heated pool and has classes open to members of the community. After Betsy's first aerobics class at Watered Silk, she approached by the director of recreation and activities. They have a stitchers' group that is looking for something simple to do and they were willing to pay her. The next week the body of a young woman is found in the therapy pool. Betsy is asked to help by the relatives of one of the suspects. The dead woman had three lovers, any one of them could have murdered her. Betsy decides to accept the challenge and agrees to work the case. In the process of her investigation, Conner, Godwin, and Jill are all called upon to help at some time.
I have read other books in this series and enjoyed each one of them.
I have read other books in this series and enjoyed each one of them.
May 28, 2023
3.5 Stars
Great story but the narrator was questionable at the beginning of the book. She improved as the story continued.
A 20-something girl is found dead in a pool that is situated in a secure building. A young black man is doing guard duty and is fired for? Not doing his job, or for being black. The cop-in-charge makes the second possibility very likely. Shortly thereafter an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s disease seems to know things that might indicate she knows who the murderer is.
The story was hard to get into because of the narration. But speeding the audio up to 1.2 helped make the narration acceptable. Please note that towards the end of the book, the narrator sings and does a splendid job.
I recommend the story.
Great story but the narrator was questionable at the beginning of the book. She improved as the story continued.
A 20-something girl is found dead in a pool that is situated in a secure building. A young black man is doing guard duty and is fired for? Not doing his job, or for being black. The cop-in-charge makes the second possibility very likely. Shortly thereafter an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s disease seems to know things that might indicate she knows who the murderer is.
The story was hard to get into because of the narration. But speeding the audio up to 1.2 helped make the narration acceptable. Please note that towards the end of the book, the narrator sings and does a splendid job.
I recommend the story.
July 9, 2017
I like the series so I'm always positive about the books. I have mixed emotions about one aspect of this one, Betsy gets involved when Ethan (security) is first a suspect who loses his job. The case continues and a new suspect Tommy comes into the story. Ethan is just dropped after finding a new job. Part of me wishes he had not just been dropped from the story so quickly although I realize he wasn't involved so he just went away. The focus changed. I guess I just kept wondering how it really would have affected him later as well as the director of maintenance who was also fired. Oh well, still a good mystery and solve.
November 25, 2017
I pretty much always enjoy this series. There have been a couple of duds but they are mostly consistent. While I still enjoyed this book, it was an easy read, the usual characters featured, etc, it didn't feel quite the same. Other reviewers have questioned whether it was written by someone other than the usual author, and I did actually wonder the same as I was reading it. I say that the usual characters were featured but they didn't feature very much, Godwin, Jill, Lars were there but very much in the background. There wasn't much 'action', but there was at least a mystery to solve and it was an easy read.
May 10, 2018
This is one of the few series that I have read every single book. I think I enjoy them so much because they often feature cross stitching, which I love. Usually books about needlework just focus on knitting so I love getting all the cross stitching tips and lore.
I find these books comforting, like reading about an old friend. There was mostly Betsy in this one, not much of her friends. The mystery was interesting, and relied on clues from a woman with alzheimers to ultimately solve the case. This one also features punch needle embroidery which I have never done, but have considered. After reading this book, it sounds too hard for me.
I am pleased that there are a couple more in the series that I get to read.
I find these books comforting, like reading about an old friend. There was mostly Betsy in this one, not much of her friends. The mystery was interesting, and relied on clues from a woman with alzheimers to ultimately solve the case. This one also features punch needle embroidery which I have never done, but have considered. After reading this book, it sounds too hard for me.
I am pleased that there are a couple more in the series that I get to read.
February 5, 2022
Oh my! It took me 5 days to get through the audio version of this book. I am reading through the series and have listened to multiple audios and narrations. This one was the very worst. The voices were so bad. I made myself continue so I could mark it off on my series challenge. If this narrator also does the next book, I will have to switch to an ebook or buy a copy then donate it. All the previous audios were included in my prime membership, however, I had to use a credit for this one which was an extra insult. I enjoy the series and the needlework aspect of these mysteries. This audio just was cringeworthy at best.
March 15, 2020
Betsy likes to do water aerobic three times a week to stay in shape. When the swimming pool where she exercises is closed, she goes to the Watered Silk for her class. A dead body turns up in the pool and they find out she didn't die in the pool but was drowned in her own bathtub. Betsy sets out to prove the innocence of three men; the questions she asks and the answers she gets, lead her to a startling conclusion.
November 19, 2020
This was a good little cozy mystery but my goodness, does the author ever love to describe people?! Men get to be burly, large, or round but women are obese. This kind of thing annoyed me enough to give the book 3 stars instead of 4. This book is #17 in a series; I haven’t read any of the ones that came before this one but that didn’t seem to matter, the story stood alone with no explanations of former books. I like the author’s writing style and plan to read more of her books.
July 25, 2021
I don’t normally write reviews of books. But this one was so difficult. I listened to the audio version and this particular narrator was horrible, so I’m not sure if that’s tainting my view or not. But even without that it seemed like it missed the usual ebb and flow of one of these stories. Not to mention, that even as a stitcher, the list of DMC colors by number was unnecessary and boring. I didn’t particularly care about the victim or the suspects either.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews