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A Southern Sewing Circle #9
Taken In
When a trip to the Big Apple ends in murder, the sewing circle searches for a killer who’s rotten to the core. . .
Winning an appearance on a top-rated, New York based morning show means the trip of a lifetime for librarian Tori Sinclair and the Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle. Anxious to experience Manhattan with her friends, Tori is less than excited when fellow member Dixie Dunn opts to use the vacation as an opportunity to rendezvous with a man she met online.
Still, Tori never imagined her friend would be taken in by a con man specializing in scamming vulnerable older women—or that Dixie would be arrested for his murder.
Now, as the sewing circle goes up against Gotham’s elite to prove Dixie’s innocence, they will have to unravel tangled secrets and alibis, patch together a mess of clues, and put a clever killer in the city’s hottest spotlight . . .
PATTERN AND SEWING TIPS INCLUDED
Winning an appearance on a top-rated, New York based morning show means the trip of a lifetime for librarian Tori Sinclair and the Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle. Anxious to experience Manhattan with her friends, Tori is less than excited when fellow member Dixie Dunn opts to use the vacation as an opportunity to rendezvous with a man she met online.
Still, Tori never imagined her friend would be taken in by a con man specializing in scamming vulnerable older women—or that Dixie would be arrested for his murder.
Now, as the sewing circle goes up against Gotham’s elite to prove Dixie’s innocence, they will have to unravel tangled secrets and alibis, patch together a mess of clues, and put a clever killer in the city’s hottest spotlight . . .
PATTERN AND SEWING TIPS INCLUDED
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2014
34 people are currently reading
604 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 8, 2014
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The Sweet Briar Ladies Take New York as only they can!! Look out Kardashians!!!
This story was so much fun starting with the t.v. show Taped With Melly and Kenneth that brought the friends to the big city. Maybe the author should sent a copy to Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, they would probably get a kick out of it!!
I felt so sorry for Dixie being stuck in jail. But the rest did what they do best, and this time they had help from a new friend they met in the Big Apple. Together they tracked down the truth and the real culprit and I was completely taken aback as the clues panned out.
Elizabeth Lynn Casey takes on quite an adventure with our friends from Sweet Briar. There is never a dull moment when these ladies get together and New York barely intimated them at all. She has written an absolutely wonderful story. The locale may have changed but these characters bloom wherever they are planted. There are parts that are laugh out loud funny and others that will warm your heart.
The Ladies of the Sweet Briar Society Circle are quite a group. They range in age from 22 – 84 and are each as different as can be. There is even one that doesn’t even sew!! They don’t always see eye to eye, in fact there are times they don’t agree on anything, but their friendship runs so deep. They are there for each other through anything life throws at them. Friendship like this rare, something to treasure. I am thrilled to be able to tag along with them through each of the stories in this series.
I hate it when these books end. I was completely Taken In by this story and I know you will be too!
November 2, 2020
Taken In finds Tori and some of her Southern Circle friends in New York City. Margaret Louise had entered a contest on the Millie and Kenneth show and won. The prize was a few days away ,all expenses paid, to New York City and a guest appearance on their tv morning show. While there Dixie Dunn meets up with John Dreyer who she met on a dating site. The two meet up and seem to hit it off well. That is until someone pushes Dreyer off his apartment patio and Dixie gets arrested for his murder. Things didn't go as planned for their trip and now Tori and her sewing Circle friends must slueth in New York City to find the real killer. They meet Charles, a flashy cute loveable guy who works at McCormick's Books and Cafe'. He is drawn to the ladies because he watched them on the Millie and Kenneth show. He gets involved in the Sluething and becomes a friend and big help in finding clues and guiding the ladies around The Big Apple. But will all of this be enough to find the real killer . Frankly the Detectives in New York Police Department aren't much different than Chief Robert Dallas ,at home in Sweet Briar. They all have one track minds.
I enjoyed reading about the girls in New York City. I could feel Tori's anguish as she works to dig up clues in a strange city, so Dixie could get out of jail . I liked the colorful character Charles. I thought he added to the story. I was totally baffled and didn't even try to guess who might be the real killer. I was totally surprised when I learned who it was.
If you love Cozy mysteries than Taken in is for you. It's book nine in The Southern Sewing Circle and it's written by Elizabeth Lynn Casey/ Laura Bradford.
I borrowed a Kindle copy from The Ohio Digital Library. A review was not requested . All opinions expressed here are my own.
I enjoyed reading about the girls in New York City. I could feel Tori's anguish as she works to dig up clues in a strange city, so Dixie could get out of jail . I liked the colorful character Charles. I thought he added to the story. I was totally baffled and didn't even try to guess who might be the real killer. I was totally surprised when I learned who it was.
If you love Cozy mysteries than Taken in is for you. It's book nine in The Southern Sewing Circle and it's written by Elizabeth Lynn Casey/ Laura Bradford.
I borrowed a Kindle copy from The Ohio Digital Library. A review was not requested . All opinions expressed here are my own.
December 8, 2018
Elizabeth Lynn Casey has done it again, and this time she has managed to arrange a murder in the Big Apple which means the Sweet Briar Ladies are well and truly out of their comfort zone. After the group won a competition the majority of the sewing circle have headed to New York (minus Georgina who has meeting as Mayor she can't rearrange, and Melissa who has a new baby), everything seems to be going well, even Dixie's meet up with a man she met on-line (which has startled Leona as apparently when they spy on the couple she recognises the man and he is someone who tends to prey on wealthy, older women and whilst Dixie is more mature she isn't wealthy!)
Sadly the man ends up dead (pushed to his death), the problem is Dixie is arrested for the murder! With no recourse to their usual outlets the Ladies Sewing Circle think they are stymied, luckily they meet someone who is prepared to help get Dixie out of jail and back to Sweet Briar with the rest of them.
Sadly the man ends up dead (pushed to his death), the problem is Dixie is arrested for the murder! With no recourse to their usual outlets the Ladies Sewing Circle think they are stymied, luckily they meet someone who is prepared to help get Dixie out of jail and back to Sweet Briar with the rest of them.
August 4, 2020
I will continue to say that I ADORE this series! In this installment of the cozy series, book #9, the ladies of The Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle, are off to New York together. Of course murder soon finds them there. I love the relationship between these ladies and their deep love for one another. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves cozy mysteries!
August 8, 2014
The Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries are one of my favorite series and a new book in the series always tops my “must read” stack of books. TAKEN IN only solidified my love of this series.
I’ll admit, I was a bit worried to see Tori and the ladies taken out of Sweet Briar and put onto the mean streets of New York City. My worry was for nothing. Turning that group of ladies loose in the big city was brilliant!
I knew it was going to be a wild ride from page one, and I laughed my way through the first chapter. Who am I kidding? I laughed my way through the entire book! The only thing that could have been better than reading about these fun ladies and the mystery they find themselves embroiled in, would have been to get to go on the trip with them myself!
Besides the fun, it was a wonderful mystery that kept me guessing the whole way through and into the wee hours of the morning, because I simply could not put in down until I was finished!
If you are a fan of the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries, make sure to add TAKEN IN to your collection. If you haven’t read the series, get to ordering! You are missing out on a wonderfully written series, by a talented author who always delivers on mystery, fun, and characters that you will want to call friends.
I’ll admit, I was a bit worried to see Tori and the ladies taken out of Sweet Briar and put onto the mean streets of New York City. My worry was for nothing. Turning that group of ladies loose in the big city was brilliant!
I knew it was going to be a wild ride from page one, and I laughed my way through the first chapter. Who am I kidding? I laughed my way through the entire book! The only thing that could have been better than reading about these fun ladies and the mystery they find themselves embroiled in, would have been to get to go on the trip with them myself!
Besides the fun, it was a wonderful mystery that kept me guessing the whole way through and into the wee hours of the morning, because I simply could not put in down until I was finished!
If you are a fan of the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries, make sure to add TAKEN IN to your collection. If you haven’t read the series, get to ordering! You are missing out on a wonderfully written series, by a talented author who always delivers on mystery, fun, and characters that you will want to call friends.
April 15, 2020
This was a lost-and-found at the hotel that nobody ever claimed and I figured I might as well read it. It was terrible, which is why it took me so long to finish. Obvious plot is obvious. The murder is so simple, there's basically no mystery to it and it's evident who the murderer is pretty much from the point where the victim's neighbour says she saw a tall guy bang on his door and then walk past her door. Like duh. This is what we'd call "old lady mystery trash" and they can be entertaining, but this one just made me sigh in exasperation. Tori is a Mary Sue. Rose's personality is that she's old. Margaret Louise and Beatrice are painfully blatant stereotypes, Dixie is basically not involved and Leona is a bitch. This book has no redeeming qualities other than that it was easy reading and done pretty quickly when I set my mind to it.
March 24, 2020
An okay addition to the series, though I guessed from the start whodunnit. Charles was definitely a colorful and interesting character.
June 24, 2025
A good read
August 25, 2014
Taken In is the ninth book in Elizabeth Lynn Casey's Southern Sewing Circle series. This series focuses on a group of ladies that could not be more different from each other, but all have a love for sewing and solving mysteries. Casey uses humor, originality and a lot of interesting clues to keep her readers coming back for more. Taken In may be book nine in the series, but it is certainly no stopping place. From Sweet Briar to the Big Apple, these ladies are taking over! A great addition to the series!
What I liked:
There is something about a group of ladies getting together to do a project, whether it is sewing, quilting, canning, cooking, crafting, reading or anything in between that builds camaraderie and relationships. One of my favorite parts of the Southern Sewing Circle series is the friendships that develop between these women. When you start a group like this, you really don't know what you are going to get and that's the best part. There is so much diversity in this group of characters. You have big age differences, different ethnic groups, varied personalities. It just gives an author so much to work with and I think Elizabeth Lynn Casey really uses this to her advantage, especially in her latest book, Taken In.
Because of the diversity of the group, Casey is able to take her characters into so many different directions. This time in Taken In readers get to see how the ladies fare in a different environment. The sewing circle is taking on the big city, as they go to New York to tape an appearance on a talk show. I love the fact Casey often uses common things and current situations in her books and the talk show angle was perfect, as well as, the internet dating scene which is also a big part of this mystery. Both were great ideas and very well executed.
Dixie is quickly thrown in jail for the murder of a man she met on the internet, whom she found out was a con man preying on elderly women. Tori and the other gals are quick to come to her defense and to start sorting out the clues that might lead to the killer. The mystery was interesting and there were a lot of possibilities where suspects were concerned. I thought Casey did a fantastic job of not only making the mystery compelling and intriguing, but also making this one funny. There was so much humor and that just added to it's overall enjoyment.
Bottom Line:
I think this is one was a very well written addition to the series. It not only made me laugh, but it made me think. I didn't put it together to quickly and was surprised at the end. I loved the change of locale for the ladies, but I did miss Sweet Briar. There just wasn't anything not to like!
What I liked:
There is something about a group of ladies getting together to do a project, whether it is sewing, quilting, canning, cooking, crafting, reading or anything in between that builds camaraderie and relationships. One of my favorite parts of the Southern Sewing Circle series is the friendships that develop between these women. When you start a group like this, you really don't know what you are going to get and that's the best part. There is so much diversity in this group of characters. You have big age differences, different ethnic groups, varied personalities. It just gives an author so much to work with and I think Elizabeth Lynn Casey really uses this to her advantage, especially in her latest book, Taken In.
Because of the diversity of the group, Casey is able to take her characters into so many different directions. This time in Taken In readers get to see how the ladies fare in a different environment. The sewing circle is taking on the big city, as they go to New York to tape an appearance on a talk show. I love the fact Casey often uses common things and current situations in her books and the talk show angle was perfect, as well as, the internet dating scene which is also a big part of this mystery. Both were great ideas and very well executed.
Dixie is quickly thrown in jail for the murder of a man she met on the internet, whom she found out was a con man preying on elderly women. Tori and the other gals are quick to come to her defense and to start sorting out the clues that might lead to the killer. The mystery was interesting and there were a lot of possibilities where suspects were concerned. I thought Casey did a fantastic job of not only making the mystery compelling and intriguing, but also making this one funny. There was so much humor and that just added to it's overall enjoyment.
Bottom Line:
I think this is one was a very well written addition to the series. It not only made me laugh, but it made me think. I didn't put it together to quickly and was surprised at the end. I loved the change of locale for the ladies, but I did miss Sweet Briar. There just wasn't anything not to like!
August 27, 2019
The seven ladies of the sewing circle had been chosen by a top morning TV show for an all-expense trip to NYC to be on the show. The producers were impressed by the friendships that grew from the group… most impressive was that the ages of these good friends ranged from early 20s to 80 years old. Tori, the group leader (and head librarian of the town library) was dismayed when she found that while in NY, one of the group, Dixie, was going to meet a gentleman she had met on a dating website for older adults. Tori knew that there were many scams associated with some websites, and was skeptical of Dixie’s choice. Dixie, however, was delighted and came back from the morning with her “date” all smiles, ….. that is, until her date was murdered and Dixie was the prime suspect. Could the ladies find the real killer? --- Not much sewing happens in this story, but there is lots of interaction with the ladies – who seem to be bickering quite a bit among themselves. Although there is disagreement, they are – and remain- good friends, united in trying to prove Dixie innocent.
March 18, 2021
I love my cosy-mysteries, but this did not do it for me. It's my first introduction to the Southern Sewing Circle and honestly - what in the world makes these characters gel? Sorry, but a love of sewing would not get women, who argue and bitch at each other as much as this lot do, in the same room long enough to start a club.
This felt filled with pages of the same arguments and spiteful comments. It seemed every second page had to have one of the women sniping at another. I don't know what the point of that was - they were on a television show to show they're all friends, but it sure doesn't come across that way for the rest of the story. The other thing that got to me is stereotypes (hands up, Charles). Sure, you want a sassy and vibrant character, so make it a caricature. It didn't win me over. It felt like shows that used to thrown in a token character and exploit the hell out of them. A more well-rounded character would have been a better option.
There are a lot of excellent cosy-mysteries out there, and I won't be seeking out more in this series.
This felt filled with pages of the same arguments and spiteful comments. It seemed every second page had to have one of the women sniping at another. I don't know what the point of that was - they were on a television show to show they're all friends, but it sure doesn't come across that way for the rest of the story. The other thing that got to me is stereotypes (hands up, Charles). Sure, you want a sassy and vibrant character, so make it a caricature. It didn't win me over. It felt like shows that used to thrown in a token character and exploit the hell out of them. A more well-rounded character would have been a better option.
There are a lot of excellent cosy-mysteries out there, and I won't be seeking out more in this series.
September 24, 2023
I am done with this series. The women have zero character growth in the two plus years that have passed in the series. Tori used to be a brilliant librarian and now she’s just a librarian. No brilliance. Margaret Louise is using more southern sayings. Leona is getting meaner. Debbie is too quiet. You would think Tori would be better friends with Debbie being closer in age. Tori spends more time with seniors than her fiancé. Tori might be the one to figure out the murders but all clues have to slap her in the face for her to see it. Charles was a breath of fresh air in this book. It’s sad because I really enjoyed the first few books in this series but I can’t read 3 more.
September 20, 2019
This was a good book. I would have loved it if it wasn't for Dixie doing time for something she didn't do. I do love meeting Charles. I hope we see him again in another book. If it wasn't for him, I might have rated it lower because he came in and made things better in the book.
Just a note, it took me a while to read it because for some reason I have slowed way down on getting books read. I am trying to finish up the pile next to my bed but it is taking forever right now to finish a single book. But I finally finished up this one.
Just a note, it took me a while to read it because for some reason I have slowed way down on getting books read. I am trying to finish up the pile next to my bed but it is taking forever right now to finish a single book. But I finally finished up this one.
December 8, 2016
Normally I love this series and will finish a book in 2 days. This one just moved at a snails pace, it was not believable at some points, Tori's sweetness which is barely tolerable most of the time grated on my nerves in this book. This one seemed to be mostly "filler". I ended up skipping to the end 3/4 of the way through because I couldn't take it anymore. Will keep reading the series. Just wouldn't recommend this one to anyone.
December 12, 2017
This was very well done. It shows a lot about this group of women who sew together and how women of all ages can get along and be good friends in any situation. It brings in another character who sees them like they are and gives them a chance to see New York through his eyes. Dixie goes on a date and has a good time however the next day she is arrested for murder even though she just met the guy. So Tori and the girls go find out who really killed her date and get her out of jail.
January 11, 2020
Not the strongest in the series, perhaps, but a pleasant ride. In this one, the girls are off to The Big Apple to appear on a TV result as a result of Margaret Louise's penning a letter to the show detailing and praising their multi-generational group and the warm friendship. Things get complicates when most of the group makes a fake profile of the group's former librarian on a "Match"-like website. Tori finds out and is convinced that no good would come of this. Unfortunately, Tori was right.
September 9, 2023
Why 2 stars: I didn't like and it really bothered me all while reading this book, that Dixie spent DAYS in a NYC jail. I continue not liking Leona. I don't find Beatrice's obsession with Kenny Rogers to be cute or funny. I don't believe the NYC police department couldn't, with all the resources they have available, put the pieces together and arrest the correct person. This wasn't a complex crime.
January 21, 2019
I really do love this series! This time the sewing circle is asked to come to NYC to appear on a morning talk show. Only seven of the ladies can go, though, and for a while it looks like only 6 will return. Tori has her hands full trying to convince the NYPD that no one in her sewing circle would commit murder -- or at least this murder!
February 25, 2018
A fun read, all of our Southern friends in the Big Apple, of course there is going to be murder and of course Tori and the gang will take care of it, with the help of their new friend Charles!!!!!!
December 16, 2018
This is my favorite in the series so far. Margaret Louise, Leona, Beatrice, Debby, Rose and Tori have equal roles in this book. We learn more about each character. Charles is a wonderful character the ladies meet in New York City. I couldn’t put the book down..
June 14, 2021
Ms. Casey is certainly creative in finding places for the Sewing Circle to meet. This one was a little far out, but we got a new character and the murderer was captured in record time. Ms. Casey always wraps up her mystery in the last few pages. Recommend if you want to escape from the real world.
July 18, 2019
This is definely one of my favorite series. This time the ladies are in NYC. The last one you would think is arrested for murder and the others must prove her innocent.
November 10, 2019
Overall, I liked it. I had a little trouble staying focused on the story in the middle. It dragged but I got through it. I loved the difference in all the ladies but yet were all still friends.
March 11, 2020
I love this series. What a fun story and boy, it sure makes me want to visit the "big apple".
September 11, 2023
Not one of the better ones. Shouldn’t there have been a lawyer involved?
June 19, 2024
A trip to NY for the ladies and a handsome man for Dixie. What could go wrong? Love the new character Charles.
November 24, 2024
Loved this book! I really enjoyed reading something more in my "age" group! Never too old to enjoy friends and hobbies.
March 5, 2017
The Sweet Briar Ladies Sewing Circle has won a trip to New York City to be on a t.v. show and spend a couple of days sightseeing. Dixie decides to go out on a date with a man she met on line who turns out to be a scammer of older women. When the man winds up dead the police think Dixie is the killer and put her in jail. Tori and the other ladies must find out who really did it to bring Dixie and all of them home. I really enjoy the "Southern Circle Mysteries". Always good stories, great friends and a sweet romance.
September 24, 2023
The ladies are in New York. Mary Louise has written a letter to a talk show that wants the ladies to share their circle of friendship. While in New York Dixie is going to rendezvous with her new Beau that she met on line. Unfortunately for Dixie after meeting her new paramour he ends up dead and Dixie lands in jail. The sewing circle ladies will not let Dixie succumb to staying in jail for a murder they no she didn't commit. With the help of their new friend, Charles, they vow to save her.
This one was marginally better than the previous books in the series. There was less over description and succrain character description. There is a tendency to constantly rehash plot points with different characters so it becomes repetitive. The Charles character was way over the top to the point of almost being offensive. The circle welcomed him in to quickly but with out him the plot what not have been able to move through New York. There was also a major miss in how the killer could have done the murder that was not explained.
This one was marginally better than the previous books in the series. There was less over description and succrain character description. There is a tendency to constantly rehash plot points with different characters so it becomes repetitive. The Charles character was way over the top to the point of almost being offensive. The circle welcomed him in to quickly but with out him the plot what not have been able to move through New York. There was also a major miss in how the killer could have done the murder that was not explained.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews