Shear Trouble

Southern Quilting Mysteries #4

by Elizabeth Spann Craig

As the leaves begin to fall in idyllic Dappled Hills, someone puts too fine a point on a local ladies’ man. Fortunately, the detective skills of quilter Beatrice Coleman are a cut above the rest.... The Village Quilters of Dappled Hills, North Carolina, are desperate to finish their quilts before an upcoming show. To help, fellow member Posy has opened the back room of her shop, the Patchwork Cottage, for everyone to use. But the ladies are less than thrilled when Phyllis Stitt and Martha Helmsley—members of their rival quilting guild, the Cut-Ups—ask to join them. Phyllis is hoping to leave the Cut-Ups and join up with the Village Quilters now that Martha’s dating her ex-fiancé, Jason Gore. She’s not pleased when he visits the shop and even more upset when her new shears disappear. After offering to search for them, Beatrice discovers Jason with the shears buried in his unfaithful heart. Now she must sharpen her sleuthing skills to find a killer before someone else’s life is cut short.…INCLUDES QUILTING TIPS!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Crafts, Cozy

301 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 5, 2014

About the author

Author also writes under Elizabeth Craig

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

Reviews

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess that in every cozy series, you have to hit one that ends up being just meh. This one was that very thing for me. I love these characters and this little town, but this mystery felt a little too forced and just a little off. AND I guessed the killer early on [but not the reason which is why it got 3 stars instead of 2; the end and the "reveal" was very good]. I sure hope the next one goes back to the excellent writing this series AND author are known for.

[Julie Trapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to get ready for a quilting show, Posy opens up the back room of her shop for all to work on their quilts. Unfortunately, 2 feuding members of the rival quilting guild join them. Martha and Phyllis both have/had a relationship with Jason. When he is found stabbed to death with Phyllis's shears, Beatrice tries to get to the bottom of the murder. While this was a good story, I am not enthralled with Miss Sissy (needs to have an intervention and take away her car keys) - she is a crotchety old bag. Nor am I a fan of Meadow's large dog, Boris. Beatrice puts up with a lot of antics of Boris' without saying a word. He would be banned from my house in a second.

[Squirrel]

Managed a couple of chapters. This is too 'precious', not clever, not pun-ny, not informing, beyond the cardboard characters in the tale. The quilt theme is only a device to provide backdrop for squabbling groups and easy locations, without any real investment in the topic. Worse, if read out of order there is zero suspense or interest. Rather than presenting conversations, the narrative simply advises they happened. More an outline for a story than a great telling of a tale. Done trying this series. Even the recipes at the end seem like forced homework; they too are uninspired.

[Yvonne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read three books in this series and in two of them, the ending was almost identical. Murderer shows up on the main character 's doorstep. She lets them in. They pull out a knife and try to kill her. She manages to grab a pitcher....or a food processor.....bashes them on the head and escapes. Yawn! A little variety in the endings, please! I won't read this author again and regret downloading three of her books for my roadtrip.

[Lady Galaxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a break from this series for awhile, but I'm glad I decided to get back into it. Even though Meadow and Miss Sissy can be annoying, they are also never boring! The mystery in this one was interesting with enough red herrings to keep me guessing. I'm glad my main suspect turned out not to have anything to do with any of the crimes and misdemeanors. I'm going to try not to stay away so long the next time.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solidly ok cozy. I love the author’s other series (Myrtle Clover) and read these ones primarily as I’m waiting for those to be published. I adore Miss Sissy in the Southern Quilting Mysteries and like almost any needlecraft topic. As for the actual mystery of Shear Trouble, though, it felt pretty formulaic. With pimiento cheese. Lots of pimiento cheese.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery by Elizabeth Spann Craig and the ladies of the Village Quilters guild! These books are wonderful for a quick escape and I love all the trouble they get into. I wasn't a big fan of Meadow but she has come to grow on me. Beatrice is the true hero as always. And this time I almost guessed right as to who done it!! LOL

[Sarah A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so this is book 4 in the series but my first by the author. I struggled to get into it and got the murderer early on. I liked the idea of the story more than the actual reality. I may try again from the beginning of the series.

[Judy Tolley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda Boring

While the murder and activities surrounding it were "okay" I didn't find this book to be as interesting. It seemed slow and even boring at times. A lot of repetition and e massive details had me skipping paragraphs. Even put me to sleep a bit.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great summer read. Fast paced and lots of action.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle

[Lady Prism · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this book was just so fun!! The kind you read with a bag of popcorn. 🤩

[Sam Audia · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The funny thing Beatrice,” said Meadow, beaming through her red-framed glasses, “is that all this time I never knew that Boris was a genius.”

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/sh...

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie

Shear Trouble is the fourth installment in the Southern Quilting Mystery Series. It can easily be read as a stand-alone cozy, as each character is defined as needed for this novel. The writing style is cheerfully uncomplicated, with an opening that captivates dog lovers as well as quilters from literally the first page of the book.

Many of the characters are actively involved in or spoken of within the first two chapters of the novel, and they are delightfully well-rounded. The setting that is central to the mystery, Patchwork Cottage, is also described. The Patchwork Cottage is a quilter’s heaven on earth, with fabric, notions, and all thing quilting. A visiting area and a huge work area in the back room complete the cottage. Even those of us who are needle-challenged might appreciate the quilts on display and the antiques that they are artfully draped near or around.

Posy, owner of The Patchwork Cottage, Beatrice and her friend Meadow plan a quilting retreat for the Village Quilters guild so the ladies can work on their respective quilts together to finish them on time for the upcoming quilt show. It would be a Friday evening of quilting and camaraderie, and Beatrice, still new to Dappled Hills, NC, would get to know her new friends better. Even though her quilt for the show was complete, she planned to bring the Double Wedding Ring quilt she was working in hopes of getting hints from more experienced quilters for areas that were challenging to her.

Dappled Hills, North Carolina seems kind of like a modern Andy Griffith-land, in a good way. There are savvy retired ladies and homemakers, gentle romance, matchmakers, and even a couple eccentric folks. It is hard to think of anybody there as a cold-blooded murderer, or capable of doing anything worse than gossip or drive 30 in a 25 zone. The character development is excellent, with details of various suspects added as needed to enhance the story. Each person contributes their unique texture to the overall design.

Beatrice is a wise, gentle woman who reflects her former profession as a museum curator well. She is a very likable amateur sleuth who is comfortable with herself and kind to the world around her, knowledgeable of many things, and extremely patient with people of various temperaments. Beatrice is an animal lover with a well-behaved Welsh Corgi who is willing to pet-sit or be a short-term “foster mom” for a stray kitten. She is not afraid to ask for help, seeks to participate in her community, and has a keen, analytical mind whether considering a new mystery or a new quilting pattern. She is someone who I would appreciate having for a friend, as are the ladies in her quilting guild.

Elizabeth Craig delivers a fun, well-written cozy mystery. She writes just as comfortably when describing a murder victim as she does a quilt pattern or a cold, hungry kitten. Her subjects are well-researched. Conversations flow smoothly, even with Miss Sissy and Frank Helmsley when either one or the other were not having their finer moments.

From the point of view of someone who doesn’t know much about quilt patterns, I enjoyed and appreciated the cover depiction of the Double Ring Wedding Quilt in progress. Noo-noo, Beatrice’s sweet and loyal Corgi, has the face of a pup who is inviting the prospective reader to “open up and enjoy!” Those who are even slightly familiar with this breed of herding dogs also know that Corgis are friendly, tenacious, yet protective and strong – some of the traits that the reader will see reflected also in Noo-noo’s owner, Beatrice.

I highly recommend Shear Trouble for cozy mystery lovers who enjoy reading about quilting, older female sleuths, and mysteries that are humorous or uncomplicated but are still able to twist an interesting plot that still includes challenges to solving. Young adults as well as adults of all ages could enjoy this tale. And this reader will enjoy reading the earlier and the upcoming Quilting Mysteries!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

[Smitten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Smitten by Books Blog

3.5 Stars

Beatrice Coleman enjoys quilting, but the best part of being a member of the Village Quilters is the camaraderie of working with the other quilters. As a favor to fellow group member Posy, Beatrice and her friend Meadow reluctantly agree to allow members from a rival quilting group to join them in working together on projects for an upcoming quilt show. Since it’s for a good cause, the Village Quilters try to be welcoming to the “Cut-Ups”, Phyllis and Martha, but the newcomers aren’t making it easy. They’re unpleasant to each other and to their adopted quilting group. Beatrice learns the resentment between the two women is mostly due to the fact that Martha is currently dating Phyllis’s ex-fiancé Jason Gore, and it’s obvious Phyllis is ready to let him go. Beatrice ends up in the middle of the dispute between the quilters as well as a murder investigation when she discovers the dead body of Jason.

I enjoy the small town atmosphere of the book, and like most of the main characters. This installment of the Southern Quilting mysteries does a good job of introducing two new characters into the mix of old favorites Beatrice, Meadow, and the rest of the Village Quilters. Martha, especially, is a complex character that I could see fitting into future adventures in Dappled Hills, North Carolina along with Beatrice and Meadow, even though she is from a rival quilting club. Beatrice and Meadow are as likeable as ever. They are very different from each other, but have a wonderful friendship. Beatrice is more calm and rationale, and Meadow is a bit more flighty and emotional. Together, they make a great team for quilting as well as sleuthing. The two friends ask a lot of questions to get to the bottom of Jason Gore’s murder and readers are left guessing as to the identity of the murderer and the motive.

In a crucial part of the plot, elderly quilter Miss Sissy saves the day. It’s nice seeing the older woman help solve the case, but as I did in previous books in the series, I still find her to be a strange character. Her one word proclamations of “Evil!” and “Wicked!” grow tiresome, but luckily I enjoy the other characters in the book.

Everything wraps up in an unexpected and satisfying way in this enjoyable Southern cozy. I am not a quilter, but there is a page of interesting quilting tips at the end of the book. There are also a few recipes included and the one for “Easy, Corny Corn Bread” that looks easy to follow and sounds delicious. Shear Trouble will appeal to fans of Elizabeth Lynn Casey.

Reviewed by Christine

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Smitten by Books Blog. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

Beatrice Coleman enjoys quilting, but the best part of being a member of the Village Quilters is the camaraderie of working with the other quilters. As a favor to fellow group member Posy, Beatrice and her friend Meadow reluctantly agree to allow members from a rival quilting group to join them in working together on projects for an upcoming quilt show. Since it’s for a good cause, the Village Quilters try to be welcoming to the “Cut-Ups”, Phyllis and Martha, but the newcomers aren’t making it easy. They’re unpleasant to each other and to their adopted quilting group. Beatrice learns the resentment between the two women is mostly due to the fact that Martha is currently dating Phyllis’s ex-fiancé Jason Gore, and it’s obvious Phyllis is ready to let him go. Beatrice ends up in the middle of the dispute between the quilters as well as a murder investigation when she discovers the dead body of Jason.

I enjoy the small town atmosphere of the book, and like most of the main characters. This installment of the Southern Quilting mysteries does a good job of introducing two new characters into the mix of old favorites Beatrice, Meadow, and the rest of the Village Quilters. Martha, especially, is a complex character that I could see fitting into future adventures in Dappled Hills, North Carolina along with Beatrice and Meadow, even though she is from a rival quilting club. Beatrice and Meadow are as likeable as ever. They are very different from each other, but have a wonderful friendship. Beatrice is more calm and rationale, and Meadow is a bit more flighty and emotional. Together, they make a great team for quilting as well as sleuthing. The two friends ask a lot of questions to get to the bottom of Jason Gore’s murder and readers are left guessing as to the identity of the murderer and the motive.

In a crucial part of the plot, elderly quilter Miss Sissy saves the day. It’s nice seeing the older woman help solve the case, but as I did in previous books in the series, I still find her to be a strange character. Her one word proclamations of “Evil!” and “Wicked!” grow tiresome, but luckily I enjoy the other characters in the book.

Everything wraps up in an unexpected and satisfying way in this enjoyable Southern cozy. I am not a quilter, but there is a page of interesting quilting tips at the end of the book. There are also a few recipes included and the one for “Easy, Corny Corn Bread” that looks easy to follow and sounds delicious. Shear Trouble will appeal to fans of Elizabeth Lynn Casey.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

In order to ensure that quilts are finished in time for the upcoming quilting show, the Village Quilters of Dappled Hills decide to have a quilting party. However, the party is unexpectedly interrupted by Beatrice Coleman’s discovery of Jason Gore with Phyllis Stitt’s shears sticking out of his body. The same shears that Phyllis was just complaining about having lost and that Beatrice set out to find. Phyllis shouldn’t have even been at the quilting party!

Phyllis is actually the member of a rival quilting team, the Cut-Ups, and she wanted to come to the quilting party in the hopes that she could join the Village Quilters since her fellow Cut-Up member, Martha Helmsley, is now dating Phyllis’ ex-fiancé Jason Gore. But, Phyllis was not to escape the couple as Martha decided to join the quilting party as well and have her fiancé stop by. Everyone seems shocked to learn of Jason’s murder occurring, but none are surprised that someone would want to murder him.

Jason has just returned to Dappled Hills after having been gone for quite some time. The first time he came to Dappled Hills, he ended up running out on Phyllis after scamming people out of their money. Because of this, there are quite a few suspects for Jason’s murder. Beatrice’s best friend Meadow is soon encouraging Beatrice to use her sleuthing skills to uncover the truth, but what Beatrice finds might just end up costing her life.

One finding is that there is an eyewitness, but he refuses to go to the cops. Maybe he doesn’t even know anything. Nevertheless, when this claimed eyewitness ends up murdered as well, Beatrice must admit that he might have been on the right track. As Beatrice continues on the hunt for the culprit, it becomes clear that this killer will halt at nothing to get away with these murders, even if that means committing another.

Shear Trouble is the fourth novel in novelist Elizabeth Craig’s A Southern Quilting Mystery series. If this fourth in the series is a good example of the series as a whole then I prefer to stick to Craig's Myrtle Clover Mystery series.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Shear Trouble" is a cozy mystery. It's the fourth in a series. You don't need to have read the previous novels to understand this one, and the previous whodunits aren't spoiled in this novel.

The main characters were interesting and nice enough, but by the end I had some problems with the mystery. The clues were basically from the heroine asking good questions and getting answers. We're told that a certain person was in the shop, yet later that person was never in the shop. This was a writing mistake, not a character lying (as far as I can tell--pages 216 and 250). I felt like I couldn't trust the clues.

Next, our heroine tells the detective everything she discovers...until she learns that a critical phone call was placed at a certain location. This could be the big break if the detective discovers who the call was made to! But the heroine decides to stay quiet and hope that the very shy gal will change her mind and go tell the police about this major lead. Which she doesn't.

At the end, the heroine has just figured out whodunit when of course whodunit arrives at her house. The heroine is scared whodunit will kill her, yet she lets whodunit inside and asks unnecessary questions that make it clear she knows whodunit is involved in the murder. Er, duh, bad idea. And the heroine has two dogs that are growling at whodunit as they know whodunit is a danger, yet whodunit opens the house door and...the dogs dash outside so they can growl at whodunit from the other side of the door? Huh?

There was no sex or bad language.

I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

[Roxann · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the back cover: The Village Quilters of Dappled Hills, North Carolina, are desperate to finish their quilts before an upcoming show. To help, fellow member Posy has opened the back room of her shop, the Patchwork Cottage, for everyone to use. But the ladies are less than thrilled when Phyllis Stitt and Martha Helmsley—members of their rival quilting guild, the Cut-Ups—ask to join them.

Phyllis is hoping to leave the Cut-Ups and join up with the Village Quilters now that Martha’s dating her ex-fiancé, Jason Gore. She’s not pleased when he visits the shop and even more upset when her new shears disappear. After offering to search for them, Beatrice discovers Jason with the shears buried in his unfaithful heart. Now she must sharpen her sleuthing skills to find a killer before someone else’s life is cut short.…
This is the 4th book in the series A Southern Quilting Mystery, but the first I have read. I always seem to enjoy cozy mysteries set in smaller cities or towns. Many of the main characters remind me of people I know. I enjoy cozies in which some of the minor characters are a bit eccentric and this book has one.

The plot and pacing of the book was good. The author wrote in enough twists and turns that it wasn’t easy to determine who the killer was. The ending was a little strange. The main character Beatrice knows who is the killer, but still invites her into her home-what the heck was that about? For a woman who was intelligent it didn’t make sense.

Anyway Overall a very good cozy mystery.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shear Trouble is the fourth book in the A Southern Quilting Mystery series.

The members of Village Quilters are busy getting ready for a quilt show and Posy has offered the backroom of her Patchwork Cottage for a "retreat" so that everyone will be able to finish their quilts. Two members, Marsha and Phyllis, from another quilting group have also shown up. Marsha have been at odds over Jason Gore, since he has returned to Dappled Hills and has started seeing Marsha. Jason is at best a con man and had been seeing Phyllis before he abruptly lest town seven years ago. As Phyllis goes to grab her shears, she finds that they missing. Beatrice and Phyllis going looking for them and they find them, impaled in Jason.

Beatrice's friend Meadow, whose husband is chief of police, convinces her to do a little sleuthing into who might have killed Gore. There are several people that Beatrice needs to take a look at. Marsha's free-loading son is at the top of this. Having had all four tires on her vehicle slashed, Beatrice needs to find the culprit before she becomes the next victim.

Most all the characters from the previous books are bacj once again. As usual Miss Sissy is once again quite vocal, but Beatrice is never sure whether to listen to her or ignore her. She's a fun character, as all are, but I do enjoy her.

Looking forward to the next book.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dappled Hills, NC is one of the most peaceful places in the U.S. A Southern Quilting Mystery, of which this is book 4, is filled with gentle loving quilters, who belong to the Village Quilters. any of the quilters happen to be at a retreat when Beatrice stumbles on a dead man. Beside the dead man, Beatrice finds the shears that one of the quilters said she lost, stabbed right in the victim's chest. The man is identified as Jason Gore, a con-man who had left town several years ago,after his crimes came to light. He also left behind his fiance, Phyllis. who seems to have recovered from her bruised ego. Jason returns to town several years later, to try to prove that he is a changed man. But can anyone who has committed so many cons ever be able to prove his innocence? It seems as if someone didn't believe him and chose to be very certain that Jason would never hurt anyone ever again. Solving this murder takes some fast thinking from Beatrice, and the help of the rest of the quilters, and of course the much loved dogs, Noo Noo and Brutus, to put the killer behind bars.

A copy of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t quilt and I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The author put quilting tips in the back pages along with some delightful recipes for those so inclined. The story was a great cozy mystery – well written, the characters were interesting as well as quirky as many neighbors can be and unique to this tiny town! All the details brought up in the story were finished up --- weren’t wondering about: what abouts? and what happens? at the end of the story! Anyone enjoying cozies should enjoy this one! I even smiled at the end. Now I have to go find the others in this series, but this one was fine as a read alone so it’s up to the reader!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is always so much fun! The ladies in these books seriously crack. me. up. I love their quirky personalities and the trouble they always find themselves in. Ms. Craig has conjured up quite an entertaining little mystery that once again has a beautiful setting and the return of all of the residents we've grown to love in Dappled Hills.

I simply cannot wait for the next book in this awesome series!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beatrice and her quilting group have an evening retreat at the yarn shop, but Phyllis, who would like to join the group, keeps complaining that someone has stolen her new, expensive shears. Beatrice finds them, all right, stuck into controversial Jason. Jason left town some years ago, with other people's money; now he's back, for a second helping or to redeem himself, nobody knows. But he's avoiding Phyllis, whom he jilted, and is now engaged to Martha, her arch-rival. Bea and her neighbor Meadow just have to do some sleuthing on their own.

[Libtechgurugoddess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well-written book in this cozy quilting mystery series, the plot and pacing were both good, and the resolution was plausible. There were enough red herrings that you couldn't easily figure out whodunit, although our protagonist seemed to forget a few clues that stuck in my mind and it made me wonder why she'd conveniently forgotten them until the denouement.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these cozy mysteries. I'm starting to learn to quilt myself, and it is so much fun to have a mystery featuring one of my hobbies. Not an overly challenging mystery, and not super simple either, you can figure out the killer along with the main character.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet series. I love the characters.

[Marilyn Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good part of the series. Kept me guessing who dun it.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the forth in the Southern Quilting Mystery series. I have enjoyed them all. I especially like the friendship between all the characters. A nice cozy easy read.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying these southern quilting mystery series books. They're quite fun.