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The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up

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Meet Fleck Mother, Crafter and Amateur Detective.

Fleck loves a good puzzle. She spends most of her time feeling invisible, caring for three small children and that's fine, really. But it does make her brain itch occasionally.

When Trixie, fellow school-mum and avid crafter, is accused of stealing money from Many Hands, the women's charity known for its charming store full of handmade crafts, Fleck feels compelled to investigate and clear Trixie's name. From playground stake-outs to tailing cars while nursing the baby to sleep, Fleck and Trixie uncover a case more complex than either of them could have imagined.

Will they crack the case?

‘Move over Miss Marple, Fleck Parker is here!’ KERRYN MAYNE

Audible Audio

Published January 1, 2025

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591 people want to read

About the author

Kate Solly

4 books135 followers

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5 stars
162 (22%)
4 stars
335 (46%)
3 stars
184 (25%)
2 stars
37 (5%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
Profile Image for Andrea.
1,081 reviews29 followers
March 11, 2025
When Fleck Parker's mother-in-law offers her a block of regular time away from her three young children to do something just for herself, Fleck realises she needs a hobby. She knew that she loved - and was very good at - puzzles of all kinds, but what she was looking for was something creative, that she could get passionate about. Meeting Trixie and Helen at her son's school is a lucky break, because they introduce her to Many Hands, a local charity that runs a shop full of gorgeous handmade crafts. Both are volunteers at the shop, but Trixie really wants to start running craft workshops, and soon Fleck becomes her guinea pig. Each Tuesday morning they sit together in the back room while Trixie teaches Fleck a new craft. Then one day Trixie is accused of stealing a large sum of money from the charity, and Fleck feels compelled to help her new friend clear her name.

Kate Solly has done it again! Her book is sweet, charming, even quite funny at times, and then it goes dark. Well, darker than you might expect for this kind of book. There are plenty of suspects in this mystery, and gradually Fleck rules out one after another until the villain is revealed. And while the identity of the villain wasn't a total shock, the why and how proved to be much edgier than I ever expected.

I attended a book launch event for this one last week, and the author revealed that Fleck might have a few more books in her. I'll be keen to read them.
Profile Image for Brooke.
281 reviews1 follower
January 1, 2025
Kate Solly’s follow up to the heartwarming Tuesday Evenings At the Copeton Craft Resistance is a feel good cosy mystery with hidden depths and a puzzle solving MC.

Fleck Parker loves solving puzzles. When she’s not chasing after her three children and feeling invisible, she enjoys nothing more than a tricky conundrum. When she meets fellow school mum,
Trixie, she is introduced to the world of crafts through the Many Hands charity store which is full of handmade treasures. However, when Trixie is accused of stealing money from the charity, Fleck steps in to investigate and clear her friend’s name. What follows is a series of hilarious adventures as Fleck tracks the clues to catch the real thief.

There were so many laugh out loud relatable moments in this book. From the very opening pages as Fleck attempts to get her children ready to leave the house, I was nodding my head at the complete chaos of small children. I absolutely loved Fleck and could understand her need for something of her own, but struggling to find what that could be. When she stumbles on to detective work, her brain finally gets the workout she’s been striving for, while also helping her new friend.

“It’s like I’m a monk who has sworn to be detached from possessions, except the possessions I’m constantly detached from are my keys, phone and wallet.”

Although this book is full of humour, it also explores some deeper issues with sensitivity and a light touch.

Congratulations Kate on this fabulous new novel, which I know is going to shoot straight to the top of many people’s favourite lists for the beginning of 2025.
Profile Image for Craig and Phil.
2,227 reviews130 followers
December 4, 2024
Big thanks to Affirm Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
The demands of motherhood, school runs and living in the suburbs is a life so many lead.
A period when your visibility can shrink and demote your confidence.
Fleck is the mother of three and is ready to re insert her worth.
Fleck is raising the children alone and feels the pressure.
When her fellow school mum friend is accused of stealing money from the charity shop she works for, she switches her puzzle solving mind into gear.
An investigation that involves following suspects to different places, trailing cars and understanding the intricacies of crime.
Mothers doing it for themselves in a scenario where the unknown danger is lurking.
This witty, realistic and at times comedic plot was entertaining and touched on social issues.
The dynamics between characters was fantastic.
I particularly liked the way minor character Helen interacted and her to the point stance.
It highlights how people at different stages of life lose social visibility and a simple clarification on autism was brilliant in one of the dialogues.
The chaos of raising kids came from experience as its authenticity was abundant.
A suburban mystery that was well written and fun.
Profile Image for Marianne.
4,404 reviews341 followers
May 9, 2025
The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up is the second novel by Australian author, Kate Solly. The audio version is narrated by Rebecca Macauley. There is nothing that Melbourne mother of three, Fleck Parker likes more than a puzzle. Word puzzles, quizzes, mysteries, they are her relaxation go-to. She’s having a little trouble connecting with other parents at Our Holy Redeemer Primary School until turquoise-haired Trixie McAuley, mother of Sam’s best friend Joseph, and avid crochet expert, comes along.

Trixie introduces her to the Many Hands Society’s craft store, where Fleck hopes something amongst the knitting, crocheting, embroidering and sewing will stir her passion. She meets the many volunteers, paid staff and board members of the charity and watches some fiery interactions between stuck-in-the-mud veterans of the society and newcomers who are trying to bring it into the twenty-first Century.

Then, a large sum of money goes missing out of the charity’s accounts, and circumstances see the blame settled squarely onto Trixie’s shoulders. She protests her innocence, is offered counselling and told she will have to pay the money back. But Fleck knows her friend is innocent, and soon they are making profiles of every possible culprit, putting it all on a crime board in Fleck’s laundry, tailing cars, doing covert surveillance, and keeping meticulous notes.

But even as they follow up the odd behaviour of their suspects, proof of what really happened to the money is unforthcoming, and even Fleck’s accountant neighbour is baffled by some aspects of the documents they have managed to obtain. Fleck’s mother-in-law helps out with babysitting, and hubby Matthew supports Fleck’s detective work, as long as it doesn’t put her in danger. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes…

There is plenty to like in this story: appealing characters whose quirks and traits will resonate with many, and entertaining dialogue (especially the children), as well a mystery with several red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Solly also touches on autism, domestic violence, obsessive behaviour, emotional constipation, and slavery. The reader will need to stretch their imagination at Fleck’s surveillance with two or three young children in tow, and the lack of security at the craft store, but this is still an enjoyable Aussie cosy.
Profile Image for Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf).
907 reviews196 followers
January 5, 2025
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up by Kate Solly has the vibes of a cosy mystery, it stars a bunch of well played characters and a busy suburban mum aka amateur detective and it’s packed full of charm and wit and I just loved it!

Fleck Parker is mum to three small children, she feels invisible and has an obsession with solving puzzles. When fellow school mum and crafter Trixie is accused of stealing from the handmade crafts charity store Fleck is compelled to clear Trixie’s name but uncovers something bigger than she set out for.

Mums will find this story so relatable with the antics of getting children to school on time, family life, school mum friends and maybe not so relatable amateur detective work but definitely fun.

Such a heartwarming and entertaining read set in Melbourne, Australia.

Publication Date 31 December 2024
Publisher Affirm Press

Thanks so much Affirm Press for sending this book my way.
Profile Image for Nicola Marsh.
Author 414 books1,442 followers
February 16, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery set in my home city of Melbourne.
Fleck and Trixie are mums who need to solve a mystery when Trixie is accused of stealing $20000 from a charity she works at.
Loved the astute observations of motherhood! And in intriguing cast of secondary characters.
The perfect Sunday afternoon read!
Profile Image for Morgan the Librarian.
225 reviews3 followers
February 18, 2025
3.5 ⭐️

A relatable cosy mystery.

Set in suburban Melbourne this story follows Flick a mum of three who is juggling life and her knack for solving things. There are so many great references that any parent can relate to and added enjoyment to the story.

Easy flowing story that is involved around every day life. In this regard it has done an excellent portrayal of a stay at home mum of 3 but unfortunately left the story a little bland for me. While I was invested in the mystery it didn’t grab my attention.
Profile Image for Marie.
286 reviews5 followers
December 21, 2024
This book was a cosy mystery as well as a very relatable story about motherhood and forgetting who you are and what your hobbies are.

Fleck is a mum of 3, juggling getting to school on time and remembering all that needs to be done. She becomes friends with school mum Trixie and ends up devoting all her time to proving Trixie’s innocence.

I thought I was really clever working out the mystery early on in the book, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! I wasn’t expecting that at all!!

This was a light and easy mystery, with lots of characters, family life, friendships and great detective work!

Thank you @affirmpress for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Phoebe.
116 reviews19 followers
January 7, 2025
The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch Up is a lovely cosy mystery mixed in with humour, eccentric characters & an unexpected twist that runs much deeper than it seems!! 👀

The story & the writing came across very real. I truly could picture this story and these characters existing in everyday life. I mean let's be honest, we all know a Helen... 😆 I think she was my favourite character 🤭

I really enjoyed the flow of the book it was easy and charming to read. It took me a little longer to settle in but once the mystery element was introduced I was having a grand old time. I also really enjoyed the array of 'minor' characters and the setting of how this story unfolded.

This is a great story if you are looking for something light, intriguing, relatable & witty. As I'm writing this I've just realised my Nana would love this book so definitely will be lending my copy to her!!

Thankyou AffirmPress for sending me out a copy! 🫶🏼
Profile Image for Naomi (aplace_inthesun).
1,164 reviews34 followers
January 15, 2025
The summer break between Christmas and New Year was the best time to read this fun, cosy mystery.

Our FMC Fleck is a little lost in all that is mothering, and inadvertently seeks out new friends and a hobby. New found friend Trixie introduces her to some crafters and a craft store called Many Hands. Fleck isn’t convinced about crafting but when a theft is revealed she tries her hand at amateur sleuthing. I mean what’s the risk?!

The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up is a foray into crafting, parenting and a side of sleuthing with some fun characters, some frustrating characters, and the underlying question of whodunnit. The friendships and the sense of Fleck’s despondency at times with mothering in those foggy early years resonated with me, and Fleck’s sleuthing with kids in tow just made me laugh.

Recommended for those who love the genre - this one doesn’t miss.

Thanks Affirm Press for sending me a copy to read. It’s a new year’s release.

[interestingly this also has a theme of puzzles and Wordle - that’s two books out of three this year, maybe it’s a thing?]
Profile Image for Sandra Hampshire.
30 reviews
July 18, 2025
You guys this book is like if you transplanted the contents of my brain onto a page. This is such a fun, cute read and it was such a welcome treat. Books do not have to be THAT DEEP to be enjoyable and I loved every second of this one. As a neurodivergent crocheter, this was such a treat. This was such a silly little mystery.
Profile Image for Mary.
118 reviews13 followers
January 11, 2025
This was a masterpiece. So kind and loving. I loved the characters, even when a bit bristly, and their weird tensions. I love finding out their motivations and their compassion. So much of the book is relateable. So many characters I can point to knowing in real life. I laughed out loud multiple times. I would like this book to become a series and then I’d like it to be adapted for TV.
Profile Image for Emilie (emiliesbookshelf).
250 reviews25 followers
January 1, 2025
What an absolutely delightful whodunnit. Filled with humour, warmth and a mind bending mystery

Fleck Parker is a busy mum to three young children, who enjoys solving puzzles in her very rare free time. She loves her children but would love to be seen just a little bit more.

And when Fleck’s school mum friend Trixie is accused of stealing $20,000 from the local charity shop ‘Many Hands’, Fleck believes she can solve the mystery and clear Trixie’s name

But as Fleck and Trixie start to investigate they begin to unravel secrets and realise the stollen money is only the beginning

This was such a wonderful read, I couldn’t put it down! I needed to help Fleck piece together the puzzle and boy what an ending!

The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up is a thoroughly enjoyable whodunnit. Filled with fabulous characters and perfect Melbourne back drops, I loved it!

Thank you so much @affirmpress for my gifted copy
Profile Image for Anna Loder.
757 reviews51 followers
December 24, 2024
Perfect cosy crime! I loved the craft store, absolutely loved Fleck and Trixie…loved the following green cars and bat-noculars spying…loved Sam, Nora and Alice…really appreciated seeing the life of a mother…adored every thing about this novel and can’t wait for The Mystery of the Purple Tags….
Profile Image for Akke Ward.
86 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2025
I was tremendously looking forward to this second book by Kate Solly. And I enjoyed it, but nowhere near as much as her first. Still very enjoyable easy read. 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Alice.
35 reviews
March 7, 2025
2.5 stars at first but 4 stars by the end. So overall 3.75 stars.
Profile Image for Marianne.
4,404 reviews341 followers
May 9, 2025
The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up is the second novel by Australian author, Kate Solly. There is nothing that Melbourne mother of three, Fleck Parker likes more than a puzzle. Word puzzles, quizzes, mysteries, they are her relaxation go-to. She’s having a little trouble connecting with other parents at Our Holy Redeemer Primary School until turquoise-haired Trixie McAuley, mother of Sam’s best friend Joseph, and avid crochet expert, comes along.

Trixie introduces her to the Many Hands Society’s craft store, where Fleck hopes something amongst the knitting, crocheting, embroidering and sewing will stir her passion. She meets the many volunteers, paid staff and board members of the charity and watches some fiery interactions between stuck-in-the-mud veterans of the society and newcomers who are trying to bring it into the twenty-first Century.

Then, a large sum of money goes missing out of the charity’s accounts, and circumstances see the blame settled squarely onto Trixie’s shoulders. She protests her innocence, is offered counselling and told she will have to pay the money back. But Fleck knows her friend is innocent, and soon they are making profiles of every possible culprit, putting it all on a crime board in Fleck’s laundry, tailing cars, doing covert surveillance, and keeping meticulous notes.

But even as they follow up the odd behaviour of their suspects, proof of what really happened to the money is unforthcoming, and even Fleck’s accountant neighbour is baffled by some aspects of the documents they have managed to obtain. Fleck’s mother-in-law helps out with babysitting, and hubby Matthew supports Fleck’s detective work, as long as it doesn’t put her in danger. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes…

There is plenty to like in this story: appealing characters whose quirks and traits will resonate with many, and entertaining dialogue (especially the children), as well a mystery with several red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Solly also touches on autism, domestic violence, obsessive behaviour, emotional constipation, and slavery. The reader will need to stretch their imagination at Fleck’s surveillance with two or three young children in tow, and the lack of security at the craft store, but this is still an enjoyable Aussie cosy.
Profile Image for Clare Rhoden.
Author 26 books52 followers
February 7, 2025
This was fun to read, and well put together. The hidden motives and secrets of the characters worked very well, making a cute and complex plot that unfolded in a fairly straightforward and sensible way without tripping over red herrings at every turn.
So much of Fleck's daily life made me smile. I'm wondering whether she'll solve more mysteries - the end seems to indicate that. I hope so, because I'll definitely read them.
Meanwhile, I'll search out Kate Solly's earlier book, Tuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft ResistanceTuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft Resistance.
Very enjoyable.
Profile Image for Reviews.with.Bianca.
180 reviews3 followers
February 27, 2025
Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up delivers a charming Melbourne setting and an engaging lead in Fleck, whose relatable personality kept me invested. The cozy atmosphere and craft store backdrop were enjoyable, but the story itself didn’t quite hook me like a typical mystery. Some elements felt inconsistent or confusing, and the pacing dragged at times, making it a bit of a slog to get through. While it wasn’t entirely my type of read, it still had its enjoyable moments for cozy mystery fans.
Profile Image for Nat.
310 reviews1 follower
April 19, 2025
4.5⭐️

Thus was super fun. A wonderful cosy mystery. I really warmed to Fleck and Trixie.

Fleck is a stay at home mum who loves a good puzzle. when she meets Trixie and a real-life mystery falls into her lap, she becomes a detective. And this is a great cosy crime, I could vividly imagine the action. Kate Solly is brilliant, and this novel is endearing.

I would really love to see a TV series or movie on this story. I would also love to see Fleck again.
158 reviews
March 13, 2025
Fleck Parker is such an endearing character, I love doing my Wordle and waffle, so I could totally identify with her!
Profile Image for liz.
96 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2025
that plot twist came out of nowhere
Profile Image for Marit.
499 reviews2 followers
February 13, 2025
Suburban mum of three, Fleck (Felicity) Parker, living in Melbourne, becomes involved in the activities of Many Hands, a charity shop full of handmade crafts. When Trixie, a fellow mum and avid crafter is accused of embezzlement, Fleck with her penchant for puzzles and detective work decides to investigate. A large cast of characters with different personalities and quirks play a big part as do themes of neurodivergence, shady practices, coercion, women needing assistance, suburban family life and clever detective adventures for Fleck and Trixie. Some of these themes are quite intense but overall this story is written in a warm, humorous and entertaining style.
Profile Image for Janine.
729 reviews61 followers
July 14, 2025
Really enjoyed this cosy mystery story from Kate Solly. Full of wit and intrigue as two women become amateur detectives to solve a crime of embezzlement in a craft store of all places! I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator was fantastic, loved her change of voices especially with Nora - Fleck's daughter - so funny. I have enjoyed both of Kate's books and highly recommend her writing to readers of Womens Fiction and mystery novels.
Profile Image for Karina Peacock.
91 reviews5 followers
January 14, 2025
I Absolutely loved everything about this book!!!
The characters were quirky and perfect, the storyline gripping and yet fun! Loved the location and all the crazy sleuthing!!!!
It was so much fun I didn’t want to put it down!!
Love love love!!!!
❤️
Profile Image for Nicole Field.
Author 19 books155 followers
June 29, 2025
In many ways, this was not the follow up that I expected after reading Tuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft Resistence by this author. There's a lot more antagonism directed towards one particular character in this book and, aside from the main character of Fleck, not really a great sense of community banding around that person.

In fact, this is more a story of what happens when community is stripped away from you wrongly.

For that reason, it was a much less comfortable or cosy read than the debut written, and much less fun than any buddy cop drama given just how personal the stakes Fleck was fighting for on behalf of the character of Trixie.

I also think it didn't help that I didn't much like Fleck. Like we've already seen with Kate Solly, her books are written with solidly neurodiverse coded characters. However, I found Fleck's interest in puzzle solving to be a largely useless detail to her character because phone games really aren't very related to trying to uncover who is embezzling money from a not for profit craft group.

Like, I just didn't buy the premise of this whole story on multiple levels is largely what I'm saying. It fell flat.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews

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