Murder By Thread: Read the Story, Solve the Puzzles: An Interactive Quilting Cozy Mystery with Word Search Clues

by Lainey Hollis

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2026

Reviews

[Swopna Begum · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Murder By Thread is such a fun and creative twist on the cozy mystery genre. I loved the idea of combining a quilting-themed mystery with interactive puzzles and word-search clues. It makes the reading experience feel more engaging because you are not simply following the story—you get the opportunity to participate and work out clues along the way.

The quilting backdrop gives the mystery a distinctive personality, while the puzzle elements add an extra layer of entertainment. I especially enjoyed the way the clues encourage you to pay closer attention to the story and think about the details as you go. It creates a satisfying sense of discovery when the pieces begin to come together.

This is a great choice for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries but want something a little different from a traditional whodunit. The interactive format makes it particularly appealing for puzzle lovers, while the quilting theme adds warmth and charm to the overall experience.

I found the combination of storytelling, mystery, and word puzzles wonderfully entertaining. It is the kind of book that invites you to slow down, get involved, and enjoy the process of solving the mystery rather than simply racing toward the ending.

Overall, Murder By Thread is an imaginative and enjoyable cozy mystery experience. The combination of quilting, clues, puzzles, and mystery creates something genuinely distinctive. Five stars for originality and for making the reader an active part of the investigation!

[Willow Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willow Creek is a lovely little town of quilters. And retired librarian and quilter Evelyn Calhoun is trying to press her quilting squares into submission in preparation for the Quilting Showcase, while her Maine Coon companion, Sherlock, supervises.
During the competition, Harriet Ledbetter, one of the judges, makes a point of embarrassing one of the contestants- brutally and loudly.
So it is not surprising when she is later found dead.
Evelyn finds herself in the middle of an investigation full of secrets and lies that could change the town.
This is a short read, but a great one! The plot is well thought out, the characters are believable and clues kept me reading!
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I'm honored to have been on the advanced reader team for this book and I happily leave this voluntary review.

[GinaB. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so thoughtful of the author to give readers two free bonuses in this quick read. Bonus 1 is a link for the puzzle pack companion piece; it’s not required to complete the puzzles to enjoy the book, but it is nice to do them. Bonus 2 is a Book Funnel link to the prequel, Curiosity Framed the Cat. I read it first since it told us how Sherlock the cat entered Evelyn Calhoun’s life. In this quick read, Evelyn went to the quilting showcase. Once there, she heard Harriet upset a vendor & accuse Sharon of using a pattern that was used in a competition 12 years ago. When Evelyn gathered her things at the end of the day, she found Harriet dead on the floor. She sorted through suspects with plenty of help from Sherlock the clue finding cat to solve the whodunnit. I got this cozy mystery as an ARC from Book Sprout & this is my review.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This quick reading, small town mystery has charming characters and a an observant, note taking, quilter/slueth whose technique and thought process makes me feel that she’s Danish or Norwegian. The chapters are short which makes for easy reading especially if you’re a busy person. I did find myself wanting a smoother transition between them. In addition to the story this also has puzzles that you can use to help yourself try to solve the mystery. Such fun!

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quilting judge is found dead on the floor. Later people hear she had been poisoned. Sherlock the cat plays a big part in the murderer being found, giving up clues to his owner, Evelyn. Evelyn puts the clues together and eventually settles on the correct person.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn and Sherlock are in the midst of a murder mystery . There was a lot going on than meets the eye. An intriguing read. I received this ARC copy via Booksprouts and leave a voluntary review. I recommend this book to other readers.

[Gaby Caro Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn and Sherlock make a wonderful sleuth couple. Even though my quilting knowledge is basic, I could easily follow. The plot is good and vivid! I did enjoy the reading and suspense. Now looking forward to a new adventure!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder casts a shadow over Willow Creek’s close-knit quilting community. Retired librarian and quilting guild president Evelyn Calhoun finds herself unraveling secrets.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Julie Burnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avery short story, but fun.