Better Off Thread

An Embroidery Mystery #10

by Amanda Lee

Santa finds himself in a stitch of trouble in the tenth in the series from the national bestselling author of  The Stitching Hour ...
 
Marcy is busy helping her customers make hand-crafted ornaments at her embroidery shop, the Seven-Year Stitch. But despite the yuletide bustle, when her friend Captain Moe asks for her help, she can’t refuse—especially when the favor is to play the elf to his Santa for sick children at a local hospital. Despite the ridiculous outfit, Marcy finds herself enjoying spreading cheer—until the hospital’s administrator is found murdered.
 
Although the deceased had plenty of people willing to fill her stocking with coal, evidence pins the crime on Moe. Now it’s up to Marcy, with the help of her police officer boyfriend Ted and her Irish Wolfhound Angus, to stitch together the clues to clear Moe’s name—before someone else winds up crossed off Santa’s list for good...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Christmas, Cozy, Fiction, Romance, Crafts

287 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 6, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Amanda Lee is a pseudonym of Gayle Trent.

Series:
* Embroidery Mystery

(from Gayle Trent's webpage)

"Thank you so much for stopping by my site!

I live in Southwest Virginia with my husband and two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. I’m a full-time writer/editor/mom/wife and chief cook and bottle washer, and I love every minute of it. Okay, not the bottle washing so much, but the rest of it is great.

I’m happy to introduce you to my latest characters, cake decorator Daphne Martin and embroidery shop owner Marcy Singer.

Read more about Daphne and Marcy at my blog.

Who’s Amanda Lee?

Amanda Lee is a pseudonym Gayle is using for the new cozy mystery series featuring a heroine who owns an embroidery shop. The series is set on the Oregon Coast and features Marcy Singer, a spunky, thirty-something, entrepreneur who is handy with a needle.

Drop me a Line or join me on Twitter!

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I’m so sad this series is over but it went out on a high. I love the characters. The mystery was good and I’m getting better at solving them. Great finish too.

[Katharyn Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful, fast paced cozy mystery- I look forward to investigating Tallulah Falls further.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read, and despite the fact that I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, I felt totally at home with the characters and with their roles in the story. Marcy is the kind of protagonist I adore -- a caring, capable, courageous woman who goes out of her way to help anyone in need. I'm definitely going to backtrack and read some of the earlier installments in this charming series!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great pre holiday who-dun-it filled with all the feels! Love her dog so much and I am very sure every time I read one of these books that one day I will have a dog just like Angus! Amanda Lee writes a great character and captures the feel of the small town perfectly in Better Off Thread. This is one to add to your pre Christmas to be read pile for sure!

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite one in the series

I really enjoy this series and this particular book 8s my favorite song far.
Marcy is a fun character and her nosiness gets her into some sticky situations.
Fans of this series will be delighted to read Better off Thread.

[Moshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My last Christmas read for 2021 is a lovely cosy mystery that happened in a hospital and Santa Clause (Captain Moe) was the main suspect as he found the victim with a knife in her.

This was the last book in the series (but my first) so I wasn’t really invested in the characters but I do like Macy and Ted and all their friends and family. I can tell that they have a lot of rapport and have a nice history together. There were also a lot of references to embroidery and I chuckled at the conversation between Macy and Jill (her mannequin),it was hilarious.

The mystery aspect was fun and I had an inkling who the culprit was, just didn’t expect the reasons behind it. If you like cosy mystery in a embroidery shop, you might want to start with the first in the series!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my least favorite of the series. But I hope there are more!!

[Carole Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at The Power of Words: http://bit.ly/2gzrlpR

This is the first of Amanda Lee’s series that I’ve read and I enjoyed it very much. When I think of the term “cozy mystery,” Better Off Thread fits the description perfectly. All the essential elements are present … small-town setting in Oregon, amateur detective who owns an embroidery shop, a strong supporting cast of friends, intuitive investigation, humor, a sweet romance, and the most adorable Irish Wolfhound named Angus! The writing is tight, flowing smoothly throughout. And, to top it all off, this story is completely clean – no graphic scenes or profanity!

A story or series is only as strong as its heroine, and Marcy, owner of Seven-Year Stitch, is wonderfully appealing. She’s sensitive, caring, and intelligent – the kind of person you would want for a friend. Marcy even has the hidden talent of stunt driving, revealed in a funny scene. Her romantic interest, Ted, is admirable also and readers will love the surprise ending. This story stands alone, but I’m eager to follow all the characters through the previous books as time allows.

The mystery is well plotted and kept me turning the pages. Character depth can make or break a book for me, and that is one of this story’s strengths. I especially enjoyed the scenes of Marcy assisting Santa with the children at the hospital. While Better Off Thread is a perfect read for any time of the year, it is especially enjoyable during the Christmas season.

Highly recommended. Within the cozy mystery genre, 5 stars.

I was provided a free copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Marie McNary · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are like me, and like to read Christmas themed books through the month of December, Better off Thread by Amanda Lee is a great one to keep you full of Christmas cheer. Marcy and her dog Angus steal the show in this cozy mystery.

I could tell there had been books in this series before this one (quite a few by the look of the inside front cover), but you didn’t feel that you were coming into the party late. You did feel you were coming in during a happy time in Marcy’s life. I don’t know what Marcy went through in other books, but her personal life was relatively problem free (minus trying to impress the prospective in-laws).

I enjoyed this book and thought it was a perfect December read. It even made me want to go find a shop that sells embroidery kits like Marcy has and figure out how the heck she’s been making these adorable sounding Christmas tree ornaments all book long.

Review originally published at: https://mariemcnary.com/2016/12/03/be...

[Caitlin C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcy's business The Seven Year Stitch is doing well, her relationship with detective, Ted is great and the holidays have arrived. Marcy agrees to do a stint as an elf at the local hospital as a favor to Captain Moe who is moonlighting as Santa. She is enjoying herself until she hears Captain Moe arguing with the hospital administrator, who is later found dead. Captain Moe becomes the main suspect but Marcy knows he is innocent. She starts investigating and finds that there is no shortage of suspects, now she just has to find the killer and prove Moe's innocence.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Altra serie che sono riuscita a finire, anche se mi dispiace un po' perché mi piace l'idea di un negozio dedicato al ricamo (dopo una libreria, sicuramente il mio favorito); anche il gruppo di personaggi che affianca la protagonista non è male. L'unico neo è che la protagonista finisce sempre per affrontare il cattivo di turno da sola, sebbene stavolta non sia stata colpa sua. Beh, magari se avesse guardato prima di aprire la porta...

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I enjoyed the writing and the characters, it definitely followed the cozy mystery pattern, bumping off a few characters who wouldn’t be missed, enough suspense and brief moments of danger, but hugs and warm baths and puppy dogs to make it all better in the end. Oh and of course, a Christmas surprise, can’t leave that out. Still, an enjoyable read, in spite of my sarcasm and snark.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! Perfect amount of wittiness and mystery. I absolutely loved Angus. Such a good boy. I also would like to visit Seven-Year Stitch and work on projects with Marcy. (Only downfall of this book was the lack of proofreading. My goodness. I spotted several glaring errors!)

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story set in the Christmas season. The main character is asked to play an elf to help Santa with the sick children at a local hospital. When Santa discovers a dead body and is charged with murder, Marcy starts asking questions to clear her friend who was Santa. This is the last book in the series. I enjoyed the series because the characters were so likeable and believable.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This series is one of my favorites.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcy shows up at the hospital ready to play elf for some sick children only to find that Santa, being played by her friend Captain Moe, is suspected of murdering a hospital administrator. Sure that the two detectives in charge of the case aren’t going to worry about finding another suspect since they have Moe, Marcy and friends decide to investigate on their own.

I was surprised to find out after I finished this book that it was #10 in the series. On the one hand, I should have guessed because the characters and their relationships with each other were all so well developed. I didn’t feel like I was missing a lot of background though, so I assumed it was a newer series. Whether you’ve been with this one from the beginning or are just jumping in now, you’ll want to catch this installment. Better Off Thread is the perfect cozy to get you in the mood for a little holiday music and some Christmas shopping!

[Brooke Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Better Off Thread, Marcy finds herself in a holiday whodunnit. Her good friend, Captain Moe, who plays Santa at the local hospital, ends up a suspect in the murder of a hospital administrator. Marcy is determined to find out who is really responsible for the crime. As a result, she ends up in some unsafe situations. In addition to the murder mystery, Marcy is also trying to win over her boyfriend, Ted's, sister Tiffany. She wants to be liked by his family.

Marcy is a smart amateur sleuth, though some of her actions are a little questionable. I don't know that I would go to the lengths she does, especially going against the advice of her police officer boyfriend and ending up in danger. The mystery was good and there were a few viable suspects. I liked the book and felt it can be read even without having read other books in the series.

I received a copy of this book for free but I am voluntarily reviewing it.

[Paula Ratcliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Marcy whose working in her shop after Thanksgiving and helping customers make ornaments at her shop. When Captain Moe asks Marcy to step in as an elf to help out at a local hospital. What Marcy didn't count on was a murder taking place at a hospital! Who killed Sandra Vincent the hospital administrator? And why is it being pinned on Captain Moe? Will Marcy uncover the murderer on time or will she not make it to Christmas?

I really enjoyed this book with the themes of Christmas and of course murder always seems to happen. I loved watching Marcy and her friends and family help clear Captain Moe's reputation. I can't wait to see what is next form Marcy and her friends and family!

[Joy Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very bittersweet book from me. Set at Christmas, I laughed, cried, and worried about the characters that have been friends. However, the bittersweet part is the Penguin Publishing decided that they weren't going to to publish any more in the series, taking the author and all her readers by surprise. There cliff hangers we will never know the answers to, again thanks to Penguin. This frustrates me to no end. However, the book is wonderful, mysterious, and, at times, heart wrenching. Enjoy.

[ReadaBook · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very enjoyable series -- except for Marcy's boyfriend Ted, who has become more annoying with each book. Each time he calls Marcy "Inch High"; each time she sits on his lap like a child ... it makes me cringe. So I've taken away 2 stars in my rating primarily because of Ted, and the end of this latest book. Thank goodness for Angus -- a nonjudgmental male in the series!

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another series I’ve been enjoying for years, but I’ve been putting off reading this book because it’s the last in the series.

I love the idea of an embroidery shop and would love to have a place like it nearby, even though it would probably be very dangerous to my wallet. I like Marcy and her friends, but I adore Angus, her Irish wolfhound. Just his name makes me smile, and his protective nature must be a thing to behold, especially if you mean to harm Marcy.

The murder victim in this story had both friends and detractors, so there were a good number of suspects to consider. As more information was uncovered, it seemed that the suspect list grew longer rather than shorter, but then things started to coalesce. The person ultimately revealed as the killer was on my list, although not at the top, and the motive didn’t surprise me, but it wasn’t what I expected.

I like the way this book ended, but I sure would like to read more about Marcy and the rest, but after almost seven years, I’ve come to accept – grudgingly – that it’s not going to happen.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can Marcy end up in danger while playing a goofy, lovable Christmas elf at the local hospital?
Have you met Marcy, the "inch-high private eye?" She is loyal and warm hearted and often a bit too nosy for her own good. She thought the most difficult part of this holiday would be getting her boyfriend's sister to accept her. Or walking Angus on slippery streets.

I love all the best friend type characters in this series. How supportive they are and how willing to go above and beyond to help each other and to find truth. And when reading an embroidery series mystery I am always encouraged to get my stitching out and work on it! That tells you how powerful this author can be. If only I had a sit and stitch square to enjoy.

A true cozy lover's cozy that might just surprise you at the end.

I accepted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In reality, I begged for it.

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good entertaining book. Some interesting people who decide to put up a Haunted House next door to her shop. On top of this she gets ready for her mom to visit. She is getting ready for her own party to celebrate being there for a year. She meets Clause and Priscilla who dress very appropriate for a Gomez and Morticia type to run the Haunted House. She joins a small gathering of people for a party before the opening. Very authentic including snakes and other horror. When they come back out front they find Kiela (who was helping with the refreshments) outside barely breathing and find a snake bite. We find out near the end of who decided to take the girl's life due to something that had occurred years ago and they were out for revenge.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around the Year in 52 Books 2017 Reading Challenge. A book with an animal on the cover.

Captain Moe is playing Santa for the children at the hospital and Marcy is his elf assistant. When they show up on Sunday, Moe discovers the hospital administrator with a kitchen knife in her chest. Since they were heard to argue the day before he is arrested for her murder. When Ted, Marcy, Vera, and Veronica investigate they learn a great deal about the hospital and at least two men with violent, abusive tempers. Who did kill Sandra Vincent and why? I love the references to specific types of needlework in this series.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun read. I love how her "brothers" rush to protect her. one thing that has always drawn me into her books is the relationships between people. Not only that of a smaller town where people tend to look out for each other, but of family too. I love seeing Marcy worried about her relationship with Ted's sister. And that Ted's sister wants to protect him.

As usual Amanda Lee does i nice job of not making the killer obvious.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say about this series that I haven't said already? This far into the series and I still love it. The characters and writing style still good? Check. The mystery and pacing still good? Check. Also what's with cozies and their adorable endings that make you want the next book already? I would love to read more from this series.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book. have read others in the series which have also been good. really liked the characters well rounded and make you feel like you are there. enjoy the small town location. also this book kept me guessing on "who did it" almost three quarters of the way into the book. even having read her other books. can not wait for the next one.

[Carolyn Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite Amanda Lee book. The romance between the main character and her boyfriend was way over the top and really hindered the story line and my enjoyment of the book. On the bright side, I didn't figure out the villain until close to the end of the book, and I thought the ending wrapped up the series nicely. I'll miss Angus.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcy Singer helps Captain Mo [Santa] by playing a Christmas elf at the hospital's Santa night. Marcy finds being with the young patients very satisfying. In the meantime, Marcy and Ted are faced with a great deal of time with various relatives over the Thanksgiving holiday. Romance moves ahead while the dangerous investigation to clear Captain Mo continues.

[Carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a light read. 4 stars for its simplicity, you can pick it up and put it down without losing the story line, although you’ll be done reading sooner than expected. Fun holiday read that included mentions of my new hobby, small town life, and a little bit of mystery. You don’t need to have read the other books to follow this story.