Steps from Death

Craft Circle Mysteries #1

by Stacey Alabaster

When you’re the new girl in a small town, you have to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people. But sometimes that can leave you only Steps from Death.
Georgina is the new owner of a craft store in a small town. When a woman is found dead after falling down the stairs, she suspects foul play. After learning her new home has a similarly tragic past, she begins to fear for her own safety. Can she unravel the mystery of two suspicious deaths before she becomes the third?

Steps from Death is part of the Craft Circle Cozy Mystery series. If you like fast paced mysteries full of quirky characters and unexpected twists, you’re gonna love Steps from Death.

Get Steps from Death and start solving your next mystery today!

Be sure to check out Stacey Alabaster’s other series: the Bakery Detectives Cozy Mystery Series
Each book in the series is a stand-alone story, but your enjoyment of each story will be increased if you read them all.
* Book 1: A Pie to Die For
* Book 2: Donuts, Antiques and Murder
* Book 3: Death by Chocolate Cake
* Book 4: Rest, Relaxation and Murder
* Book 5: Til a Death Do Us Part
* Book 6: The Mud Pie Murderess
* Book 7: Catering and Kidnapping
* Book 8: The Pumpkin Killer

Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2016

About the author

I have always loved a good mystery. From my early years watching Murder She Wrote to more recent shows like Monk, Psych, and my absolute favorite BBC show ever, Sherlock, I have studied what it takes to make an entertaining mystery. I am truly blessed to be able to write and share my own mysteries with you. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I loved writing them :)

If you want to keep up with all my new releases, be sure to sign up for my mailing list at FairfieldPublishing.com/cozy-newsletter

Reviews

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

This is the first book in the Craft Circle Mystery series by Stacey Alabaster.

Sometimes I think first books are the hardest to write. You have to really get into your character’s head, make all kinds of decisions about plot, setting, motives, suspects, red herrings, who the villain is and then dive into the actual writing of the thing. I thought this did all those things pretty well. I enjoyed reading this and have picked up a nine book set in order to read through a lot of the series.

These are really quick reads and you get a lot of bang for your buck.

Basic synopsis: Georgina is new to town and has been a pretty busy bee.. she opened a craft shoppe, bought a new house, and adopted a shelter dog. This all happens before the story really begins. Then she hears about her new friend, Angela, a fellow crafting geek, falling down the stairs and then later realizes she is dead. Major bummer for Georgina since she was having trouble finding people she can relate to. Not long later she discovers that the house she thought she got a super deal on had a similar accident happen ten years earlier resulting in a death. Now Georgia has two mysteries on her hands.

I can tell this book was a bit of a struggle for the author since so many people were at odds with the main character. The town seemed to struggle with accepting Georgina and it is no wonder she questioned her being there at every turn.

I have a good feeling about this series and think it is going to be a big winner in the crafting cozy sub-genre. Love discovering new talent. So much promise here! I am excited to see more!

[I.A.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and interesting book

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and keep the pace up so that I didn't want to put it down. Looking forward to the next in series.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited, the Craft Circle Mystery books were a bit better than the Bakery Detective ones, but that's not saying much. Would be nice if there were actually some crafts going on more than just a mention here and there, and oh yeah real plot with real believable characters.

Steps from Death (Craft Circle Mystery #1) Arts, Crafts and Murder (Craft Circle Mystery #2) A Finely Crafted Murder: A Craft Circle Cozy Mystery (Craft Circle Cozy Mysteries Book 3)
Naked Eye {not sure where exactly this one fits in}

A Pie to Die for (Bakery Detectives #1) Donuts, Antiques and Murder (Bakery Detectives #2) Death by Chocolate Cake (Bakery Detectives #3) Bakery Detectives Cozy Mystery Boxed Set (Bakery Detectives #1-3) Bakery Detectives Cozy Mystery Boxed Set (Bakery Detectives #4-6) Bakery Detectives Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1-6 (Bakery Detectives #1-6) The Mud Pie Murderess (Bakery Detectives #6)
Catering and Kidnapping (Bakery Detectives #7 The Pumpkin Killer: A Bakery Detectives Cozy Mystery Wined, Dined and Dead (Bakery Detectives, #9

Read the 3 box set that included A Pie to Die For, Donuts, Antiques and Murder, and Death by Chocolate Cake was a nice cozy collection, each a bit different, but pretty much a little of this that and the other mixed in with some crime so basically what I look for in a book of this type.I wrote this for the first 3 set. The second 3 set did not live up to things; sure there were here and there typo issues but since my computer is set up to 'read' to me that was not the issue.

The main character walks in to the kitchen of the resort where 2 people are talking about the actual chef/cook being missing, who is later found dead, and which the main character never gets to meet, yet knows that is who the dead body is, immediately.... They are supposed to be getting grand meals at the resort but because of the death of the chef, they aren't getting anything but toast in that one part, not even coffee, which they mention specifically, yet the main character is drinking coffee or else keeps picking up an empty cup, maybe, but who knows. And if the retreat just started that day and the one guy had come early he would have met the victim. Also someone can not 'drag' someone with that person being over their shoulder. A bowl full of salad will not knock itself off a table with the slamming of a door. If you're going to push a glass away in one sentence then go sit outside in the next, you should mention grabbing the drink when you next sentence is talking about sipping it again somehow.

Then in the second it continues on with one sentence mentioning they are on tiny seats then after she finds the body and returns and sits back down she is in a pew seat. Also what would be the big deal with helping the cop with the case, she was on payroll doing that in earlier books. And once you log out of facebook without having saved the log in details, you can't just log back in. Really, someone answers the door and you're right close by and you don't hear a female voice that's been the main topic of conversations or otherwise it took that long to walk like a couple or so feet to a door and then open it. and if they are in the kitchen leading to the back door there is no way you can push someone back in to the living room from there unless you are in an action movie.

The third one starts off just 'great'; no one in the food industry puts someone's scalded and unclean hand in a tub of ice cream, and then after it's over puts the tub back with only the thought of maybe it was melted too much. If something is painted a certain shade, use that and not change the word used for the shade color every other sentence. Who by the way doesn't notice 3 foot tall signs in the window of a small town small type street that you drive by every day on the way and back to where you work on that street.It also never explains why the main character felt nauseated, quesy, etcetera.

If I hadn't already borrowed the next couple of books wouldn't bother at this rate, but will, and those books better be better than this rather muddled attempt, which on the 3rd book I had the poisoner figured out way too close to the start. I had actually started to buy this set to go with the other 3 set, now am very glad I didn't.

for 7 I put These books are getting as bad as 'the cat who' books did, when I stopped reading them and gave them all away; the father is the dude who went back to italy because of his mother's health or something about well 3 books back but he's not even mentioned in the story this time, the writer has gotten worse and worse about putting characters in for like a book or 2 and then they just sorta disappear for a while or totally, like the assistant baker who is and isn't there and the friend/asst mgr but because of the pregnancy there is another asst mgr who is and isn't there, it's getting a bit ridiculous with those things not being in the story yet other unnecessary stuff is being put in to the story

This was by far the stupidest of them all; if one has a newborn in their arms how are they eating cake with a fork by themself, and then yet another 'love interest' for the main character when the other one is still around and nothing was ever said after his non-marriage and supposedly those 2 starting up again. Just another character to pop in and out of a story here and there with no real explanation. This series has definitely put me off cozies for a while, it's been more and more a waste of time, and wish could have given it a 0 star because even the 'twists' made no sense.

For 8 put Somebody give the writer some painting tips; in the last book she kept talking about paint fumes, so assuming whatever kind she is supposed to be using gives off fumes, which means that going back late at night to the house then up the next morning to paint...there is cleaning surfaces, probably primer, and at least 2 coats of paint, plus probably more if one is going from well each time she mentions a color it's a different shade and there is differences but basically going over to purple which in one place was described almost neon yet in another was a mid purple and in yet another more a pastel possibly is still going to take more than overnight to paint and dry plus it was an event the next day or else it was only mentioned way after it happened which wouldn't make sense because an eating place can't be open during that type of thing and the story is talking about all those birthday parties. What does conscious not but still pale even mean, which wouldn't have caught possibly with it being read to me, but the books are starting to be almost gibberish that am having to sight read because it's skipping around and not making any sense but even reading it is still that way because of the errors is now confusing as well. This was, by far, the stupidest most unnecessarily convoluted mess of a story.

9 had me banging my head for my stupidity of well maybe they got better

Thought liked the Craft Circle Cozy Mystery books a bit better, but after 3 out so far they went to just as bad as the bakery ones..

[Nikki Speer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into the story. I almost gave up several times before I just made myself finish. I wasn't really fond of the main character, George and felt like there was a lot missing from her backstory. Overall, just an ok read. I probably won't continue the series.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounding up because it was a quick easy read that did keep my attention.

[Lisa Denn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steps from Death, the first book in Stacey Alabaster's Craft Circle series, was enjoyable but not without a few criticisms.

The protaganist, Georgina Holt needs to get a grip with her obsession with age! I can't speak for other readers but I think Step From Death received my "most eye rolls" while reading award solely for the repeated age-related comments.

Also, I didn't find Holt all that likeable. She was so darn blah it was depressing. In real life we try to surround ourselves with pleasant, outgoing and friendly people qualities mostly lacking in the protaganist.

I find the first book in a series tends to leave me feeling disappointed for one reason or another. I've learned over time that readers shouldn't judge a series but its first book. With having so much information to squeeze onto the pages it must be difficult for authors to find the perfect balance between growing the story, developing characters and keeping a lively pace.

Steps From Death's saving grace was my familiarity with the author's writing having read other books by Alabaster which is why I plan to begin reading the second book in this series later this afternoon. The mystery had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. The characters were definitely not my favorite but the story was still enjoyable.

[Ainee Beland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story made one think of how you spend your time and with whom? It raises the question of living alone as opposed to being married as our ‘gossip-monger’ named Brenda was married and yet, I don’t think that we ever got to meet her husband; even at the funeral when she offered Georgina, a place to sit; she says that my husband could not attend…or such an explanation…she had a vacant seat if Georgina wanted it?

Brenda does give us some insight into Georgina’s experience as a ‘crafter/shop owner’…Georgina’s dog Jasper had dug up a ‘bone folder’…he’d dug it outside of her front door and Brenda said that it may have belonged to the previous homeowner. And that it seemed that Georgina knew nothing about crafting—“she didn’t even know what this tool was used for…it is used for paper crafts, scrapbooking, for folding paper sharply, and scoring paper as well.”—Brenda’s explanation for a ‘bone-folder’.

There is much more to this short tale and I would recommend that it is read to find out how and why some women in the town of Pottsville, ended up falling down flights of stairs and were found dead; seeming like an accident in the night or not.

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Needed a "craft themed" book for a challenge. First off, there is no crafting in this book at all. There are mentions of MC making her own jewelry, but she never actually does any crafting. She also runs a craft store, but she never actually goes to work, except the one opening scene to prove she has a job.

MC is annoying and irritating, constantly asking herself questions, (i.e. "Had we been good enough friends?") which gets tiresome. Extremely thin reason MC decides she should be the one to solve the crime, even for a cozy. A background of upsacle jetsetting is alluded to for the main character, but just because she wears heels and white pants doesn't make her classy.

No mystery when there are only about 3 characters in the book, one of whom is so over-the-top, it is not even a tiny bit believable. I kept highlighting passages in my Kindle and writing things like, awful, OMG, oh please, ugh, WHY?? Everything is too convenient ("You always seem to be around exactly when I need you.") and absurd ("Maybe they needed me around to solve the cases that the police were just too scared to touch.").

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second series

This is the second series I have started of Staceys’. George comes to Pottsville to open a crafting business. She discovers her home was the site of a murder, another single crafter that fell down the stairs. When her new found friend Amanda dies the same way in her home, George decides both deaths are too coincidental and starts investigating. Her crazy dog Jasper helps her. George decides to stay in town, hoping to investigate more cases. Looks to be another good series

[Elizabeth Douville Giorno · Rating 1 out of 5]

These are something a middle schooler would write for a language arts project.
1- Georgina is a pathological liar- lying to everyone about everything even in situations that don’t require it.
2- She doesn’t care about her store- she doesn’t even know how to run it. Why bother with the pretense that she owns a store in the first place- she is never there.
3- She is never being crafty- not 1 time does she ever take anytime to make her jewelry.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beware Crazy Crafters

I just love all the cozy mystery series available that revolve around crafting or jewelry making! This one hit the nose on the head with me because it even described me down to my age. Lol. I have fun reading about groups enjoying crafts while solving crimes and Stacey does not disappoint. I look forward to the next in the series.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, fun, cozy mystery. (Is it OK to say it's "fun" when murder is involved?) At any rate, it's fairly enjoyable if you don't mind inconsistencies in time, unrealistic situations, and characters who are caricatures of real people. Enjoyable for a break from more serious reading.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe Pottsville might actually need George. Maybe they needed her around to solve the cases that the police were just too scared to touch. She could make a little side career out of this – crafter by day and detective by night.

[Karen Cino · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read. I just wish there would have been a little more background on the main character, Georgia. If you love doing crafts then this is a sure read. The beginning somewhat dragged, but do give it a chance.

[Jennifer Blackburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first time reading a book by this author. It is starting off to be a great series. I love crafts and cozy mysteries. I love the characters in this series and can imagine myself being a part of the crafters circle!! Lol. Looking forward to reading the next book to the series!!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, fun cozy read. I love the main character - I could identify with her. She's fun, quirky and smart. I look forward to reading more of her adventures. Off to download book 2.

[Tina Pawelko · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light cozy mystery. It was okay. Wasn’t to thrilled with the characters. Hope the series gets better.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short, but cute cozy mystery.

[Angel Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe. Trying second book.

[Cheryl Landmark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars

[Dixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very short and simple

[Joyffree · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I had a little trouble staying with the story in the beginning - it just did not hold my attention.
I did not give up, though!
George moves to a small town after fleeing Paris(yes London) - why? we never really get all the facts about that, but hey why not, right?
She is a crafter, who owns a craft store and a dog - not sure when she acquired either of those but we do know it is before she buys her house in her new small town. Seemed a little backward to me but again, it's fiction -I am going with it.
Despite these small "overlooked" details, the story is an okay read.
I am actually moving on to the second book - why?
Honestly, I want to give the author a second chance - I really feel this book could have been a strong 4 or 5 star read with a little more emotion and depth to the characters.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Georgiana (aka George) has moved to a small town and opened a craft store. Finding it hard to make new friends she starts a weekly craft circle. She finds a good friend in one of the three people who attend that first meeting. Sadly that good friend suffers an accident and dies. George, however, is not so sure it was an accident. She finds several suspects but must narrow down the list somehow.

As George deals with her friends death she also must deal with an unruly rescue dog and her infatuation with a local policeman who may or may not be one of her suspects.

A fun read but I haven't quite become emotionally involved with George. I think I need to find out a lot more about her in future volumes.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the first book in Stacey Alabaster's new series. George buys a craft store in a new town in order to start over. When a possible new friend dies after the first craft club meeting, George realizes she maybe in danger. Trying to stay one step ahead of a killer is vital. Why didn't the real estate agent not tell her about the history of her home. Will she be able to find the killer before the killer finds her?
I enjoy how Ms Alabaster developed her story line and characters. This story had many twists which kept me guessing until the end. I received a copy from the publisher. No review was required. These are my own thoughts and critiques.

[Norma Wiegert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgina (George) moves fro Paris to Pottsville and in 2 weeks acquires a dog (Jasper) buys a house and opens a craft store. She quickly learns there was a death in her newly purchased house which closely mirrors the death of her new friend. This is a fun read as George investigates and solves the murders and in the process acquires a new friend and partner. I'm looking forward to more books in this series Stacey Alabaster is an amazing writer.
I was given an ARC which I am voluntarily reviewing.

[Starla B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. I liked the story and the characters, but there were a lot of references to Paris and things in George's past that made it seem like the second book in the series instead of the first book. I spent a lot of time feeling like I was missing something.

[Dana G. Schultea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

Cute story with fun characters. Great weekend read for the person who enjoys mystery. Stacey Alabaster has done a good job with this one.

[Julia Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cut and cozy quick little read :) I don't feel like it was long enough to really appropriately flesh out the characters, but it fits the bill for something to pass time with easily and humorously enough.

[a. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was awful. No thanks!

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light read.

It was a joy to read this story even if you might know who the killer was before you should.