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A Needlecraft Mystery #2
Framed in Lace
When the historic Hopkins ferry is raised from the lake, a skeleton is discovered. Unfortunately, the only evidence is a piece of lace-like fabric. But once Betsy Devonshire and the patrons of her needlecraft shop lend a hand, they're sure to stitch together the details of this mystery...
243 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published October 1, 1999
75 people are currently reading
740 people want to read
About the author
Monica Ferris
27 books487 followersHas published as
Mary Monica Pulver (real name)
Mary Kuhfeld
Margaret Frazer (with Gail Frazer)
[from the author's own website)
Mary Monica Pulver (her maiden name) is an incidental Hoosier — Terre Haute, Indiana, had the hospital closest to her parents’ home in Marshall, Illinois. She spent the later part of her childhood and early adult life in Wisconsin, graduating from high school in Milwaukee.
She was a journalist in the U.S. Navy for six and a half years (two in London), and later attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is married to a museum curator.
Mary Monica sold her first short story, “Pass the Word,” to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, in 1983, and has since sold more than two dozen short stories to anthologies and magazines, including some in Germany, England, Italy and France.
She has appeared in such anthologies as The Mammoth Book of Historical Detectives, The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunnits, Shakespearean Mysteries, Royal Whodunnits, Unholy Orders, Murder Most Crafty, and Silence of the Loons. Her first mystery novel, Murder at the War, appeared from St. Martin’s Press in 1987 and was nominated for an Anthony as Best First Novel. The Unforgiving Minutes and Ashes to Ashes followed in 1988; but Original Sin was sold to Walker, who also presented the fifth book, Show Stopper, in May of 1992. Berkley Diamond brought these mysteries out in paperback. They feature detective Peter Brichter – a cop one reviewer said was “a hardboiled sleuth who’s somehow landed in a cozy mystery”.
Berkley published six medieval mysteries Mary Monica wrote in collaboration with Gail Frazer under the pseudonym Margaret Frazer: The Novice’s Tale, The Servant’s Tale (nominated for an Edgar as Best Original Paperback of 1993), The Outlaw’s Tale, The Bishop’s Tale, The Boy’s Tale, and The Murderer’s Tale. The detective in the mysteries is a nun, Dame Frevisse, a niece by marriage of Thomas Chaucer, the legendary Geoffrey’s son. The stories take place in England in the 1430s. Gail presently continues the series alone.
In 1998 Mary Monica began writing a new series for Berkley featuring amateur needleworking sleuth Betsy Devonshire. Set in Excelsior, Minnesota, Crewel World came out in March and was followed by Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by A Thread, Cutwork, Crewel Yule, Embroidered Truths, Sins and Needles, Knitting Bones, Thai Die, Blackwork, and Buttons and Bones. Threadbare will appear in December of 2011, and she is at work on And Then You Dye. The first six were paperback originals. Subsequent books were hardcovers followed by paperback editions. These light and traditional novels are written under the pseudonym Monica Ferris, and all have gone to multiple printings – the first one is in its eighteenth printing!
Mary Monica has taught courses on mystery writing to children at North Hennepin Community College, gifted children in District #287, and adults at one-evening seminars at Hennepin and Ramsey County libraries. She does lectures and signings, and has appeared on panels at mystery and science fiction conventions, including Bouchercon, Minicon, Diversicon, Magna Cum Murder, and Malice Domestic.
She has spoken to stitchery guilds on local, state, and national levels. She has won a place on national and local best-seller lists, including USA Today and the independent mystery bookstore compilation. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (a national organization that promotes women who write mystery fiction), remains a paid speaker on the life of a mystery author, and is a volunteer for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, and in
Mary Monica Pulver (real name)
Mary Kuhfeld
Margaret Frazer (with Gail Frazer)
[from the author's own website)
Mary Monica Pulver (her maiden name) is an incidental Hoosier — Terre Haute, Indiana, had the hospital closest to her parents’ home in Marshall, Illinois. She spent the later part of her childhood and early adult life in Wisconsin, graduating from high school in Milwaukee.
She was a journalist in the U.S. Navy for six and a half years (two in London), and later attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is married to a museum curator.
Mary Monica sold her first short story, “Pass the Word,” to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, in 1983, and has since sold more than two dozen short stories to anthologies and magazines, including some in Germany, England, Italy and France.
She has appeared in such anthologies as The Mammoth Book of Historical Detectives, The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunnits, Shakespearean Mysteries, Royal Whodunnits, Unholy Orders, Murder Most Crafty, and Silence of the Loons. Her first mystery novel, Murder at the War, appeared from St. Martin’s Press in 1987 and was nominated for an Anthony as Best First Novel. The Unforgiving Minutes and Ashes to Ashes followed in 1988; but Original Sin was sold to Walker, who also presented the fifth book, Show Stopper, in May of 1992. Berkley Diamond brought these mysteries out in paperback. They feature detective Peter Brichter – a cop one reviewer said was “a hardboiled sleuth who’s somehow landed in a cozy mystery”.
Berkley published six medieval mysteries Mary Monica wrote in collaboration with Gail Frazer under the pseudonym Margaret Frazer: The Novice’s Tale, The Servant’s Tale (nominated for an Edgar as Best Original Paperback of 1993), The Outlaw’s Tale, The Bishop’s Tale, The Boy’s Tale, and The Murderer’s Tale. The detective in the mysteries is a nun, Dame Frevisse, a niece by marriage of Thomas Chaucer, the legendary Geoffrey’s son. The stories take place in England in the 1430s. Gail presently continues the series alone.
In 1998 Mary Monica began writing a new series for Berkley featuring amateur needleworking sleuth Betsy Devonshire. Set in Excelsior, Minnesota, Crewel World came out in March and was followed by Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by A Thread, Cutwork, Crewel Yule, Embroidered Truths, Sins and Needles, Knitting Bones, Thai Die, Blackwork, and Buttons and Bones. Threadbare will appear in December of 2011, and she is at work on And Then You Dye. The first six were paperback originals. Subsequent books were hardcovers followed by paperback editions. These light and traditional novels are written under the pseudonym Monica Ferris, and all have gone to multiple printings – the first one is in its eighteenth printing!
Mary Monica has taught courses on mystery writing to children at North Hennepin Community College, gifted children in District #287, and adults at one-evening seminars at Hennepin and Ramsey County libraries. She does lectures and signings, and has appeared on panels at mystery and science fiction conventions, including Bouchercon, Minicon, Diversicon, Magna Cum Murder, and Malice Domestic.
She has spoken to stitchery guilds on local, state, and national levels. She has won a place on national and local best-seller lists, including USA Today and the independent mystery bookstore compilation. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (a national organization that promotes women who write mystery fiction), remains a paid speaker on the life of a mystery author, and is a volunteer for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, and in
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
June 12, 2022
A ship is raised from Lake Minnetonka, and they find a skeleton on it. They also find a bit of lace. The ship sank in the 1940's. Our amateur sleuth starts poking around, and finds all sorts of the usual small town secrets.
Not bad. A bit more involved than most cozies.
Not bad. A bit more involved than most cozies.
March 24, 2016
Framed in lace by Monica Ferris is the second book in The Needlecraft Mystery series. A skeleton is found on board the wreck of a ferry which has been salvaged to be restored, and a piece of old lace is tied to one of the needleworkers. I enjoyed this book very much. I loved how much knowledge and investigation of needleworking and lace led to solving the crime. The needleworking facts were interesting and it was nice getting to know the characters. A pleasant and cozy read.
December 9, 2016
Review of the audiobook
When a historic ferry is recovered from the lake and a skeleton is discovered, Betsy is on hand and curious. When a piece of hand-made lace is the only clue discovered, she begins to investigate.
This is a mystery that delves into the past as the victim is from the late 1940s. WWII is discussed as the townspeople remember those who went to war, whether they returned or not. Becky learns more about other forms of needlework, including various lace-making techniques which was interesting.
I started out giving this three stars, but once I started writing the review, I bumped it up to four. I like the characters and the plot was certainly interesting with the links to the past.
When a historic ferry is recovered from the lake and a skeleton is discovered, Betsy is on hand and curious. When a piece of hand-made lace is the only clue discovered, she begins to investigate.
This is a mystery that delves into the past as the victim is from the late 1940s. WWII is discussed as the townspeople remember those who went to war, whether they returned or not. Becky learns more about other forms of needlework, including various lace-making techniques which was interesting.
I started out giving this three stars, but once I started writing the review, I bumped it up to four. I like the characters and the plot was certainly interesting with the links to the past.
April 17, 2010
Good story & a quick read.[return][return]The details about our heroine and her personal feelings are light. She is mostly the hook between the actions and the mystery being solved, but her personal thoughts and details are only mentioned in a few places.[return][return]The mystery itself is a historic murder, with the body just recently found. The main characters in the mystery are mostly just a memory... and memories of events do differ at times. The final solution is pretty satisfying.
May 12, 2011
A good read, interesting. Because I'm not really into needlework, I don't like the needlework part as much as the mystery ... but it's a needlework mystery, so what would you expect. And I have to admit, the descriptions of the various needlework are interesting. The mystery is pretty good ... although I have a hard time following how she goes from one clue to the next. Still, a fun story and good, light reading.
January 30, 2014
I found this on a free pile. I can't think why. It's probably the best book ever written.
July 14, 2021
I really want to like this series more...... It's still leaving me a bit flat. The author spends quite a bit of time talking about Betsy's weight and how she needs to trim down. How is that advancing our plot? When our murder victim is found, the lead detective wants to know whether the victim was a "fatso". Really?
I'm going to try one more, but after that if I'm finding these same themes again... I think I'll move one.
I'm going to try one more, but after that if I'm finding these same themes again... I think I'll move one.
April 4, 2013
I definitely enjoyed this book as much as I did the first book in the series. I’m looking forward to picking up the third book when I get to choir practice.
Since someone mentioned having solved the murder ahead of the main character, I’ll say this: the astute reader might. All the pieces are there from about halfway through. I did not, because I’d forgotten one of the connections. As it was, I had the murder solved right at the same time as the main character and was trying to see how she’d prove us both right.
I love the connections to embroidery, counted-cross stitch, tatting, lace-making, crochet and knitting that are found throughout the books. I also really enjoy Sophie – who reminds me of my own cats. The author seems to have really done her homework as far as both needlework and cats are concerned.
I really like counted cross-stitch, but I haven’t done it in quite a while. The pattern included with this book would make the perfect little gift for someone who is dear to me. I’m really looking forward to getting started on it. That’s another thing I love: each book includes a pattern! Such fun!
I like the direction that the relationship between Jill and Betsy is taking. Both of them miss Margot terribly, so I hope that they continue to connect with each other as the series progresses. As much as I hated Malloy in the first book… he’s starting to grow on me.
Since someone mentioned having solved the murder ahead of the main character, I’ll say this: the astute reader might. All the pieces are there from about halfway through. I did not, because I’d forgotten one of the connections. As it was, I had the murder solved right at the same time as the main character and was trying to see how she’d prove us both right.
I love the connections to embroidery, counted-cross stitch, tatting, lace-making, crochet and knitting that are found throughout the books. I also really enjoy Sophie – who reminds me of my own cats. The author seems to have really done her homework as far as both needlework and cats are concerned.
I really like counted cross-stitch, but I haven’t done it in quite a while. The pattern included with this book would make the perfect little gift for someone who is dear to me. I’m really looking forward to getting started on it. That’s another thing I love: each book includes a pattern! Such fun!
I like the direction that the relationship between Jill and Betsy is taking. Both of them miss Margot terribly, so I hope that they continue to connect with each other as the series progresses. As much as I hated Malloy in the first book… he’s starting to grow on me.
August 19, 2016
Betsy is at it again, sleuthing to help a friend accused of murder find the real culprit. As always, this is accompanied by much knitting and needlework, and Betsy is learning more about the craft. I too am learning more as I go on with this series, and I am a complete newbie. I enjoyed learning these things as much as the sleuthing, which I enjoy on any given day.
I actually found this entire set for sale second hand, so I will be slowly working my way through them as my mood shifts. A fun cozy mystery series, four stars!
I actually found this entire set for sale second hand, so I will be slowly working my way through them as my mood shifts. A fun cozy mystery series, four stars!
August 31, 2017
4 stelle e mezza
Stavolta Betsy indaga su un omicidio accaduto ben 50 anni prima. E' stato davvero un libro interessante, sia per quanto riguarda l'indagine che per le discussioni di un particolare tipo di lavoro femminile (se ho ben capito, è una specie di merletto, non mi viene il nome in italiano).
Stavolta Betsy indaga su un omicidio accaduto ben 50 anni prima. E' stato davvero un libro interessante, sia per quanto riguarda l'indagine che per le discussioni di un particolare tipo di lavoro femminile (se ho ben capito, è una specie di merletto, non mi viene il nome in italiano).
October 2, 2010
I really like this series. The people are interesting and you feel like you know them. Plus I really like various kinds of needlework, so I can relate to talk in the shop. I wish I had that kind of shop in my city.
September 19, 2009
I solved the mystery early so was impatient to finish the book! Butterfly cross-stitch pattern. Enjoyed the description of Sophie, the cat, as "trundling" down the stairs! My cat does that!
June 11, 2015
It was an easy audio book to listen to while driving. Nothing special but allowed driving and listening without getting confused on either. I like to sew and that was why I chose to read this book.
August 12, 2019
finished 2019-08 -11
December 17, 2022
I enjoyed this book, more than the first. I devoured it while on my vacation in Munich. So far, I've figured it out just as the main character figures it out. But this didn't make me want to do any lace work. ;)
October 19, 2015
"Framed in Lace, a Needlecraft Mystery #2," by Monica Ferris
“And when it did come up, who found the skeleton?" asked Martha's bosom companion, Jessica Turnquist. Jessica was three inches taller but twenty pounds lighter than Martha. She had a long face with large, slightly bulgy eyes, and a patrician nose over a mouth pressed thin by years of firm opinions. Jessica was crocheting a white baby blanket in swift popcorn stitch; it looked as if a cloud were forming on the table in front of her. (Pages 23-24)
This is the second in a series of mysteries set in a needlecraft store in Excelsior, a small town on the shores of Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. Betsy Devonshire came to Excelsior from San Diego the previous summer, fleeing a bad divorce and her ex-husband. Her sister, Margot, owned the needlecraft store, Crewel World, and Betsy planned to stay in Excelsior until she figured out what to do with the rest of her life. Then Margot was murdered (that story is told in the first mystery, "Crewel World") and Betsy inherited the shop. She managed to discover who killed Margot and bring that person to justice. Now it's almost Halloween, and Betsy has decided to keep the shop open until her sister's will is probated.
In the meantime, a mystery surfaces in the form of a sunken ship with an unexplained skeleton in it. The Hopkins was a "streetcar boat" used to take people from Excelsior to the streetcar terminus for the Twin Cities at the turn of the 20th century. The other five boats had been sunk in the 1920s as most people began to drive themselves to the cities, but the Hopkins was turned into a tourist boat and operated until the late 1940s, when it, too was sunk. A local group is having it raised so it can have a second life as a tourist boat when the skeleton is discovered.
The skeleton is that of a woman, and from injuries to her face, skull, and radius (arm bone) it looks like she’s been murdered. There's a "tiny, flattish, filthy, slimy thing" near the skeleton that turns out to be fabric, perhaps lace, made of silk. Thus Betsy and the "Monday Group," women who come by the shop every Monday to stitch and visit, get drawn into the mystery. Perhaps one of them knows something about the piece of fabric that could help solve the murder.
I love to read mysteries, and I do embroidery and needlepoint. So I'm inclined to like mysteries like this. I've read several by another writer that involve a similar fictional needlework store. But I like these by Monica Ferris better. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are believable, the plot is well-drawn, the writing is good, and the "cold-case" mystery is intriguing. I got "Framed in Lace" and several others in the series from a woman in my embroidery group (the East Texas Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America). After I read it, I ordered the books in the series that I didn't have.
“And when it did come up, who found the skeleton?" asked Martha's bosom companion, Jessica Turnquist. Jessica was three inches taller but twenty pounds lighter than Martha. She had a long face with large, slightly bulgy eyes, and a patrician nose over a mouth pressed thin by years of firm opinions. Jessica was crocheting a white baby blanket in swift popcorn stitch; it looked as if a cloud were forming on the table in front of her. (Pages 23-24)
This is the second in a series of mysteries set in a needlecraft store in Excelsior, a small town on the shores of Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. Betsy Devonshire came to Excelsior from San Diego the previous summer, fleeing a bad divorce and her ex-husband. Her sister, Margot, owned the needlecraft store, Crewel World, and Betsy planned to stay in Excelsior until she figured out what to do with the rest of her life. Then Margot was murdered (that story is told in the first mystery, "Crewel World") and Betsy inherited the shop. She managed to discover who killed Margot and bring that person to justice. Now it's almost Halloween, and Betsy has decided to keep the shop open until her sister's will is probated.
In the meantime, a mystery surfaces in the form of a sunken ship with an unexplained skeleton in it. The Hopkins was a "streetcar boat" used to take people from Excelsior to the streetcar terminus for the Twin Cities at the turn of the 20th century. The other five boats had been sunk in the 1920s as most people began to drive themselves to the cities, but the Hopkins was turned into a tourist boat and operated until the late 1940s, when it, too was sunk. A local group is having it raised so it can have a second life as a tourist boat when the skeleton is discovered.
The skeleton is that of a woman, and from injuries to her face, skull, and radius (arm bone) it looks like she’s been murdered. There's a "tiny, flattish, filthy, slimy thing" near the skeleton that turns out to be fabric, perhaps lace, made of silk. Thus Betsy and the "Monday Group," women who come by the shop every Monday to stitch and visit, get drawn into the mystery. Perhaps one of them knows something about the piece of fabric that could help solve the murder.
I love to read mysteries, and I do embroidery and needlepoint. So I'm inclined to like mysteries like this. I've read several by another writer that involve a similar fictional needlework store. But I like these by Monica Ferris better. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are believable, the plot is well-drawn, the writing is good, and the "cold-case" mystery is intriguing. I got "Framed in Lace" and several others in the series from a woman in my embroidery group (the East Texas Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America). After I read it, I ordered the books in the series that I didn't have.
November 26, 2017
Betsy Devonshire is at it again, this time stepping in to solve a historic murder uncovered when a boat is raised and a skeleton is found on board. Betsy, who by now has settled into her new life, is reluctant to get involved but despite her protests, you know she will. A needle wielding Sherlock Holmes is a good way to describe her.
Read
August 23, 2011Framed in Lace, by Monica Ferris, b-plus, Narrated by Susan Boyce, produced by Audiogo, downloaded from audible.com.
This is the second in the Betsy Devonshire needlecraft series. This one starts only a couple of months after Betsy solves her sister’s murder, from the first book, and is staying on at least long enough to get the estate sorted out, and is keeping the store Crewel World open. In this book, everyone makes an event of going out on Lake Minnetonka to see a ferryboat raised from the bottom of the lake where it was deliberately sunk in 1948. But when the boat is raised, they find a skeleton of a young girl aboard with a piece of lace. Betsy begins investigating, asking questions. She finds that the townfolk remember a girl disappearing in 1948, along with a man, neither of them to appear again. It was assumed that the man, Carl, disappeared with the girl, leaving his wife and son behind. But, a day after the boat is raised, an old man is found dead in a motel room, and he is identified as the missing husband, Carl Winters, who had disappeared from town 50 years ago. As Betsy asks her questions and pokes around, she begins to uncover the truth of that long-ago day, and she helps to clear Carl’s wife who is being accused of the murders. We see a lot of the Monday Ladies club who come to work on needlecrafts on Monday afternoons, along with Betsy’s assistants, Godwin and Shelley, and who all have input into solving this mystery.
This is the second in the Betsy Devonshire needlecraft series. This one starts only a couple of months after Betsy solves her sister’s murder, from the first book, and is staying on at least long enough to get the estate sorted out, and is keeping the store Crewel World open. In this book, everyone makes an event of going out on Lake Minnetonka to see a ferryboat raised from the bottom of the lake where it was deliberately sunk in 1948. But when the boat is raised, they find a skeleton of a young girl aboard with a piece of lace. Betsy begins investigating, asking questions. She finds that the townfolk remember a girl disappearing in 1948, along with a man, neither of them to appear again. It was assumed that the man, Carl, disappeared with the girl, leaving his wife and son behind. But, a day after the boat is raised, an old man is found dead in a motel room, and he is identified as the missing husband, Carl Winters, who had disappeared from town 50 years ago. As Betsy asks her questions and pokes around, she begins to uncover the truth of that long-ago day, and she helps to clear Carl’s wife who is being accused of the murders. We see a lot of the Monday Ladies club who come to work on needlecrafts on Monday afternoons, along with Betsy’s assistants, Godwin and Shelley, and who all have input into solving this mystery.
November 5, 2015
This mystery was okay, but it didn't do a great job of holding my interest. This series has been very hit or miss for me. Something about the writing can sometimes be a little less than smooth. Also the narration wasn't my favorite, as all the characters sounded the same and I easily got confused about who people were. I was hoping that as only the 2nd book in the series I would learn more about these characters, but I didn't really. The mystery was a little all over the place, but I guessed the killer before Betsy and the others did. I like Betsy as a character, but hope she develops more because she seems a little flat here. I will continue with the series.
June 25, 2007
The second in the "A Needlecraft mystery" series. We meet again with Besty Devonshire, who is now running Crewel World, her late sister needlework shop. It's the beginning of autumn in Minnesota and Besty discovers snow before Thanksgiving, many variations of lace techniques and who was sunk with the Hopskin, an old boat in 1949 or was it really 1949? A fun little mystery series set in a small town. The pleasure of these novels is that you meet up with characters you learn to love, or find annoying in a good way, and feel comfortable with them and let yourself go and enjoy the ride.
July 11, 2012
I love this mystery series by Monica Ferris. It has the feel of the Friday Night Knitting Club that was popular a few years ago.
The story is set against a background of interesting people brought together by their love of needlework. Then along comes a murder mystery and the owner of the needlework store (Crewel World) becomes the sleuth to solve the mystery.
I like the characters - I like the location - I love a mystery - this is a fun quick read - just the cup of tea for a much needed break.
The story is set against a background of interesting people brought together by their love of needlework. Then along comes a murder mystery and the owner of the needlework store (Crewel World) becomes the sleuth to solve the mystery.
I like the characters - I like the location - I love a mystery - this is a fun quick read - just the cup of tea for a much needed break.
March 9, 2011
I found it interesting how Monica Ferris ties in needlepoint into her mysteries. I don't know a lot about needlepoint, but I enjoyed how things unraveled in the story. Betsy Devonshire recently moved to Excelsior, Minnesota and she keeps getting pulled into solving murder cases as an amateur sleuth. This is the 2nd book of the series. I enjoyed the book, but I wonder how she can keep it going with the same small town. How many people can you kill off in a little town? What happened to safe, small towns anyway?
October 11, 2011
This one was OK. I had read it before, but couldn't really remember who did it. When they raise the Excelsior, they find the skeleton of a waitress who supposedly ran off with the husband (Carl Winters) of one of the Monday Bunch, Martha. Then shortly after that, the husband, who hasn't been seen in decades, comes back to town and is shot to death. Turns out that Jessica, Martha's closest friend, had been having an affair with Carl, and she killed Trudie, the waitress. Then she became close friends with Martha. It was kind of convoluted. Decent, but not great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2013
I generally don't read cozy mysteries, but I met Monica Ferris last year at the Magna cum Murder Conference in Indiana and found her delightful. I chose this audiobook and found myself fascinated by what I read. Some of the stitchery references weren't my thing, but I enjoyed the characters and the story so much that those references didn't distract me from concentrating on what was happening. I know Monica has written many other novels in this series, so I will read and/or listen to more in the future. Thanks, Monica.
January 11, 2015
Super cozy, the main character in this series is the owner of a needlework store. Since I don't do needlework, some of the background color escapes me. In this story a skeleton is found on a barge that has been underwater for the past 50 years. The story was okay as Betsy Devonshire, the owner of Crewel World has to delve into the past to solve the crime. She has to find living residents who remember the people involved. It could have been more clever as some of the clues seem to be too conveniently dropped in her lap.
June 26, 2016
Ultimate Reading Challenge 2016. A mystery
This is the second book in this series. Betsy hasn't been in Minnesota long, but having solved the mystery of her sister's murder she now has a reputation. She isn't a private detective and doesn't want to be a private detective, but people keep coming to her for help. In this instance, she remembers one who was there for her and, therefore, she can't just walk away. Fortunately, a little old lady isn't nearly as crazy as some believe and a chance meeting with her leads to TWO very important clues.
This is the second book in this series. Betsy hasn't been in Minnesota long, but having solved the mystery of her sister's murder she now has a reputation. She isn't a private detective and doesn't want to be a private detective, but people keep coming to her for help. In this instance, she remembers one who was there for her and, therefore, she can't just walk away. Fortunately, a little old lady isn't nearly as crazy as some believe and a chance meeting with her leads to TWO very important clues.
September 10, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I had read via audiobook and thought the reader did an excellent job. Because I stopped for about a week until the last few chapters I found it a little confusing. However I re listened to the ending and it made perfect sense. I thought it funny how Betsy ended up sleuthing again. She had you wondering who had done it as there were a lot of suspects. I thought for sure that it was Vern and that Carl had been the one to see it and ran off because he would be the one pinned for it. Being a crafter I did enjoy the tidbits of needle craft thrown in.
April 14, 2016
Another pretty good story from Monica Ferris. I enjoyed learning about the lesser known art of lace making in this story, and how it played into the mystery. Once again, there wasn't quite enough information to solve the murder on my own, and I felt the heroine got lucky putting a bunch of clues together, but at least it made sense in the end. Maybe it's the crossword puzzle part of my brain that gets annoyed when I can't put pieces together myself, but for somebody who likes mindlessly listening to mysteries, this is a good series to get in to.
December 17, 2016
2 1/2 stars: I felt the first book, the story and plot were weak, but generally I liked the idea. I was really looking for a book like Fowler's Benni Harper, but after reading the second book, nothing jive. The story focused on Mallory, a man who is the main investigator, but never seem to be able to put anything together. Then there's Betsy who has no investigation skills but is putting everything together while running a needlepoint shop and everything feels unconnected, the characters I was unable to connect and enjoy any of them.
Nothing like Fowler, this is where I part ways.
Nothing like Fowler, this is where I part ways.
December 1, 2007
Betsy Devonshire must solve the decades-old murder of a mystery woman that appears to be entangled with the present-day murder of one of her friend's ex-husband. Twists abound, and while Betsy is keeping track of suspects, she also must juggle dealing with her new business and closing on her sister's estate. Lots of needle-y fun that even the uninitiated will enjoy. While it wasn't the most enthralling book I've ever read, it was a decent enough mystery -- and I'm picky about my mysteries!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews