A Crafty Crime

A Stoneybrook Mystery #1

by Eryn Scott

Recipes from Marisa McClellan, creator of Food in Jars, included: strawberry rhubarb jam and pickled asparagus! 

Even small towns have secrets...

Hadley James is finally living the life she's always wanted: making jam and selling it at the local farmers market. When a cat-sitting job turns into a murder investigation, life no longer seems so perfect.

Her twin brother, a deputy sheriff, is on the case but they've always done everything together and she can't help but get involved. Following a trail of crafty clues, the James twins learn that their sleepy town might be harboring more darkness than they could've imagined.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Contemporary, Crafts, Knitting

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2018

About the author

Eryn Scott is the author of heartwarming cozy mysteries. Her novels feature close friendships and strong families because those are the most important things in her life -- a little humor doesn't hurt either.

She calls the Pacific Northwest home and doesn't plan on changing that anytime soon. Eryn loves to hike, horseback ride, knit, ski, and read. She believes musicals are the greatest thing since lattes, even though she's not particularly good at singing or dancing -- hey, a girl can dream, right?

Her first cozy mystery series, Pepper Brooks, is based on some of the greats in classic literature. Each book features a different author from Shakespeare to Austen. Eryn's newest series is set in a little town called Stoneybrook. The Stoneybrook Mysteries follow local jam-maker Hadley James as she solves mysteries in her town's year-round farmers market. From deceased knitters to sabotaged florists, these crafty citizens keep Hadley and her twin brother, a deputy sheriff, on their toes. Pebble Cove Teahouse Mysteries are great for readers who love a hint of paranormal with their mysteries. These books feature a tiny town tucked between craggy coastline and rocky shores with quirky characters of both the living and non-living variety. Look for new releases from all three of these series in 2022 as well as Eryn Scott's new cozy series.

You can visit her website, erynscott.com, for more information about her books and new releases.

Reviews

[Linda Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good story.

[♛ Garima ♛ · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as cosy mysteries go, it is not half bad.



I was bit misled into believing this is one of those cosy mysteries where cat solves the murder, not hooman but that was my misunderstanding.
Jam making protagonist solves the murder with the help of her twin brother (who is in police) and her childhood BFF - pretty standard stuff. I think I got a bit frustrated when Hadley started thinking her own past in the middle of the investigation but that is just personal observation. If you are looking for charming small-town cosy mystery then it is okay read and I'd recommend however I highly doubt that I will continue this series...

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice cozy mystery. Bonus: a cat!

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable cozy mystery. I like the characters and Ms. Scott's writing made the small town of Stoneybrook come to life. I will definitely be reading more of this series.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a fun story for a day at the beach or relaxing at home in the evening, this is a book for you. The plot is simplistic and the characters are a bit predictable, but there’s a comfortable small-town vibe that makes it enjoyable. There are no plot twists or surprise ending, just a smooth flow of amateur sleuths and locals trying to figure out who murdered the town’s not-so-lovable crank. I breezed through the book, which was just what I was looking for.

Billed as a “cozy” mystery, this was no more or less than I expected. I’d recommend it with a cup of tea and a comfy chair.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely plotted, a pleasant tale for bedtime and it has some twists. Standalone but is a series. Looking forward to the next one. Recommended.

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

[Klare · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read

[Rellim]

Part of box set of books 1-3 in ebook & audio. KU.

DNF @ 50% - no rating b/c I think this might be a case of wrong book/wrong time &/or that cozy mysteries might not be for me.

I used to get a kick out of Murder She Wrote and Hart to Hart when I was younger - so I thought I’d like this. But it just didn’t work for me.

There was so much time spent on who all the people of the town were that the whole “Murder mystery” was buried. Hadley’s twin brother, Paul, works for the Sheriff’s dept. and he simultaneously encouraged and then was affronted when Hadley & Suze “investigated” on their own. The pace was really slow for me.

Overall, I think I’m just more of a thriller/suspense/action/procedural -type mystery reader/listener.

I enjoyed Jennifer Jill Araya’s narration. She did a good job with all the voices and emotions.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hadley is still reeling from her divorce after her husband's infidelity, but the town of Stoneybrook doesn't know the full story and is divided, thinking that Hadley betrayed their golden boy. But life goes on: Hadley runs her successful jam and canning shop and enjoys hanging out with her neighbor's cat while Edith is on vacation. Unfortunately, Edith's vacation has taken her to a place she can't return from: Hadley finds her dead on the sofa. In a town full of gossip and decades-old friendships, it's impossible to blame anyone for the murder, but Hadley, her police deputy brother, and her best friend Suze are determined to get to the bottom of it. If only Hadley's ex-husband's best friend would stop showing up where he isn't wanted!

As always, Eryn Scott's writing is compelling and her characters are a lot of fun. Whiskers and Words has not been toppled as my favorite of her cozy mystery series, but I love the recipes and the complicated love life that top off this story. I have more of this series, and I'm not in a rush to read it, but I think I'll enjoy book 2 when I get to it.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Stoneybrook Mystery series by Seth Scott. I am really enjoying all of Eryn Scott's books. They do resonate with me.

This first book in the Stoneybrook srperies... What a fun and refreshing read this was. I was already this reading when I realized it was written by the same author as the Pebble Cove Teashop mystery series I was so fond of. Definitely enjoying this new to me series. I'm going to continue reading and see what else unfolds. I found the main character's point of view so close to mine I had to keep on reading just to see how she dealt with her personal challenges. The mystery and whodunit was just an added bonus.I

Read this via Kindle Unlimited.

[Andie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enter the world of Stoneybrook for some cozy murder mystery solving

Loved this first in a series book!

It’s an easy to read cozy murder mystery set in the fictional town of Stonneybrook.

Eryn writes really great characters and build an entire town you feel you know by the end of the book.

She even includes recipes you can try out that are mentioned in the storyline. Love it and can’t wait for more!!

[Risa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - It was a cute little small town story which is always fun to read. The book was a little slow at times but the ending was pretty quick and a little surprising. There was a *potential* love interest but nothing really happened and I just feel like more could’ve happened in the book. It feels like there’s pieces missing but overall it was a nice book and I appreciate the jam recipes at the end!!! :)

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just OK. May try another. Not enough word pictures... couldn’t really get sense of the characters. Other than occasional mention of hair color. Way too much of the crime solving left to the main character who’s brother is even a police officer. And he encourages it. Not sure how you put that in your reports. As for recipes, I never read the recipes in back of books.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good cozy

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in a series set in small-town Stoneybrook. It has all the elements of a cosy mystery you would expect - amateur sleuths, a cutesy small town with divides and hidden secrets, even a cat!

It moved quickly through the story, and still managed to give us lots of backstory on the main character, Hadley, without getting bogged down. At times, it felt a little rushed but was still enjoyable. I’ll definitely read more of this series.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another small town that you wouldn't want to live in, lol. A cosy mystery with characters that I'm getting to know.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lisa Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little mystery! Loved the characters and the pace of the story.

[Deserthomemaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a quick and easy cozy mystery. Nothing ground breaking or amazing, but not horrible either. It was okay.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I didn't love A Crafty Crime, there was something about the book that held me. I enjoyed it enough that I have the second book ready to read as soon as I finish my Christmas reading. I like the four central characters and look forward to watching their relationships grow more. The mystery was good and I did not figure out who the murder was.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This book was great with some fun twists and turns. Great characters add to the plot of the story. I would recommend.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute quick read about small town, twins, their friend and a murder mystery.

[Sabetha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute start to a series.

I love cozies that have the town as its own character, and this one is shaping up to be a hilarious small town. With so many of my favorite small town quirks.

Twins are always such dynamic characters in an average book, but in a cozy mystery, with one half being apart of the police for, it really ramps everything up. Hadley and her brother Paul have such a strong sibling bound, I could feel it come to life through the pages as this story progressed.

The characters in this book were all unique, with emotional range and relatable small town back stories. While I wish this series was in 1st person, I look forward to the next book, and hope to explore more of the town, and it's locals.

Eryn is a master of writing deep main characters, with emotional baggage to work through. While this series is light hearted I am so excited to join Hadley as she navigates her new life and her business.

You'll love this series if you enjoy your cozies with a sassy town, full of drama and deep family bonds.

[A.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hadley is recently divorced, which has split the small town loyalties - they were the king and the queen of the prom - [and now I’m singing billy Joel - thanks, brain]. The prom king has moved to Seattle.
But she’s less than pleased to find her ex’s best friend Luke, has returned to the small town.
Her day gets worse when she finds the body of a neighbour dead in her home. Edith ran the yarn shop.
Her brother shares that it is not a natural death, and Hadley and her bff Suz start to investigate.
888
It’s … okay.
I can’t put my finger on it… there’s no increasing tension, or haste, it’s just a straight line …
[I am laughing at myself, now - there’s NOT ENOUGH BLOOD]
And it’s a bit annoying when she constantly goes on about how lovely this small town is… but then tries to set a cozy mystery series there, where, you know, people KILL each other.
2 stars

[Denise Zendel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hadley James is trying to rebuild her life after divorcing one of her small town’s favorite sons. Back in high school, they were the golden couple, but once they grew up, she realized what a weenie he was. During the divorce, most of the town took his side, but only because Hadley refused to say what it was that caused the breakup.

Hadley goes to take care of a cat owned by her great aunt’s friend, Edith. Edith, “cranky, combative, and downright nosy” isn’t well liked by most of the town either, but Hadley can’t turn her back on Edith. She knows what it’s like to be ostracized by the townsfolk and she’s not going to join in with the maltreatment of Edith.

When she gets to Edith’s house, she finds Edith dead, and the cat traumatized. She places a call to the local deputy sheriff, who also happens to be her twin brother, to inform him of the death. He lets her take the cat home until the case is resolved. She gets drawn into the investigation when her brother, Paul, tells her the death might not have been from natural causes. She and Paul have always done things together, so she can’t help but get involved in the investigation.
This was a pleasant read, aside from the author’s tendency to overuse the word “smirk.” (Ok, maybe I’m biased, but it’s one of my most hated words. It implies contempt and disrespect to me.) I did like the main characters being a brother/sister duo, and how Paul is willing to accept her help. She can go places he can’t and the local knitting group is much more likely to be forthright with her, as she isn’t near as intimidating. Also, the Scooby Gang aspect of Paul, Hadley, Hadley’s bff, and the bff of Hadley’s ex solving the crime was entertaining. And I’m glad Hadley gave the kitty a good home.

This was a clean read, with the violence taking place off screen. There was a nice balance of mystery, and work life, and possible romance. Also, the author perfectly captured the rhythm of small-town life. Not edge-of-your-seat excitement by any means, but it kept my attention, and I enjoyed the ride of solving the mystery with the Scooby Gang. I will read more in this series.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was supposed to be an easy pet-sitting job...

Looking for a fun craftsy cozy mystery? Look no further than A Crafty Crime, the first book in Eryn Scott's charming Stoneybrook Mystery series. The author is new to me but the title and the cute audiobook cover caught my fancy so I thought I'd give it a try.

The story is a clean read with no real negative content so it's probably suitable for older teens on up. The fact that Hadley is divorced actually makes her realistic and more relatable to a lot of readers. One fun change from the usual cozy mystery is that Hadley's brother is a cop who doesn't spend all of his time trying to chase her and her sidekick best friend out of the case. Sure, he doesn't want her getting into anything dangerous, but he also doesn't dismiss her as a silly amateur.

I enjoyed A Crafty Crime quite a bit. It was a nice break from all that's going on in the world right now and I enjoyed the small town setting, especially the farmer's market scenes. The added recipes that actually pertain to the story was a cool bonus.

I did listen to this first book in the Stoneybrook Mystery series in audio format. The quality of sound seemed to be pretty good to me. The narrator was a good choice for the story and for Eryn Scott's characters. So, if you are looking for a good cozy mystery with a small town setting, a cute cat, and a promise of romance, you should check out this book.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to Stoneybrook. Meet twins Paul & Hadley James, and Hadley’s best friend Suze. Newly divorced Hadley is the local jam maker. Divorcing her high school sweetheart and town golden boy has many in the town taking sides against her. Maybe if they knew the truth, it would be different, but Hadley’s not the type to spread gossip. Paul is one of the deputy sheriffs, and Suze is an artist.

Agreeing to cat-sit for Edith Butler, an elderly friend of her great aunt is a no-brainer for Had. Although Edith can be cantankerous and is not well liked in town, Hadley knows how it feels to ostracized. Besides Ansel is adorable. Arriving for her duties, she’s surprised to find Ansel outside and no instructions left for her in the house. Hearing a yowl from Ansel, she’s shocked to find Edith, dead in her chair. Unfortunately, it is soon determined that Edith didn’t die of natural causes. Knowing how gossip spreads in their small town, Paul agrees to let Hadley & Suze gather information for the investigation. Dividing up the probable suspects between them, the trio looks for a killer among their friends and neighbors.

Eryn Scott’s Stoneybrook series is off to a great start in this cozy mystery. Bursting with small town charm and engaging characters, with a well thought out plot and even pacing. The setting in the Cascades comes alive as well with Ms. Scott’s lyrical descriptions of the scenery. A picturesque tourist town hiding deadly secrets. The characters are fully fleshed out, likable, and intelligent.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently divorced Hadley is finally living life on her own terms. She makes jam to sell at the local farmer's market and online, she has family and friends to count on, and a side job of taking care of the local harridan's cat. When Hadley goes out to check on Ansel, she finds Edith dead. What at first appeared to be natural causes is soon determined to be a case of murder. Hadley can't resist poking her nose into the investigation, much to the chagrin of her twin brother, Paul, who's a deputy. Paul reluctantly agrees to let Hadley and her BFF, Suze, do some subtle questioning of their friends and neighbors to see if anyone had a motive for killing Edith.

In the meantime, Hadley has taken Ansel in, and her ex-husband's best friend, Luke, has returned to Stoneybrook. Hadley misses the easy camaraderie she shared with Luke when they were all in school together, but she knew he never approved of her relationship with Tyler. Things are now awkward between them, as is the animosity she feels from her former in-laws. To compensate, Hadley throws herself into the investigation, determined to find out who killed Edith.

Fun story, light and refreshing. I enjoyed the interactions between Hadley and Paul, as well as between her and Suze. There was enough humor in the narrative to keep things cozy.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author that I have read or listened to but it won't be the last and in fact I have already downloaded book two. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. I liked the characters and the fact the main characters all thought they were right about who the killer was and set about to prove they were right, this led to lots of suspects, guessing and a number of twists. Hadley is very human and is trying to get over a divorce, which is made harder when all the shops in the village is run by ex family members, which gives the story a very interesting touch and a look into village life.
Hadley's cat sitting job it brought to a sudden holt when she stumbles over the dead body of the cats owner. She wasn't the nicest woman in the village and her only friends seem to be the ladies in her knitting group. But even there it turns out she had enemies. Hadley, her best friend and her twin brother set about trying to get to the bottom of the murder in the town that they all love. Will it help that they know everyone in the small town? With lies and history involved the trio must work together to unpick all the tangled knots.
I liked the narrator and thought she did a good job bringing the characters and village to life.