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Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop Mystery #1
Assault and Batting
A fatal accident. Sisters suspecting murder. Can they unravel a tangled thread of clues before the killer strikes again? Taylor Quinn loves her goofy boyfriend and her job in the city. But when her mother is killed, she rushes home to take over the family’s small-town quilt shop. Discovering her young sister blames herself for their mom’s death, her whole world begins to unravel. Desperate to help her sister, Taylor vows to prove everyone’s innocence. In way over her head, Taylor’s investigation pulls a thread of shifty suspects, a tight knot of envy, and a patchwork of gossip. But as she stitches the evidence together, she unwittingly reels in the killer’s attention… Can Taylor sew up the case before everything comes apart at the seams? Assault and Batting is the first book in the gripping Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop cozy mystery series. If you like classic puzzles, poignant family relationships and sentimental surprises, then you’ll love Tess Rothery’s heartwarming tale. Buy Assault and Batting to patch up a frayed family today!
306 pages, ebook
Published December 1, 2019
1251 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Tess Rothery
13 books52 followersSmall towns, romance, quilts, coffee, and crime.
Tess Rothery's cozy mysteries transport you to a quiet world where murder lurks under the comfortable surface of everyday life.
Tess Rothery's cozy mysteries transport you to a quiet world where murder lurks under the comfortable surface of everyday life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
March 5, 2022
This is the worst book I've read in a while. I'm an avid quilter, and even that didn't help. Neither of the sisters demonstrate any grief over losing their mother. I lost mine two years ago, and that level of grief just does not make it into this book. Belle, the younger sister, is completely unlikable. I picture her as Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice. The older sister, Taylor, has no depth of character. It's like she's just going through the motions. Is she even a quilter? It doesn't seem like she's ever made a quilt, and now here she is running her mother's quilt shop and making YouTube videos. The budding romance never goes anywhere. Granny Quinn is introduced in the beginning as someone we're not supposed to like, but suddenly, Taylor goes to her for advice and comfort? And what's with this Dayton character? Is this a guy or a girl? Near the end, they finally use "she" in reference to her. But earlier, Taylor was teasing Cooper about marrying her? What? What was the point of all that gender ambiguity?
Roxy was the only likable character, and of course, that went nowhere. At least it seems like she would know how to run a quilt shop.
Levi is supposed to have a strict curfew at the college, but he's out all night at prom and then later spends the night? And I thought Cooper said he wouldn't know what to do with a girl?
And what sent me over the edge were the spelling and grammar errors. Does this publisher not employ a copy editor?
Page 146: "She held up a black beret that hosted a small cluster of blue and brown feathers held in place with a pewter broach." I believe you mean a "brooch."
A few pages over, "the" has no "e."
Page 179: "The holes were just two big." TOO
Page 225: "I think the model home is still free as well as one or two near enough the creak to hear it.” Seriously? CREEK
Page 268: "She admitted the gun, gazing at it lovingly." Admired?
Page 271: "Taylor called Roxy first thing in the morning and let her know that due to a pile of life crisis she hadn’t expected, she would not be in." Crises?
Page 285: “Won’t those college boys be a worse problem then the genius kid her own age is?” THAN
I'm actually mad at myself for finishing this book. I was holding out for a payoff at the end that never happened. There were no real resolutions to anything going on. I guess that's what the sequels are for? But take an author like Mary Kay Andrews. She frequently has repeated characters, but there is resolution in each book. You can close a book, knowing that story was all wrapped up.
This was such a frustrating read.
Roxy was the only likable character, and of course, that went nowhere. At least it seems like she would know how to run a quilt shop.
Levi is supposed to have a strict curfew at the college, but he's out all night at prom and then later spends the night? And I thought Cooper said he wouldn't know what to do with a girl?
And what sent me over the edge were the spelling and grammar errors. Does this publisher not employ a copy editor?
Page 146: "She held up a black beret that hosted a small cluster of blue and brown feathers held in place with a pewter broach." I believe you mean a "brooch."
A few pages over, "the" has no "e."
Page 179: "The holes were just two big." TOO
Page 225: "I think the model home is still free as well as one or two near enough the creak to hear it.” Seriously? CREEK
Page 268: "She admitted the gun, gazing at it lovingly." Admired?
Page 271: "Taylor called Roxy first thing in the morning and let her know that due to a pile of life crisis she hadn’t expected, she would not be in." Crises?
Page 285: “Won’t those college boys be a worse problem then the genius kid her own age is?” THAN
I'm actually mad at myself for finishing this book. I was holding out for a payoff at the end that never happened. There were no real resolutions to anything going on. I guess that's what the sequels are for? But take an author like Mary Kay Andrews. She frequently has repeated characters, but there is resolution in each book. You can close a book, knowing that story was all wrapped up.
This was such a frustrating read.
September 28, 2020
Poorly conceived
I fully expected to enjoy this; quilting, small town, feminine bonding...what's not to like? For starters, just about every female introduced! Grandma Quinny seems to feel that only shared blood makes a family and lacks basic compassion for a grieving teen. Sissy is smugly self-righteous in her perfection as a mother. Maddie is a mental health professional and a childhood pal of Taylor; apparently, she's neither a friend nor professional. Dayton is a pain, which may be her job as a teenager, and the running gag about her is rather unfunny. Erstwhile mother Colleen is by turns pathetic and opportunistic. Belle, the grieving little sister, is so arrogant and unlikable (yes, we know, she's a teen!) it's difficult to empathize with her. And then there's Taylor, who is probably the second most self-involved, thoughtless, immature, ill-conceived, lead character I've encountered (Cocoa Narel still holds the first slot). Her emotions read as very superficial; even her justified snap at her sister is immediately dialed back. The only worthwhile female may be Roxy, who barely rates a mention.
The writing is scattered and flows poorly. The mother's death is little more than a plot device; there's no real emotion tied to the event, which made this reader un-engaged in discovering if a mystery even exists. The whole situation with Belle is wildly improbable. The answers are casually tossed from nowhere (a cheat), the characters are suddenly human in the last chapter, the end.
I fully expected to enjoy this; quilting, small town, feminine bonding...what's not to like? For starters, just about every female introduced! Grandma Quinny seems to feel that only shared blood makes a family and lacks basic compassion for a grieving teen. Sissy is smugly self-righteous in her perfection as a mother. Maddie is a mental health professional and a childhood pal of Taylor; apparently, she's neither a friend nor professional. Dayton is a pain, which may be her job as a teenager, and the running gag about her is rather unfunny. Erstwhile mother Colleen is by turns pathetic and opportunistic. Belle, the grieving little sister, is so arrogant and unlikable (yes, we know, she's a teen!) it's difficult to empathize with her. And then there's Taylor, who is probably the second most self-involved, thoughtless, immature, ill-conceived, lead character I've encountered (Cocoa Narel still holds the first slot). Her emotions read as very superficial; even her justified snap at her sister is immediately dialed back. The only worthwhile female may be Roxy, who barely rates a mention.
The writing is scattered and flows poorly. The mother's death is little more than a plot device; there's no real emotion tied to the event, which made this reader un-engaged in discovering if a mystery even exists. The whole situation with Belle is wildly improbable. The answers are casually tossed from nowhere (a cheat), the characters are suddenly human in the last chapter, the end.
April 15, 2020
Assault and Batting is a solid first in Tess Rothery’s new Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop Mystery series. The characters are three-dimensional, and I found it easy to empathize with several. I enjoy the setting of the quilt shop in Oregon because I admire the historic artistry and those who can design and sew thousands of tiny stitches. This is a study in relationships between sisters separated by life choices, and with other family members and old friends. The police don’t see a mystery, so the sisters are starting from scratch.
Taylor had a career, a condo, and a long-term relationship in Portland, Oregon. When her mom died on a rare outing to a B & B, Taylor quit her job, put the condo up for sale, and the boyfriend moved in with someone else. Taylor moved back to her hometown, Comfort, to run the family quilt shop and care for her sixteen-year-old sister, Belle. Taylor’s father had died fighting a fire when she was eleven. A year after his death, her mom adopted Belle, a newborn, who was only six when Taylor left for college. After earning her degree, Taylor began her career. Laura, their mom, was actively working in the quilting store her mother started decades earlier and had a YouTube show that helped provide needs and savings. Laura and Belle also lived Grandpa Ernie’s home and cared for him.
Belle feels responsible for Laura’s death. Laura hadn’t wanted one of her old classmates to be part of the weekend getaway, but Belle talked her into it. That first night, Laura and the friend argued. The next morning, Laura was found in the river at the B & B. It looked like, after having a couple drinks, the heel of her sandal was caught on the dock, she fell into the water, struck her head and drowned. Belle thinks the friend pushed Laura off the dock, which wouldn’t have occurred if Belle hadn’t defended her inclusion.
Taylor doesn’t completely agree, but her counselor believes it will help Belle heal if they pursue investigating Laura’s cause of death. Taylor, who her mother wanted to have legal guardianship of Belle, finds a letter Laura’s friend sent to Belle. She learns who Belle’s birth mom is and that she would like Belle to move in with her family. An adoption was never formalized; Laura was only Belle’s legal guardian. Could this woman have gotten Laura out of the way so she could get Belle back sixteen years after Laura committed to love and raise her?
Taylor and Belle try to navigate a relationship fraught with frustration, complicated by grief and teenage emotions. I can understand both the adult and teen points of view, so well are they described. Finding out if one of Mom’s friends was a killer was not so easy! Belle wants to make her own rules, Taylor struggles to find the best way to run the shop with the help of Laura’s right hand person, Roxy, and still oversee Grandpa’s care and spend time with Belle. No matter what she does, it seems like Belle might move in with anyone else to get away from her, and Grandpa is mentally slipping away.
This well-paced story moves along well. None of the other friends heard enough of the women’s disagreement to shed light on what it was about. The birth mother seems so likable that it’s hard to imagine her as a killer. I was torn between two possible people and was still surprised at the final outcome. I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates well-crafted cozy mysteries with quilt shops, family relationships, and starting over.
Taylor had a career, a condo, and a long-term relationship in Portland, Oregon. When her mom died on a rare outing to a B & B, Taylor quit her job, put the condo up for sale, and the boyfriend moved in with someone else. Taylor moved back to her hometown, Comfort, to run the family quilt shop and care for her sixteen-year-old sister, Belle. Taylor’s father had died fighting a fire when she was eleven. A year after his death, her mom adopted Belle, a newborn, who was only six when Taylor left for college. After earning her degree, Taylor began her career. Laura, their mom, was actively working in the quilting store her mother started decades earlier and had a YouTube show that helped provide needs and savings. Laura and Belle also lived Grandpa Ernie’s home and cared for him.
Belle feels responsible for Laura’s death. Laura hadn’t wanted one of her old classmates to be part of the weekend getaway, but Belle talked her into it. That first night, Laura and the friend argued. The next morning, Laura was found in the river at the B & B. It looked like, after having a couple drinks, the heel of her sandal was caught on the dock, she fell into the water, struck her head and drowned. Belle thinks the friend pushed Laura off the dock, which wouldn’t have occurred if Belle hadn’t defended her inclusion.
Taylor doesn’t completely agree, but her counselor believes it will help Belle heal if they pursue investigating Laura’s cause of death. Taylor, who her mother wanted to have legal guardianship of Belle, finds a letter Laura’s friend sent to Belle. She learns who Belle’s birth mom is and that she would like Belle to move in with her family. An adoption was never formalized; Laura was only Belle’s legal guardian. Could this woman have gotten Laura out of the way so she could get Belle back sixteen years after Laura committed to love and raise her?
Taylor and Belle try to navigate a relationship fraught with frustration, complicated by grief and teenage emotions. I can understand both the adult and teen points of view, so well are they described. Finding out if one of Mom’s friends was a killer was not so easy! Belle wants to make her own rules, Taylor struggles to find the best way to run the shop with the help of Laura’s right hand person, Roxy, and still oversee Grandpa’s care and spend time with Belle. No matter what she does, it seems like Belle might move in with anyone else to get away from her, and Grandpa is mentally slipping away.
This well-paced story moves along well. None of the other friends heard enough of the women’s disagreement to shed light on what it was about. The birth mother seems so likable that it’s hard to imagine her as a killer. I was torn between two possible people and was still surprised at the final outcome. I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates well-crafted cozy mysteries with quilt shops, family relationships, and starting over.
February 17, 2022
OMG This book is terrible. The first chapter of the book laid out everyone's relationship, but it was so complicated that I don't have any idea who is related to whom. There are two storylines going on. The first on is that Taylor and Belle's mother has died in an accident and Belle suspects that she was killed. The second is who will get custody of Belle since she is technically a minor. But Belle is 16 or 17, which means that any family court will say that the choice is Belle's. The whole thing is too ridiculous and poorly written for me to continue. Also subpar narration by Shaina Summerville doesn't help.
November 11, 2020
Great book
I’m an avid quilter so I really enjoyed this book centered around a quilt shop. I truly felt the trials that Taylor was going through in an attempt to do right by her family by stepping up.
I’m an avid quilter so I really enjoyed this book centered around a quilt shop. I truly felt the trials that Taylor was going through in an attempt to do right by her family by stepping up.
September 8, 2021
I wanted to love this book, but it fell short for me. There were way too many spelling and punctuation errors that should have been caught by a competent proofreader.
July 15, 2024
"Assault and Batting (Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop Mystery #1)" by Tess Rothery is the first book in a sort of sewing/fabric store cozy mystery series. I'm sure the next books will have more in that theme as this one had to get all the starting information introduced.
Taylor returns to her childhood home after the death of her mother. She has her 16 year old adopted sister, quickly aging grandfather, her mom's business and the loss of her long term boyfriend all piled up on her. Then her sister decides that maybe her mom didn't have an accident. Maybe someone caused it. So, to help her sister get past the idea and to move on, they start investigating.
I have to say that the clue build up that actually pointed to the culprit was quick. Once the clues that actually pointed to the culprit started really presenting themselves it was all nearly over. They did point to one of two people though.
Taylor returns to her childhood home after the death of her mother. She has her 16 year old adopted sister, quickly aging grandfather, her mom's business and the loss of her long term boyfriend all piled up on her. Then her sister decides that maybe her mom didn't have an accident. Maybe someone caused it. So, to help her sister get past the idea and to move on, they start investigating.
I have to say that the clue build up that actually pointed to the culprit was quick. Once the clues that actually pointed to the culprit started really presenting themselves it was all nearly over. They did point to one of two people though.
April 15, 2020
Taylor Quinn is back. She's home to help her sister and grandfather after the accidental death of her mother. She's overwhelmed which is understandable. Her sister, Belle, is shattered and rebellious. This isn't what Taylor expected. In addition, Grandpa Ernie, has dementia and needs constant care. I knew this would be hard for Taylor. I felt sorry for her. She was unaware and how much had changed since she left. Flour Sax Quilt Shop needs her attention. The store is their livelihood. Belle tells Taylor that she believes their mother was murdered which ratchets up the stress. Could it be true? As a form of therapy the sisters start to investigate. They need answers. What happens next kept me on the edge of my seat. Assault and Batting combines family drama with an excellent mystery. Taylor and Belle are often at odds but they're trying to come to terms with their mother's death. They want closure. I wanted that for them, but the truth can hurt. This is an ambitious story that kept me in the dark. I knew that some people had issues with Laura Quinn, but I wasn't sure they would commit murder. I'll admit that I was shocked at the ending. Tess Rothery did an excellent job with this story. Her characters have depth and emotional issues that add complexity to the story. I cared about Taylor. She loved her family but was shocked by them. Assault and Batting pulled me in from the first page. There residents of Comfort have so many secrets. I can't wait for the next book.
April 15, 2020
What a great way to start a mystery series!
There is more to this story than just a murder mystery. As well as being a good mystery story, it explores how two estranged sisters cope with and learn to handle multiple complex family issues together. This is not a book that you can read a couple of chapters and put it down to finish later. No, it draws you back until you finish reading the last page. I read it late into the night and fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning, I was so angry that I had fallen asleep before finishing the book. I rushed to pick the story back up and finish reading it. I thought I had correctly solved the mystery, but… it was not what I expected. That was fun, I am usually able to correctly solve the mystery before the big reveal. This is a well-written story. There is no crude language or graphic violence. Oh, and if you are into quilting, there is a pattern included.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a great mystery with a little extra added in.
There is more to this story than just a murder mystery. As well as being a good mystery story, it explores how two estranged sisters cope with and learn to handle multiple complex family issues together. This is not a book that you can read a couple of chapters and put it down to finish later. No, it draws you back until you finish reading the last page. I read it late into the night and fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning, I was so angry that I had fallen asleep before finishing the book. I rushed to pick the story back up and finish reading it. I thought I had correctly solved the mystery, but… it was not what I expected. That was fun, I am usually able to correctly solve the mystery before the big reveal. This is a well-written story. There is no crude language or graphic violence. Oh, and if you are into quilting, there is a pattern included.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a great mystery with a little extra added in.
September 19, 2025
This had an interesting story and deviated slightly from the typical cozy mystery formula which was nice.
June 26, 2021
A real good book. I will be reading the whole series.
January 2, 2021
I enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down.
April 10, 2020
Secrets, envy, and small town gossip threaten the family she's trying to piece together.
Taylor Quinn had everything she wanted, a good job, a nice home in the city, and someone she loved. But all that all changed when her mom dies unexpectedly. She drops everything and heads to Comfort, Oregon to take care of her baby sister still in high school, her elderly grandfather with dementia and the family quilt shop. Her sister Belle thinks her mother was murdered and so they set out to discover exactly what happened.
This is an excellently written, small town cozy mystery with amazing characters. The characters are full of personality complete with strengths and foibles. They were so well crafted that they seemed life like and were real people with real life problems. The emotional drama between the two sisters was very well done. I could almost hear the conversations. What amazing dialogue. The storyline flowed smoothly and was filled with drama, dead ends, plenty of clues, surprises and a great climatic ending. This book was great and is worth reading if you like cozy mysteries that centre around family with all it’s chaos.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Taylor Quinn had everything she wanted, a good job, a nice home in the city, and someone she loved. But all that all changed when her mom dies unexpectedly. She drops everything and heads to Comfort, Oregon to take care of her baby sister still in high school, her elderly grandfather with dementia and the family quilt shop. Her sister Belle thinks her mother was murdered and so they set out to discover exactly what happened.
This is an excellently written, small town cozy mystery with amazing characters. The characters are full of personality complete with strengths and foibles. They were so well crafted that they seemed life like and were real people with real life problems. The emotional drama between the two sisters was very well done. I could almost hear the conversations. What amazing dialogue. The storyline flowed smoothly and was filled with drama, dead ends, plenty of clues, surprises and a great climatic ending. This book was great and is worth reading if you like cozy mysteries that centre around family with all it’s chaos.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 26, 2021
When her mother Laura dies, Taylor Quinn returns to the family home to step into her shoes including running a quilt shop and look after her teenage sister. The police have written off Laura’s death as an accident fuelled by drinking and slippery shoes, but neither Taylor or her sister Belle think this is the case and to find closure they need to get to the bottom of what actually happened.
Throw in a handsome man, a grumpy grandpa with part memory loss, teenagers, racoons and stress of school work, all in a small town (with four (!!) quilt shops all on the High Street) thriving on gossip and you have the bare bones of the story.
Not my cup of tea, but...
This is the first in Rothery’s Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop Mystery series and although it was an OK and quick read, it’s the only one I’ll read. There are better researched (including grieving process, legality of child adoption and police work) and more logically structured mystery books out there. Unfortunately, there wasn’t that much of quilt inspiration either; still I think some of you'll love it. It has plenty good reviews on both Amazon and Goodreads, so do give it a chance!
April 3, 2020
Taylor Quinn is full of love and living it up in the city. But when her mother dies suspiciously and she rushes home to take over the family’s small-town quilt shop, her whole world unravels. Discovering her grieving young sister blames herself, she vows to prove everyone’s innocence.
In way over her head, Taylor’s investigation pulls a thread of quirky suspects, a tight knot of envy, and a patchwork of gossip. But as she weaves the evidence together, she unwittingly reels in the killer’s attention…
Can Taylor sew up the case before everything comes apart at the seams?
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
In way over her head, Taylor’s investigation pulls a thread of quirky suspects, a tight knot of envy, and a patchwork of gossip. But as she weaves the evidence together, she unwittingly reels in the killer’s attention…
Can Taylor sew up the case before everything comes apart at the seams?
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
September 1, 2022
This mystery was intriguing. The story was very interesting though at times is seemed to get "wordy" and moved too slow. But I as fascinated with the sisters interaction and relationship. I did enjoy it.
June 27, 2021
An interesting mystery. Tess Rothery has created very realistic characters and a story that keeps you turning the pages or in my case returning to the audio book with anticipation. The twists and turns as Belle and Taylor pursue the clues that will lead to their mother's murderer kept me in suspense to the very end. If you love a good clean mystery book, this one is for you.
I enjoyed the audio version of this book. The narration was good which for me is an important element for me to keep listening.
I requested this audio book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.
I enjoyed the audio version of this book. The narration was good which for me is an important element for me to keep listening.
I requested this audio book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.
May 4, 2022
This book needs edited. At the very least proofread. I only got about 16% of the way in. I wanted to keep going, but the errors were annoying.
There were also places of strange character dialogue. Belle, an American 16 year old, is asked if she can organize something. She says "Very good" as if she were a British servant. Another character is describing an argument and uses "replied." That's not typical vernacular. Most people just say "he said" or "she said."
It might have been a good story, but I wouldn't know. The errors kept taking me out of it. I'm not inclined to finish.
There were also places of strange character dialogue. Belle, an American 16 year old, is asked if she can organize something. She says "Very good" as if she were a British servant. Another character is describing an argument and uses "replied." That's not typical vernacular. Most people just say "he said" or "she said."
It might have been a good story, but I wouldn't know. The errors kept taking me out of it. I'm not inclined to finish.
January 2, 2022
The trial reading
This story was very slow and someone needs to do a good editing from grammar and typing mistakes. It gets off with all the teen issues for a good mystery.
This story was very slow and someone needs to do a good editing from grammar and typing mistakes. It gets off with all the teen issues for a good mystery.
August 4, 2022
Assault and Batting review
I enjoyed the story very much. Belle's attitude got a little tedious and repetitive. Overall it was a good read.
I enjoyed the story very much. Belle's attitude got a little tedious and repetitive. Overall it was a good read.
June 24, 2021
Taylor Quinn has been building a life for herself in Portland, Oregon--a good job she likes, a home, a boyfriend--and then her mother dies.
She's back in the small town of Comfort, suddenly responsible for her sixteen-year-old sister, Belle, their grandfather, and her mother's quilt shop, Flour Sax. Oh, and her boyfriend broke it off and found a new girlfriend almost immediately, when she said she was moving back to Comfort.
The official verdict is that her mother, Laura Quinn, tripped and fell, possibly due to one drink too many, on the dock near the B&B she and some old friends were staying in. Belle has a different theory. She thinks she accidentally triggered one of her mother's friends to push Laura into the water. She has a reason for this that is almost as much a shock to Taylor than just the theory that their mother was murdered.
What follows includes Belle being a typically difficult teenager with something more than the standard teenage reason, Taylor discovering just how much she had cut herself off from her family and thus lost all awareness of their challenges, Belle and Taylor attempting their own amateur murder investigation, the realization that Grandpa Ernie (Laura's father) has been having memory problems, and the discovery that Grandma Quinn doesn't regard Belle, whom Laura adopted after her son, Taylor's father, died, as her "real" granddaughter.
And that's barely scraping the surface.
Taylor has to learn how run, not just any fabric store, something she has professional experience doing, but Flour Sax Quilt Shop, a small but specialized shop that she really knows only as her mother's daughter, helping out after school. Both her mother's YouTube video program and the small town gossip speculating that Laura may have had a serious drinking problem are major surprises to her.
The characters here are complex and interesting, and some that don't seem likeable prove to have surprisingly solid characters when they're put to the test. It's not a perfect book, but it is interesting and enjoyable.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
She's back in the small town of Comfort, suddenly responsible for her sixteen-year-old sister, Belle, their grandfather, and her mother's quilt shop, Flour Sax. Oh, and her boyfriend broke it off and found a new girlfriend almost immediately, when she said she was moving back to Comfort.
The official verdict is that her mother, Laura Quinn, tripped and fell, possibly due to one drink too many, on the dock near the B&B she and some old friends were staying in. Belle has a different theory. She thinks she accidentally triggered one of her mother's friends to push Laura into the water. She has a reason for this that is almost as much a shock to Taylor than just the theory that their mother was murdered.
What follows includes Belle being a typically difficult teenager with something more than the standard teenage reason, Taylor discovering just how much she had cut herself off from her family and thus lost all awareness of their challenges, Belle and Taylor attempting their own amateur murder investigation, the realization that Grandpa Ernie (Laura's father) has been having memory problems, and the discovery that Grandma Quinn doesn't regard Belle, whom Laura adopted after her son, Taylor's father, died, as her "real" granddaughter.
And that's barely scraping the surface.
Taylor has to learn how run, not just any fabric store, something she has professional experience doing, but Flour Sax Quilt Shop, a small but specialized shop that she really knows only as her mother's daughter, helping out after school. Both her mother's YouTube video program and the small town gossip speculating that Laura may have had a serious drinking problem are major surprises to her.
The characters here are complex and interesting, and some that don't seem likeable prove to have surprisingly solid characters when they're put to the test. It's not a perfect book, but it is interesting and enjoyable.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
April 1, 2025
Taylor Quinn returns to small town Comfort, Oregon, to take over the family quilt shop after the death of her mother, and take care of her younger sister, Belle, as well as her early-Alzheimer’s grandfather. When she learns Belle blames herself for their mother’s death, Taylor works to find the true guilty party.
Minuses – This could have benefitted from some better copy editing (some stray punctuation, what I think might have been words left out, and confusion over the use of the possessive s). On the plus side, the author did force me to look up which was more correct – “‘til” or “till” as a contraction for until. Webster’s says it’s till. So I learned something.
Pluses – Even thought this kind of story has been done before, the author provided enough tension and interesting angles to make this a fun read. I liked how Taylor and Belle were investigating on their own. They didn’t take stupid chances, they just went around asking questions and talking to people. I also liked that Belle isn’t a “typical” high school student. She’s incredibly smart and has been taking college-level courses as a 15-year-old so she can graduate early. And she works magic with their grandfather. There is a good balance of home life and work life and mystery. I like the author’s writing style: “A month ago, [Taylor] had a mother. And she’d had a job at a nice big store in the city, and she’d had a long-term serious boyfriend who lived with her and did the man of the house stuff. And now she had a raccoon eating candy in her shop and a teenage sister at prom with a college kid and a grandpa with dementia.”
I liked this enough that I bought the second book in the series and plunged right into reading. And I wasn’t sorry. I will read more in this series.
Minuses – This could have benefitted from some better copy editing (some stray punctuation, what I think might have been words left out, and confusion over the use of the possessive s). On the plus side, the author did force me to look up which was more correct – “‘til” or “till” as a contraction for until. Webster’s says it’s till. So I learned something.
Pluses – Even thought this kind of story has been done before, the author provided enough tension and interesting angles to make this a fun read. I liked how Taylor and Belle were investigating on their own. They didn’t take stupid chances, they just went around asking questions and talking to people. I also liked that Belle isn’t a “typical” high school student. She’s incredibly smart and has been taking college-level courses as a 15-year-old so she can graduate early. And she works magic with their grandfather. There is a good balance of home life and work life and mystery. I like the author’s writing style: “A month ago, [Taylor] had a mother. And she’d had a job at a nice big store in the city, and she’d had a long-term serious boyfriend who lived with her and did the man of the house stuff. And now she had a raccoon eating candy in her shop and a teenage sister at prom with a college kid and a grandpa with dementia.”
I liked this enough that I bought the second book in the series and plunged right into reading. And I wasn’t sorry. I will read more in this series.
April 1, 2020
I got into this series a little backwards by reading Book Two first. It was a good read. A great premise; truly likeable, engaging characters with a complex dynamic that added layers to the story. There were times I wanted to shake Taylor, and even Belle; but ultimately, you care about them and want to follow their stories.
In Book One, we go back to where the girls' mother has just died and the aftermath of that upheaval is having adverse effects on both of them. Belle is having a hard time accepting her mom's death as an accident. Her therapist - who is also Taylor's friend, Maddie - suggests that playing detective to find out what happened is exactly the therapy she needs. Though Taylor isn't convinced, she agrees to go along with it.
Through the investigation that they embark on together, the sisters start to find some unexpected answers, in the complex relationship between their mother and her friends.
Rothery weaves the story well - suffice to say I read it in one afternoon. There are twists, false leads, and sudden discoveries; all ultimately leading to a resolution this reader didn't expect. An excellent read, I'm looking forward to the next installment.
[Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read a copy of this book. This is my honest review, the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own. ]
In Book One, we go back to where the girls' mother has just died and the aftermath of that upheaval is having adverse effects on both of them. Belle is having a hard time accepting her mom's death as an accident. Her therapist - who is also Taylor's friend, Maddie - suggests that playing detective to find out what happened is exactly the therapy she needs. Though Taylor isn't convinced, she agrees to go along with it.
Through the investigation that they embark on together, the sisters start to find some unexpected answers, in the complex relationship between their mother and her friends.
Rothery weaves the story well - suffice to say I read it in one afternoon. There are twists, false leads, and sudden discoveries; all ultimately leading to a resolution this reader didn't expect. An excellent read, I'm looking forward to the next installment.
[Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read a copy of this book. This is my honest review, the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own. ]
December 2, 2019
Assault and Batting is the first in the new Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop mystery series by Tess Rothery. While I really liked the story and where it went, it seemed to take a long time to get there. It definitely dragged in places and that's why I didn't give it 5 stars. I really like the main character, Taylor Quinn, who is thrown into a very difficult situation after a tragedy involving her family. She gives up her entire life to move home to take care of her younger sister and grandfather so I loved the loyalty she had for her family and her grandfather is fantastic even while dealing with his own medical problems. I didn't care for the younger sister but she's dealing with a lot so hopefully I'll grow to like her as the series continues. I really believe this series has some great potential so I totally recommend reading it. I definitely think you'll find it worth your time!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 2, 2020
Oh my gosh! I LOVED this story and was hooked from the beginning! Tess has become an Author I will definitely follow as I have instantly become a huge fan. Taylor, the main character, is faced with a life changing tragedy, the death of her mother! With an ailing grandfather and a teenage sister at home, she leaves everything behind and heads home to deal with the aftermath. Belle, the sister, is a typical teenager with all the angst of a 16 year old and a high IQ! Grandpa Ernie has his issues as well and there is the store to run! Boy oh boy what a huge bunch of responsibilities to step into! They are all struggling with grief in their own ways. I do not want to give anything away so will just say, READ THIS BOOK! I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a review.
August 7, 2021
This is the first book in a series and I enjoyed it a lot. One night I kept saying, "One more chapter" and stayed up until after 2 AM!
Taylor Quinn leaves her goofy boyfriend and her job in the city when her mother has a fatal accident. She sells her condo and goes home to take over the family’s small-town quilt shop and take care of her younger sister. Taylor's sister believes that her mother was murdered. Taylor is determined to prove everyone’s innocence.
Meanwhile, Taylor has attracted the attention of a handsome and helpful local man. She also attracts the attention of the killer and puts herself in danger.
I took off one star as the book ended by introducing another character and a cliffhanger. Authors, please note: If your book is good you don't need a cliffhanger to get me to read the next book!
Taylor Quinn leaves her goofy boyfriend and her job in the city when her mother has a fatal accident. She sells her condo and goes home to take over the family’s small-town quilt shop and take care of her younger sister. Taylor's sister believes that her mother was murdered. Taylor is determined to prove everyone’s innocence.
Meanwhile, Taylor has attracted the attention of a handsome and helpful local man. She also attracts the attention of the killer and puts herself in danger.
I took off one star as the book ended by introducing another character and a cliffhanger. Authors, please note: If your book is good you don't need a cliffhanger to get me to read the next book!
April 9, 2020
I actually want to go with 3-1/2 stars. About 2 stars for the first 60 or so pages and 4+ for the remaining part. The slow start owing to the introduction and building of many characters.
The premise is sound and well detailed. The characters are not one dimensional but complex and lean towards real rather than fictional fixed in a few minutes type of people. The story pace at the beginning was slow but as the plot moved along it quickened and the relationships became more substantial. The characters are dealing with many issues and so it took a little time to speed things up as it were. I look forward to reading the next book to see how the characters mature.
The premise is sound and well detailed. The characters are not one dimensional but complex and lean towards real rather than fictional fixed in a few minutes type of people. The story pace at the beginning was slow but as the plot moved along it quickened and the relationships became more substantial. The characters are dealing with many issues and so it took a little time to speed things up as it were. I look forward to reading the next book to see how the characters mature.
August 23, 2020
This is my first book by this author, and I will definitely read more from her.
The story: Taylor and her sister Bella have lost their mother in what seems to be an accident, but was it? Taylor moves back home to help keep the family together and with the business. But more and more challenges raise their ugly heads, adding to the stress of finding out what happened to their mother.
I loved the characters and the realistic way they were portrayed. They had to deal with problems many people can identify with, and I was rooting for them.
Tess has a warm and empathetic way of writing, and I am looking forward to her next book.
The story: Taylor and her sister Bella have lost their mother in what seems to be an accident, but was it? Taylor moves back home to help keep the family together and with the business. But more and more challenges raise their ugly heads, adding to the stress of finding out what happened to their mother.
I loved the characters and the realistic way they were portrayed. They had to deal with problems many people can identify with, and I was rooting for them.
Tess has a warm and empathetic way of writing, and I am looking forward to her next book.
January 12, 2023
I was very excited to read this book because I had seen a recommendation on a quilting group. I love cozies and am just getting started with quilting.
I struggled a bit with the characters in this book at first but was intrigued enough to finish it. I was hopeful that the author was developing the characters slowly (they seemed a bit loose) and getting her feet under her.
I decided to read the second in the series and really liked where the characters are going. I felt like I was slowly getting to know them and they became much more fully realized and realistic in the second book.
The mystery itself was good, not great, but again just enough to convince me to give the next one a try.
I struggled a bit with the characters in this book at first but was intrigued enough to finish it. I was hopeful that the author was developing the characters slowly (they seemed a bit loose) and getting her feet under her.
I decided to read the second in the series and really liked where the characters are going. I felt like I was slowly getting to know them and they became much more fully realized and realistic in the second book.
The mystery itself was good, not great, but again just enough to convince me to give the next one a try.
May 22, 2023
A unique take on the cozy mystery -- younger daughter investigates as a therapeutic course of action, and older sister supports. Even with its departure from the norm, though, something about it hit me as just "meh". I never got a real sense of any interrelationship; each interaction seemed hit-or-miss, as if the real character relationship had not been planned out. Perhaps the author meant this is a depiction of real life, where seldom are interpersonal relations one-sided, but in the context of this story, I sensed a murkiness that left me cold. Perhaps the full stories become clear in future volumes, but I wasn't intrigued enough to read them.
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