Embroidering the Truth

Southern Quilting Mysteries #12

by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Little white lies can add up to big trouble.

Felton Billows is known around the small town of Dappled Hills as something of a show-off. She’s always dressed-up. She drives a luxurious car.  And she has a quite spectacular diamond ring that she’s fond of waving around.

Felton, unfortunately, has other issues, too. She’s not particularly kind to the people who work in her yard and run errands for her. Aside from that, Felton complacently alludes to the fact that she knows a few secrets.

When Felton is discovered dead, it’s still a shock—this is Dappled Hills, after all.  But it may not be easy to unravel the mystery when quite a few suspects come to light.  Can Beatrice uncover the murderer before he strikes again?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 21, 2020

About the author

Author also writes under Elizabeth Craig

Elizabeth is the bestselling cozy mystery author of the Southern Quilting mysteries, the Myrtle Clover Cozy Mysteries, the Village Library Mysteries, and Memphis Barbeque mysteries for Penguin Random House, Midnight Ink, and independently. Find out more about her books and sign up for her newsletter on her website: http://elizabethspanncraig.com . Find her books on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list...

Reviews

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! Another winner!

[Lady Galaxy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focused too much on the new baby and pastoral visits and not nearly enough on quilting. Despite several red herrings, the identity of the killer was obvious to me, but then the mystery is always secondary for me. I like reading about the lives of the regulars. I didn't like the rivalry between Beatrice and Meadow over time spent with the grandchild. Though Meadow can always be irritating at times, in this book her behavior was downright obnoxious! I'm not fond of babies. I like kids when they're old enough to walk and talk, but infants freak me out! Way too many pages and words were dominated by this tiny creature who did little more than sleep or stick his fingers in his mouth. BORING! Up until this book, Beatrice hasn't taken an active role as the minister's wife, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, this time around she spent more time with her husband on ministerial type visits than with any of her friends or the members of the quilting guild. I hope the series isn't headed in that direction. I tolerate marriages when they don't uproot the previous life of the main female character. But those were just my personal prejudices. I'm sure grandmothers and baby lovers will appreciate all the slobber and rivalry over who gets to spend the most time with Grandson #1.

It wasn't all negative. What I loved about the book was that Miss Sissy played such a prominent role this time around. I won't get specific, but I'll just say that she reminds me of a certain Appalachian Grandmother I was lucky enough to have for the first 10 years of my life. She was the only Grandparent who lived long enough for me to meet or meet when I was old enough to remember. Miss Sissy is one of my favorites.

I'm hoping the next book will get back to quilting and friendships and the baby will just put in a brief cameo appearance. (And that Piper will go back to teaching. I spent my career as a teacher at both a high school and as a reading specialist for grade school. It would have broken the contracts of two different unions for a teacher to just step in as an accountant. I suppose every state has its own rules for such things, so perhaps it's done differently where they live.

[Julie Trapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Felton Billows is known around the small town of Dappled Hills as something of a show-off. She’s always dressed-up. She drives a luxurious car. And she has a quite spectacular diamond ring that she’s fond of waving around. Felton, unfortunately, has other issues, too. She’s not particularly kind to the people who work in her yard and run errands for her. Aside from that, Felton complacently alludes to the fact that she knows a few secrets. When Felton is discovered dead, it’s still a shock. [amazon synopsis]

With quite a few suspects, it will be challenging to find Felton's killer. But Beatrice will prevail. The new grandchild has arrived and put a slow down to Beatrice's quilting. I still do not like Miss Sissy.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am growing to really love this series! There is a nice gentle pace to the writing. I am getting to know the main characters very well. The mysteries are always intriguing.

I don’t know anything about quilting and was hesitant to start reading this series but you don’t need to know anything about quilting to enjoy these books!

The covers are just adorable with the corgi on them. As I read I have no problem keeping track of the characters which is nice.

These are cozy mysteries without any major violence, swearing or sexual content. I am grateful for a clean cozy mystery.

I have to say in this book Miss Sissy steals the show! Wait until the very end and you will see why!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I GOT THIS ONE RIGHT!!!! Time to celebrate. I actually figured out who done it! I am so proud of myself! I loved this book and sad that this is the last one in the series. I have come to know these characters and feel they are my friends and I am sad I won't be seeing them anymore. The quaint town of Dappled Hills has had their hands full with these murders and I will miss the comradery, love and friendship between them all. If you want to read some great cozy murder mysteries I highly recommend this author and this series.

[B Dingedahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining read . Colorful characters.

I have read all of the Southern Quilting Mystery Books. Loved all of them . The characters are so believable. They are down to earth good natured and funny at times too. The story introduces new characters and twists and turns to the end.
I highly recommend the entire series.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy these mysteries alot! They are very realistic, the protagonist is a quilter with a new grandbaby and so hasn't been doing any quilting because she's busy! It's so true to life and she has a little dog to care for, she is sometimes exasperated, so like a real person. I love this series!

[Vicky Coughlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 12 of this series. Did not disappoint at all. All the usual shenanigans and now with baby Will too. Grumpy Miss Sissy to the rescue this time! What fun was to read this book.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice cozy mystery. Miss Sissy is as unpredictable as ever, Baby Will is the light in everyone's eye, and oh, yes, someone gets murdered in the first chapter. Fun times for all.

[Linda Lugar · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! So love being with these characters ~ they are family... and the family is growing. Another fun mystery.

[Judy Tolley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Sissy to the rescue

Another page turner for me. Lots of twists and turns. It was nice wondering for a bit whodunit. I hope there's more to this series.

[Dorothy A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story! Finally Piper had her baby and the "grandma's" are helping out. And solving a murder or two. Just a fun read