A Body in Redwork

Missouri Star #2

by Hillary Doan Sperry

Quilters aren’t serial killers.
It should have been a universal truth. Especially at Christmas in small town Hamilton, Missouri.
Until one of Jenny’s friends is murdered in the middle of the first Christmas Redwork Quilting Retreat.

With her friends and business at risk, staying out of it isn’t an option and piece by piece, Jenny works to unravel secrets, proving everyone has something to hide.
As the week comes to a close, Jenny must race the clock to find out who is eliminating designers from the quilting industry before the killer strikes again. Will she solve the case or find death under the tree, all tied up in murder?

Genres: Mystery

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just meh. It could be hard to follow at times and hard to keep up with the different characters. Add to that some editing problems (characters misnamed so you don’t actually know who the author is talking about) and it could get downright confusing. I thought the concept of Jenny using quilt blocks to figure out the murder was a nice touch, but she was too much like a modern-day Jessica Fletcher, and it just didn’t work for me.

[Della Tingle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh! It isn’t often that I give books only 2 stars, yet this is the second 2 star review in one day! The best part of this book is the dedication: “Dedicated to my momma. You are the perfect heroine for any book. You are an adventure and a joy. A woman deserving of stories to be written about.” Precious. ❤️

[Estela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work of fiction includes at least one living person (the mother of the author presumably). The location is the Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton Missouri. I enjoyed the story and felt that the mystery was well thought out. However, I had issues with some of the editing (or rather the lack of editing) throughout the book. Several places within the story the name of the individuals would be swapped about. For example, at one point Jenny is discussing with Helen an activity that included all three women "All three?.. oh, you, Helen, and .... " "Mickey" Helen's voice breaks on her friend's name. ... um... so.. okay, who is the third person? Or more specifically, if we assume "you" is meant to be Helen (who is the other person in this conversation) then why is Helen's name included in the list? There are several other places in the book where names are interchanged poorly so that you have to re-read to realize that the error is in name-swapping and not the reader missing something in a previous paragraph.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun, light read although could get confusing at times with all the characters. It reminded me of Scooby Doo. When they’d catch the criminal (s)he’d say, “And I would have gotten away with it if it hadn’t been for these meddling kids!”

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once again the editing was awful, shameful in fact. If anything, it was worse than the first book. I was gifted book #3 so will read it but that's the end of this author for me. She should be ashamed she let this book be published with the horrible editing that was done.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I purchased this book at a used bookstore.

This novella was first published in BLOCK, a quilting magazine published by the Missouri Star Quilt Company. 

This mystery novella takes place during the Christmas time during a quilting retreat and fabric designer's convention in Hamilton, Missouri. 

At the time I purchasd this book, I did not realize that this is the second book in the series. 

To be honest, I had a difficult time following the story because

I did not know the background on the main characters.  Additionally, since I am not a quilter, the verbiage was very unfamiliar to me. Moreover, the story did not flow very well, and many mistakes during the editing process were missed before this story was released. 

Anyway, Jenny Doan, with help from Cherry Carmine, her assistant, organizes a quilting retreat for all six of her friends which just happens to coincide with the first designer's convention at her family's Missouri Star Quilt Company. 

Jenny's friends - Bernie and Dotty, sisters and the only locals besides Jenny and Cherry, Helen, Maura, Mickey, Tilly. 

Mickey successfully sells a fabric line to Harper Wovens and soon receives a beautiful card containing a creepy message written in a satire of a Christmas song "Deck the halls with bows of folly...Time to purge designer dollies..."  Shortly after, Mickey is murdered and therefore becomes the first victim. 

To be honest, I thought the best part of the book is the creepy messages written on the cards that are given to victims before they are killed. 

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, can't wait to share with my quilting friends!

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Body in Redwork is a traditional closed room murder mystery with the main characters all together at a quilting retreat when one of their number is murdered. Unfortunately the murder happens before you have even begun to get the characters straight or any sympathy for the victim. From there it tends to be frequently baffling as you try to keep everyone straight and understand the world of quilting fabric designers it's set in. I enjoyed the concept but found most of the characters (including the main character Jenny) to be very flat and the setting also not well described. The plot and the twist were good but I suspect the author may need more experience to really bring it to life.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read. I received this book in Jenny's Countdown to Christmas Box. I absolutely loved Jenny being a character and the quilt company being part of the story.

I wish more detail had been put into the killers backstories. I was also confused by the quilts used during the murders.

I did enjoy the read.

[Carri Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been a long time patron of the Missouri Star Quilt Company, this was my first introduction to the Missouri Star Mystery books. I'm a big fan of mystery books and was delighted with this Christmas themed mystery. It was a quick and easy read with enough mischief and mayhem to keep me guessing. Cuddle up in your favorite quilt and enjoy the adventure.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a confusing story and still not really sure what happened? If you had been to the location and seen how the town is laid out, it might make a little more sense but I felt like I had no clue where everything was happening.

[Amelia in PDX · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting in Jenny's daughter has written Jenny into a murder mystery.

This is not the first story in this series & a couple of the stories are supposed to be in copies of Missouri Star Quilt's "Block" magazine, so don't know if it's possible to pick those up or not.

[Mary Vanpatten · Rating 3 out of 5]

What makes this book special is that I got it as a gift in my Missouri Star Quilt’s countdown to Christmas box. I love the Jenny is the main character and the setting is a fabric designer show.

[Helen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did anyone read or edit this book before it was published?

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many characters to keep track of.

[Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

White elephant gift, dnf half way through. I just couldn't do it.

[Denice Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

There wasn’t much to this book. The characters weren’t developed and the plot was mediocre. The book also needs a good proofreading as there were a lot of printing errors.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny Doan double booked herself - her quilting retreat and a fabric designer's convention. Many designer's gathered to show their fabric collections, and Jenny's friends gathered for her quilting retreat. Jenny's 2 assistants - Cherry and Andi - vied for Jenny's approval, often butting heads. One of her friends, Mickey, becomes a designer and Jenny begins to learn another less desirable side of her friend. Then the unspeakable, Mickey is murdered. Jenny feels the police aren't doing a very good job of finding her killer, so she begins investigating and not only uncovers the less than honorable side of fabric design but also the nasty side of her friend Mickey. Mysterious and threatening notes with changed lyrics to christmas carols are found by the bodies of the 2 murder victims and more notes insinuate that unless she stops investigating, Jenny could be next. Jenny, an avid quilter and teacher of quilting, uses a unique method to try to solve the murders - she assigns clues and values to the piecing of her quilt design. Will this method allow help or hinder both the police investigation and her own.
As an fan of Jenny's Missouri Star tutorials, it was an interesting read to see Jenny in such a different setting. I received this book as part of Jenny's Countdown to Christmas 2021 and enjoyed the story.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so interesting. I could just see Jenny Dorn trying to make sense of all the clues. Me personally, I went through everyone there. I did even hit on the person doing the killing. Then slid right on over to someone else. It was a mild shock to find out who did it. Very good story. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Kay Bliefernicht · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not sure why I finished the book. I’m tempted to make corrections in red and send it back to the editor. Punctuation, grammar, sentence fragments—they were all represented, and so frequent that it was mind boggling. The storyline was disjointed and hard to follow at times. I’m disappointed because I’m a fan of MSQC and was expecting better.

[Barbara Fryer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story

This was at great story. I enjoyed the imagery very much. Your proofreader needs to be more careful.Jenny was talking g to Helen about three women. She stated...You, Helen and...

[dinah adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Came to life

Lived. Both books hoping for many more to come. When reading you expect to see all the characters in the MSQC I love quilting and love MSQC

[Phyllis Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever murder mystery using a quilting theme and background.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I love that the characters and setting were all about Missouri Star Quilt Co. I will be reading her other work.

[Michele Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When your other book is Balm In Gilead, a theological dialogue...this was a light and funny escape

[Marlyn G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a bit confusing with certain characters at about the halfway part but becomes clear later on. I did enjoy it though.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for a first novel. Fun to have Jenny Doan in a mystery.

[Debbie Woodyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Missouri Star Mystery. Fun to read a book with Jenny Doan in it to.