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A Needlecraft Mystery #13
Blackwork
This Halloween, Betsy Devonshire, owner of the Crewel World needlework shop and part-time sleuth, is haunted by murder. After one too many pints, a local blames bar owner and Wicca practitioner Leona Cunningham for a series of "accidents" that have happened throughout town. When he ends up dead without a mark on his body, Leona's the main suspect. But Betsy being on the case spells trouble for the killer.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2009
37 people are currently reading
721 people want to read
About the author
Monica Ferris
27 books491 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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May 1, 2011Blackwork, by Monica Ferris, B-plus, Narrated by Susan Boyce, produced by Audiotogo, downloaded from audible.com.
I like these cozy mysteries about Betsy Devonshire, the owner of Crewel World, a needlecraft store in a Minneapolis suburb. I love the recurring characters, including her gay assistant manager. But you have to take these stories with a large letting go of reality. That a local police force, even one as small as the one in this town, would let an amateur busybody woman collect evidence and turn it over to them, and that the townspeople just allow it, is beyond belief. However, it makes for a good story. And in this book, a woman who runs a bar and makes her own beer, and who is a practitioner of wicka, is subtly distrusted by some people in the town who believe her to be a witch running negative spells and hexes. This was certainly believed by a drunk, Ryan, who was angry when Leona refused to serve him, and accused her of being a witch causing all the bad things that happened in town. Not long after that, he turned up dead in a basement room of Shelley’s house where he had been staying when his wife chucked him out of the house for drinking. His death appeared to be of natural causes, and he was found in a locked room. But Betsy believes there is more to it than that. First of all, lots of people in town have reason to despise Ryan, and secondly, through an accident she had, she caught a glimpse of how the murder could have been committed. A nice relaxing entertaining read.
I like these cozy mysteries about Betsy Devonshire, the owner of Crewel World, a needlecraft store in a Minneapolis suburb. I love the recurring characters, including her gay assistant manager. But you have to take these stories with a large letting go of reality. That a local police force, even one as small as the one in this town, would let an amateur busybody woman collect evidence and turn it over to them, and that the townspeople just allow it, is beyond belief. However, it makes for a good story. And in this book, a woman who runs a bar and makes her own beer, and who is a practitioner of wicka, is subtly distrusted by some people in the town who believe her to be a witch running negative spells and hexes. This was certainly believed by a drunk, Ryan, who was angry when Leona refused to serve him, and accused her of being a witch causing all the bad things that happened in town. Not long after that, he turned up dead in a basement room of Shelley’s house where he had been staying when his wife chucked him out of the house for drinking. His death appeared to be of natural causes, and he was found in a locked room. But Betsy believes there is more to it than that. First of all, lots of people in town have reason to despise Ryan, and secondly, through an accident she had, she caught a glimpse of how the murder could have been committed. A nice relaxing entertaining read.
July 4, 2023
Blackwork by Monica Ferris is the 13th book in the A Needlecraft Mystery series. When local Wicca practitioner , Leona Cunningham, is blamed for the death of a local drunk, she asks Betsy to investigate. An interesting mystery with a unique and unusual murder. I liked that Betsy is once again able to use her needlecraft knowledge to solve the crime and I always come away having learnt something new from these books. An enjoyable and captivating cozy mystery.
February 2, 2021
4 stelle scarse
All'inizio ho trovato il libro un po' lento, ci sono una marea di divagazioni visto che vengono seguite le azioni di tanti personaggi, anche troppi. Poi nell'ultimo terzo o poco più le cose si fanno più interessanti anche perché la protagonista inizia veramente a indagare.
All'inizio ho trovato il libro un po' lento, ci sono una marea di divagazioni visto che vengono seguite le azioni di tanti personaggi, anche troppi. Poi nell'ultimo terzo o poco più le cose si fanno più interessanti anche perché la protagonista inizia veramente a indagare.
October 23, 2009
It may be time to wind up this series, as Ferris is turning a slightly worse mystery in every time now. The characters are now glossed over, the mystery isn't great, the reader figures out the murder method 60 pages before anyone else. And what's more, egregious copy errors. The story is about a woman who owns a shop that sells yarn, people. Therefore, they shoudl get it sorrect - fingering is a weight of yarn, FINGERLING is a potato!
November 3, 2014
I loved Monica Ferris' Blackwork. I picked it to read because of its Halloween theme. As I rely on giveaways for cozies I very rarely get to read one that comes after a previous one that I have read. This time I was already familiar with Betsy Devonshire and Godwin her store assistant. I loved getting back with old friends. Godwin has a new boyfriend so he wants Betsy’s opinion of him. Betsy has her hands full with her store and the annual Fall Festival with a Halloween theme.
There is a murder of course and Betsy sets out interviewing suspects and about everyone who knows them. I think this may put her in danger but she just says that she is very careful. I am afraid that she would have to be much more careful in real life! There are lots of suspects but only Betsy’s orderly manner can sift through them.
Leona Cunningham is suspected by some because she is a witch. She says that she doesn’t put hexes on people or cast bad spells but some people in the town think she did it. She practices Wicca and has her own microbrewery pub, The Barleywine. So we learn about different brews and the brewing process. We are also introduced the embroidery method of Blackwork, which as the book says looks like magic but just involves some trickery. Blackwork can look like lace so that makes it even more fun. This type of embroidery becomes crucial to solving the mystery. Humor abounds and it is fun to be invited into Betsy’s thoughts as she figures out who the murder is.
The selection of the murder weapon was very creative too. I wasn’t a bit disappointed in this cozy.
I highly recommend this embroidery cozy.
There is a murder of course and Betsy sets out interviewing suspects and about everyone who knows them. I think this may put her in danger but she just says that she is very careful. I am afraid that she would have to be much more careful in real life! There are lots of suspects but only Betsy’s orderly manner can sift through them.
Leona Cunningham is suspected by some because she is a witch. She says that she doesn’t put hexes on people or cast bad spells but some people in the town think she did it. She practices Wicca and has her own microbrewery pub, The Barleywine. So we learn about different brews and the brewing process. We are also introduced the embroidery method of Blackwork, which as the book says looks like magic but just involves some trickery. Blackwork can look like lace so that makes it even more fun. This type of embroidery becomes crucial to solving the mystery. Humor abounds and it is fun to be invited into Betsy’s thoughts as she figures out who the murder is.
The selection of the murder weapon was very creative too. I wasn’t a bit disappointed in this cozy.
I highly recommend this embroidery cozy.
September 27, 2016
I enjoyed this needlecraft mystery because I identified with several of the characters. I did not, however, know anything about blackwork, a particular type of needlework. I did enjoy the interaction of the characters in this book, and appreciated that the protagonist did not actually put herself in specific danger to help solve this mystery.
March 25, 2024
4.5 stars
All the right components in just the right amounts for a superb cozy mystery.
All the right components in just the right amounts for a superb cozy mystery.
January 28, 2022
2.5 stars This was the 13th installment of the Needlecraft mystery series that I picked up to give it a try. I really wanted to like it because it would blend my 2 favorite things together. This series will not be on my "Series to Follow" list.
The owner of the local needlecraft store, Crewel World, is also the towns unofficial sleuth. When a local man is found dead, the town folk expect Betsy to find the answers. Many townspeople are trying to say the local "witch" put a hex on the man. How will Betsy prove the innocence of the local Wiccan resident, and solve the case as she tries to put the annual Halloween parade together.
For this reader there was just too much filler and not enough mystery solving.
The owner of the local needlecraft store, Crewel World, is also the towns unofficial sleuth. When a local man is found dead, the town folk expect Betsy to find the answers. Many townspeople are trying to say the local "witch" put a hex on the man. How will Betsy prove the innocence of the local Wiccan resident, and solve the case as she tries to put the annual Halloween parade together.
For this reader there was just too much filler and not enough mystery solving.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2019
A good who-done-it. Will photocopy the cross-stitch pattern before passing the book on to my friend.
April 6, 2021
Blackwork by Monica Ferris is the 13th book of the Needlecraft mystery series set in contemporary small-town Excelsior, Minnesota. Betsy Devonshire owns Crewel World, inherited from her sister. Her plate is full with plans for the upcoming Halloween parade. But Betsy is well known as an accomplished amateur sleuth. When a local troublemaker dies, and the autopsy does not determine foul play, the police won't investigate further. Betsy's friend Leona is suffering; her brewpub is losing customers due to his false claims of witchcraft. Leona practices Wicca, but she doesn't put evil hexes on townspeople as Ryan claimed. So in addition to the parade planning, Betsy is once again investigating a crime.
Betsy starts with the basics, learning more about Ryan's life, his failing marriage, his attempts to dry out. She uncovers secrets that suggest motives, and follows up red herrings galore. The big breakthrough is when Goddy (Betsy's store manager) passes out at a party given by his new lover. A few experiments later, Betsy knows how the locked-room murder was committed. But she still doesn't know who did it.
Of course she does put together all the knowledge she's gathered while interviewing townspeople, and with a bit of intuition, identifies the killer. What seems unnecessary and highly improbable is that Betsy and the police pursue the killer through the parade while it is underway.
This mystery is easily forgotten...but it leaves unresolved whether Goddy has found "Mr. Right" this time. Maybe follow-up is in the next book of the series, Buttons and Bones.
Betsy starts with the basics, learning more about Ryan's life, his failing marriage, his attempts to dry out. She uncovers secrets that suggest motives, and follows up red herrings galore. The big breakthrough is when Goddy (Betsy's store manager) passes out at a party given by his new lover. A few experiments later, Betsy knows how the locked-room murder was committed. But she still doesn't know who did it.
Of course she does put together all the knowledge she's gathered while interviewing townspeople, and with a bit of intuition, identifies the killer. What seems unnecessary and highly improbable is that Betsy and the police pursue the killer through the parade while it is underway.
This mystery is easily forgotten...but it leaves unresolved whether Goddy has found "Mr. Right" this time. Maybe follow-up is in the next book of the series, Buttons and Bones.
April 25, 2016
This is about the quickest that I've read one of this series for quite a while. The story just pulled me along and I found myself wondering when Betsy would finally find the clue that would allow her to solve the murder.
Things I loved about this book: Jill was back among the cast! She is probably my favorite character in the series, so any time she puts in an appearance, I'm happy. This time, she was actually almost her old helpful self, rather than simply showing up to be the mother of a cute child.
Godwin's new boyfriend is a treasure! I really hope that Rafael sticks around for a while.
Conner! Oh, my goodness! I really want to get to know this man better.
Regarding the story itself: I was a bit ahead of Betsy in solving the crime. Certain things happened that, as a writer, I recognized as being clues where a "normal" person might not see them as such. I really liked that the characters were shown to have faults - like the entire misunderstanding of the Wiccan religion. I can't speak to whether or not the portrayal of Leona's faith practices were accurate, but I liked that we don't see the "good people" immediately being only, entirely understanding of it. I also liked that Betsy learned more about Leona's faith and grew as a character as a result.
Things I loved about this book: Jill was back among the cast! She is probably my favorite character in the series, so any time she puts in an appearance, I'm happy. This time, she was actually almost her old helpful self, rather than simply showing up to be the mother of a cute child.
Godwin's new boyfriend is a treasure! I really hope that Rafael sticks around for a while.
Conner! Oh, my goodness! I really want to get to know this man better.
Regarding the story itself: I was a bit ahead of Betsy in solving the crime. Certain things happened that, as a writer, I recognized as being clues where a "normal" person might not see them as such. I really liked that the characters were shown to have faults - like the entire misunderstanding of the Wiccan religion. I can't speak to whether or not the portrayal of Leona's faith practices were accurate, but I liked that we don't see the "good people" immediately being only, entirely understanding of it. I also liked that Betsy learned more about Leona's faith and grew as a character as a result.
October 24, 2017
I've read about half the books in this discontinued series, not in any particular order. Some I have enjoyed very much and some I have been very disappointed. This is middle of the road for me. I enjoyed reading about the spellcasting, the wicca, brews, etc. What I really find annoying with this series is the character Godwin and not because he is gay. He is portrayed as such a cartoon-like over-exaggerated gay character where I totally dislike him. I've never seen a character have so many boyfriends! I mean, seriously, is there a male character in REAL life who would work in a needlecraft store and be so enthusiastic about it? I usually listen to these books on audio, so I will usually fast forward through those parts. Perhaps the narrator is not doing the character justice and that is why my dislike is so strong. Despite my complaints about the one canon character, I did enjoy this mystery as it was a great Halloween-theme.
January 29, 2015
This is the 13th book in the Needlecraft mystery series. In this Halloween themed book, Betsy is on the committee for the fall festival. At one of the interminable planning meetings at a local restaurant/bar, there is an altercation between Ryan and one of the bar owners, Leona, who happens to be a Wiccan. Ryan has been staying as a guest of Betsy’s employee Shelly and Shelly’s boyfriend in her stitching studio. When Ryan turns up dead in a locked room scenario, Leona asks Betsy to find out the truth and clear her name. The mystery was okay, but there were some events that stretched the imagination. The book includes a Halloween themed stitching pattern at the end of the book.
June 8, 2017
Another great mystery with Betsy Devonshire, owner of Crewel World, the stitchery shop in Excelsior, Minnesota, complete with the Monday stitching bunch, manager Godwin, Jill, and others. What sounds as if the town drunk was killed by the local Wiccan practicioner, just like blackwork embroidery tricks the eye, Betsy thinks that there is more trickery going on with this case. Here, Ryan is found dead, with no visible evidence of foul play, or even alcohol poisoning. Lots of twists and turns, in the midst of planning the community Halloween celebrations.
October 23, 2016
Monica Ferris' protagonist Betsy Devonshire is drawn into a murder investigation because of her success in other inquiries of a similar nature. This particular tale focuses heavily on Betsy's sleuthing and much less on the needlecraft world than earlier books in the series. Several unattached story threads are introduced--- Godwin's new romance and Betsy's new tenant are two--so these will provide an entree into new plot lines in future books in the series.
Quick, enjoyable cozy mystery read.
Quick, enjoyable cozy mystery read.
June 29, 2019
I enjoy the detailed discussions of needlecrafts in this series, and this book is one of the most technical. There is a description of a blackwork class taken by the main character that teaches just as much, if not more, about this art form than any book exclusively devoted to the subject. An obvious lover of knowledge the author also devotes passages to nuances of beer brewing, herb growing, Wicca practice, and a number of other interests.
March 27, 2010
A bit of fluff. Fun read. Thirteen in Ferris' needlecraft mysteries. A cozy mystery. The death in this story is a young man, beloved by all when sober, but obnoxious when drunk. The autopsy shows that he died of natural causes. But....amateur sleuth Betsy Devonshire suspects otherwise. As a stitcher, this series is fun for me to read. Thai Die was the best so far, I think
May 27, 2010
I always enjoy reading Monica Ferris's mysteries, even when they frustrate me... I wish Ferris had written more about Leona, since she's an interesting character, but maybe she'll show up in future books.
September 22, 2012
Great Boook! The characters really come together in this book to solve the murder!
September 14, 2016
This book involves both needlework, Wiccans and beer making. Fascinating.
September 23, 2018
A nice easy read for a change of pace.
November 27, 2018
Trite, cutesy and simplistic.
December 19, 2018
Enjoy narrator Susan Boyce
March 4, 2019
Nice solid story. Lots of suspects.
July 5, 2019
I enjoy the interaction of continuing characters as they develop along with each mystery. As well as the commentary on the individual types of needlecraft.
January 27, 2025
When he’s not a wasted drunk, Ryan is a decent auto mechanic. So wasted is he so often that his wife threw him out, and he’s staying at schoolteacher Shelley’s house against her better judgment. (It’s her boyfriend’s idea).
One night, Ryan turns up at Leona Cunningham’s bar utterly plastered. Because Cunningham practices Wicca, Ryan is sure she has hexed him and cursed him. The whole town begins to believe him when they find his body the next day in Shelley’s house’s locked room. He’s dead, but there isn’t a mark on his body. Well, there’s that one telltale mark on his foot that looks like a cigarette burn, but the coroner says it’s not a big deal. They find no drugs in him other than the copious amount of booze. He didn’t have a heart attack. Townsfolk wonder whether Leona did indeed put some kind of black-magic spell on him. So prevalent is that wonder that it negatively impacts her bar/microbrewery business. Leona begs Betsy Devonshire to find Ryan’s real killer.
I thought the Wiccan ceremonial descriptions in here were largely unnecessary. Is this the author’s way of convincing me she did copious research into Wicca? Of course, I’ve no idea. It felt like sidetrack tangential silliness I largely didn’t need. It didn’t titillate me in any way; indeed, it frustrated me because it made the book longer than the book needed to be.
Still, the means by which Ryan died proved unique indeed. On balance, this was worth my time, but I’m tiring of the series or it’s just getting tired—not sure which.
One night, Ryan turns up at Leona Cunningham’s bar utterly plastered. Because Cunningham practices Wicca, Ryan is sure she has hexed him and cursed him. The whole town begins to believe him when they find his body the next day in Shelley’s house’s locked room. He’s dead, but there isn’t a mark on his body. Well, there’s that one telltale mark on his foot that looks like a cigarette burn, but the coroner says it’s not a big deal. They find no drugs in him other than the copious amount of booze. He didn’t have a heart attack. Townsfolk wonder whether Leona did indeed put some kind of black-magic spell on him. So prevalent is that wonder that it negatively impacts her bar/microbrewery business. Leona begs Betsy Devonshire to find Ryan’s real killer.
I thought the Wiccan ceremonial descriptions in here were largely unnecessary. Is this the author’s way of convincing me she did copious research into Wicca? Of course, I’ve no idea. It felt like sidetrack tangential silliness I largely didn’t need. It didn’t titillate me in any way; indeed, it frustrated me because it made the book longer than the book needed to be.
Still, the means by which Ryan died proved unique indeed. On balance, this was worth my time, but I’m tiring of the series or it’s just getting tired—not sure which.
December 3, 2022
This was a busy book and perfect for my commute. Plenty to pay attnetion to and keep straight but not so much as to be distracting. All fell into a line as the story went on.
I like that there is a sort of main character, Betsey Devonshire, is a woman of substance. She has her own business, Crewel World, and she has a good set of friends. Though there's a main character of sorts, the story is told through many eyes and voices. Godwin and Leona might be my favorites. Godwin works for Betsey and Leona owns the local brewpub. Godwin is a sweetie looking for love for himself and for Betsey. Leona is Wiccan and wants Betsey to find out how a man died and have the rumors stop about her casting a curse on him.
Betsey follows the clues, makes mistakes, straightens up and keeps moving along. Not always forward or in a straight line, it's sometimes a crooked backwards direction. But she keeps trying. She wants to help her friend.
There are bits of needlework spread out through the book and it makes me want to get back to my cross-stitch. I enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed this book.
I can definitely recommend this book and this author. I look forward to more from this series.
I like that there is a sort of main character, Betsey Devonshire, is a woman of substance. She has her own business, Crewel World, and she has a good set of friends. Though there's a main character of sorts, the story is told through many eyes and voices. Godwin and Leona might be my favorites. Godwin works for Betsey and Leona owns the local brewpub. Godwin is a sweetie looking for love for himself and for Betsey. Leona is Wiccan and wants Betsey to find out how a man died and have the rumors stop about her casting a curse on him.
Betsey follows the clues, makes mistakes, straightens up and keeps moving along. Not always forward or in a straight line, it's sometimes a crooked backwards direction. But she keeps trying. She wants to help her friend.
There are bits of needlework spread out through the book and it makes me want to get back to my cross-stitch. I enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed this book.
I can definitely recommend this book and this author. I look forward to more from this series.
August 12, 2018
This wasn't awful, but I can't give more than 2 stars because it really didn't work for me.
I don't really care about knitting or golf or cross-stitching, and I know it's my fault to read a book about it and then deduct stars for my boredom, but I had a challenge to fulfill.
I had it figured out pretty quickly
I also find these people to be completely ridiculous. you mean to tell me that a drunk guy goes out and gets in an accident and you --even for a second--want to consider that it was because this lady hexed him? Seriously?
Some of the conversations seemed incredibly bizarre to me as well. But I haven't read this series from the beginning and maybe there is something in the dynamic of these characters that lends itself to unrealistic talks.
I love cozy mysteries, but this just didn't work for me. I think if you're into cross-stitching and all, then maybe this would work better for you.
I don't really care about knitting or golf or cross-stitching, and I know it's my fault to read a book about it and then deduct stars for my boredom, but I had a challenge to fulfill.
I had it figured out pretty quickly
I also find these people to be completely ridiculous. you mean to tell me that a drunk guy goes out and gets in an accident and you --even for a second--want to consider that it was because this lady hexed him? Seriously?
Some of the conversations seemed incredibly bizarre to me as well. But I haven't read this series from the beginning and maybe there is something in the dynamic of these characters that lends itself to unrealistic talks.
I love cozy mysteries, but this just didn't work for me. I think if you're into cross-stitching and all, then maybe this would work better for you.
September 22, 2018
Betsy Devonshire is the owner of Crewel World and part time sleuth in Excelsior, MN. Leona Cunningham, the town's practioner of Wicca and co-owner of the Barleywine where she serves her craft beers, is suspected of casting an evil spell on Ryan McMurphy, an alcoholic. Ryan is staying with Shelley and Harv since getting kicked out of his home by his wife. He ends up dead in Shelley's craft room. At first it looks like "natural causes", but the town's rumor mill has put there bet on Leona having hexed Ryan. She asks Betsy to investigate unofficially. It turns out Ryan's death is not natural causes, nor suicide, but murder most foul. Who done it? That's the fun of reading the book, of course!
September 24, 2020
Fun cosy mystery taking place in a small town in Minnesota, this is #13 in the needlecraft mystery series and the first that I have read. It was a good stand alone book and I don't feel I was missing any vital information from the previous books in the series.
The main character ,Betsy Devonshire and all of the supporting characters were relatable and typical of those living in a small town. Although I find it hard to believe that the local police are ok with Betsy collecting evidence and involving herself in a murder case. But , like other cosy musteries, it makes for an interesting story. Not all of the characters are as well developed as Betsy, Leona and Goodwin, which detracts from the story line. Maybe that is information that is in the previous books?
In all, a fun read!
The main character ,Betsy Devonshire and all of the supporting characters were relatable and typical of those living in a small town. Although I find it hard to believe that the local police are ok with Betsy collecting evidence and involving herself in a murder case. But , like other cosy musteries, it makes for an interesting story. Not all of the characters are as well developed as Betsy, Leona and Goodwin, which detracts from the story line. Maybe that is information that is in the previous books?
In all, a fun read!
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