What do you think?
Rate this book
Someday Quilts Mysteries #1
The Lover's Knot
Overjoyed to receive a handmade quilt from her grandmother as an engagement gift until her fiancé calls off the wedding, Nell seeks refuge at her grandmother's home in picturesque Archers Rest, until the body of a flirtatious local handyman turns up in the quilt shop and Nell is drawn into the investigation--and to the handsome police chief. A first novel. (Mystery & Detective)
334 pages, Library Binding
First published September 30, 2008
40 people are currently reading
1590 people want to read
About the author
Clare O'Donohue
16 books131 followersClare O'Donohue was born in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of four children. Her parents, John and Sabina O'Donohue, were both born in Ireland. They met in London and moved to the US and settled on Chicago's South Side where she was raised.
She always knew she wanted to be a writer and in fact wrote her first novel when she was 15. It was a mystery. After college she worked as a newspaper reporter and writing teacher before moving to LA and getting her first job in television. That was on the HGTV show, Simply Quilts. she had already been quilting for about five years, which was why the producer hired her, but she really got an education in quilting from that show.
http://clareodonohue.com/feed/
She always knew she wanted to be a writer and in fact wrote her first novel when she was 15. It was a mystery. After college she worked as a newspaper reporter and writing teacher before moving to LA and getting her first job in television. That was on the HGTV show, Simply Quilts. she had already been quilting for about five years, which was why the producer hired her, but she really got an education in quilting from that show.
http://clareodonohue.com/feed/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
November 27, 2011
First Line: "I'm fine," I said between sobs.
When Nell Fitzgerald's grandmother Eleanor asks what colors she wants for her wedding quilt, Nell is ecstatic. She's over the moon when the finished quilt arrives, but she comes crashing down when her fiance calls off the wedding. Heartbroken, Nell packs a bag and hurries to Archer's Rest, the small town on the banks of the Hudson River where her grandmother lives. There Nell can recuperate and make some sort of plans for the future.
Nell's grandmother's life has always revolved around her quilt shop, Someday Quilts, and the members of the shop's quilting circle. Eleanor is having repairs done to the building, and when the local handyman she hired is found stabbed to death in the shop, Nell finds herself drawn into the case-- primarily because her ex-fiance followed her to Archer's Rest and he's now a suspect in the murder. The women of the quilting circle may be piecing together their quilts, but Nell is piecing together the clues that will lead her to the killer.
This may sound strange, but I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Don't get me wrong, I always expect to enjoy any book that I pick up to read, but some books have little extras that make them that much more pleasurable.
One of those little extras was the strength of O'Donohue's characterizations and the cast she introduced. Nell may be heartbroken, but she's also intelligent, determined, and has plenty of common sense. Her grandmother Eleanor is a strong woman who dearly loves her granddaughter, but she's also willing to let Nell live her own life and make her own mistakes. Of course this doesn't mean that Eleanor's not going to give her some sound advice from time to time. While Nell's getting interested in the local police chief, I'm looking forward to learning more about him in future books. Last but not least, the quilting circle is filled with interesting women. On the strength of the cast of characters alone, this is a very promising series.
I was also pleased to see how large a part quilting played in the book-- and not just piecing and sewing them together. O'Donohue includes quilt design as well as information on the set-up and running of a quilt shop. I could see all the colors, hear the scissors cutting through the fabric, and smell the cloth as I turned the pages.
A wealth of characters and artistry, a small town setting, and an interesting mystery to solve... all these pieces came together to create a fun reading experience. I'm definitely continuing with this series!
When Nell Fitzgerald's grandmother Eleanor asks what colors she wants for her wedding quilt, Nell is ecstatic. She's over the moon when the finished quilt arrives, but she comes crashing down when her fiance calls off the wedding. Heartbroken, Nell packs a bag and hurries to Archer's Rest, the small town on the banks of the Hudson River where her grandmother lives. There Nell can recuperate and make some sort of plans for the future.
Nell's grandmother's life has always revolved around her quilt shop, Someday Quilts, and the members of the shop's quilting circle. Eleanor is having repairs done to the building, and when the local handyman she hired is found stabbed to death in the shop, Nell finds herself drawn into the case-- primarily because her ex-fiance followed her to Archer's Rest and he's now a suspect in the murder. The women of the quilting circle may be piecing together their quilts, but Nell is piecing together the clues that will lead her to the killer.
This may sound strange, but I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Don't get me wrong, I always expect to enjoy any book that I pick up to read, but some books have little extras that make them that much more pleasurable.
One of those little extras was the strength of O'Donohue's characterizations and the cast she introduced. Nell may be heartbroken, but she's also intelligent, determined, and has plenty of common sense. Her grandmother Eleanor is a strong woman who dearly loves her granddaughter, but she's also willing to let Nell live her own life and make her own mistakes. Of course this doesn't mean that Eleanor's not going to give her some sound advice from time to time. While Nell's getting interested in the local police chief, I'm looking forward to learning more about him in future books. Last but not least, the quilting circle is filled with interesting women. On the strength of the cast of characters alone, this is a very promising series.
I was also pleased to see how large a part quilting played in the book-- and not just piecing and sewing them together. O'Donohue includes quilt design as well as information on the set-up and running of a quilt shop. I could see all the colors, hear the scissors cutting through the fabric, and smell the cloth as I turned the pages.
A wealth of characters and artistry, a small town setting, and an interesting mystery to solve... all these pieces came together to create a fun reading experience. I'm definitely continuing with this series!
August 15, 2008
This is the first book in a new series called Someday Quilts Mysteries. Some would call this a "cozy"--there's murder but nothing very graphic and little violence compared to many mysteries. It introduces a number of interesting characters, focusing on Nell Fitzgerald, whose engagement just broke up so she goes to lick her wounds at her grandmother's house. Grandma Eleanor is a no nonsense, tough love kind of gal, and she'd got a whole flock of women, the Friday Night Quilting Circle, who know the ins and outs of the town and of relationships. But all are stunned when the quiet town is rocked by the murder of the local bad boy, and Nell, Eleanor and the quilting ladies get involved in the search for the killer. Fans of Jennifer Chiaverini and Earlene Fowler will embrace this series wholeheartedly.
October 6, 2023
4 stelle e mezza
Avevo avvistato questa serie anni fa e ho comprato i vari libri via via che venivano scontati o comunque quando il prezzo era più basso del solito. Però solo ora mi sono decisa a iniziarla e devo dire che questo libro mi è piaciuto. Per gran parte del tempo ho puntato ora su un colpevole ora su un altro, anche se quello giusto è rimasto sempre in cima alla mia lista, ma confesso di aver completamente sbagliato il movente.
Detto questo, non do il punteggio pieno, anche se il libro mi è davvero piaciuto, perché sono annoiata con la protagonista, sia per le sue scelte in campo amoroso per gran parte della storia, sia per la sua ostinatezza a indagare nonostante il fatto che il capo della polizia mi è sembrato molto collaborativo nei suoi confronti (di sicura paziente). Spero che nei libri successivi diventi un pochino più assennata.
Avevo avvistato questa serie anni fa e ho comprato i vari libri via via che venivano scontati o comunque quando il prezzo era più basso del solito. Però solo ora mi sono decisa a iniziarla e devo dire che questo libro mi è piaciuto. Per gran parte del tempo ho puntato ora su un colpevole ora su un altro, anche se quello giusto è rimasto sempre in cima alla mia lista, ma confesso di aver completamente sbagliato il movente.
Detto questo, non do il punteggio pieno, anche se il libro mi è davvero piaciuto, perché sono annoiata con la protagonista, sia per le sue scelte in campo amoroso per gran parte della storia, sia per la sua ostinatezza a indagare nonostante il fatto che il capo della polizia mi è sembrato molto collaborativo nei suoi confronti (di sicura paziente). Spero che nei libri successivi diventi un pochino più assennata.
February 28, 2009
You would think a mystery set in a quilt shop would be perfect, wouldn't you. Quilt shops are filled with color, texture, and really sharp objects. The only thing that worked in this book was the murder weapon, a really sharp pair of scissors.
When Nell is engaged her grandmother asks her what color...for her wedding quilt. Beige says Nell which perfectly sets the tone for the colorless heroine of this lackluster mystery. Even though you can make a beautiful beige quilt, you cannot make a good mystery with a confused, selfish, immature, inconsiderate, idiotic main character who goes to a small upstate NY town to help her injured acid tongued grandmother (who is not interesting and not witty, just mean) run her quilt shop.
All the elements are there: a handsome policeman, a jilted/jiltor fiance, a Friday night quilting circle filled with characters, a brooding con-man victim. The result however is a mish mash of poorly placed clues, stupid emotional confusion, and a complete lack of wit from anyone. Even the exposure of the murderer, which could have been tearful and unjust, was talky and omigod-please-just-confess-and-get-it-over-with pathetic. The final jilting from her fiance was obvious, boring, and contrived.
The dog, characterized as old, deaf, and stupid, could have sniffed all of this out in a couple of pages if they had all been paying attention.
Guess I really didn't like it. I skimmed the last several chapters and returned it to the library. Thank heavens I didn't waste my money on this one.
It's funny. I felt like the writing could have been really nice and the author seems to have a nice narrative voice. However, she didn't create characters who were colorful, textured, or nuanced. I wanted to like her writing and her setting. Maybe next time.
When Nell is engaged her grandmother asks her what color...for her wedding quilt. Beige says Nell which perfectly sets the tone for the colorless heroine of this lackluster mystery. Even though you can make a beautiful beige quilt, you cannot make a good mystery with a confused, selfish, immature, inconsiderate, idiotic main character who goes to a small upstate NY town to help her injured acid tongued grandmother (who is not interesting and not witty, just mean) run her quilt shop.
All the elements are there: a handsome policeman, a jilted/jiltor fiance, a Friday night quilting circle filled with characters, a brooding con-man victim. The result however is a mish mash of poorly placed clues, stupid emotional confusion, and a complete lack of wit from anyone. Even the exposure of the murderer, which could have been tearful and unjust, was talky and omigod-please-just-confess-and-get-it-over-with pathetic. The final jilting from her fiance was obvious, boring, and contrived.
The dog, characterized as old, deaf, and stupid, could have sniffed all of this out in a couple of pages if they had all been paying attention.
Guess I really didn't like it. I skimmed the last several chapters and returned it to the library. Thank heavens I didn't waste my money on this one.
It's funny. I felt like the writing could have been really nice and the author seems to have a nice narrative voice. However, she didn't create characters who were colorful, textured, or nuanced. I wanted to like her writing and her setting. Maybe next time.
December 27, 2015
I picked up The Lover's Knot because I've read Clare O'Donohue's other mystery series, Kate Conway. The heroine in this series is Nell Fitzgerald. She has called off an engagement and moving to her grandmother's small town of Archers Rest to have some down time and move on with her life. And then, murder happens in her grandmother's quilt shop. And like Conway, Nell tries to assist the cops in solving the crime. I enjoyed the Conway books better because the protagonist seems more spunky and she lives in Chicago so I know where everything takes place. O'Donohue is a good writer so I also enjoyed The Lover's Knot, though not as much. I will be reading the rest of the books in this series. Interesting the most to see if Nell takes up a relationship with the town police chief.
January 22, 2014
I loved this book! It was very different from most cozy mysteries I've read... the love story element was a bit more prevalent, and there was a lot in the story going on other than just the solving of the murder. I really enjoyed the main character, Nell, and I also liked her grandma and her's grandma's group of knitting buddies. It was a really fun and sweet mystery, if that's possible. Looking forward to reading more books in this series!
November 24, 2017
This is a light and easy read about a young woman who must learn to identify when something (or someone) is worth the effort and when it (or he/she) isn’t. What I enjoyed most about this book is that it avoids the cliché characters found in many cozy mystery series. Character development is undoubtedly the author’s strong suit. Even the proverbial bad guy’s personality is fully refined. The cast of characters have very real personalities, which drew me into the story. It’s a story of friendship that spans decades and diverse personalities in a heartfelt way. If you are looking for a light and enjoyable read, I recommend The Lover’s Knot.
November 28, 2018
Love reading about those cozy quilt groups. Throwing a little mystery and your have an exciting read.
November 11, 2024
Loved the characters, loved the story and loved the ending!
November 9, 2025
Cute book…. I will read the series.
September 15, 2019
I thought this book was a good one...
A little mystery , a dead person , and a lovely quilt they made all together while they figure out who killer a handy man...all the while Nell is figuring out if she wants to marry her fiancé...while helping a police chief with the murder as she helps her grandmother.
A little mystery , a dead person , and a lovely quilt they made all together while they figure out who killer a handy man...all the while Nell is figuring out if she wants to marry her fiancé...while helping a police chief with the murder as she helps her grandmother.
July 11, 2011
Set in the present time, a heart-warming story of relationships, family and friendship, loyalty and fortitude. As the story opens, Nell Fitzgerald has her whole life planned: a big-city job and perfect wedding complete with a Lover's Knot quilt for her marital bed. When her fiance calls off the wedding, her entire world is shaken. She flees upstate to Archer's Rest and her grandmother. Nell plans a short visit, but after her grandmother breaks her leg, Nell is needed in Archer's Rest to help with her grandmother's business: the local quilt shop. Nell befriends the Friday Night Quilt Club, all her grandmother's friends who made her Lover's Knot wedding quilt. When a murder is committed in the quilt shop, Nell ferrets out clues to solve the murder before she can decide on her future.
Quilters will enjoy this description of the quilt-making process:
"With every quilt you make you have a picture in your mind of what it should be. Then you start. You pick fabrics, you cut the fabrics, you sew the pieces together. All along there are compromises, mistakes, inspirations. When it works, then you are truly holding your dreams in your hands."
Advice from the experienced quilters on whether to give up on a UFO (unfinished quilt) or finish it is a metaphor for life:
"When you put a lot of work into something and then realize that you've made a mistake, or something isn't working, you can get so frustrated that you want to throw it away. What I do is give myself some time. I put it away for a little while, maybe a few days or a week, then I look at it with fresh eyes. The thing is, if you decide that something isn't worth the effort, then you have to let it go. But if you decide that it is, then you have to do whatever is necessary to make it work."
By the time the identity of the murderer is revealed, Nell is ready to master new challenges in her life. This is a satisfying read for a quilter who loves mystery.
Quilters will enjoy this description of the quilt-making process:
"With every quilt you make you have a picture in your mind of what it should be. Then you start. You pick fabrics, you cut the fabrics, you sew the pieces together. All along there are compromises, mistakes, inspirations. When it works, then you are truly holding your dreams in your hands."
Advice from the experienced quilters on whether to give up on a UFO (unfinished quilt) or finish it is a metaphor for life:
"When you put a lot of work into something and then realize that you've made a mistake, or something isn't working, you can get so frustrated that you want to throw it away. What I do is give myself some time. I put it away for a little while, maybe a few days or a week, then I look at it with fresh eyes. The thing is, if you decide that something isn't worth the effort, then you have to let it go. But if you decide that it is, then you have to do whatever is necessary to make it work."
By the time the identity of the murderer is revealed, Nell is ready to master new challenges in her life. This is a satisfying read for a quilter who loves mystery.
March 10, 2011
I never thought there was such a thing as a lite murder mystery, but this is it. It's a fast moving, quick paced story. Nell escapes to her grandmother's home following her fiance breaking up with her. While her plans are to just "stay the weekend" in this sleepy little town, things start happening that change her life even more. When the handyman turns up dead in Granny's shop, there is a scramble to discover who done it? Will Nell be reconciled with her fiance? Will she find more than she imagined as she searches for the answers to the crime.
Since the book was told through the eyes of the main character, I felt like she should have had more introspective thoughts. I didn't really know her that well, other than her curiosity for what was around her, and an occasional recollection that came forth. I felt the same for most of the characters. Except maybe the dead guy, as we saw him through all his relationships with the various suspects.
I felt that the end fell short in light of a lot of suspense and details that built up around it. The reader had no opportunity to really figure it out, as the information just wasn't really there. I honestly didn't like the solution or even that the victim had been killed at all. It just made me sad. Not waiting around for #2 and #3 on this series.
On a positive note, there was no heavy lusting with explicit detail on the male characters, nor any mention of tingling private parts. Always annoys me.
Since the book was told through the eyes of the main character, I felt like she should have had more introspective thoughts. I didn't really know her that well, other than her curiosity for what was around her, and an occasional recollection that came forth. I felt the same for most of the characters. Except maybe the dead guy, as we saw him through all his relationships with the various suspects.
I felt that the end fell short in light of a lot of suspense and details that built up around it. The reader had no opportunity to really figure it out, as the information just wasn't really there. I honestly didn't like the solution or even that the victim had been killed at all. It just made me sad. Not waiting around for #2 and #3 on this series.
On a positive note, there was no heavy lusting with explicit detail on the male characters, nor any mention of tingling private parts. Always annoys me.
February 15, 2011
As a preface: no judging me! No judging! I picked it up because the second book caught my eye and I didn't want to jump in the middle of a series. I wanted a easy mystery book, and this was the right format and just the right size.
With that said, it was fairly enjoyable. The protagonist wasn't whiney, which was very appreciated given the "evil fiance forces her to run away from her complicated city life" teaser description from the back cover. The tone was very light, and the pace was consistently brisk so it accommodated both "just a quick chapter" and "I can't put it down" reading behaviors.
The only thing that I found disappointing was how flat the mystery elements were. The actual murder takes place half-way through the book, and the culprit was given a reverse-spotlight. This left the story with very little suspense. The victim received some decent character development, which added some weight to the death, but the rest of the cast had so little fondness for the deceased, which downplayed everything the reader experienced with that character. In the end, the motivation for the death was a stretch, and there was no momentum to it the protagonist's realization of who committed the crime.
Ultimately, I can recommend for light romance fans, but not for those inclined toward mysteries.
With that said, it was fairly enjoyable. The protagonist wasn't whiney, which was very appreciated given the "evil fiance forces her to run away from her complicated city life" teaser description from the back cover. The tone was very light, and the pace was consistently brisk so it accommodated both "just a quick chapter" and "I can't put it down" reading behaviors.
The only thing that I found disappointing was how flat the mystery elements were. The actual murder takes place half-way through the book, and the culprit was given a reverse-spotlight. This left the story with very little suspense. The victim received some decent character development, which added some weight to the death, but the rest of the cast had so little fondness for the deceased, which downplayed everything the reader experienced with that character. In the end, the motivation for the death was a stretch, and there was no momentum to it the protagonist's realization of who committed the crime.
Ultimately, I can recommend for light romance fans, but not for those inclined toward mysteries.
September 8, 2014
Nell Fitzgerald is dreaming about her upcoming wedding. She's excited when her wedding quilt, done in the lover's knot pattern, arrives. Her anticipation is destroyed when her fiance cancels the wedding, citing "cold feet". Nell seeks refuge at her grandmother's home in upstate NY. Her grandmother owns a quilt shop, Someday Quilts. Nell is quickly embraced by the Friday Night Quilting Circle and encouraged to learn to quilt. Nell stays longer than expected when her grandmother slips on the stairs and needs Nell during her recuperation. Having just bought the diner next to her shop, she has hired Marc, a handyman with a reputation with the ladies. When Marc is found dead in the quilt shop, the suspect list is extensive. Among the suspects is Nell's fiance who has come to win Nell back. Not wanting to believe Ryan is guilty, Nell does some amateur sleuthing to help the handsome local sheriff. I was left wondering till the end "who done it"?
April 20, 2009
this was definitely a quick read. I did enjoy O'Donohue's writing - she is witty keeps up a good pace, and I enjoyed her quilting references. There were a few lines in the book, too, that I thought were thought-provoking. Unfortunately, I did not mark them and can't find them now. But they dealt with how we can be totally oblivious to the fact that we are boring someone with our stories......
Anyway, my two complaints about the book are:
1. the characters are generally unemotional. I mean, someone is found murdered in the quilt shop, and they all pretty much just go about their regular business and life returns to normal almost immediately afterwards.
2. how does Nell manage to find so many hot guys her age who are quickly attracted to her in a small town?????????
Anyway, my two complaints about the book are:
1. the characters are generally unemotional. I mean, someone is found murdered in the quilt shop, and they all pretty much just go about their regular business and life returns to normal almost immediately afterwards.
2. how does Nell manage to find so many hot guys her age who are quickly attracted to her in a small town?????????
April 27, 2018
Confession: I met the author Clare O'Donohue at some wild cocktail party in New York and she practically dared me to read this book because she knew I was not a big cozy reader and that I knew nothing about quilts (except how great they are for sleeping, napping, TV watching). But read this book I did, and I enjoyed it very much. Upset when her fiance seems to want to take a powder, Nell Fitzgerald journeys to grandma’s in upstate New York. It's there that she gets entangled with a handyman and then murder-solving. It’s a fairly typical cozy setup, which is not easy to get right, believe me, and O'Donohue pulls it off it with skill, charm, and a great sense of wry humor. There’s good suspense, great characterization, and I ended learning quite a bit about quilting. Recommended!
June 1, 2009
Nell gets a beautiful Lover's Knot quilt for a wedding present from her grandmother, she has just opened it, when her fiance' calls the wedding off, she heads out of the city to stay with her grandmother until she can deal with this. Grandma is the owner of a quilt shop, and Nell gets involved with the handsome handyman, who gets murdered with a pair of scissors, The question is, did her exfiance' do it.
October 7, 2011
This book reads more like a novel than a mystery. It's a well-written story of a young woman who moves from New York City to a Small Town to stay with her grandmother while getting over a break-up. While there she uncovers a mystery, but it's the interesting, varied, characters of the small town (and the quilts!) that make this such a good read.
November 11, 2012
This is a very sweet, light mystery, somewhat in the vein of the many "craft" mysteries out there. As I don't read many of them, I don't know how this one stands among the crowd, but it was perfect reading for the holiday season, and for when you are under the weather.
July 1, 2022
So-so mystery/romance.
Shortly (two months?) before the wedding, Nell's fiance announces that he wants to postpone the wedding indefinitely. Feeling dumped, Nell retreats to stay with her grandmother who owns a quilt shop located a short Metro-North commute up the Hudson River. Her fiance follows her up to discuss their relationship, there is a murder and the fickle fiance is the prime suspect. Nell needs to know if he did it before she decides what to do about their relationship and goes head to head with the local cop who doesn't want her investigating the murder. Oh, yeah, there's something about quilts in there.
With the exception of Nell's grandmother, the women in the quilt club seem unsatisfied or unhappy with some aspect of their lives. At least quilting is healthier than alcohol or drugs. All the men in the book are total stereotypes with not a single original personality trait among them. Barney is sweet and absolutely the most likable character in the book.
Since the wedding is postponed right at the beginning of the book, I suppose that we are supposed to overlook the fact that Nell's wedding plans were kind of sketchy, to say the least. She had ordered invitations and had booked a reception. How many people were coming? Nell addressed the invitations alone, apparently in one day. Dresses? Flowers? Site for the wedding? Photographer? AND, when the wedding was postponed, why wasn't Nell's first phone call to the caterer? I don't suppose that Nell has cancellation insurance.
Shortly (two months?) before the wedding, Nell's fiance announces that he wants to postpone the wedding indefinitely. Feeling dumped, Nell retreats to stay with her grandmother who owns a quilt shop located a short Metro-North commute up the Hudson River. Her fiance follows her up to discuss their relationship, there is a murder and the fickle fiance is the prime suspect. Nell needs to know if he did it before she decides what to do about their relationship and goes head to head with the local cop who doesn't want her investigating the murder. Oh, yeah, there's something about quilts in there.
With the exception of Nell's grandmother, the women in the quilt club seem unsatisfied or unhappy with some aspect of their lives. At least quilting is healthier than alcohol or drugs. All the men in the book are total stereotypes with not a single original personality trait among them. Barney is sweet and absolutely the most likable character in the book.
Since the wedding is postponed right at the beginning of the book, I suppose that we are supposed to overlook the fact that Nell's wedding plans were kind of sketchy, to say the least. She had ordered invitations and had booked a reception. How many people were coming? Nell addressed the invitations alone, apparently in one day. Dresses? Flowers? Site for the wedding? Photographer? AND, when the wedding was postponed, why wasn't Nell's first phone call to the caterer? I don't suppose that Nell has cancellation insurance.
March 27, 2025
This is the first story I’ve read by this author. I really liked it! It was cute with a little mystery to figure out all the while loving the little town and the people in it.
Nell’s grandma owns a quilt shop. She has a circle of friends that quilt every Friday night together. Nell is engaged and asks her grandma to make her a quilt for her wedding. She’s so excited when it arrives. Only to have her fiancé say he needs more time. Nell takes off to visit her grandma.
This starts her healing process. She meets all kinds of new people. She’s trying to figure out what she wants and what to do next when Marc, her grandma’s handy man is killed. She is seen by the whole town kissing him through the quilt shop windows. Ryan her ex fiancé just happens to be in town as well. Jesse, the police chief has to put all the pieces together while Nell makes it her mission to try and solve the crime. There is a lot of drama surrounding Marc that all comes into play as the mystery is unraveling.
Nell ends up finding out the real reason Ryan came to town. With the quilt ladies, Nell ends up healing and solving Marc’s death.
I’m headed to read book 2 in the series. I do hope Nell and Jesse are the main focus in book 2. This book was a quick read that had me turning pages to see what happened next.
Nell’s grandma owns a quilt shop. She has a circle of friends that quilt every Friday night together. Nell is engaged and asks her grandma to make her a quilt for her wedding. She’s so excited when it arrives. Only to have her fiancé say he needs more time. Nell takes off to visit her grandma.
This starts her healing process. She meets all kinds of new people. She’s trying to figure out what she wants and what to do next when Marc, her grandma’s handy man is killed. She is seen by the whole town kissing him through the quilt shop windows. Ryan her ex fiancé just happens to be in town as well. Jesse, the police chief has to put all the pieces together while Nell makes it her mission to try and solve the crime. There is a lot of drama surrounding Marc that all comes into play as the mystery is unraveling.
Nell ends up finding out the real reason Ryan came to town. With the quilt ladies, Nell ends up healing and solving Marc’s death.
I’m headed to read book 2 in the series. I do hope Nell and Jesse are the main focus in book 2. This book was a quick read that had me turning pages to see what happened next.
December 20, 2020
The first book in the Someday Quilts Mystery series had me hooked early on, which I didn't expect. I picked up four of the books at the library, thinking they may make an interesting read. Cosy mysteries have become something of a favourite of mine, however there have been some misses among the hits. I wasn't sure what to expect with this story, but I'm glad to have stumbled upon it.
Nell Fitzgerald is a good character, however I'm not convinced she'll become one of my favourite characters yet. The supporting cast, including her grandmother Eleanor and dog Barney, are all great. I definitely felt the sense of warmth conveyed among the group. I've a feeling I'll like them even more as I read more in the series. Bernie and Susanne were particularly wonderful, and I adored grandmother Eleanor.
The mystery is well done, and had me guessing. I enjoyed the cheekiness of Nell's investigation. While this is primarily a mystery, there is also a strong story arc of Nell trying to figure out her future path. I felt this part of the story almost as engaging as the mystery, which surprised me, however I did figure out the conclusion of this well in advance, but I was happy with how it ended.
All in all, a great mystery and a great start to a series. Fingers crossed it continues!
Nell Fitzgerald is a good character, however I'm not convinced she'll become one of my favourite characters yet. The supporting cast, including her grandmother Eleanor and dog Barney, are all great. I definitely felt the sense of warmth conveyed among the group. I've a feeling I'll like them even more as I read more in the series. Bernie and Susanne were particularly wonderful, and I adored grandmother Eleanor.
The mystery is well done, and had me guessing. I enjoyed the cheekiness of Nell's investigation. While this is primarily a mystery, there is also a strong story arc of Nell trying to figure out her future path. I felt this part of the story almost as engaging as the mystery, which surprised me, however I did figure out the conclusion of this well in advance, but I was happy with how it ended.
All in all, a great mystery and a great start to a series. Fingers crossed it continues!
May 17, 2021
Twenty-six-year-old Nell Fitzgerald opens the package from her maternal grandmother, Eleanor, and places the queen size quilt on her New York City bed. It’s her wedding quilt, made in neutrals in the Lover’s Knot pattern. But when she shows it to her fiancé Ryan he drops the bombshell – he’s not ready for marriage. In tears she goes to her grandmother’s place in Archers Rest for a weekend of recovery. During that weekend she meets the women from the Friday Night Quilt Club, her grandmother’s handyman, Marc Reed, and Jesse Dewalt, chief of police in Archers Rest. After her grandmother falls and breaks her leg Nell decides to stay and assist in remodeling the quilt shop. That’s when Ryan shows up and Marc is found dead. Nell can’t help trying to assist Officer Jesse in solving the case as Ryan tries to make up and get married.
I love a murder mystery where the corpse is discovered as quickly as possible. And the whole time I was reading, I was saying to myself, ‘Don’t make up with him, he’s a sleazebag.’ I won’t tell you if they made up or not – you’ll have to read for yourself – but anyone who likes quilts and murder mysteries should like this one. And the author has at least three more books …
I love a murder mystery where the corpse is discovered as quickly as possible. And the whole time I was reading, I was saying to myself, ‘Don’t make up with him, he’s a sleazebag.’ I won’t tell you if they made up or not – you’ll have to read for yourself – but anyone who likes quilts and murder mysteries should like this one. And the author has at least three more books …
May 19, 2017
I was in the mood for a quick, cozy mystery when I started The Lover's Knot by Clare O'Donohue. Normally, a book of this genre would take me about 2 days to complete. This one took over 2 weeks. I just never felt engaged with the plot or the characters, so I did not feel interested in picking it up to read. The author has a nice flow to her writing, but the mystery plot was weak. However, it was the characterization that was the weakest part of the book in my point of view.
The protagonist, Nell, is a young woman who has just suffered a broken engagement. While staying with her grandmother to deal with her broken heart, the town gigilo is murdered and Nell is drawn into the case.
Nell is a shallow and immature character. I did not root for her at all. I believe it was the author's intent to portray the grandmother as strong, but she comes off as cold and nasty. There was no appeal to any of the male love interests, including the gigilo. As for the many female characters who make up a quilting club, they were flat and indistinguishable from one another.
Overall, a disappointing read.
The protagonist, Nell, is a young woman who has just suffered a broken engagement. While staying with her grandmother to deal with her broken heart, the town gigilo is murdered and Nell is drawn into the case.
Nell is a shallow and immature character. I did not root for her at all. I believe it was the author's intent to portray the grandmother as strong, but she comes off as cold and nasty. There was no appeal to any of the male love interests, including the gigilo. As for the many female characters who make up a quilting club, they were flat and indistinguishable from one another.
Overall, a disappointing read.
July 12, 2021
This is my first time reading this author. Being a quilter myself what could be better than a quilt themed mystery? It would help if it didn't have a protagonist that you wanted to thrash every 6 pages. I found Nell to be extremely annoying, pushy, arrogant and completely obtuse where her fiance' was concerned. I know, tell me how you really feel, Barb. Lol. All that being said, the mystery was fabulous. She kept you guessing all the way to the end. Even the aforementioned protagonist started to grow on me a little, at least enough that I am absolutely looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 7, 2019
First book in Someday Quilts series. Easy entertaining read, however the primary character Nell was somewhat irritating. She simply could NOT stay out of the investigation of a murder committed in her Grandmother’s quilt shop. (Of course, that was how the story line progresses.) In real life I suspect she would have landed in jail after a couple of incidents. I’ll try the next one and see if she matures as a character.
February 10, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The friendships of the women, the lessons Nell learned about herself as she tried to figure out whether to marry or not, and how she followed the clues to find out who killed the handyman. And the descriptions of the different quilts, and the how-tos that were sprinkled throughout, as she learned that quilting is not just sewing pieces of fabric together. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
April 19, 2022
I really like this one, there was some humour, a little too much romance but that didn't ruin it, and although most cosies have a romantic break up, that is what usually starts the new path for the heroine and this was one was only slightly different. But the characters and story were interesting, and now that a couple of characters won't be back, I think it will improve, I would read more in the series.
October 30, 2017
I wasn't expecting much, to tell the truth, but this turned out to be an interesting read with substantial characters and an intriguing plot with clues, realistic suspects, and quilting lore along the way. So I was pleasantly surprised, and instead of just enduring it to get it off my shelves and fulfill a reading challenge, I found myself having some fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews