The Long Stitch Goodnight

An Embroidery Mystery #4

by Amanda Lee

Although she's taken an interest in Irish embroidery, Marcy Singer can't help but abandon her needlecraft when handsome local brewer Todd finds himself accused of murder. Both Todd and his friend Blake's fingerprints are on the murder weapon, and neither is talking about what happened. Marcy is determined to stitch together some luck from more than a few four-leaf clovers and prove that the culprit was someone else...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Romance, Classics, Contemporary

Hardcover

First published April 3, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Amanda Lee is a pseudonym of Gayle Trent.

Series:
* Embroidery Mystery

(from Gayle Trent's webpage)

"Thank you so much for stopping by my site!

I live in Southwest Virginia with my husband and two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. I’m a full-time writer/editor/mom/wife and chief cook and bottle washer, and I love every minute of it. Okay, not the bottle washing so much, but the rest of it is great.

I’m happy to introduce you to my latest characters, cake decorator Daphne Martin and embroidery shop owner Marcy Singer.

Read more about Daphne and Marcy at my blog.

Who’s Amanda Lee?

Amanda Lee is a pseudonym Gayle is using for the new cozy mystery series featuring a heroine who owns an embroidery shop. The series is set on the Oregon Coast and features Marcy Singer, a spunky, thirty-something, entrepreneur who is handy with a needle.

Drop me a Line or join me on Twitter!

Reviews

[Christine]

The cover of this book features embroidery patterns that are copyrighted and were used without the artist's permission. As a so-called artist, the writer should be ashamed of herself for stealing other artists' works.

[Patrizia]

Bella storia, con tanti colpevoli possibili. L'unica cosa meno positiva è stata il fatto che la protagonista ogni tanto mi sembrava un po' sopra le righe e, soprattutto, non ha ancora risolto il problema di quale dei due spasimanti scegliere (insomma, dopo quattro libri, la cosa inizia a essere un po' pesantina...). Comunque sia, questa continua a essere una delle mie serie preferite.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review)]

This time we have arrived at St Patrick's Day, Marcy is teaching herself Mountmellick whitework embroidery, and she has plans for the evening involving her bestie Sadie, Angus O'Ruff (the Irish Wolfhound) and some rom coms on the tv. Meanwhile Blake (Sadie's husband) is at the Brew House meeting up with members of the Fraternity both he and Todd (the Brew House owner) pledged to. Both Sadie and Marcy are stunned when they get a phone call from Blake to say he is in jail, accused of murder .... along with Todd!

Now Marcy will put herself and her friendships on the line to try and find out the truth, not helped by Blake and Todd clamming up!

[Linda Smatzny]

In this story, Marcy Singer, the main character feels compelled to help her friends, Todd and Blake after they are arrested for murder. The problem is neither man will talk to her about the night the murder happened. The book was an easy read.

[Kathy Austin]

This is an okay series. I should have started with the first book instead to the 4th in the series though.

[Linda]

Fun, quick read

This was a good story and a quick read. I enjoy the characters and although Marcy’s love triangle is getting old I don’t know which one I would pick either. I was excited because my top suspect turned out to be guilty.

[Helena]

I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't as good as the first three. The ending felt very rushed--the mystery was wrapped up in a page or two--and it didn't even make sense. The criminal lures Marcie and Blake into a trap by texting them, posing as Blake texting Marcie and vice versa. Thing is, he sent both texts from his own phone, which would have showed up on Marcie and Blake's phones, and they would have been able to see that the texts were not, in fact, from the correct phone number. So the premise there doesn't work, which annoyed me, because it's not like texting is a new and mysterious technology that we don't understand yet. Also, this is book four of Marcie debating between Ted and Todd, and we're getting to a point where she needs to decide--the debate is getting old. And there's this sub-plot with Sadie and Blake that never gets resolved, so we're left dangling there.

All in all, an okay book, but the last part could have been better.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite)]

While reading this, I was thinking what rating to give it. There's moments where I like it and moments where I thought the book wasn't as good as the first three. Though Marcy seems to be at her most emotional in this one. Well everyone.

Mostly because of the love triangle which honestly, at first I didn't mind it, but think this far in the series, might want to get that arc resolved. And you know, communication with the three would be nice, what with the one is assuming this or the other is assuming that, etc. I don't know.

3 stars for the first half and 3.5 for the second half, once the mystery picked up.

Anyway, the mystery as the story went along was interesting I guess. Yay for Angus though. While I didn't love this one, I thought it to be a good addition to the series.

[Diane J. Caldarulo]

Continuation of a great story

Ok Mindy Singer thankfully doesn't have anyone dying in her shop or on the sidewalk but she is invoked in figuring out a who fine it all in the course of helping her friends. The writer writes such believable characters that you feel they see real, the town real, and the plot real. I would suggest that the books get read in order so that the inner play between the characters is understood. Great read, can't wait! Onto the next one!!!

[Carolyn Wagner]

I want to move to Tallulah Falls and shop at Seven Year Stitch and pet Angus and go to Mackenzie's Mochas and be friends with Marcy and Sadie. I think that means it's a good cozy mystery.

[Pat Cray-Hollis]

Great series. Amanda Lee writes a great storyline and never disappointed.

[Jade]

Not my favorite so far but still good

This is the 4th book in the series. Not my favorite but still a good read. My biggest problem is the lead, Marcy, can't seem to take the often loud hint to keep her nose out of other people's business but if she did that then there would be no story. This time the plot made it seem as if Marcy is somewhat narcissistic, it is even mentioned in the book. I am going to continue with series.

[Barbara]

This was a nice cozy mystery. The plot has Marcy trying to solve Graham's murder when her two friends Blake and Todd are accused. She learns that sometimes investigating can hurt her and others. I have read a number of mysteries dealing with cooks and there are recipes included. This series is about an embroidery store, and Marcy is working on a pattern. I wish the pattern had been included or at least shown.

[D]

The St. Patrick party at the Brew Crew of fraternity brothers leads to murder. While Marcy is investigating, she discovers a great deal of knowledge in the background of the fraternity members. Lack of information from her friends leads Marcy to a great deal of frustration and a rethought of their closeness.

[Joy Harding]

This is my favorite cozy mystery series. I love the characters, the needlework dimension, and the well-crafted stories. That said, this particular book was not my favorite of the series. I find that it was slow in places. Still, I read it and I enjoyed it. So have fun reading it and make up your own mind.

[Destiny]

I laughed outloud at the part where the elderly customer keep talking to the new employee who was in fact a mannequin 😂

I’m loving this true cozy mystery series! It’s actually clean: no gore, no cursing, no sex references, and funny-isms interspersed throughout. Thank you, Amanda, for an enjoyable time!

[Monica Mason]

When meddling is a bad thing. Marcie tries to prove that Todd and Blake are innocent of murder. When they don't help themselves, the embroidery sleuth steps in and steps in it. Multiple times. Will she have any friends remaining in the end?

[Jimmie]

Thought I would throw in the towel on this series after #3 was such a disappointment, sure glad I didn't. This installment redeemed my interest in the series! Excellent mystery, character development and a sprinkling of humor.

[Vestisa]

with friends like Marcy,  who needs enemies.  Favorite line by police 'we had this pretty much wrapped up without your busybody interference which caused so much heart break' maybe not his exact words

[Jennifer Kovaleski]

A highly entertaining series. I enjoy the setting and learning about embroidery being someone who is not a crafty person it wishes she was. Definitely did not guess correctly with this one. Can’t wait to continue the series

[Emma Taylor]

As good as the others for sure. I love this series.

[Susan LaSalle]

Good as usual

Didn't have a clue who "done it" until the very last.
On to the next book. Why do I have to write more

[Amanda]

Another enjoyable installment with Marcy and the gang! I’ve decided to read the rest of the series (10 to date) straight through because I want to see who Marcy ends up with. Just for the record I’m team Ted!

[Rena Nowacoski]

Another murder mystery solved with the help of "Marcy Singer, embroidering private eye'. A perfect light read for a cold winter afternoon.

[Pam]

Mystery.

[Kelly Rosario]

Loved this series involving mysteries, interesting characters, and a little romance. I only wish the series would have continued.

[Emily Green]

I love this series! Just enough murder mystery along with relationships growing.

[Rita Caldwell]

Great mystery, didn't know until the end!!!

[Crystal Anderson]

This was an ok read. Not an addictive page turner but an ok cozy mystery. I like the character, I like the town.

[Helen Smart]

Solid cozy mystery. The main character gets a bit annoying in parts but a decent read