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A Needlecraft Mystery #1-3
Patterns of Murder: Crewel World / Framed in Lace / A Stitch in Time
Crewel World
The art of needlecraft requires patience, discipline, and creativity. So, too, does the art of detection. Just ask Betsy Devonshire--who's learning that life in a small-town needlecraft shop can reveal an unexpected knack for knitting ... and a hidden talent for unraveling crime.
When Betsy arrived in Excelsior, Minnesota, all she wanted was to visit her sister Margot and to get her life in order. She never dreamed her sister would give her a place to stay and a job at her needlecraft shop. In fact, things had never looked so good--until Margot was murdered...
In a town this friendly, it's hard to imagine who could have committed such a horrible act. But Betsy has a few ideas. There's an ex-employee who wants to start her own needlework store. And there's the landlord who wanted Margot out. Now Betsy's putting together a list of motives and suspects to figure out this killer's pattern of crime...
Framed in Lace
The art of needlecraft requires patience, discipline, and creativity. So, too, does the art of detection. Just ask Betsy Devonshire--who's learning that life in a small-town needlecraft shop can reveal an unexpected knack for knitting ... and a hidden talent for unraveling crime.
When the historic Hopkins ferry was raised from the bottom of the lake, who would have thought they were literally raising the dead! But there it was--a skeleton--right before their eyes. Unfortunately, the evidence is slim and soggy: The boat sank in 1949, the victim on board was a woman, and near the body is a piece of unidentifiable lacelike fabric. Sounds like a job for Betsy Devonshire. Betsy knows there's more to this story than what's on the surface. And once she and patrons of her needlecraft shop start lending a hand, they're sure to stitch together the details of this unnerving mystery ...
A Stitch in Time
The art of needlecraft requires patience, discipline, and creativity. So, too, does the art of detection. Just ask Betsy Devonshire--who's learning that life in a small-town needlecraft shop can reveal an unexpected knack for knitting ... and a hidden talent for unraveling crime.
The cold, blustery Midwest winters don't exactly agree with Betsy Devonshire, but since moving to Excelsior, Minnesota, she sure has met a lot of warm, friendly people. So she isn't too surprised when the town's most talented needleworkers volunteer to restore a dam aged tapestry that was found in the basement of a local church. Betsy even offers to donate materials for the project, thinking that the free publicity will boost sales at her financially troubled needlecraft shop. But soon Betsy is afraid of losing more than her business because her good intentions have unleashed some deadly secrets...
The art of needlecraft requires patience, discipline, and creativity. So, too, does the art of detection. Just ask Betsy Devonshire--who's learning that life in a small-town needlecraft shop can reveal an unexpected knack for knitting ... and a hidden talent for unraveling crime.
When Betsy arrived in Excelsior, Minnesota, all she wanted was to visit her sister Margot and to get her life in order. She never dreamed her sister would give her a place to stay and a job at her needlecraft shop. In fact, things had never looked so good--until Margot was murdered...
In a town this friendly, it's hard to imagine who could have committed such a horrible act. But Betsy has a few ideas. There's an ex-employee who wants to start her own needlework store. And there's the landlord who wanted Margot out. Now Betsy's putting together a list of motives and suspects to figure out this killer's pattern of crime...
Framed in Lace
The art of needlecraft requires patience, discipline, and creativity. So, too, does the art of detection. Just ask Betsy Devonshire--who's learning that life in a small-town needlecraft shop can reveal an unexpected knack for knitting ... and a hidden talent for unraveling crime.
When the historic Hopkins ferry was raised from the bottom of the lake, who would have thought they were literally raising the dead! But there it was--a skeleton--right before their eyes. Unfortunately, the evidence is slim and soggy: The boat sank in 1949, the victim on board was a woman, and near the body is a piece of unidentifiable lacelike fabric. Sounds like a job for Betsy Devonshire. Betsy knows there's more to this story than what's on the surface. And once she and patrons of her needlecraft shop start lending a hand, they're sure to stitch together the details of this unnerving mystery ...
A Stitch in Time
The art of needlecraft requires patience, discipline, and creativity. So, too, does the art of detection. Just ask Betsy Devonshire--who's learning that life in a small-town needlecraft shop can reveal an unexpected knack for knitting ... and a hidden talent for unraveling crime.
The cold, blustery Midwest winters don't exactly agree with Betsy Devonshire, but since moving to Excelsior, Minnesota, she sure has met a lot of warm, friendly people. So she isn't too surprised when the town's most talented needleworkers volunteer to restore a dam aged tapestry that was found in the basement of a local church. Betsy even offers to donate materials for the project, thinking that the free publicity will boost sales at her financially troubled needlecraft shop. But soon Betsy is afraid of losing more than her business because her good intentions have unleashed some deadly secrets...
496 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2005
3 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Monica Ferris
27 books487 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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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 19, 2022
This cozy mystery is a little dated and the audiorecording is atrocious. The voices the reader makes sound like robots. Maybe I should have just picked up a copy of the book and read it. I don't think I will read the rest of the series.
February 24, 2019
Absolutely LOVE this series. I have read ALL the books in this series. The first one I received was actually the 3rd in line and then found this copy so was able to start at the beginning. The first book really pulls you in to the story and you are hooked. I was very impressed with the storyline and how Ms. Ferris fleshes out her characters. I haven't enjoyed a series this much since I read Jack Higgins ' series of Sean Dillon adventures. Monica Ferris reminds me of reading Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. If you enjoy whodunit's with different characters and having a central location, you will love these stories.
October 18, 2023
Three books under the title of Patterns of Murder: Each book envolves Betsy Devonshire, who after her devorice, left San Diego, California, and arrived in Excelsior, Minnesota to spend time with her older sister Margot. Who is murdered a few days after she came into town. Each story is a contendal of the time Betsey is there. Very good story line, telling how Betsey helps solve the killing of her sisterin the first one called Framed in lace. Hard to put down. Also each story ends with a neddlework patteren.
July 17, 2021
The first three needlecraft mysteries follows Betsy arrival in Minnesota to stay with her sister while she gets her life back on track after her divorce. Then her sister is murdered and Betsy believes it was not a random killing and sets out to discover the truth. And the second and third stories are how she is getting a reputation for solving mysterious deaths. Very good.
July 20, 2020
I enjoyed reading all three and will continue with the other books in the series.
October 23, 2020
Light, entertaining read with well drawn characters and "not predictable to me" murders.
May 1, 2012
This is a compilation of the first three books in the Needlecraft cozy mystery series. The first book, "Crewel World", introduces us to the small town of Excelsior, MN, where Margot owns the needlecraft store in the small downtown area. Her sister, Betsy, is coming to stay with her to figure out her life. Betsy has led an itinerant life, running off to join the Navy, marrying a sailor, and then later marrying and now divorcing a man from Southern California. She lives with Margot in the apartment above the shop, and starts helping out at the store. When Betsy is killed in an apparent robbery, Betsy must figure out if she wants to stay or throw in the towel. When her sister's death begins to look like murder, Betsy tries to help in discovering the killer. There are several suspects including the landlord Margot has been battling with, a woman who covets the store, and several other possibilities. She is aided by Margot's loyal friends and co-workers in both running the store and solving the crime. The book included a cross-stitch project at the end related to the story.
The second book is "Framed in Lace", and deals with a skeleton found on an historic ferry raised from the local lake. Betsy delves into the town's past. When evidence (a piece of lace) points to one of their fellow stitchers, Betsy, her assistant Godwin, and police woman Jill work together to find some answers to this mystery and clear their friend. Another cross-stitch pattern is included at the end of the novel.
The third and final book in the compilation is called "A Stitch in Time" and involves a tapestry discovered when the church is going to be renovated. Betsy offers to donate materials for its repair, and while examining it, discovers that it contains symbols for saints hidden within the design. Someone wants the tapestry to go away, as several attempts are made on Betsy's life. She and her friends must solve the mystery of the tapestry and find out who is bent on keeping old secrets hidden. Again, a design is included at the end of the novel. This was a fun, light series, and I enjoyed reading the descriptions of a hobby that I participate in.
The second book is "Framed in Lace", and deals with a skeleton found on an historic ferry raised from the local lake. Betsy delves into the town's past. When evidence (a piece of lace) points to one of their fellow stitchers, Betsy, her assistant Godwin, and police woman Jill work together to find some answers to this mystery and clear their friend. Another cross-stitch pattern is included at the end of the novel.
The third and final book in the compilation is called "A Stitch in Time" and involves a tapestry discovered when the church is going to be renovated. Betsy offers to donate materials for its repair, and while examining it, discovers that it contains symbols for saints hidden within the design. Someone wants the tapestry to go away, as several attempts are made on Betsy's life. She and her friends must solve the mystery of the tapestry and find out who is bent on keeping old secrets hidden. Again, a design is included at the end of the novel. This was a fun, light series, and I enjoyed reading the descriptions of a hobby that I participate in.
July 14, 2015
I really like this author! Though I have dabbled in needlework (my main love is quilting), I have done most of the crafts talked about in this series. I finished this third book and immediately got on Amazon to order the next two in the series (we must read books in order!). Luckily a friend lent me this trilogy and two more books, so I will be set for a while....I only read these books while upstairs in my quilting studio and take a few minutes...
November 28, 2015
Another fast read that I do enjoy after reading something I can really get my teeth into. I am enjoying the storyline around an area of MN that I am somewhat familiar with. Of course, the other part of the story, all things crafted with numerous fibers also is very fun reading. In fact, THIS book got me so interested in making bobbin lace, that I simply have to give it a try? :)
January 8, 2009
I enjoyed this book and will continue to read more in the series. I have to admit, not the toughest to figure out but an enjoyable read. Likable characters, although I have to admit it was sad to lose the Margot character but of course that is the springboard for the entire setting of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2008
Another very good mystery series.
May 16, 2011
Fun, easy murder mysteries. I enjoyed reading the three books. And it really made me want to pick up my cross stitching again! I do so enjoy needle work!
Read
January 6, 2015Love this series, combination of my hobby (stitchery) and loving mysteries
August 23, 2015
These three books were good and I would definitely read more in the series. There is not a lot of depth to the characters which are likeable.
August 2, 2015
Crewel World *4 stars*
Framed in Lace *4 stars*
A Stitch in Time *3 stars*
Framed in Lace *4 stars*
A Stitch in Time *3 stars*
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews