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Summary: crewel world
Review: a light mystery. i picked it up and read it because of my love of needlework. that and reading mysteries are my 2 favorite pasttimes. what a delightful way to spend time. just like the other customers, i too figured out the killer about halfway through the book. but, nonetheless a cute, little entertaining book.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining
Review: A very entertaining mystery! Although the only draw back was that I was able to guess the killer half way through the book. But it didn't deter me from enjoying the rest of the story. As an avid needleworker, the setting is particularly enjoyable. Monica Ferris is great a captivating the "stash mentality" of a stasher! Great! It also helps that r.c.t.n gets some notice and is a sign of the times! This brings the whole story closer to home for me as I also read r.c.t.n.This mystery is by no means meant only for craftspersons. I hope that more individuals who may not be interested in needlework pick up the book as well as the crafts :)
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Summary: An interesting setting for this new series.
Review: Although I enjoyed Crewel World, I was disappointed that Margot was the victim. I originally thought she would have been a better choice for the protagonist. Betsy did grow on me, however, as the book progressed. The setting of the stitchery shop was an unusual one, and the author made good use of the theme for both the title and the plot. A good cozy choice.
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Summary: interesting backdrop and evenly paced.
Review: as a spinner/knitter/mystery lover the subject matter of the book was very intriguing.... i got all my favorites in one book! but that didn't keep me reading it...the story is well written and evenly paced. ms. ferris writes with a more realistic tendency than some other 'current mystery writers' and does not remotely resemble the 'gumshoe detective'. it's one of those rare books that makes you want to read it right through.... it's hard to put down. i can't wait for her next book.
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Summary: Provides a great break from your own needlework projects.
Review: As as avid quilter/needleworker I enjoyed this book tremendously. It was a cozy, light read that I was able to pick up when I was at a frustration point with my current needlework project. I was fairly sure I recognized the killer before the end of the book but for me it was a toss-up between two characters. I would recommend this book for anyone wanting a cozy mystery to help them through creatively restless hours of their own. I'm already eagerly awaiting the next book and I've added Monica Ferris to my list of what I call my favorite "gentle" murder mystery writers.
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Summary: Interesting premise, unevenly carried out
Review: Betsy Devonshire's entry into the world of sleuthing is based on a strong premise, but the writing and plotting are stop and go. Other reviewers have given a good summary of the plot. There were points that could have been better shown by the author - when the murderer is captured, the police simply show up and the amateur detective blurts out the suppositions used to point the finger in the proper direction. There are other smaller quirks that were never explained or expanded upon. Why does Betsy have an aversion to a man's touch? Why is it that no one even mentions Godwin until he shows up at the shop? The book could have been improved by more attentive editing and the author could have taken her time in revealing her detective's thoughts to us.
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Summary: a jewel of a book
Review: Betsy's marriage ends when her husband dumps her for a much younger woman. Though they have not been close in years, Betsy's sister Margot invites her to stay with her in her apartment in Excelsior, Minnesota. Betsy accepts and moves into the apartment over Margot's shop CREWEL WORLD. Betsy quickly learns that the townsfolk adore Margot, who returns their feelings. However, the residents and Betsy are stunned when Margot is murdered in what seems to be a burglary. Out of respect for Margot and a general liking of Betsy, the townsfolk adopt the grieving sibling. Once her numbness fades, Betsy theorizes that her sister was a victim of premeditated murder made to look like a store robbery gone bad. She sets in motion a plan to flush out her sibling's killer even if it means placing her own life in jeopardy. CREWEL WORLD, the opening gamut in Monica Ferris' new series combines "free needlepoint patterns" within a wonderful amateur sleuth tale. Hobbyists and amateur sleuth lovers will enjoy the novel due to the deep, believable characters that provide local color to an interesting story line. Halfway through the book, many armchair detectives will probably guess who the perpetrator is, but the fun lies in watching Betsy working her way to do likewise. This novel hopefully establishes a pattern that provides readers with plenty of entertainment. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: New twist in cozies
Review: Even though I know next to nothing about needlework, I found this title a great read. I always like to learn something when reading for pleasure, and from this I learned that there are far more types of needlework than I could have imagined. The author built on the characters, letting the reader meet the victim and get a bit of background, to the point that I almost forgot there had been no murder. The setting and characters held my interest to the point that I went out and found the other titles in this series. Not deep, but satisfying.
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Summary: Not profound but entertaining....
Review: First off, I reserve "5 starts" for books I consider works of art. This book is not a work of art but is engaging, entertaining, diverting - just generally a good read. I was home sick today, sinus infection, too headachy to work on anything intensive, so I took this off the shelf. And I couldn't put it down until I was done. The story describes how Betsy Devonshire, coming off her divorce from "the pig" (a philandering college professor), has chucked it all and headed North to hang out with her sister, Margot, for a while. Margot is a sweet person, beloved of nearly all the townspeople in tiny Excelsior, Minnesota. Margot runs a needlework business - seemingly more for the benefit of her regular customers than for any huge profits. Then, Margot is killed in a burglary. Or so it seems at first. Betsy is unwilling to accept this and tries to "push" the police to investigate, while trying to keep the shop going. One of the things that made this book fun were the secondary characters - Godwin, the talented shop assistant (who happens to be gay); Jill, the cop who has a warm heart under her Norwegian ice-princess exterior; Irene, Margot's rival needlepointer, who is creepy, weird, and may be a murderer...and on and on. Oh yes, there is also Sophie, the store cat. I enjoyed this one and plan to read the rest of the series. Yes, I did guess "who dun it" fairly early on. But that didn't spoil the story for me. The characters are enjoyable. The setting is familiar (I come originally from the Upper Midwest and often get homesick) and is well-described. The needlework angle is a real plus for me (I knit and quilt and have done embroidery and needlepoint in the past). At a few points in the story, there are "expository notes" that are perhaps a bit jarring. And the story is fairly simple. But this novel is "comfort reading" at its best - fun characters, a pleasant setting, the sense that justice is served in the end. I could have done much worse with my afternoon than to read this book.
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Summary: The first in a promising new series
Review: I bought this book on a lark--I like mysteries, especially cozies, and I like needlepoint, so the premise of this novel really appealed to me. And I was NOT disappointed! A terrific book, fun to read. I was a bit upset when the master needlewoman was the victim, but what is a murder mystery without a murder? Throughout the entire time I read the book, my fingers were itchin' to stitch! Cannot wait for the next one in the series!
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