Crewel World

Rating:
Summary: Interesting new series
Review: I enjoyed this book. The mystery, while not the most challenging to figure out, still kept me reading. I just hate it when such a "good" person is the victim. Understandably, without a victim there isn't much of a mystery, but why did she have to be such a saint? Next time give her a few flaws, and it may be a little easier to take (or just keep killing off the bad guys).

Rating:
Summary: Well Stitched together
Review: I enjoyed this one very much, so I bought all the others and was not disappointed. I really like the main character, she is real to me. Especially in the last book where she is depressed and having nightmares because of all that she has been through. In so many books the main character goes blithley on, unaffected by what they have witnessed or been entirely too close to. I have yet to do the patterns included in each one because, of course I already am stacked to the rafters with UFO's. In fact reading them made me drag out some of them and deal with them! I wish it was possible to read and stitch at the same time because I couldn't put these books down. It would be great to do like in Gone with the Wind, one reads out loud and everybody else is stitching. Much better than being blasted by the TV.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Needlwork Mystery
Review: I have to admit I was very skeptical about these books because I do not really like mysteries but I am allready on the 4th book in the series, I'm hooked. If you like needlework of anykind you will get a kick out of these books. I think they are very well written and I love the way she has included needlework of all kinds.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Needlwork Mystery
Review: I have to admit I was very skeptical about these books because I do not really like mysteries but I am allready on the 4th book in the series, I'm hooked. If you like needlework of anykind you will get a kick out of these books. I think they are very well written and I love the way she has included needlework of all kinds.

Rating:
Summary: Great Little Mystery!
Review: I read this book and the ensuing two in ONE week-end! They are great little books. A light mystery with interesting characters. I grew up in the area of Excelsior and the author is a personal friend of my mother who still lives in Excelsior. I found the references to places just a kick since I'm familiar with the area. I think these are great little books even if you don't care for needlepoint. If you just want a nice light read that you can't put down, I encourage you to read all six of these books. I'm off to buy the other three immediately!

Rating:
Summary: Needlework and Mystery-a delightful combination!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Crewel World. Although I was able to figure out who the murderer was before the end, I was not disappointed. I loved the backdrop of the stitchery shop and the characters. Anyone who frequents a shop like Crewel World could relate to the storyline. Hopefully, there are more visits with Betsy and company on the horizon.

Rating:
Summary: simple but pleasant mystery
Review: Like so many other readers here, I too, was able to figure out who the murderer was about half-way through the book. The plot was a bit simple and the characters weren't always consistent. But it was a fun read--filled with humor.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific book
Review: Loved this book - I love cozies & knitting & this covered both of them. I was a bit surprised at Margo's being killed but actually I think most of us can identify more with Betsey anyway (I know I can - although I am a better knitter <VBG>).

Rating:
Summary: Stitching The Clues Together
Review: Margot Berglund, owner of Crewel World, a needlecraft shop in Excelsior, Minnesota was having a good day. Her shop was doing well and her older sister Betsy Devonshire was coming to stay with her.

Betsy wasn't having such a good day, driving cross country from California where she had just gone through a divorce from her cheating college professor husband, she was broke and at fifty-five, wasn't too thrilled about having to start over once again.

After arriving, Betsy wasn't sure how long she was going to stay. Was there room? She knew Margot had sold her house after her husband's death, but the small apartment over the shop didn't seem big enough for the two of them.

That problem was soon solved, when one night, Betsy finds the door of the shop open and going in, finds Margot, dead on the floor.

Who would kill Margot, who seemed to be loved by almost everyone in town.

Maybe Joe Mickels, who owns the building Crewel World is located and has been trying to get Margot out for months. Irene Potter, who was jealous of Margot, she wanted to open her own needlecraft shop and was now hoping to take over Crewel World.

Betsy is forced to investigate the crime, when Police Officer Mike Malloy decides it was a robbery gone bad. Would she be able to solve the crime before she ends up as a second victim.

Highlights:

Betsy is a great character. Margot is also a great character and it's surprising that she turns out to be the victim, you almost think she is going to be the main character.

The secondary characters are also very interesting, especially, Jill Cross, the lone female Police Officer and Goodwin - part-time employee of Crewel World. He knows everything about needlework and is also very funny. Irene Potter is a nut, but very entertaining.

I love the needlework information.

Lowlights:

Only problem is the mystery. I figured out who and why very early. I've found this is often true in first couple of books in a new series.

The book is still entertaining enough that you will want to continue with the series.





Rating:
Summary: Well Stitched together
Review: Picked this up in a needlework shop in Utah. Owner had 'em all on the counter. Read in a few days. The needlework angle was interesting, but the writing was not the best. Lots of choppy editing. An obvious villain - and the murder weapon revealed immediately after its nature was described by police. Hope the writing gets better in subsequent novels, but I doubt I'll be bothering to find out. I'll stick to Charlaine Harris or equivalent.