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195th out of 660 books
—
636 voters
Wreath of Deception (A Craft Corner Mystery #1)
by
Mary Ellen Hughes (Goodreads Author)
It's opening day at Jo's Craft Corner, and Jo is wired more tightly than the wreath on her store's front door. The entertainment she's hired, Cuddles the Clown, is little help, grumbling and complaining until Jo is ready to strangle him. Someone else does silence him, though – for good. With a dead clown in her storeroom and murdered with one of her craft items, Jo becomes...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
September 5th 2006
by Berkley
(first published December 2000)
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307th out of 513 books
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1,339 voters
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After her husband is killed, Jo McAllister moves from New York back to Maryland where she grew up and opens up her own craft store, Jo's Craft Corner. Having put all her money into the store, Jo needs as many customers as possible and on opening day she hires a clown, Cuddles, to attract customers. But her store gets the wrong kind of attention when someone murders Cuddles in her storeroom using one of her knitting needles. Police Lieutenant Russ Morgan seems to think Jo not only killed Cuddles...more
This is the first in the "Craft Corner Mystery" series. This is also a review of String of Lies and Paper-Thin Alibi, the next two books in the series. I enjoyed them as light reading and liked the protagonist and other characters. The books get better and the characters even better-drawn as the series progresses, although it is incredible that the protagonist could be suspected of three murders (one in each book) in the space of the 9 to 12 months these books cover. Note to author: mere curiosi...more
This is book one in a new cozy mystery series, with the setting of a recently widowed woman coming to a small town to start a craft store. One HER opening day (what the heck is it with opening days and these books?) the clown she hires to stand in front of the store is murdered in her back room… with one of her knitting needles. She is seen as the number one suspect, especially when a tie is found to a person she knew in her old home in NYC who she had a business arrangement with which ended bad...more
Let me start by saying that I had this mystery figured out very early in the story (hence the three stars instead of four), and usually that significantly lowers my opinion of a mystery book. Despite this drawback, however, I was very surprised to realize that I still rather enjoyed this little book! I just couldn't wait for my bus rides so I could pick it up and keep reading!
I thought the central characters were well drawn. I was engaged in the stories surrounding the lives of Carrie and her fa...more
I thought the central characters were well drawn. I was engaged in the stories surrounding the lives of Carrie and her fa...more
I thought Wreath of Deception was an excellent first book in a series. Mary Ellen didn't spend too much time introducing the character but got right into the story in a very few pages. I like that in a book (not getting bogged down with explanations). I feel that I am a fairly intelligent person that can pick up what I need to know about the characters while also being immersed in the story. I felt the story moved along at a pretty good clip (only once or twice did I think okay let's get on with...more
This is a new series for me - I discovered it on the Cozy Mysteries group here on Goodreads. I must admit that I'm not much of a crafty person, but I really like that the setting is near where I live. The story was pretty good, and although I figured out "whodunit" fairly early, it was a suspenseful story through to the last chapter. The plot was a bit saccharine in parts, but I am sure it will appeal to lots of (mostly female) readers, whether they be Moms, craft aficionados, or just cozy myste...more
This craft shop mystery wasn't annoying in what it got wrong, it was more what it didn't get right. While there were plenty of characters that you can see will be recurring, part of what makes a cozy enjoyable is the setting. There were lots of times the main character drove through town and didn't describe a bit of it, and the main character's craft store is where much of the action takes place, but is never described. We have no idea how big it is or how it's arranged, is it in a strip mall, e...more
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After her husband's recent tragic death, Jo McAllister has moved from New York to the small town of Abbotsville in Maryland not too far from where she grew up. Jo hopes her new store Jo's Craft Corner will give her something positive to focus on, and allow her to indulge in and share her crafty hobbies. But when she hires Cuddles the Clown as entertainment for her grand opening, the last thing Jo expects is to stumble over his dead body in her store room. Jo is soon the prime suspect for the mur...more
I thought this was a great, cozy mystery. I felt very sympathetic to the main character- Jo McAllister- who was struggling to put her life back together after her husband was killed in an accident. She sets up an arts and craft store but finds the grumpy clown who she'd hired for her grand opening dead in her back room.
Hughes did a great job developing her characters and the mystery. There's humor, butthe ending was exciting and also very touching. I highly recommend this book.
Hughes did a great job developing her characters and the mystery. There's humor, butthe ending was exciting and also very touching. I highly recommend this book.
03/08/08
TITLE/AUTHOR: WREATH OF DECEPTION by Mary Ellen Hughes
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Mystery/2006/258 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: # 1 Craft Corner
TIME/PLACE: Present/Abbotsville, Maryland
CHARACTERS: Jo McAllister/owner of Jo's Craft Corner
FIRST LINES: The first shaft of sunlight pierced through the hole in her bedroom shade, & Jo, who had been awake & watching for it, jumped out of bed.
COMMENTS: Cozy1stmystery group read in March. Good debut. Jo used to live in NYC in a loft w/...more
TITLE/AUTHOR: WREATH OF DECEPTION by Mary Ellen Hughes
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Mystery/2006/258 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: # 1 Craft Corner
TIME/PLACE: Present/Abbotsville, Maryland
CHARACTERS: Jo McAllister/owner of Jo's Craft Corner
FIRST LINES: The first shaft of sunlight pierced through the hole in her bedroom shade, & Jo, who had been awake & watching for it, jumped out of bed.
COMMENTS: Cozy1stmystery group read in March. Good debut. Jo used to live in NYC in a loft w/...more
A nice book. The main character has her share of problems but does not feel sorry for herself. She just keeps tring to make things better. I like that there a kids in this book and the teenager is tring to find himself, has problems, but is still a good kid. That is really the way most teens are. Mom and dad handle him just the way we handled our kids at that age. It is nice to see that in a book.
Place a few ladies of varying ages and backgrounds around a table in a craft shop and they not only learn craft techniques, they also reveal themselves through casual conversation. In WREATH OF DECEPTION, a cozy mystery by Mary Ellen Hughes, Jo not only begins her new small town life by opening her craft supply store, but also solves crimes! The endearing Jo is surrounded by a stereotypical group of ladies: the elderly mother-figure, the young woman, the silly-fluttery person, the dear ever-reli...more
A new series, as the recently widowed Jo MC Allister sets a craft shop in a small town in Maryland. A small town holds lots of secret, scandal and even murder. A nice character and if you like to curl up with a cozy on a winter day or pass the time of an airplane flight, this is a nice way to do it.
Jo's new craft shop seems to have a successful opening, until she finds a body in her back room. The new local detective thinks she's the prime suspect, but with the encouragement of her crafters, Jo decides to investigate and clear herself.
Wish I knew where this craft shop and Abbotsville were in Maryland. All we have in Annapolis is Michael's and the Yarn Garden, nice, but not as exciting as this story. We did have a murder in the Subway restaurant a few years ago, but that was a family matter. Looking forward to more by this author. So glad she didn't have that tinkling bell on the door that features much too often in most craft mysteries.
I enjoyed the characters and the theme of this book. The plot moves along at a nice pace and the characters are believable. I figured out the murderer and the motive before the end, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of this book. I'll definitely read more in this series.
Murder / mystery. I wish there were more craft ideas in the book but then that is me. I would also want pictures of the crafts. Likeable characters, easy to follow story line, fast paced . . fun read.
I liked the sensible approach of the main character in this book. She never ventured into TSTL territory. I did find the pace dropped in the middle of the book, but it picked up nicely at the end.
I'm not a craftsy person but this cozy mystery series doesn't need you to be. I love the cast of characters and the mysteries are well-done!
Jun 22, 2010
Christy
added it
random pick up at the library from the mystery shelf.. pretty good, quick short read..might read the other in the "craft corner mystery" series.
I love this author! Her stories are so cute. I can't wait to read book #3. After reading two books, I do see similarities in her plots, but that's ok. The mysteries are still great.
Unfortunately, not a keeper for me. It is a decent book but it never really grabbed me and kept me hooked.
It's a good book if you are looking for light reading.
ebook - reading with goodreads cozy mystery book club
I enjoyed Wreath of Deception, and look forward to reading more in this series.
I felt the story went along at a good pace, and both the characters and the storyline were enjoyable enough to make me not want to put it down.
The small town setting made it easy to get to know the characters, and I felt that there were just the right amount of craft references. Enough to go along with the storyline, but not too much - so that you don't have to be a crafter to enjoy this book.
I felt the story went along at a good pace, and both the characters and the storyline were enjoyable enough to make me not want to put it down.
The small town setting made it easy to get to know the characters, and I felt that there were just the right amount of craft references. Enough to go along with the storyline, but not too much - so that you don't have to be a crafter to enjoy this book.
I give up on this one. I just don't care about the story or the characters.
This was a good read. Nice characters and a well told story. Took me forever to read as I've not been motivated to pick up a book since I had surgery. Need to get back in the swing of things as I'll have a lot of new books arriving soon!
I really enjoyed this book! It was recommended to me in the Cozy Mysteries group and I'm so glad!! It was a very easy and entertaining read! I love Jo's character - can't wait for the next in the series!
First time I've read this author. Figured out who the guilty party was before I had reached the middle of the book. I don't like being able to figure it out. I'll give her another try, but if I can figure it out again, it's a done deal for me.
This was a good first entry in the series and I'd like to try and read the others. The characters were likable and you want to see what will happen to them. It was also fun to try and solve the mystery as the characters worked to do the same.
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