Patterns of Murder (A Needlecraft Mystery, #1-3)

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Patterns of Murder (A Needlecraft Mystery, #1-3)

by Monica Ferris

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 51 ratings · 4 reviews

This edition contains 3 stories:
Crewel World
Framed in Lace
A Stitch in Time

Paperback, 496 pages

Published July 5th 2005 by Berkley Trade

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May 01, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery

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 apartmen...more 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.(less)

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Jan 08, 2009 Colleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: series-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 19, 2008 Terry rated it 3 of 5 stars

Another very good mystery series.

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May 16, 2011 Sundy DeGooyer rated it 4 of 5 stars

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!

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Shelves: to-read-i-own-it, real-paperback-in-my-closet

Nov 27, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-crime

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Shelves: monica-ferris

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About Monica Ferris

Has 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.

Sh...more Has 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(less)

More about Monica Ferris...

Books by Monica Ferris

Crewel World (A Needlecraft Mystery, #1)

A Stitch in Time (A Needlecraft Mystery, #3)

Framed in Lace (A Needlecraft Mystery, #2)

Unraveled Sleeve (A Needlecraft Mystery, #4)

A Murderous Yarn (A Needlecraft Mystery, #5)

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Patterns of Murder (A Needlecraft Mystery, #1-3)

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