What do you think?
Rate this book
A Southern Sewing Circle #3
Pinned for Murder
The members of South Carolina's Sweet Briar Ladies Society sewing circle are as loyal and close-knit as the day is long. But when the richest and meanest woman in town turns up murdered, the new Yankee librarian Tori Sinclair finds that some threads can bind dangerously tight.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2010
60 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
July 10, 2020
I love that Tori is getting settled into her community as head librarian at the Sweet Briar Library. After suffering through the humiliation of discovering her fiancee had been cheating on her, it looks like Tori has been able to move on. Tori and Milo Wentworth, the elementary school teacher are getting serious in their relationship . Even Dixie is beginning to except Tori.
Hurricane Roger hit hard in Sweet Briar leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Especially in the older homes where Rose Winters and Martha Jane Barker live. The ladies hire drifters who come into town after the hurricane to restore the houses and property. Rose wants to hire Kenny to work on her home but Marta Jane has bought charges against Kenny claiming he stole a large amount of cash from her sock drawer.
Now Kenny is slow and as some of the residents of Sweet Briar claim, stupid as a rock. Rose Winters taught him in Kindergarten and has stood up for him ever since. Kenny would do anything for Rose but he has a very bad temper whenever someone accuses him of something.
When Marta Jane is found dead in her bedroom Kenny is the prime suspect. Rose is heart broken about it and doesn't think Kenny would kill an old lady. Tori swings into action and begins the search to find another suspect. Will she be able to clear Kenny of the charges against him or is it possible that he really did kill Marta Jane?
If you enjoy reading cozy mysteries you will like Pinned for Murder. It's book three of Elizabeth Lynn Casey's/ Laura Bradford's Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries.
I purchased a Kindle ebook copy of this book from Amazon. A favorable review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
Hurricane Roger hit hard in Sweet Briar leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Especially in the older homes where Rose Winters and Martha Jane Barker live. The ladies hire drifters who come into town after the hurricane to restore the houses and property. Rose wants to hire Kenny to work on her home but Marta Jane has bought charges against Kenny claiming he stole a large amount of cash from her sock drawer.
Now Kenny is slow and as some of the residents of Sweet Briar claim, stupid as a rock. Rose Winters taught him in Kindergarten and has stood up for him ever since. Kenny would do anything for Rose but he has a very bad temper whenever someone accuses him of something.
When Marta Jane is found dead in her bedroom Kenny is the prime suspect. Rose is heart broken about it and doesn't think Kenny would kill an old lady. Tori swings into action and begins the search to find another suspect. Will she be able to clear Kenny of the charges against him or is it possible that he really did kill Marta Jane?
If you enjoy reading cozy mysteries you will like Pinned for Murder. It's book three of Elizabeth Lynn Casey's/ Laura Bradford's Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries.
I purchased a Kindle ebook copy of this book from Amazon. A favorable review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
October 11, 2010
Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! This is a good cozy and it's why I read a lot of cozies. If I want angst and horror and strife, I'll watch the news, thank you very much. This is a good book in that the characters are all believable and, like the protag, I have friends of all ages. There are a lot of good life lessons in this book but it's entertaining and uplifting and complicated enough to keep my attention. I enjoy the relationship between Tori and Milo and the relationships Tori has with all her friends as well as her special friendsip with little Lulu! This was a very good read for me and I'm sorry there aren't more Southern Sewing series books out yet but I'll eagerly await the next one. Thanks, Elizabeth!
December 15, 2016
I continued my reading directly to this book from the second and was able to connect better to the character development. I like how Tori continues to bond with her fellow Sewing Circle friends and I am enjoying how her relationship with Milo continues to progress. There are several suspects and each has conflicting motives for wanting the character dead. (the back cover doesn't state who is killed so I won't be a spoiler here).
My criticism of the book are that we are constantly reminded that Tori is not a native of Sweet Briar. We know that and don't need to be told over and over. Also, the murder takes place well into the book. Perhaps that's a personal peeve, but since this isn't the first in the series, I would have preferred to see the murder occur much earlier. Overall, I enjoy the series and look forward to the next installment.
My criticism of the book are that we are constantly reminded that Tori is not a native of Sweet Briar. We know that and don't need to be told over and over. Also, the murder takes place well into the book. Perhaps that's a personal peeve, but since this isn't the first in the series, I would have preferred to see the murder occur much earlier. Overall, I enjoy the series and look forward to the next installment.
March 24, 2023
3.5 stars, it's a decent series.
January 2, 2018
Pinned for Murder was another charming cozy read. I read this book under 24 hours which always tells me I enjoyed a book.
I continue to like to see the character dynamics in this series. As we get to know the characters more, I find the quirkiness of the ladies enduring. They are relatable. They are easy to relate to people from my own circles. The plot development was maybe not as dynamic as some but still good. Even though I had a preconceived notion about who the ultimate person was, it was not completely true and had an unexpected twist. That makes it fun.
I will definitely be continuing this series.
I continue to like to see the character dynamics in this series. As we get to know the characters more, I find the quirkiness of the ladies enduring. They are relatable. They are easy to relate to people from my own circles. The plot development was maybe not as dynamic as some but still good. Even though I had a preconceived notion about who the ultimate person was, it was not completely true and had an unexpected twist. That makes it fun.
I will definitely be continuing this series.
January 8, 2018
Tori is settling in nicely to Sweet Briar (even Dixie seems to be coming round!) and then Storm Roger hits, the Library loses the lowest shelf of books (luckily the Children's room is untouched) to flooding, Tori's cottage escaped totally but others are not so lucky. Then the drifters start appearing, these are men that follow storms etc and do repair work (for pay of course!), a few days after this there is a murder and all fingers point to one man, but neither Rose nor Tori believe this, and so Tori starts digging deep to find the truth amongst the storm debris.
April 5, 2020
I was so bored the whole time I was reading this. I’m not sure if the plot just didn’t grab me or if it’s because I don’t like most of the characters. (They aren’t unlikable characters; some just rub me the wrong way). The reason I keep reading the series is for the main character’s growing relationship with her love interest. I think they are so cute together and want to watch that part of the story.
June 8, 2011
This is the first in the series that I've read and I didn't love it. The characters were almost TOO ooey-gooey sweet & nice. I can't think of one person I know like that, let alone a whole group of them! I've got the newest in the series (I couldn't resist the pretty cover!) and sure hope I like it better!
July 1, 2017
I am enjoying this series, each book gets better, I love the characters and setting. I love how each volume builds the series. A very busy Tori gets pulled into this mystery as her mentor and friend Rose's former student is the prime suspect.
September 26, 2023
southern Charm
I love this series for the inclusion of the elderly being friends with the younger generation. Age has never mattered to me in friendships. Some of my closet friends have been much older than I.
Pinned for Murder takes place right after a hurricane hits and Tori and friends are cleaning up from the library to a sewing circle member’s home. Unfortunately for a crotchety neighbor she survives the storm to meet her maker at the hand of a killer. Was it the local man who is known to be challenged or one of the carpetbaggers in town to make money cleaning up and repairing damage?
A side story is the hat/scarves project for a women’s shelter in Chicago where Tori used to live. This series always has a way to remind me to do better in helping my community.
A perfect series for a touch of Southern charm with a love of books and sewing.
I love this series for the inclusion of the elderly being friends with the younger generation. Age has never mattered to me in friendships. Some of my closet friends have been much older than I.
Pinned for Murder takes place right after a hurricane hits and Tori and friends are cleaning up from the library to a sewing circle member’s home. Unfortunately for a crotchety neighbor she survives the storm to meet her maker at the hand of a killer. Was it the local man who is known to be challenged or one of the carpetbaggers in town to make money cleaning up and repairing damage?
A side story is the hat/scarves project for a women’s shelter in Chicago where Tori used to live. This series always has a way to remind me to do better in helping my community.
A perfect series for a touch of Southern charm with a love of books and sewing.
August 24, 2024
I really thought I had this one figured out at the halfway point but I was wrong as usual. I’m glad too since I think I liked the author’s ending better. I do like the characters in this series and am looking forward to reading more adventures.
May 27, 2023
Another great instalment in this series. I’m really getting into the characters now. Tori’s relationships with Milo and the sewing circle girls is growing. The crime in this one was ok. I had the killer on my short list but couldn’t figure out a reason why.
April 2, 2012
Pinned for Murder is the third book in the Southern Sewing Circle mystery series. As with this series, it is well-written, stepped in Southern tradition and lore, and enjoyable to the end.
The story begins with the town having been hit by a tropical storm, something that is not all that common, but then again not uncommon in the southern states. The library has minimal damage, mostly the bottom shelf of books, but it fairs better than alot of the older homes in town.
In this story, we visit our favorites from the Sewing Circle, with Rose being our focus, as her house has been damaged. She is depending on the help of a young man that she befriend long ago when she was a teacher, a gentle spirit that is a little on the slow side, some might say. We find him helping Rose, but at the same time being accused of stealing money from Rose's neighbor, Martha Jane when he tries to help her out, at the request of Rose, only for Tori to walk in and find that they money was never stolen, just that Martha Jane had switched her socks and money to the left hand drawer from the right hand draw and didn't remember! Of course, everything would be over if Martha Jane would have apologized or if she had been so spitting mad at everyone in general. But that is not Martha Jane, and she turns up dead the next day.
Poor Kenny Murdock, he is almost tried and convicted without anyone even taking a second look, but the problem is that the money is actually stolen this time, and well Kenny never did learn money in school. He could never understand the difference between a one dollar bill and a ten dollar bill! So why would he steal the money. That is all that was needed, that and the fact that poor Rose i so heartbroken over the whole thing, Tori is investigating again!
This one twists and turns, brings other people into town, and we learn more and more about each of our other characters, and right up to the very end, when we think we know who did it, we find out we didn't! Amazing!
I have really enjoyed this series and the characters, the southern charm and the warmth that just comes from the books when you think of the Sewing Circle sitting around making things right one piece at a time. It just takes me back to a simpler time in the world that I want to hold onto. It's refreshing!
The story begins with the town having been hit by a tropical storm, something that is not all that common, but then again not uncommon in the southern states. The library has minimal damage, mostly the bottom shelf of books, but it fairs better than alot of the older homes in town.
In this story, we visit our favorites from the Sewing Circle, with Rose being our focus, as her house has been damaged. She is depending on the help of a young man that she befriend long ago when she was a teacher, a gentle spirit that is a little on the slow side, some might say. We find him helping Rose, but at the same time being accused of stealing money from Rose's neighbor, Martha Jane when he tries to help her out, at the request of Rose, only for Tori to walk in and find that they money was never stolen, just that Martha Jane had switched her socks and money to the left hand drawer from the right hand draw and didn't remember! Of course, everything would be over if Martha Jane would have apologized or if she had been so spitting mad at everyone in general. But that is not Martha Jane, and she turns up dead the next day.
Poor Kenny Murdock, he is almost tried and convicted without anyone even taking a second look, but the problem is that the money is actually stolen this time, and well Kenny never did learn money in school. He could never understand the difference between a one dollar bill and a ten dollar bill! So why would he steal the money. That is all that was needed, that and the fact that poor Rose i so heartbroken over the whole thing, Tori is investigating again!
This one twists and turns, brings other people into town, and we learn more and more about each of our other characters, and right up to the very end, when we think we know who did it, we find out we didn't! Amazing!
I have really enjoyed this series and the characters, the southern charm and the warmth that just comes from the books when you think of the Sewing Circle sitting around making things right one piece at a time. It just takes me back to a simpler time in the world that I want to hold onto. It's refreshing!
August 16, 2013
SEW DEADLY, DEATH THREADS and PINNED FOR MURDER by Elizabeth Lynn Casey.
I'm new to the party on this series. But the good news for me---I still have 5 more of the series in my TBR stack to enjoy! The newest being REMNANTS OF MURDER, released earlier this month.
I fell in love with Tori/Victoria and the people of Sweet Briar from page one of Sew Deadly. Ms. Casey kept me guessing through all 3 stories. Not only that, she kept me laughing! Out loud at times!
The members of the Sweet Briars Ladies Society Sewing Circle are different as night and day. The things they do have in common are, sewing, gossip and their strong belief in each other. Well, some stronger than others. But they always come around in the end.
Tori, the town librarian, along with her fellow sewing circle members, finds herself wrapped up in one mystery after the other in these three titles. But working together there is nothing they can't do, be it a group sewing project or solving a crime. I just wish I had this group of women around in my life. Luckily, I can spend time with them on the pages!
Each book includes sewing tips (Ms Casey gets some from her readers!) and a sewing pattern of the book's project. NOTE: You do not have to know sewing to enjoy these stories. And fans with book themes won't be disappointed. Plenty of time is spent in the Sweet Briar Library!
I can't wait to get into the fourth in the series to see what the ladies are up to!
Do yourself a favor...read this series!
I'm new to the party on this series. But the good news for me---I still have 5 more of the series in my TBR stack to enjoy! The newest being REMNANTS OF MURDER, released earlier this month.
I fell in love with Tori/Victoria and the people of Sweet Briar from page one of Sew Deadly. Ms. Casey kept me guessing through all 3 stories. Not only that, she kept me laughing! Out loud at times!
The members of the Sweet Briars Ladies Society Sewing Circle are different as night and day. The things they do have in common are, sewing, gossip and their strong belief in each other. Well, some stronger than others. But they always come around in the end.
Tori, the town librarian, along with her fellow sewing circle members, finds herself wrapped up in one mystery after the other in these three titles. But working together there is nothing they can't do, be it a group sewing project or solving a crime. I just wish I had this group of women around in my life. Luckily, I can spend time with them on the pages!
Each book includes sewing tips (Ms Casey gets some from her readers!) and a sewing pattern of the book's project. NOTE: You do not have to know sewing to enjoy these stories. And fans with book themes won't be disappointed. Plenty of time is spent in the Sweet Briar Library!
I can't wait to get into the fourth in the series to see what the ladies are up to!
Do yourself a favor...read this series!
May 14, 2012
There's something missing in these characters that I can't put my finger on just yet. I'm trying to finish but this series isn't appealing enough for me. I've read many crafter series and this one is boring me. I think the plots are a little too predictable. But I'll continue to see if it gets better.
June 30, 2015
This is the first I've read by this author and honestly I didn't like it. It was too predictable and the culprit was obvious from the first entry in the story. I didn't particularly like Tori and the old biddies were irritating. Maybe this "sweet southern story" just isn't my thing.
July 11, 2019
A storm, a tropical storm has hit the town and now the town is cleaning up after the mess it left behind. Rose's place is hit pretty bad and she rather have the help of a former student of hers help her with the clean up. But when he is accused of murder. At first a argument of sorts happens between the sewing circle friends. Tori is trying to play peace keeper. She already proved that the woman who died was wrong once and now that she is dead something is nagging her about the murder that just isn't fitting into place. But what? Tori gets the women to admit right now wrong or not they need to be there for Rose. Tori is also working on trying to get the library put back together after the water damage from the flood left them with a flood carpet, shelves of books unable to be used and needing replaced, luckily only the books that were on the bottom shelves and some water damage to the walls. One good thing is the beloved children's room made it through the storm with no damage. With a major sewing project, a murder driving her nuts and worrying everyone, what is Tori to do?
This book keeps you turning pages. I just love the women in this sewing circle so much. I just wish the books were longer. But I always have the next book to read.
This book keeps you turning pages. I just love the women in this sewing circle so much. I just wish the books were longer. But I always have the next book to read.
August 15, 2019
One of the better ones in this series. It also has a lot of heart. A big storm has gone through Sweet Briar, leaving many homes and other buildings in need of repairs. As a result, there have been a number of drifters who have come to town looking for work. Soon enough a particularly unfriendly and critical elderly woman, who is one of Rose's close neighbors. Rose is also involved because the intellectually disabled young African-American man, Kenny, whom she once had as a kindergarten student and had mentored consistently since then wound up being accused. It didn't help his case that he had very angrily threatened to harm the old woman due to her misplacing her large stash of cash and subsequently accused Kenny of stealing. Of course, Tori became involved and things eventually worked out. I have been enjoying this series.
September 3, 2017
I am really enjoying this series! In this installment, a mean old woman is murdered. Tori doesn't feel that the person accused is guilty, so she has to try to figure out who actually is guilty. A former student of Rose's is in jail, but it doesn't sit right with Tori that he committed the murder. In addition to figuring out whodunit, Tori is also taking strides forward in her relationship with Milo...and even gets to meet his mother.
One of my favorite things about this series is the setting. I wish I could visit Sweet Briar, SC and spend time with Tori and the ladies of the sewing circle.
This series is one that I am so excited to know about...I've liked the first 3 books and can't wait to read more.
One of my favorite things about this series is the setting. I wish I could visit Sweet Briar, SC and spend time with Tori and the ladies of the sewing circle.
This series is one that I am so excited to know about...I've liked the first 3 books and can't wait to read more.
April 14, 2021
This is my second 'Southern Sewing Circle' mystery. I am sticking with the series for a while. I wanted a relief from the heavy stuff. Believe me it is a relief and really cozy. The mystery is good and the perpetrator was not who I thought it was. I am a quilter so I like the sewing part of the story. Also, the characters for the most part are likable. Recommend if you need something to read that is on the light side.
July 19, 2017
It was okay. I had it pegged early. I'm not sure I'll continue this series unless I get desperate for something to read. I've never really warmed up to the characters or the odd so-called Southern atmosphere (I was born, raised, and live in the South, and this is odd to me.)
August 26, 2017
Decent installment in the series
I enjoy this series and somehow missed a few in line. Catching up now. This one was good in the relationships being moved forward and fleshed out. The solution to the mystery was too apparent but the book was still a decent read
I enjoy this series and somehow missed a few in line. Catching up now. This one was good in the relationships being moved forward and fleshed out. The solution to the mystery was too apparent but the book was still a decent read
November 13, 2018
It was a wonderful book. I love the characters in the series. There was one part that was a little too slow, but it picked up and I couldn’t wait to finish the book. I have already started the next one in the series.
June 15, 2021
A good mystery. The book gets better as it goes. Couldn't put it down near the end! Had to find out who the real culprit was! But I do think I like the author's Amish series better, which is written as Laura Bradford.
March 3, 2023
3.5 stars? Maybe 4?
I finished this in one sitting, while waiting at the E.R. for my dad to get stitches (table saw accident). I'm coming up on six hours here, so at least I had a book to keep me from going completely bonkers.
I finished this in one sitting, while waiting at the E.R. for my dad to get stitches (table saw accident). I'm coming up on six hours here, so at least I had a book to keep me from going completely bonkers.
September 1, 2017
Enjoying this series!
August 11, 2018
Good story, but it dragged a little through the pages.
March 23, 2019
Boy I loved the first two in this series but I could not get into this one.
August 13, 2020
This series just keeps getting better!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews