The Gourdmother

A Gourd Craft Mystery #1

by Maggie Bruce

Arriving in the small village of Walden Corners, New York to start a new life, Brooklyn transplant Lili Marino, while transforming gourds into beautiful works of art, gains a sense of belonging, until she stumbles upon the dead body of her newfound friend's husband on the first day of hunting season. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy

262 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 6, 2005

About the author

Maggie Bruce, the creator of the Lili Marino series, is otherwise known as Marilyn Wallace, editor of the award- winning five-volume Sisters in Crime anthologies, co-editor of Deadly Allies, and the author of several mystery and suspense novels.

Reviews

[Tegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline related to the murder mystery was actually pretty good. I mostly enjoyed the gourd crafting bits, and wish there had been more gourd love.

[Oleta]

Gourd craft is differnt from the usual tea's crafts and gardens. was a pretty good book,good characters.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like mysteries, I like cozy/amateur sleuth mysteries. I like finding new-to-me authors at the thrift store. It's also enjoyable to 'shop' my shelves [aka Mt Git'r'Read] and finding a forgot-I-had-it potential treasure.
This is one of those books. I went 'shopping' Mt Git'r'Read not long ago when I realized I needed to clear the shelves a bit and that I had time at work sometimes to read when it was quiet and I was on break. Also the weather has been pretty nice so I wanted something to read on the back patio, sippy cup of coffee by my side. I found this in one of the drawers and it fit just what I was looking for. It moves pretty fast, it has interesting characters and cool premise I'd not read before. A woman who moves from the big New York City borough of Brooklyn to small town New York up north.She is a corporate creative person but she wants to change to something more satisfying. She has found gourd art. She has also found a town of intrigue with a suspicious death to investigate since she's one of the prime suspects. She's not sure that the sheriff's department will do their best and she's worried about her friend since it's her friend's husband who has been killed.
This is a book about relationships as much as it is a mystery.
I liked it and can recommend it.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was smarter and better written than most of the cozies I’ve picked up lately and had more diversity and nuance as well—especially given that it’s an older book. I found it to be reasonable and realistic in a way some cozies just aren’t in regards to the investigation elements and the narrator’s involvement. Overall, this was a solid and enjoyable read.

[Book friends are my best friends · Rating 2 out of 5]

Darker than I want my cozy mysteries to be.

[James Piss · Rating 4 out of 5]

whatever man, it's,
I'm like,
whatever

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first chapter: the wailing of a person in anguish...but this remains unexplained. It doesn't come up again until the end of the book. I appreciated the involvement given the reader with the main character and her settling into a small, country atmosphere, her need for friends, and the beginning of finding a circle of friends. Murder is a cruel thing, and death is harsh for those left behind. Maggie Bruce deals with the entire picture rather than simply the thrill of the chase. As a gourder, I related to Lili's need to work on her art. There are related plots in the book, some very difficult human situations which highlight how cruel teenagers can be to one another. Overall, the book has a warmth which paints a broader picture of caring in the face of tragedy and of the resilience we have to overcome challenges--especially with help from others.
I've read Gourdfellows too, and just wish Ms Bruce had continued with the series.

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this would be a cozy when I picked it up, but the violence and the subject matter make it a regular mystery in my book. I found it rather depressing.

It wasn't bad, but I thought there was far too much emphasis on the main character's life and adjustment to small town living than on the mystery itself.

[Chi Dubinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lili Marino, a gourd artist from the big city, moves to upstate New York and gets involved in solving the murder of the high school football coach. Bigotry, football rivalries, and old feuds surface. The author slips in information about the history of gourd craft, and instructions on various techniques used to work the gourds.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My GOURD? Who'd have guessed this is SUCH an interesting form of art.
The author tells a suspenseful, great story, interspersed with fascinating facts about gourds.
Because of this new-found interest, I've placed a "board" on Pinterest :*

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another beach house find. An interesting sounding setting and characters - who knew there was a whole thing about carving gourds into art object thingies?! - but unfortunately it's all just really, really boring.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but not my favorite either.

[Susi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun murder mystery, if you can describe murder as fun. As a gourd carver I was particularly attracted to the book because the author and main character are both gourd carvers, too.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 - Very Good

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning of series; believable plot, well-drawn characters; liked, but didn't adore.