Lye in Wait: A Home Crafting Mystery

Home Crafting Mystery #1

by Cricket McRae

Cocoa butter soap, check. Lemon lip balm, check. A dead body?

That's just what Sophie Mae Reynolds finds in her workroom: the corpse of Walter Hanover, the neighborhood handyman. He died from drinking lye, something she has in good supply. But the police don't suspect Sophie Mae, a thirty-something widow who makes and sells beauty products. Instead they call it a suicide. But why would a man with lottery cash and a loving fiancée kill himself?

No one can stop the impulsive Sophie Mae from answering this riddle, not her sensible best friend Meghan or Detective Ambrose, who incites annoyance as well as stomach flutters. Sophie Mae's big mouth and sharp nose lead her to a peppermint-scented trail of arson, bigamy, and a shocking family secret that reveals a personal connection to Walter . . . and his killer.

This crafty new series features real recipes and a blundering, yet lovable, amateur sleuth who brings a fresh face to cozy mysteries.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Romance

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Cricket McRae enjoys home crafts like food preservation, cheese making, candle making, and fiber arts. She writes the Sophie Mae Reynolds Homecrafting Mystery Series. As Bailey Cates, she also writes the Magical Bakery Mysteries.

For two years Cricket managed her own soap making business, including all product design, manufacturing and marketing. The recipes included in her first book, Lye in Wait, are all Cricket's original formulations. She has also worked in a variety of other fields ranging from drivers license examiner to program manager for a major software firm. This fulfills her mothers warning that shed never have a regular job if she insisted on studying philosophy in college.

The sixth Home Crafting Mystery, Deadly Row to Hoe, released November, 2012. Her books are also available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Ibooks and Google E-books.

Series:
* Home Crafting Mystery

Reviews

[Luffy Sempai · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was meant as a cozy book but it crosses over the fine line dividing coziness and dull grayness. I simply can't recommend this book. It's far from being a mess, it's competently written, but not well written. I predicted every single twist that mattered, without even trying hard enough to do so. Someone who hasn't read much mystery shouldn't start with this book. Wherever it sits on a shelf anywhere in the world, Lye in wait will not be cherished. It's hard to imagine someone liking or valuing Lye in wait. Sorry, 1 star.

[Heidi Prockish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh em gee, I loved this one!
The main character, Sophie Mae, was so fun. I loved how her and her friend flowed together as roommates, and the connection she had to her friends daughter. Sophie finds her neighbor dead in her workroom. I love how she investigated and did what she could to keep the detective in the loop. I liked how everything came to light and the way things wrapped up. I already love this author so much and I can't wait to dive into more books.

[Lain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really bad. Starts off with no introduction of characters, just a murder of someone no one knows or cares about. Then the protagonist, soap maker Sophie, inserts herself into the investigation with absolutely no reason. She makes two middle of the night trips to an abandoned house and we're not even on page 50. I couldn't go on. Will not finish.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

With zero expectations for this one, I picked it off the bookshelf and was pleasantly surprised. It reminded me of an old Agatha Christie story - of which I was a huge fan as a kid... Fun, easy, entertaining.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 star rating.

Would you believe....the discovery of the dead body happens in the first sentence on the first page of the book!

Sophie Mae (widowed) lives with her best friend (Meghan) and best friend's daughter (Erin) and runs a business making soaps, balms, lotions and the like. She goes into the workroom and discovers the local handyman dead on the workroom floor. The smell of lye is obvious...and it looks like he brought it himself. Did he commit suicide in her workroom? Or is it something else, like murder?

This is the first in the series and we are introduced to a whole host of characters. Our main characters are Sophie Mae, Meghan and Erin. Then there's Meghan's horrible ex (Richard). And that Detective Barr Ambrose who who investigates (could be a love interest there for Sophie Mae). Quite a bit about how to make the various soaps and balms that Sophie Mae made, and in fact there are recipes for balms and soaps at the end of the book.

Along the way there's a fire, a robbery, an attempted murder, and all sorts of suspects. Some characters that are very unlikable. But does that make them guilty?

I thought the ending got a bit too complex and confusing and perhaps improbable, which is why I did not go a full 4 stars, but overall I enjoyed the book and might look for the second in the series at some point.

[Anne Hawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing is very uneven and the story simplistic, but there is something there with a lot of promise. Maybe a course in writing would help. I liked the characters, but the love interest with the detective is not going to go anywhere until he is fleshed out. He is, literally and figuratively, too flat. Having said that, I did enjoy it because I needed something light and easy to follow.
I did enjoy the parts about soap making and running a home business. It turns out to be a perfect job if you want to be a part-time snoop.

[Colleen Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here's a typical line from this book:

"The image of the bent form among the shadows in the half-light was spare, desolate, lonely as a scratchy record playing through tinny speakers at two a.m." (page 40)

Just awful. Totally contrived. Not my cup of tea.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story it was so good. A dead body found in the workshop of Sophie Mae and she of course is a prime suspect since she makes soap with lye and lye killed him. I really love Sophie Mae as a main character. She is spunky, sweet, caring, and fun. I also really like her best friend Megan and Meghan's young daughter Erin. Throw in gruff, caring Detective Barr Ambrose and you have a wonderful cast of characters.
The story line was gripping with a lot of history and back stories and side stories that made me keep turning the pages. I liked that for once the main character wasn't the one with the terrible ex husband but was the one who was still grieving for her dead husband. I thought for a minute we were going to have a love triangle again like in a lot of cozies but it seems as if Sophie Mae will only have one love interest.

An amazing start to a series and one that I will surely keep reading.

[Smith Children]

I accidentally found this book while I was looking for soap making books. I'm glad I picked it up.

[Gale Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. New series for me. I enjoyed it very much and will continue to read the series.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5, maybe even 3.75 stars. I really liked Sophie Mae, Meghan, and Detective Ambrose. A well-crafted mystery (pun intended) with some interesting tidbits about soap and lotion making. I'll definitely check out more in this series. I especially want to find out if the Sophie Mae / Ambrose relationship is going anywhere.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this mystery - very well written, not too cloying, the author name drops The Wolves of Willoughby Chase into the book. Name dropping a book that I practically memorized as a kid totally wins me over. Plus the recipes for soaps and such in the back look pretty do-able. I may have to try my hand at lip balm one of these days.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed thus first entry in the series. The characters were likeable and I want to see where they go. The mystery was engaging. #readforkimberly

[Wulfwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this on my TBR for way too long and read it as a part of a TBR challenge. I enjoyed it so much I was sorry it was pushed back so often. It is a cozy mystery yet it isn’t. I mean there is cursing, (not a lot), and some mature themes like alcoholism, mental illness and family related abuse. You don’t really see those play big parts in a cozy. It made it interesting and gave it a realistic feel.
I liked a lot of the characters, especially the main ones. I also like the strong relationships that are in the book, (not all are romantic so bonus). The mystery was good with several suspects and finger pointing. I had a good time reading it. I would recommend to those cozy readers who are looking to step it up a little.

[Kellene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelf for ages, mainly because my favorite series is by the same author (under a different name), but I never got to it because Crafting is my least favorite subgenre. However, McRae/Cates didn't disappoint and I'm glad I pulled this one for BINGO. The characters in the book were well-drawn and likable, and I enjoyed being invited into their world. The pace of the action was good and I was a good ways in before I knew who and what, but why eluded me until the climax. I look forward to continuing in the series, and trying out the lip balm recipe as soon as possible, but I will avoid any creation involving lye.

[Zermeena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Home Crafting Mystery series. I almost didn't read the book because I was turned off by the discovery of a body in the first scene of the book. However I continued and liked the book enough to read another in the series. I enjoyed the characters and the interactions between Sophie Mae, Meghan and Erin. When the solution to mystery was revealed it was way too convoluted.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small annoyances aside, I really enjoy this one. It was a well-written cozy with believable characterization. The dynamic of roomate and friend with daughter worked well - the kid wasn't annoying. The victim grew into a sadder tale the longer it was told. There's detecting done and layers loaned to the mystery. Who it was gave a little twist at the right moment. Full review to come.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this first book in the series. Ready to start book 2

[Bernie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, easy read. Guilty pleasure.

[Roxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual this author didn’t disappoint and I can’t wait to try the lotion bar recipe.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. I debated between 4-5 stars, but since I recently read one that was 5+ stars, I decided to go with 4. It was a very entertaining read. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few really good plot twists.

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Characters were different and fun with the interactions of the mystery. Makes you remember why mother - in - laws are a pain in the back side.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved

I really enjoyed reading this book! Kept me guessing until the end! And loved the recipes for all the goodies! Looking forward to the next and hopefully more recipes!

[Tambra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, first time reading Cricket's books. Gave it to my friend, I bought the whole series, Cant wait to read the rest. Fun new fresh story.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the writing style as well as a fast read. Also author is local and I love to support local authors.

[Tammie Lagimodiere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a twist on the killer

[jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly this genre of book is just so fun! they’re so easy to read and are just a very nice time :-)

[Tomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read some of the author's other series, I did not enjoy this one as much. The humor was forced and the relationships between the characters stiff. The mystery was well thought out.

[Mary Sue Land · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice light murder mystery read.