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A Needlecraft Mystery #1
Crewel World
When Betsy's sister is murdered in her own needlecraft store, Betsy takes over the shop and the investigation.But to find the murderer, she'll have to put together a list of motives and suspects to figure out this killer's pattern of crime...Includes a beautiful embroidery pattern!
245 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
138 people are currently reading
2633 people want to read
About the author
Monica Ferris
27 books491 followersHas 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 420 reviews
December 16, 2017
So I've just recently fallen in love with the art of embroidery, and I am always up for a good, escapist, cozy mystery. I sampled Crewel World, the first "Needlecraft Mystery" by Monica Ferris, and was quickly hooked. This book is a quick, light read. I enjoyed the setting, the real town of Excelsior on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. I enjoyed the characters, and I enjoyed the needlework aspect (plus a free pattern at the end of the book).
What surprised me the most-and what I really loved-was the quality of the writing. Here's an example of an especially lovely paragraph.
"It had started raining sometime during the play, and was still raining when they came out of the theater. But the farther west they drove, the lighter the rain became, until out in Excelsior it ceased altogether, leaving platinum puddles as markers of its passing, and tree branches hanging lower, their leaves heavy with water."
The writing style reminded me a bit of a mystery from an earlier time....perhaps something Nancy Drew-ish or even earlier. Anyway, Crewel World was a lot of fun, and I plan to read more in the series.
What surprised me the most-and what I really loved-was the quality of the writing. Here's an example of an especially lovely paragraph.
"It had started raining sometime during the play, and was still raining when they came out of the theater. But the farther west they drove, the lighter the rain became, until out in Excelsior it ceased altogether, leaving platinum puddles as markers of its passing, and tree branches hanging lower, their leaves heavy with water."
The writing style reminded me a bit of a mystery from an earlier time....perhaps something Nancy Drew-ish or even earlier. Anyway, Crewel World was a lot of fun, and I plan to read more in the series.
August 30, 2007
Crewel World is the first in the Needlecraft Mystery series and probably the last one I'll read. It's supposedly a cozy mystery but I found it one of the most depressing books I've read this year. Usually in a cozy the death of a character isn't the focus of the book except to provide impetus for the main character to solve the crime. Here, though, the tragedy of the death was the central focus for a large chunk of the novel.
Roughly speaking, Crewel World is divided into thirds. The first third introduces the characters, especially the sisters: Margot and Betsy and the town of Excelsior, Minnesota. The second and most depressing third focuses on Margot's death (not a spoiler as it's mentioned on the back of the book) and the harsh reality of the clean-up from a violent death.
In the final third, Crewel World finally falls into being a cozy mystery. While trying to figure out what to do with the store and her life, Betsy begins to realize that something isn't right with how the murder is being investigated. In learning how to run her sister's store, she sees what the police are missing.
My favorite pieces of the book were the beginning and the ending thirds. Betsy's depression after her sister's death is so well written that I was on the verge of tears while reading through the planning of the funeral. I just don't know if I want to grow that emotional roller coaster on future books in this series.
Roughly speaking, Crewel World is divided into thirds. The first third introduces the characters, especially the sisters: Margot and Betsy and the town of Excelsior, Minnesota. The second and most depressing third focuses on Margot's death (not a spoiler as it's mentioned on the back of the book) and the harsh reality of the clean-up from a violent death.
In the final third, Crewel World finally falls into being a cozy mystery. While trying to figure out what to do with the store and her life, Betsy begins to realize that something isn't right with how the murder is being investigated. In learning how to run her sister's store, she sees what the police are missing.
My favorite pieces of the book were the beginning and the ending thirds. Betsy's depression after her sister's death is so well written that I was on the verge of tears while reading through the planning of the funeral. I just don't know if I want to grow that emotional roller coaster on future books in this series.
November 11, 2015
I was surprised to find myself enjoying not only the mystery aspects of this novel, but the knitting parts too! Who knew that a complete novice could still enjoy patterns and purling? Haha, I learned things, though. I really loved the characters as well. Pretty much a perfect mystery read, and someone went to all the trouble to collect these, tie them in a bundle and leave them in an Op Shop, so I now have the entire set! Look out for more reviews of the next couple of books soon :)
September 2, 2021
Няшний детектив про те, як вбили хазяйку вишивальної крамниці у невеликому містечку, а її сестра взяла та порозслідувала. Не скажу, щоб дуже захопливо, але під зиму, різдвяні свята чи ще якісь дощі непогано заходить, купа подробиць про вишивання, нитки і проч.
March 24, 2014
I wish that the other sister had been murdered. It was too annoying to read about Betsy's incompetence and poor judgement for the rest of the book after the murder. However, I suppose that Betsy's thickheadedness was necessary - the murder wouldn't have been much of a mystery to anybody else. Some parts of the book were okay though, and Betsy did manage to pick up the pieces of both Margot's and her own life by the end, which made me like her a little more. I doubt I'll pick up the next one unless I'm really desperate, but the series has some promising aspects, especially the characterization of the small town and the relationships between its inhabitants.
October 16, 2015
I have read several cozy mystery books and thought I would love this one since it has to do with crafts.
Little did I know that this book would seem to drag on forever and have more mistakes in it than I could count.
I finally got through to the end. But i don't think that I will be reading the rest of the series.
Little did I know that this book would seem to drag on forever and have more mistakes in it than I could count.
I finally got through to the end. But i don't think that I will be reading the rest of the series.
September 1, 2018
Cute cozy mystery. In this case, I actually liked the victim. I'm not into needlework, but loved the shop and the characters. Betsy Devonshire fills the void now that her sister is gone, but does she have what it takes to find a killer? There are plenty of suspects to keep you guessing.
October 13, 2021
This is a solid cozy mystery. The mystery itself is interesting and not completely straightforward, which as a person who has read way too many mysteries, I appreciated. There were a few things that annoyed me about it thought. The book is dated. Of course, it was published in 1999, but you could really tell in the way the characters talked to and about each other, let alone the use of phone books, lack of cell phones, etc. I also didn't love the implied disdain for Betsy's love of food and her weight at the beginning. It felt insulting as a plus sized reader. Especially when Hud said he liked bigger women but only when no one was watching...
June 27, 2022
When I started this book I grew attached to the first character that was introduced so imagine my shock when she's the one who dies! I was so sure it'd be the other sister, Betsy! But I still enjoyed it nonetheless because the author did a great job taking her time to develop all characters and I didn't feel like there was an abrupt change in the pacing.
The mystery element in itself was very intriguing as well and the only thing that prevented it from becoming a 5 star read for me was all the needlework talk, NOT MY FORTE at all!
The mystery element in itself was very intriguing as well and the only thing that prevented it from becoming a 5 star read for me was all the needlework talk, NOT MY FORTE at all!
February 28, 2011
A friend suggested I would like reading Monica Ferris' mystery books since I enjoy reading Charlaine Harris' books. "Crewel World" seemed a little slow to draw me in, and since I am not big on needlepoint or knitting I found myself glossing over details having to do with needlework. It ended up being a good mystery book, and the needlepoint played a huge part in solving the mystery. I will try a couple more books in the series and see if I want to keep reading her books.
August 11, 2017
4 stelle e mezza
Avevo letto un libro di questa serie per partecipare a una challenge e mi aveva conquistato, tanto che ho iniziato a reperire anche gli altri.
Questo è il primo della serie e, più che altro, spiega come la protagonista sia entrata in possesso di un negozio di needlecraft (uso la parola inglese perché non riesco a trovarne una in italiano che raggruppi tutti i tipi di lavoro previsti) e ci presenta gran parte dei personaggi che, come so dall'altro libro letto, saranno presenti nelle altre storie. Ci sono vari riferimenti a progetti, sia a maglia che a ricamo: mi è venuta voglia di riprendere in mano tutti i vari lavori che ho a mezzo...
La storia gialla è ben congeniata, anche se ho capito quasi subito chi fosse il colpevole e perché. Ma l'autrice scrive in un modo tale che è un piacere leggere il libro, anche se si è già capito chi sia il cattivo. Mi stupisce come in due-tre frasi molto semplici riesca a descrivere un ambiente, in questo caso la cittadina dove si trasferisce la protagonista, in una maniera che mi fa venire voglia di saltare sul primo aereo e andare a vivere lì...
Avevo letto un libro di questa serie per partecipare a una challenge e mi aveva conquistato, tanto che ho iniziato a reperire anche gli altri.
Questo è il primo della serie e, più che altro, spiega come la protagonista sia entrata in possesso di un negozio di needlecraft (uso la parola inglese perché non riesco a trovarne una in italiano che raggruppi tutti i tipi di lavoro previsti) e ci presenta gran parte dei personaggi che, come so dall'altro libro letto, saranno presenti nelle altre storie. Ci sono vari riferimenti a progetti, sia a maglia che a ricamo: mi è venuta voglia di riprendere in mano tutti i vari lavori che ho a mezzo...
La storia gialla è ben congeniata, anche se ho capito quasi subito chi fosse il colpevole e perché. Ma l'autrice scrive in un modo tale che è un piacere leggere il libro, anche se si è già capito chi sia il cattivo. Mi stupisce come in due-tre frasi molto semplici riesca a descrivere un ambiente, in questo caso la cittadina dove si trasferisce la protagonista, in una maniera che mi fa venire voglia di saltare sul primo aereo e andare a vivere lì...
December 15, 2008
I picked up this book because I am a knitter who likes mystery's - so it seemed like a good fit. Oh - And it is by a local author which made it a triple threat to my wallet. Had to get it!
The story is set in Excelsior, MN at Margot Berglund's needlework shop Crewel World. She is a widow in her 50's and she has a pretty nice life. Her sister Betsy decides to come and stay with her when her second marriage hits the rocks. Betsy seems somewhat aimless and it seemed like she came to be with her sister to just sponge for awhile. All is progressing well for a few days but then...... MURDER!
It tells you on the back cover of the book that it is Margot that gets murdered - which frankly I found irritating. I found I had little in common with Betsy. But i have to say the writing wasn't that bad if I keep reading a book with a main character I don't really relate to.
As far as the series in general goes it's a pretty tame series. I think the nearest thing to sex in it is hand holding and kissing. I remember thinking that this is a good book to recommend to grandmothers who like mystery's because they are so PG. The mystery's are a little weak in some of the books. The way Betsy gets to her conclusions is sometimes unclear at times.
All that being said - they aren't bad books. A little bland - but still interesting enough that I jumped right into the next book when I finished the first one.
The story is set in Excelsior, MN at Margot Berglund's needlework shop Crewel World. She is a widow in her 50's and she has a pretty nice life. Her sister Betsy decides to come and stay with her when her second marriage hits the rocks. Betsy seems somewhat aimless and it seemed like she came to be with her sister to just sponge for awhile. All is progressing well for a few days but then...... MURDER!
It tells you on the back cover of the book that it is Margot that gets murdered - which frankly I found irritating. I found I had little in common with Betsy. But i have to say the writing wasn't that bad if I keep reading a book with a main character I don't really relate to.
As far as the series in general goes it's a pretty tame series. I think the nearest thing to sex in it is hand holding and kissing. I remember thinking that this is a good book to recommend to grandmothers who like mystery's because they are so PG. The mystery's are a little weak in some of the books. The way Betsy gets to her conclusions is sometimes unclear at times.
All that being said - they aren't bad books. A little bland - but still interesting enough that I jumped right into the next book when I finished the first one.
January 9, 2021
I picked up this book because I saw it was a BookCrossing book and my sister loves finding these so I picked it up for her but thought I would read it first.
It is not a book I would normally pick up because it is a murder mystery with a knitting/needlework theme but it was actually ok!
Betsy moves in with her sister, Margot, after her divorce. Margot owns a needlecraft shop and is a pillar of the community, however, she is quickly murdered. Betsy doesn't buy the burglary gone wrong story the police are believing so she does her own investigation. I completely got the killer wrong, I thought it was Penberthy.
The book had a bit of humour in it and although I found it started slowly, I did end up reading it very quickly the more I got into it.
If I saw another book in the series, I would pick it up!
It is not a book I would normally pick up because it is a murder mystery with a knitting/needlework theme but it was actually ok!
Betsy moves in with her sister, Margot, after her divorce. Margot owns a needlecraft shop and is a pillar of the community, however, she is quickly murdered. Betsy doesn't buy the burglary gone wrong story the police are believing so she does her own investigation. I completely got the killer wrong, I thought it was Penberthy.
The book had a bit of humour in it and although I found it started slowly, I did end up reading it very quickly the more I got into it.
If I saw another book in the series, I would pick it up!
August 26, 2019
I enjoyed the setting of an embroidery/yarn store in a small suburban Minnesota town, but I didn't get too pulled in by the characters, and the story wasn't all that suspenseful. I will read more in this series, though, because I did like the setting.
Reread 10 years later in August 2019 after a brief visit to Excelsior, MN. I remembered a lot of this book, which is saying something. Still a 2-star for me.
Reread 10 years later in August 2019 after a brief visit to Excelsior, MN. I remembered a lot of this book, which is saying something. Still a 2-star for me.
July 8, 2009
Crewel World is the first in the Needlecraft series from Monica Ferris.
I like the writing style of this cozy mystery. It left me guessing
"who did it"..until the very end.
If you like needlework, you will LOVE this series!
I like the writing style of this cozy mystery. It left me guessing
"who did it"..until the very end.
If you like needlework, you will LOVE this series!
October 15, 2015
This book truly had potential, however it dragged on and the writing just seemed too much...
Easy to figure out who done it
And no way to get attached to the characters.
This is the 1st in the series and since I struggled to even finish this book I doubt I read the rest.
Easy to figure out who done it
And no way to get attached to the characters.
This is the 1st in the series and since I struggled to even finish this book I doubt I read the rest.
June 30, 2018
An interesting, well-paced, charming-cozy mystery. Had me on the internet looking at needlepoint for almost an hour. :-)
November 2, 2022
The first in an old mystery series well worth revisiting. Even the wordplay in the titles are fun Reminds me a lot of Agatha Christie. Betsy has unexpectedly taken over her sister’s craft shop and while trying to learn the world of ordering, customer service, floss colors, yarns and needlepoint kits , has discovered her talents for solving mysteries.
I’m already onto Book 4 and they get more delightful as more of the backstory of characters is revealed and relationships develop, along with a murder to solve of course! Clues are cleverly embedded in the story and the challenge to figure out ‘who done it’ keeps you turning pages until the end.
Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve
I’m already onto Book 4 and they get more delightful as more of the backstory of characters is revealed and relationships develop, along with a murder to solve of course! Clues are cleverly embedded in the story and the challenge to figure out ‘who done it’ keeps you turning pages until the end.
Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve
December 17, 2022
Suggested by Ruth! I was surprised at who became the main character for the book. The person I thought was going to be the main character seemed kind of...old-fashioned. I get that this book was written in the late 90's so it IS old but like even by those standards, there were some really...old-fashioned ideas in this book. That didn't particularly detract from the mystery. It also made me want to get back to my cross-stitch project, which is a shame that I'd left it at home.
August 31, 2024
So sad.. I think Margot would have been a great character in the series., but Betsy honestly took over her life and made it her own.. it was weird seeing Margot being the put together one and Betsy being out of this world and lost
November 22, 2025
While this wasn't the most exciting book in the world, it was pleasant enough. I think to really enjoy this, you would need to have an interest in needlework or knitting.
It was odd because even though it is written on the back of the book that Margot dies, I completely forgot and assumed Margot was the main character. Her demise is not until a good way into the book. It took me a little while to warm to Betsy, and it was hard to really get a feel for the sisters relationship.
The book tries to fool you by giving you some obvious villains, but neither seemed to have a strong enough motive to murder. I felt the revealing of the actual killer was a bit rushed. Worth a read though.
It was odd because even though it is written on the back of the book that Margot dies, I completely forgot and assumed Margot was the main character. Her demise is not until a good way into the book. It took me a little while to warm to Betsy, and it was hard to really get a feel for the sisters relationship.
The book tries to fool you by giving you some obvious villains, but neither seemed to have a strong enough motive to murder. I felt the revealing of the actual killer was a bit rushed. Worth a read though.
January 23, 2018
Very well written and I was thinking it was this person or that person left and right. Looking forward to stating the next
May 3, 2018
A bit predictable, but fun!
March 28, 2020
This was a great book.....Not really what I term a cozy in some ways, I think it was more of a murder mystery, but it was really good. Bonus, I love cross stitch and crocheting.
May 25, 2021
Not great but not bad. Will probably read more of this series.
February 23, 2017
3.5 stars
November 16, 2007
Review from Literary Times
Margot Berglund owns a needlework and wool store called Crewel World [set in Excelsior, MN]. She's fifty-three, a widow and an expert in her field. Her store does very well for a small town, and she is able to support two part time staff as well as other casual workers. Her husband Aaron had been a wealthy man but despite this she lives a simple life, causing speculation among the town's people. Margot's older sister, Betsy, comes to live with her. When Betsy was young she ran off to join the navy and married a sailor and now her second husband is divorcing her. Betsy seems to be planning to sponge off Margot, she sees living off Margot an easy solution to her problems, at least for the short term. In the idyllic world of Margot there are some problems. Her landlord wants her building so he can build something new and charge more, but Margot has a cheap lease that is good for another four years. So Joe sues Margot regularly and threatens her too, but she has a good lawyer to protect her. She also has a "Wanta be" successor who wants to run her own needlework store in a town that cannot support two. Irene is a little nuts and readily admits that she wants something to happen to Margot so that she can take over. Unfortunately for Irene she has no people skills and is not very successful with the customers. A few nights after her arrival, Betsy comes home and finds Crewel World trashed and Margot murdered. The mystery begins and Betsy takes it into her own hands when she thinks the police aren't doing enough.
Series info:
Needlecraft mystery series
01. Crewel world - read
----------------------
02. Framed in lace
03. A stitch in time
04. Unraveled sleeve
05. A murderous yarn
06. Hanging by a thread
07. Cutwork
08. Crewel yule
09. Embroidered truths
10. Sins and needles
11. Knitting bones
12. Thai die
13. Blackwork
14. Buttons and bones
15. Threadbare
16. And then you dye
Margot Berglund owns a needlework and wool store called Crewel World [set in Excelsior, MN]. She's fifty-three, a widow and an expert in her field. Her store does very well for a small town, and she is able to support two part time staff as well as other casual workers. Her husband Aaron had been a wealthy man but despite this she lives a simple life, causing speculation among the town's people. Margot's older sister, Betsy, comes to live with her. When Betsy was young she ran off to join the navy and married a sailor and now her second husband is divorcing her. Betsy seems to be planning to sponge off Margot, she sees living off Margot an easy solution to her problems, at least for the short term. In the idyllic world of Margot there are some problems. Her landlord wants her building so he can build something new and charge more, but Margot has a cheap lease that is good for another four years. So Joe sues Margot regularly and threatens her too, but she has a good lawyer to protect her. She also has a "Wanta be" successor who wants to run her own needlework store in a town that cannot support two. Irene is a little nuts and readily admits that she wants something to happen to Margot so that she can take over. Unfortunately for Irene she has no people skills and is not very successful with the customers. A few nights after her arrival, Betsy comes home and finds Crewel World trashed and Margot murdered. The mystery begins and Betsy takes it into her own hands when she thinks the police aren't doing enough.
Series info:
Needlecraft mystery series
01. Crewel world - read
----------------------
02. Framed in lace
03. A stitch in time
04. Unraveled sleeve
05. A murderous yarn
06. Hanging by a thread
07. Cutwork
08. Crewel yule
09. Embroidered truths
10. Sins and needles
11. Knitting bones
12. Thai die
13. Blackwork
14. Buttons and bones
15. Threadbare
16. And then you dye
September 5, 2022
I'm working on my physical TBR shelves and Monica Ferris is one of the two authors I chose for September 2022 (the other being Laura Childs).
Betsy Devonshire leaves sunny San Diego for her sister's home in Excelsior MN. Her sister Margot is the owner of Crewel World, a needlework shop which ranges from crochet and knitting to counted cross-stitch and needlepoint. Betsy is gregarious but doesn't know much about needlework beyond some embroidery she did in the past.
Betsy discovers Crewel World ransacked and Margot murdered. While Betsy puts the shop back together, she finds herself investigating her sister's murder. Is the murderer the avaricious owner of the building Crewel World has its shop? Is it one of the town citizens, whose #1 sport is gossip and who look at Betsy with a side eye due to "not being from here"?
Being a devoted needleworker (crochet, cross-stitch, and planning to relearn knitting by the end of 2022) I enjoyed this first entry in the Needlecraft series! I found Betsy to not be a Mary Jane--she's quite human. The relationship between Betsy and Margot was realistic and the way characters interact with each other was fun to read. Excelsior could be any small town, not just in MN but anywhere in the US.
Godwin is a scene-stealer and his bon mots made me laugh. I'd love to pull up a chair around Crewel World's library table and hang out with the Monday Bunch as they craft and gossip.
Betsy Devonshire leaves sunny San Diego for her sister's home in Excelsior MN. Her sister Margot is the owner of Crewel World, a needlework shop which ranges from crochet and knitting to counted cross-stitch and needlepoint. Betsy is gregarious but doesn't know much about needlework beyond some embroidery she did in the past.
Betsy discovers Crewel World ransacked and Margot murdered. While Betsy puts the shop back together, she finds herself investigating her sister's murder. Is the murderer the avaricious owner of the building Crewel World has its shop? Is it one of the town citizens, whose #1 sport is gossip and who look at Betsy with a side eye due to "not being from here"?
Being a devoted needleworker (crochet, cross-stitch, and planning to relearn knitting by the end of 2022) I enjoyed this first entry in the Needlecraft series! I found Betsy to not be a Mary Jane--she's quite human. The relationship between Betsy and Margot was realistic and the way characters interact with each other was fun to read. Excelsior could be any small town, not just in MN but anywhere in the US.
Godwin is a scene-stealer and his bon mots made me laugh. I'd love to pull up a chair around Crewel World's library table and hang out with the Monday Bunch as they craft and gossip.
November 10, 2014
This is the first book in a series that's being shared around in my church choir. I like cozy mysteries and I was pretty well stalled on my other reading and falling behind on my goal of a book a month for the year. So... I picked it up and started reading it.
It was an excellent read and went quickly. I did not read that blurb on the back, so I was just a bit surprised (but only a bit) when Margot was killed.
The characters were likeable and engaging, also believable. I really felt for Betsy when she was struggling through her sister's untimely murder. The things she was feeling and how she reacted... it all made sense.
I enjoyed the characters as a whole. They were just the sort of people you might find in a small town. I think I like Jill the best of all. She was just such fun, partly because she reminded me of other characters I liked in other works.
I was able to solve the mystery right along with the main character - not ahead of or behind. That's always a plus with me. If I continue with the series, I might start getting ahead of Betsy. However, it was nice to see that the clues were all there for the reader to put together.
It was an excellent read and went quickly. I did not read that blurb on the back, so I was just a bit surprised (but only a bit) when Margot was killed.
The characters were likeable and engaging, also believable. I really felt for Betsy when she was struggling through her sister's untimely murder. The things she was feeling and how she reacted... it all made sense.
I enjoyed the characters as a whole. They were just the sort of people you might find in a small town. I think I like Jill the best of all. She was just such fun, partly because she reminded me of other characters I liked in other works.
I was able to solve the mystery right along with the main character - not ahead of or behind. That's always a plus with me. If I continue with the series, I might start getting ahead of Betsy. However, it was nice to see that the clues were all there for the reader to put together.
January 27, 2013
"Library Journal" reported that this was one of the best current mystery series, so I picked up the first volume just to satisfy my curiosity. I was completely charmed. Cozies are usually light on characterization or real mystery, but Monica Ferris wonderfully combines the American small town cozy with diverse, interesting, fully-formed characters. She also crafted an actual mystery that was hard to put down.
The needlecraft angle was also surprisingly enjoyable. I knew nothing about needlecrafts and was curious about how an author could anchor a story around something like that, but it was so interesting, and I learned so much that I'd never even thought about before, that I'm tempted to pick up a pair of knitting needles myself.
With well-developed characters and a strong story, Ferris proves that cozies can be more than fluff. "Crewel World" was absolutely delightful and I can hardly wait to read the next one.
The needlecraft angle was also surprisingly enjoyable. I knew nothing about needlecrafts and was curious about how an author could anchor a story around something like that, but it was so interesting, and I learned so much that I'd never even thought about before, that I'm tempted to pick up a pair of knitting needles myself.
With well-developed characters and a strong story, Ferris proves that cozies can be more than fluff. "Crewel World" was absolutely delightful and I can hardly wait to read the next one.
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