String of Lies

Craft Corner #2

by Mary Ellen Hughes

Parker Holt has started gobbling up properties housing small businesses in town, and Jo worries that her Craft Corner shop will be next. But when she arrives at Holt's home to learn his intentions, she finds him dead – the victim of an insidious electrical trap.

The police draw a bead on the construction crew working on the house, led by Jo's good friend, Dan. Anxious to clear him and his workers, Jo and her beading crafters set to work. Motives are dissected as necklaces are created, and Jo follows a chain of clues back into the past, hoping to unknot the current crime – and catch a murderer before he pulls any more deadly strings.

Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime.
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Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Crafts

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2007

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading these mystery craft books is like eating chocolate. It makes you feel good for a brief period of time, and then I feel guilty later. Like, why can't I read respectable books? I don't know.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stringing along on the surface

Again, the character development is a tad dry although we are introduced to some new people. The previous characters' relationships don't seem to be naturally progressing but rather still mostly on the surface. I'd like to see more friendly banter and interaction between the crafting friends. In all though, the story is enjoyable. Looking forward to book 3 in the series.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first one of the series I read. I really enjoyed this one. I read a couple of books from a sewing series that barely mentioned sewing. This book did a good job of intertwining the craft/beading and the mystery.

There were a lot of characters in this book. But the author did a great job of developing all the characters so it was easy to remember them.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice crafting story, adding a gentleman to the craft table was good idea.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

c

[Spanicek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The story line and all of the characters were tremendous.

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Formula cozy mystery trash written to fit in with the author's other Craft-Themed novels. Not much to say about it except that these kinds of books would possibly be better written by an AI.

[Drebbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running a small business is never easy and when craft storeowner Jo McAllister hears that her landlord may sell her shop, she goes to confront developer Parker Holt. She arrives at his home only to find his body - it turns out he was murdered. The police have plenty of suspects but when they seem to focus on one particular suspect, Jo thinks they have the wrong person and she, along with the help of crafters in her beading workshop, sets out to find the real killer. But Jo needs to be careful or she may be the next victim.

"String of Lies" is a very enjoyable if somewhat flawed cozy mystery. This is the second book in Mary Ellen Hughes' Craft Corner Mystery Series and it's even better than the first one "Wreath of Deception". Jo continues to grow as a character as she is slowly recovering from the death of her husband and worried about losing her business. Her budding romance with Lieutenant Ross Morgan (it seems that all cozy mystery heroines must have a romance with a cop) is being handled nice and slow by Hughes which makes it enjoyable to read. The craft elements are nicely done and I love the beading workshops Jo has - I wish there were more in the book. The addition of a male crafter - retired butcher Vernon Dobson, is a welcome one and I hope he appears in future books in the series.

Unfortunately, while the craft elements in the book are well done and the characters are well written, the mystery aspects aren't nearly as well done. The way Parker Holt is killed is unbelievable; it leaves far too much up to chance. There is a second murder in the book that I saw coming early. I also figured out early on who the killer was, although I kept hoping I was wrong because I liked the character. Still, despite these flaws, I really liked the book - Hughes has a way of writing that pulls you into the story and she creates characters you really care about.

"String of Lies" isn't perfect, but it's still an enjoyable cozy mystery and I recommend it to cozy mystery fans.

[Penny McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this one entirely by chance and I think it was meant to be because this is one of the best cozy mysteries that I have read in a while. Nice fish out of water story with the main character moving from the big city to a small town after a crisis in her personal life - she is warmly welcomed by some of the small town neighbours and is held in suspicion by others so some tension exists and it is so much fun! Her new business is a craft shop and that adds daily excitement to her life but the reader gets to enjoy watching her settle into her new home and routines as she rebuilds her life after the death of her husband. It's a nice blend of a woman getting into a groove with a little bit of creative juices flowing at the same time. Loved that part of the story.

The murder mystery was solid. The bad guy deserved it - always a plus - and the suspect list had one of her good friends and supporters included. There was a lot in this story for Jo to solve and a yummy police officer she is having trouble trusting and it made the tone of the book more realistic. I like a character that has a bit of real life indecision going on and Jo has that. She also has tons of charm and talent so the shop she is running seems like one you'd like to dive into - yet another cozy set in a small town that I'd like to visit but never can. Sad.

Looks like our library system owns a second in this series. I'll have to get to work and track down some of the others as Mary Ellen Hughes has captured my heart with this book. It won't make me a crafting maniac but I sure am enjoying reading about them.

[Kristy Trauzzi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I need a 1.5. Can they make a half star system??

I can't believe there was enough to make a sequel. I'm sure if the first one sucked like this one, there would be no need for a second one.

The craft corner concept reminded me an awful lot of that knitting club book that I have read. Where she owns a knitting shop and then her friends come for a knitting lesson? But they just gab? That one! But - add to it . . . a mystery!!! Where the lady magically becomes a detective. And figures out the case!!! And then . . . . JUST as she finds out - the killer is conveniently waiting for her! To abduct her! And kill her! Thank god for alcohol!

And what's really dumb if that wasn't dumb enough? They slightly made it seem as if she almost died from her first book and her first mystery. Do you not think that you would get the hint that you aren't trained to be a detective?

I did however like Vernon. I think it's cute that he was making amazing jewelry for his wife and daughter. My husband made my wedding necklace for me and it's one of my most valued possessions.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last year, I've read the first book in the Craft Corner series, Wreath of Deception. Now I've finished book two in the series, String of Lies. Another good cozy with an intriguing mystery in winter. This takes a month after the first murder, when there's rumors of small businesses is being sold to a larger corporation called Holt Meadows. This makes Jo McCallister concerns for her own Craft Corner shop too of being sold. When she learns of her neighbor's shops being sold, and worried for her own, she went to the Holt Manor to talk to Parker Holt himself. And what turns up was his dead body. More than one person had a good reason to kill him, when there's a string of lies popping out of the woodwork to cover their asses. When Jo gets closer to teh truth, she might be the next victim of the killer's. An enjoyable read with crafty beading tips.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up the first three in this series at the used book store, hoping to find another cozy series I liked. I'd previously read the first in another series by this author and liked it well enough, though there weren't any more of that series at the book store. So, here we go.

I liked this one better than the first, I think. The first one, it was PAINFULLY obvious who the culprit was. In this one, I kinda knew, but it wasn't nearly as obvious. I guess here's hoping for more improvement with the third one!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a lecherous real estate developer is found dead, craft store owner Jo is afraid that her friend's business will suffer. One of his employees is the leading suspect in the case. But Jo is curious about the possible motives of the man's widow, who just happens to be the favorite niece of the local mayor. She's also worried that the handsome policeman may be influenced by political considerations.

[Mascanlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nicely done second outing in the cozy crafter series by Mary Ellen Hughes. The characters are developing and the setting is a fun one especially is you're into crafting and I am! The plot wasn't that strong and once again the heroine (spoiler here!) gets abducted in the end, but all in all a pleasant read on a rainy day in So Cal.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I felt like I had slipped into a community of people that I really liked being around. I cared about their problems and I cared about the mystery that affected them. For me, this book was a great get-away, and I was torn when it came to an end - satisfied with the ending but sorry to have to close the book.

[Olive · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series. A Craft Corner Mystery. Jo owns a craft store. Parker Holt was murdered. Xavier Ramirez is blamed. Jo did not believe it so she went about trying to find out who did. This is an interesting read.

[Cris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second book in her series, but it stands alone. Pretty bland, common mystery. There are a few nice touches with the craft shop, but overall nothing special. (Hughes tends toward the fair-play mystery. i.e. The reader has all the information needed to solve the mystery.)

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying these craft corner mysteries! This is the second one and it was great. Jo McAllister gets herself into a pickle more times than not and her curious nature and creative side meld perfectly in this cozy.

[Kathy Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable!! This book will grab you, just as it did me!
Very well written, very believable and an awesome addition to anyone's cozy mystery collection.
I'll be getting book one shortly because this looks to be series to follow. Read them as stand alone books or read them in order.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

The owner of a craft shop is the primary "detective" for the murder of a high profile business man. I found it to be fussy and this book won't be on my favorites list.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a book group and enjoyed meeting Jo and her friends. I liked the town and the people and will continue with the series.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the quickest I've ever read a book, in under four hours. The style is breezy and you learn not the craft, but the love of the craft.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a craftsy person but this cozy mystery series doesn't need you to be. I love the cast of characters and the mysteries are well-done!

[Jennifer Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! This was a great follow-up book to the first one. I love the characters!!

I highly recommend it!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and characters. There were some editing errors that were distracting, however, the story was interesting and held some twists.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the second book in the series and I enjoyed it. Totally didn't see the ending coming.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a really cute mystery. I'll definitely read another one of her books.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read.

[Annenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another author whose books I'll have to check out, a great read!!
Just the type of light hearted book I like reading.

[Glenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Craft Corner mystery series. Good series.