Hanging by a Thread (A Needlecraft Mystery)

The latest in this mystery series from Monica Ferris is one of the best. Good suspenseful plot, great atmosphere, and excellent characters (disclaimer - my hubby has taken up reading this series after me, and he HATES Godwin!) I only wish I'd been reading this closer to fall and Halloween - it was a little difficult to get into reading about hauntings and chilly weather when it was 95 degrees outside on the 4th of July. I should have saved it til the season was right. If you enjoy 'cozy mysteries' and/or needlework, you'll like this one.

Betsy Devonshire, the "reluctant" sleuth of Excelsior, Minnesota, is called upon once again to use her detecting instincts to aid the police in solving a crime. This time the mystery is a five-year-old murder. The alleged murderer is shunned in town , as the general public believes him guilty, however the police were never able to prove his guilt. He asks Betsy to help him prove his innocence, and , believing him, she takes on the task. Much of the story takes place right in Betsy's needlework shop, so readers of her previous books will be pleased to recognize the familiar characters of the town. References to cross stitch and knitting are sprinkled throughout the book, giving this book extra appeal to needleworkers. The plot of this book is strong, with an unexpected solution. A terrific read for a long winter's afternoon.

Betsy Devonshire owns Crewel Jewel, a needlework craft shop located in Excelsior, Minnesota, that is doing quite well. Thanks to the old Minnesota winters, Betsy needs extensive roof work done and she hires general contractor Foster Johns to perform the roofing. All her friends, workers, and customers are appalled and concerned because everyone believes Foster murdered his mistress Angela and her husband Paul.After the roofing job is completed to Betsy's satisfaction, Foster asks her to find the evidence that will clear his name. He swears he killed neither of them and Betsy intuitively believes him. During her questioning she learns that Paul was an abusive husband and Angela was a battered wife who had an affair with Foster. She also learns that Paul's airtight alibi doesn't hold up which means that he could have killed his wife. Now she has to prove it as well as find the weapon that killed both victims in the hopes that clues will lead to answers.This is the sixth installment in the popular cozy series and it is every bit as good, if not better, than the first five novels. The heroine has shown tremendous growth as a character and the support cast makes the story line both colorful and humorous. There is no way anyone will guess how the victims died but once presented to the audience it becomes understandable and believable. Instead of knitting on a Minnesota wintry night, this a perfect work to read.Harriet Klausner

Monica Ferris is at the top of her form with this book. The plot is just convoluted to keep it interesting, the clues are subtle enough to miss on the first read, the characters are interesting, and as usual, I learned something new about needlework. My only queation is... when is the next book due?

This was a fun mystery to write. I love ghost stories and got to repeat some of my favorites here. The solution is a little strange -- but, as claimed in the story, it's based on something that actually happened. I think Denise Williams is getting better at designing the patterns at the back of the books with every new title. I hope my readers continue to enjoy these books as much as I enjoy writing them.