This week, the
is introducing
Abingdon Press (January 20, 2015)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cathy Elliott is a full-time writer who lives in northern California and whose cozy mysteries reflect her personal interests from playing her fiddle with friends to antique collecting and quilting. Besides collecting (too much) cool fabric, she also enjoys hunting for antiques and is several years into recovery from her eBay addiction. UPDATE: She backslid a while back, enticed to bid on a 1945 Singer Featherweight. (She won.) But now she’s back on the wagon. Except for the recent crazy quilt pillow purchase. She also leads music at church and enjoys time with her grandchildren.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Thea James has accepted an assignment as co-chairperson for Larkindale’s first quilt show extravaganza. Juggling the new assignment with running her antique business, she’s already feeling frayed when things start to unravel. Mary-Alice Wentworth, a much-loved town matriarch, respected quilt judge, and Thea’s dear friend, is covertly conked on the head during the kick-off Quilt Show Soiree, throwing suspicion on her guests. It also appears that a valuable diamond brooch has been stolen during the attack. The family is furious. But is it because of their mugged mother or the missing diamonds? When a renowned textile expert goes MIA and the famous Wentworth heritage quilt disappears, Larkindale’s reputation as a tourist haven is at risk. Thea attempts to piece the mystery together and save the town’s investment in the quilt show before Mary-Alice is attacked again . . . with far worse results.
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Stitch in Crime, go HERE.
My Thoughts:
A Stitch in Crime is the newest offering of the Quilts of Love series of books from Abingdon Fiction, It is a Christian cozy mystery packed full of quirky characters and a mystery centering around a quilt show. I must admit, this is the first cozy mystery I have read and while I totally enjoyed the concept of a cozy mystery, I didn't really enjoy the book.
For those of you who read my reviews on a regular basis, you know that I pay a lot of attention to the characters involved in the books I read. I love well defined, life-like characters that come to life on the written page. Unfortunately I wasn't as impressed with the characters in this book. While most of them were quirky, the reader wasn't given a chance to really get to know any of them.
One thing that I found disappointing is there wasn't much romance in this book. I would imagine it was because it is a cozy mystery. Thea James, the heroine of the book, is interested in Cole Mason, a local reporter, and he is interested in her. The reader can see it but the characters cannot. Personally, I think the story would have been better if Cole's character would have been left out. Since the romance never really happened he was a wasted character.
On a 5 Star scale = 3 stars.
I would like to thank Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my copy of A Stitch in Crime. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.
Smiles & Blessings,
Hi Cindy:
ReplyDeleteWhile I wish you had enjoyed my book more, I thank you very much for reading it and giving your take. The book was not fashioned as a romance at all, so I understand your disappointment there. Just a hint of romance...a possibility. For me, that was part of the mystery feel, will Thea and Cole discover how much they like each other? Will they end up together? I'm sorry if that didn't work for you.
But a nicely written review, even if it wasn't in my favor. And I thank you for it.
Blessings, Cathy