Crewel World (A Needlecraft Mystery, #1) by Monica Ferris

The story moves at a fast pace, with well developed characters and engaging dialog. An intersetsing plot set in the Midwest. A bit too much of crafting for my taste but I feel others may like it. Not bad for a cozy murser mystery. ( )

A great story - first book in series, so anyone could be the murderer! Narrator is odd and stilted but that actually works for this book, set in a proper Minnesota town. This is worth your time. ( )

Recently divorced, Betsy comes to the small town of Excelsior, Minnesota to stay with her sister, get back on her feet, and decide what she wants to do with her life. Unfortunately, her sister is murdered almost immediately, and Betsy is forced to take over her sister's small business, a shop selling knitting and embroidery supplies, the titular Crewel World. She's also drawn into the investigation of her sister's death as she doesn't feel like the local law enforcement agency is doing a very good job.
Betsy is assisted in the running of the store by Godwin, an effusive young man with quite a bit of expertise in this area, and in the investigation by the very midwestern Officer Jill.
This is the first in a series of mysteries featuring this character. I love the blending of knitting/embroidery with mysteries, and adore the setting of Excelsior, MN as I used to live nearby. I'm so pleased by the accuracy of this author when it concerns MN geography, as that's one of my biggest pet peeves when reading books (and watching shows/movies) set in places I'm geographically familiar with. I'm excited to read through all of these! ( )

Betsy is a free spirited California girl who is living the dream until she is forced to wake up to her philandering husband's ways. She does what any woman does in these dire straits. She goes to her sister's. Reconnecting with her sister is the silver lining coming from this storm. Betsy is adapting to her new life and considering staying in the frozen Midwest when the unthinkable happens. She comes home to find her sister murdered in her own shop.

When the police do not seem to be capable of finding the murderer, Betsy begins to ask questions and the people who knew her sister best began to give her answers. While trying to figure out who killed her sister, Betsy also has to learn how to run Crewel World, the needlepoint shop that used to belong to her sister and now belongs to her. ( )

Betsy's sister, Margo, has her own needlecraft store. Betsy comes looking for a fresh start and stays with her sister who is then murdered. Betsy then starts investigating the murder herself and learning how to run a needlecraft store.