Customer Reviews

A Murderous Glaze (Clay and Crime Mysteries, No. 1)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tim Myers, a.k.a. Melissa Glazer, has yet another winning cozy series on his hands with the debut of A Murderous Glaze, featuring pottery shop owner, Carolyn Emerson. The setting is a cozy, small town in Vermont, and the book opens with the murder of Betty Wickline having already taken place inside Carolyn's shop, Fire At Will, the night before. Since Betty was murdered inside Carolyn's shop with one of Carolyn's tools, and since her animosity toward Betty was common knowledge, the town sheriff, John Hodges, considers Carolyn a viable suspect, or is that just to deflect suspicion from himself?

When the entire town starts to treat Carolyn like some sort of pariah and her business dwindles down to nothing, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She enlists the help of an unlikely bunch of investigators - the Firing Squad - a group of artisans from all walks of life (including a reformed crook and a retired judge) who meet regularly at Fire At Will to share their lives and their love of pottery. They waste no time uncovering all sorts of interesting information about Betty and all kinds of motives for plenty of people to have wanted to hasten her demise.

Carolyn is a likable, albeit somewhat abrasive, middle-aged woman with a sweetheart of a husband, Bill. Carolyn's proclivity for sarcastic wit tends to get her into trouble at times and is undoubtedly part of the reason that some of the townsfolk think her capable of murder. But underneath her gruff exterior, Carolyn is actually a bit of a sweetheart herself. She is the kind of friend anyone would be glad to have on their side, and she obviously instills that same fierce loyalty in her own family and friends. Watching them go out on a limb for one another was heartwarming!

The ending was quite interesting, and leaves the reader with a few unanswered questions - undoubtedly in order to keep us anxiously awaiting the next book in the series (which, of course, I've already ordered!).

Carol Ann Hopkins 3/22/2008

I find it hilarious how any hobby or occupation can yield a mystery series but sometimes it adds a certain charm. I love arts and crafts, Vermont in the fall, or fall in general is my favorite season and this series embodies all my little favorite things into one. Murderous Glaze was a good effort for beginning of a new series, I have to admit it didn't take my breath away from the beginning, I had to warm up to it, but once I had proper time to sit down and read it I enjoyed it and couldn't wait to finish.

When a charming clay shop called Fire at Will becomes a murder crime scene of Betty Wickline, a woman no one seems to like in Maple Ridge - including the owner, everyone suddenly becomes a suspect. When time passes and clues start to surface Carolyn decides she has to take matters into her own hands of loose her credibility and her shop since everyone seems to think that maybe she did it herself. Personally I don't think someone would commit a crime in their own store but the friends and pesky sales people from nearby shops seemed to think otherwise. Carolyn launches on a crusade to save her business, make some great pots and fall decorations and find the dangerous lunatic who seems to ache for another victim. With the help of her husband, friends and Fire at Will students she tackles a dangerous task with small hope of victory or she will have to face a dark end of her career.

Fun and charming, the cozy atmosphere of chilly fall and various foods, snacks and coffee consumed along with small town gossip make for a relaxing read. I also enjoyed reading about various clay projects and learning a bit about the craft. The only problem I had was that there were a lot of guilty suspect and sometimes their names and characters would get mixed up in my head, but eventually it all got clarified as end came. I'm beginning book two tonight and hopefully the series gets even better.

- Kasia S.

Maple Ridge, Vermont is a small town where everybody knows everybody's business. Carolyn Emerson is the owner of Fire At Will, a paint-your-own pottery studio. Business is good until the body of Betty Wickline is discovered one night in Carolyn's shop. Hodges, the town sheriff, is not convinced that Carolyn is innocent. Carolyn suspects the other town people might feel the same about her because all of a sudden she couldn't pay anyone to be her customer. She decides to start her own investigation to help clear her name and enlists the help of The Firing Squad, a group of amateur painters and potters that meet routinely at her studio.

I found this story to be quite entertaining. Whether big or small, there was something going on at all times. It never lagged. I did feel the author could have developed the characters a bit more. The book starts right off the morning after the murder. We never get to know the victim, Betty. The author makes it clear that Carolyn did not care for her, but we never really get an explanation of why not, just that one day Betty walked into her shop and generated "instant animosity" in her. I felt the author could have come up with something a bit more substantial than that. There is also the relationship between Carolyn and the sheriff. Every time they had a "conversation" it reminded me of a couple of two-year olds fighting over a favorite toy. It was hard to imagine two grownups acting that way. There is obviously a history between the two, but we are kept in the dark about it. Maybe in future issues we will find out a bit more. There are some delightful characters. Bill, Carolyn's husband, is a gem and I hope her best friend Hannah will play a bigger role in the next book. I also enjoyed Butch, the reformed crook, or is he?

There are plenty of suspects that kept me guessing until the very end, but I did feel the ending was a bit rushed. It lasted a whole page and a half. All in all, it was a decent start to a new series with some room for improvement. I will definitely check out the next in the series.

This book is written in first person.

I was dissapointed in this first book. The murder starts out right away which is not a bad move in itself except it takes a cunning writer to capture your interest throughout the book. This book lacked action. I found the banter between the heroine and her friends dull after a while. I mean really who cares if your spouse ate a hamburger instead of a salad. The heroines communication with her spouse was downright rude.
Every seasoned mystery reader dreads the "list" of suspects and its recap. because we have just about figured out "who done it" and the murderer is almost never on it.
The ending needed to be drawn out in more than two pages and has nothing to do with the title. In fact you could read the first two chapters and then the last page and it would be a quick read. Maybe her next installments will be better. If not I wouldn't waste my time.

I absolutely love this wonderful Book. I had a tough time putting it down. Melissa needs to write faster! I am sorry I just think that this is a great book and a terrific author.

The characters are very believable! The writer is up ther with Diane Mott Davison, Valerie Wolzien and the list goes on!

I will be waiting for May 6, 2008 to roll around!

Mediocre. I picked this up at the library because I like pottery, and a cozy series with a pottery theme appealed to me. Unfortunately, the writing was sadly wanting. It started out ok, with pottery shop owner Carolyn Emerson finding the dead body of one of the town's most unlikeable residents in her establishment. The police of course suspect her, and the townspeople start avoiding her shop. Because of a previous run-in with him, she does not get along with the sheriff. Fearful he will try to pin the murder on her instead of working to solve the case, she decides to investigate the crime herself. Now that started out fairly plausibly, but as we get deeper into the book, the events become less and less believable. Most of the characters were likeable enough, with believable flaws, but I just couldn't connect with any of them. I might have been able to forgive that, and even the scenes that seemed to have no purpose except to add words to the manuscript, but the final denouement was disappointingly flat.

What a fantastic first book in a new series! I really enjoyed this clever little mystery. Great characters, good plot, and wonderful setting. I look forward to many more in this series.

This is really a good series although the ending was a little rushed. I felt like the motive was a little weak for the murder. Carolyn is likeable although a little overbearing at times. She reminds me of Judith in the bed and breakfast series by Mary Daheim. I liked the helpful hints on working with clay too and might try it myself. Overall, a good series if you like cozy mysteries!

A Murderous Glaze is the first in the new Clay and Crime Mystery series & to add extra fun includes clay-crafting tips. How cool is that?

Fall is w/o a doubt my favorite season. Vermont + Autumn = HEAVEN!!!

A Murderous Glaze was a charming & entertaining read. The cozy atmosphere was spot on.


Melissa Glazer did a wonderful job describing autumn in Maple Ridge, Vermont; I felt the sigh of the crisp fall air on my cheek. I reached for my fleece throw while reading this enjoyable mystery.


I envisioned the golden fall trees w/ a touch of white caps on the Vermont mountains. I wanted to hike down to Fire At Will & ask Carolyn to give me a private session.

Trust me, I need a one-on-one class when I attempt to mash make a clay project @ Fire At Will. I mean, I want to hang out w/ the Firing Squad & have all the delicious treats & yummy beverages the Firing Squad brings to their sessions... I don't want to be banned from all the fun.

I love my mysteries w/ a theme or craft ~ especially since I'm craft~challenged. Yes, it is true. I can make the simplest of crafts look like dreck! My stick figure resembles a snake. Yet, I can draw Marc Brown's Arthur. Go figure.

Melissa Glazer gives me my craft fix. I loved learning about the craft. I recommend this series for lover's of cozies, themed-cozies, fun cozies & a darn good relaxing read.

Carolyn Emerson is a fiftyish protagonist that is filled to the brim w/ vivaciousness.

Carolyn's assistant David simply steals the show. He is an absolute standout!!! David needs a series of his own. *Hint ~ Hint* Melissa.

Hannah, David's mom & Carolyn's best friend, is a cheerful, lovely welcome addition. Hannah's presence adds to the story.

Carolyn's husband Bill is an extremely well written character. He has a voice of his own & isn't just Carolyn's hubby for aesthetics. Kudos, to Melissa Glazer for the interesting talent Bill carves out for himself.


I love the premise of a a pottery based mystery. Refreshing!

A Murderous Glaze is a fast-paced, engaging cozy w/ some twists & turns to keep you guessing.

Carolyn Emerson definitely makes a pleasurable sleuth.

A Murderous Glaze is just the start of a fascinating series. An amusing read!

Hurry... go pick up a copy of A Murderous Glaze!!!

I loved this book. It is a great cozy read with fun characters. I will be looking for more from this author!