A Murderous Yarn (Needlecraft Mystery) (Paperback)

by Monica Ferris (Author) "Spring came early to Excelsior that year..." (more)
Key Phrases: antique car club, counted cross stitch pattern, antique cars, Adam Smith, New London, Crewel World (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
At this year's antique car race, one of the drivers never makes it to the finish line. His car is found in flames, and Betsy and her friends must pin down a suspect.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Needlecraft Mystery. edition (March 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042518403X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425184035
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #62,200 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful cozy, March 9, 2002

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Betsy Devonshire moved away from California after her divorce seeking solace with her sister who owned a needlepoint shop in Excelsior, Minnesota. When her sister was murdered, Betsy discovered the identity of the perpetrator. She stayed on in Excelsior, owning and operating the Crewel World shop established by her deceased sibling. Betsy has made a place for herself in the community while solving several other homicides.

Lars, a local police officer, buys a Stanley Steamer antique automobile, which Betsy agrees to sponsor in the Antique for Run from New London to New Brighton. In an exhibition run that stops at Excelsior, Betsy becomes friendly with Charlotte Harrison. When Charlee's husband Bill is found murdered along the road, she asks Betsy to find the killer. Considering that Betsy never said a word to Bill, she manages to acquit herself quite nicely.

A MURDEROUS YARN is a delightful cozy that entertains as well as educates the audience. The heroine is a believable character whose investigations seem totally in character and very authentic though why the widow chooses an amateur sleuth rather than a pro to investigate always lingers in the back of the reader's mind. Monica Ferris is a talented writer who knows how to keep the attention of her fans throughout her latest novel. There is a secondary character that readers will want starring as a delightful private detective in his own series.

Harriet Klausner

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great entry in a wonderful series, May 22, 2002

By	Elizabeth A. Root (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I picked this series up because I'm a needlewoman, but I keep reading it because I think it's unusually good. I love the characters, which is essential if I'm going to continue a series. One of the things that I like best about Ferris' world is that time passes, people change, etc. She doesn't run plotlines into the ground: problems that occur in one book are eventually resolved a book or two later. Betsy Devonshire, for example, starts off struggling with a difficult landlord, and later ends up discovering the dubious joys of being the landlord. She also passes the commonsense test: she knows when to call the police. I get exasperated with amateur detectives who literally and figuratively keep going down into the cellar looking for an axe murderer. Lastly I enjoy the fact that Betsy isn't involved in a romance although she dates from time to time. Now that's different and refreshing!

First book in the series: Crewel World (Needlecraft Mystery).

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Monica Ferris Tops in My Book, September 5, 2002

By	Deborah A. Griffin (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have just discovered--and just finished reading--all 5 books in this series and I have to say it is the best mystery series I have read since the Murder She Wrote books! Monica Ferris' style has me drawn right into the story with her. Once I pick up a book, I can't put it down until I've finished reading it... and I can't wait for the next one! She does a wonderful job setting the stories in the Crewel World shop, always leaving me itching to pick up my latest needlework project again! Please, Monica, keep on writing!!!! I'll be eagerly watching to see what you're going to have Betsy, Jill, Godwin, and the rest of the bunch doing next! Keep up the good work!!!