Crewel World again

When I read Monica Ferris' latest book Cutwork, I realized that I missed a book in the series. So I snagged a copy of Hanging by a Thread. Loved this book. Betsy hires contractor Foster Johns to do work on her roof. At the time she didn't know that most of town believes that the conscientious Johns has gotten away with murder. Johns had fallen in love with a woman married to an abusive man. When she and her husband are killed within a couple of days, all eyes turn to Johns. Even if the law can't convict him, the town can.

After living with this suspision for years, Johns asks Betsy for help clearing his name and our sleuth steps up to the plate. I enjoyed this and felt the mystery part of the book was better than Cutwork.

Inspirational/Christian Fiction

I am getting to ready to teach a class on talking to patrons about good books in the inspirational/Christian fiction area. I am not a big reader of evangelical Christian fiction; although I do like gentle reads like Jan Karon.

So I was pleased to stumble onto Faithful Reader http://www.faithfulreader.com. It is a great resource for readers of Christian fiction and will help me with my recommendations. Give it a try

Gregor

I haven't had a chance to read it, but I wanted to let everyone who liked Gregor, the Overland know that a new book is out. Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane begins when his baby sister, Boots, is kidnapped and taken down to the Underworld.

Readers of the first book may remember that Gregor fufilled a prophecy in the first book by helping defeat the rats. Now another prophecy looms before this reluctant hero. I'll let you know more when I've given it a whirl.

Death in the land of needlework

Monica Ferris introduced us to her detective/needlework store owner, Betsy Devonshire, in the novel Crewel World. The latest is Cutwork as each title has a tie back to needlework or crafts as well as a project to work on in the back.

I must admit that I am not a rabid Ferris fan the way I love Earlene Fowler. The characters are nice and I look forward to seeing them in each novel. I love the way Betsy and Godwin's relationship as employer and employee and friends is evolving. My only fault is that in the last few, I see the murderer too soon. I stink at figuring out mysteries, so this may be a real problem for avid mystery fans who love the puzzle.

Cutwork is about a murder at a craft fair being held in town. The police are sure the young hoodlum they arrested for the death of the woodcarver is the killer. Betsy knows he is not a lily white kid, but doesn't think he did the crime. In the book you also see both Jill and Godwin sort out their relationships, which was fun.