Darned if You Do (A Needlecraft Mystery #18) by Monica Ferris

You know I love crafts and cozies so, craft cozies are a favorite of mine. That means I am very familiar and always excited to see anything by Monica Ferris. Darned if You Do (A Needlecraft Mystery #18) by Monica Ferris is a real joy to read. Available now in mass market paperback.

From the back of the book:

The USA Today bestselling Needlecraft Mysteries have shown that when it comes to murder, Betsy Devonshire, owner of the Crewel World needlework shop, doesn’t mess around. But when a local hoarder is murdered, she’ll need all her wits to dig a new friend out of a heap of trouble…

After a tree falls on Tom Riordan’s house, landing him in the hospital, the police discover a mountain of junk piled high in his home. Locals in Excelsior, Minnesota—including Betsy and her Crewel World Monday Bunch—offer to help with the cleanup while Tom recuperates.

But when Tom is found murdered in his hospital bed, the sole heir to his property—his cousin Valentina—becomes the number one suspect. Betsy believes there’s more to the case than meets the eye, but finding clues to the killer’s identity in the clutter Tom left behind will be like looking for a needle in a haystack …

My thoughts:

I have been reading Monica Ferris for a fair amount of time, with mixed results, but you know I am drawn to anything craft related. I am happy to say she was back in good form for this story. I loved the return to characterization and seeing some real fleshing out of characters that I could fall in love with. 

The pacing in this installment was also great. It had a nice build, beautiful descriptions and several twists. While I did figure out who did it easy enough, I was still totally invested in knowing why and how, which made the mystery a lot of fun.

If you are a fan of craft cozies you should love this one. Plus, in the back you will find  lovely crochet lace pattern. 

Take some time to browse the other great mysteries available from Berkley Prime Crime. While you are there, you can sign up for the newsletter so you never miss a new release. I must warn you though, after browsing my wish list is longer than I could probably read. You can also connect with them on Twitter where you can happen across a fun giveaway as well. 

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.