As owner of the Crewel World needlework shop and part-time sleuth, Betsy Devonshire has become skilled at weaving suspicious threads together. Just back from a trip to Thailand, Doris Valentine is eager to show her stitching friends her souvenirs, which includes dazzling Thai silk. She also has a small stone Buddha that she agreed to deliver to an antique store in St. Paul. It's wrapped in a dirty rag, which she throws away. When she meets the dealer, he is surprised that she unwrapped it, though relieved the statue's delicate hands aren't damaged. The next night, Doris's apartment is broken into, and the things she bought in Thailand are taken. The antique shop owner is found murdered and his shop ransacked. The Buddha is gone. Then someone confronts Doris with a gun, demanding the "Thai silk." Meanwhile, Betsy starts to wonder about the dingy wrapper she retrieved from the trash.
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"Doris goes to Thailand for a surgery that her insurance will not cover, but is cheaper in Thailand, including travel. When she comes back she is a changed woman. She brought back silk that she found for sale and silk that is made into threads for cross stitch. She shares with her friends. She also brings back a statue of a very old duplicate Buddha (standing). But it is wrapped in an old silk. She throws it away and Betsy rescues the silk because of the embroidery on it. In trying to find out how to clean it, many things happen. Doris's apartment is broken into. She is threatened by a woman wielding a gun. Someone shoots at her and when Betsy finally figures it out, she goes to Lars home and is attacked."
— Mary (5 out of 5 stars)
“A wonderful cerebral whodunit.”
— Midwest Book Review“Needlecrafters and fans of Maggie Sefton’s knitting mysteries will snap this up.”
— Library Journal“[A] mixture of believable action, cozy scenes, and commentary.”
— Booklist" Great read with small-town characters, and you don't need to be a needlecrafter to enjoy the story. An interesting take on smuggling art objects into the country. "
— Barbra, 2/17/2014" Really enjoyed this new series. Looking forward to the next one. "
— Lavanche, 2/11/2014" Always enjoyed the Needlecraft Mysteries even though I do no needlecraft myself. The setting and characters were interesting and fun. This one seemed to have a LOT of needlecraft and not so much plot although what storyline there was I enjoyed. "
— Diana, 1/19/2014" Monica Ferris' books are always a treat....a cozy mystery with a twist. Interesting to learn about ancient silk embroidery. "
— Linda, 1/17/2014" This was a very fun read in a series that I love! Not heavy reading, but a very fun mystery. "
— Briansmom, 1/9/2014" Liked it while I read it and would probably read more of this series. "
— Faith, 12/27/2013" These have really fallen off as far as I'm concerned. They're waaaaaaay too complicated, with far too many pov shifts for the cozy mystery genre. I dunno that I'll be reading anymore of these. "
— Christine, 11/28/2013" These books just keep getting better and better. Really good plot! Keeps your interest past the last page!! "
— Artha, 11/23/2013" Not my favorite from the series, but I enjoyed it . . . a quick read! "
— Jillybean, 11/14/2013" Easy reads that I always enjoy. "
— Wendy, 11/12/2013" Love these light-hearted mysteries. As a needle worker, I also appreciate the accurateness of the info she includes in the book to provide background of the needlework shop and to round out her characters a bit. "
— Marlene, 11/12/2013" My first Monica Ferris novel. Different with the backdrop of the needlecraft terms and setting. Quirky ending but suited the characters. "
— Deanna, 11/3/2013" I enjoyed this story. Interesting information about silk. "
— Lynne, 8/4/2013" Always enjoy Betsy and her cast of characters, especially Godwin. I do think the quality of this series has fallen off over time, but I'll keep coming back for more. Love the needlework theme. "
— Sally, 7/30/2013" Excellent. All kind of people involved. Had an idea of who was the main killer but then it really became complicated again and had me guessing "
— Christine, 7/30/2013" I am addicted to the Minnesota characters in this mystery series set in a needlework shop. Some of the books are better than others but I enjoy them all "
— Kathryn, 4/3/2013" As usual in this series, there's lots of good information. My only quibble with this one is that the villain and his reasons were a little obvious. "
— Lindig, 5/21/2012" This was a bit of a stretch but still fascinating. "
— Natalie, 1/30/2012" I enjoy doing all sorts of needlecraft so I was very happy when my hubby brought this home from the library, I enjoyed it so much I read it in one day. It was a suspenseful cozy mystery, I highly recommend it and I want to read the whole series now. "
— Marianne, 12/24/2011" Ferris just keeps turning out quality cozy mysteries; this is no exception. "
— P.J., 6/28/2011" Very enjoyable series! One of the best yet. "
— Julia, 1/12/2011" This one has more menace than here other books. Doris, Betsy's tenant, has her apartment burgled and is nearly killed twice after she comes home from Thailand. Very interesting. "
— Vicki, 10/2/2010" I am addicted to the Minnesota characters in this mystery series set in a needlework shop. Some of the books are better than others but I enjoy them all "
— Kathryn, 6/9/2010" My first Monica Ferris novel. Different with the backdrop of the needlecraft terms and setting. Quirky ending but suited the characters. "
— Deanna, 4/20/2010" Monica Ferris' books are always a treat....a cozy mystery with a twist. Interesting to learn about ancient silk embroidery. "
— Linda, 3/29/2010" This was a very fun read in a series that I love! Not heavy reading, but a very fun mystery. "
— Briansmom, 1/30/2010" Easy reads that I always enjoy. "
— Wendy, 1/22/2010" Always enjoyed the Needlecraft Mysteries even though I do no needlecraft myself. The setting and characters were interesting and fun. This one seemed to have a LOT of needlecraft and not so much plot although what storyline there was I enjoyed. "
— Diana, 1/18/2010" Really enjoyed this new series. Looking forward to the next one. "
— Lavanche, 1/12/2010" Too many elements of this book were off to make it a good entry in this series. The plot was weak, the ending was rushed, and the character, Doris Valentine, was unconvincing as a woman in her early 50s. "
— Lisa, 12/28/2009" I enjoy doing all sorts of needlecraft so I was very happy when my hubby brought this home from the library, I enjoyed it so much I read it in one day. It was a suspenseful cozy mystery, I highly recommend it and I want to read the whole series now. "
— Marianne, 12/15/2009" These books just keep getting better and better. Really good plot! Keeps your interest past the last page!! "
— Artha, 12/9/2009Monica Ferris is the USA Today bestselling author of several mystery series under various pseudonyms. She lives in Minnesota.
Connie Crawford teaches and directs at Brown University and Perishable Theatre in Providence. She is an experienced audiobook narrator and her television appearances include Saturday Night Live and The Guiding Light. She loves working with horses and actors to develop more effective means of communication.