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Wreath of Deception

by Mary Ellen Hughes

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1183229,227 (3.61)4
Recently widowed, Jo McAllister has set up Jo's Craft Corner in the small town she now calls home. But when the clown she's hired for opening day is murdered at the store, Jo realizes that no town is too small for secrets, scandal-even murder.
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After her husband is killed, Jo McAllister moves from New York back to Maryland where she grew up and opens up her own craft store, Jo's Craft Corner. Having put all her money into the store, Jo needs as many customers as possible and on opening day she hires a clown, Cuddles, to attract customers. But her store gets the wrong kind of attention when someone murders Cuddles in her storeroom using one of her knitting needles. Police Lieutenant Russ Morgan seems to think Jo not only killed Cuddles but also arranged the explosion that killed her husband. Jo is anxious to clear her name and with the encouragement of some of her loyal customers, she begins to investigate the murder with the help of 15 year old Charlie, the son of her best friend Carrie. Jo has plenty of suspects but when there is another murder and someone poisons Jo, causing her to crash her car, she realizes she may be getting too close to the truth.

"Wreath of Deception" is the well-written first book in the Craft Corner Mystery Series. Jo is a sympathetic character as she struggles to rebuild her life after her husband's devastating death. One of the things that made this book so enjoyable is the friendship between Jo and Carrie and Carrie's family. Carrie's family is well developed and the strained relationship between Charlie and his father is well done. Charlie's relationship with his "Aunt" Jo is also well done and he's a great help in solving the mystery as his character grows during the course of the book. Jo's Craft Corner's customers are also well written, especially the ones that take her craft workshops: elderly Ina Mae Kepner, who has the energy of someone half her age; Deirdre Patterson, who is married to a senator and very aware of her image; Loralee Phillips with her large tote which seems to carry everything but the kitchen sink; dentist wife Javonne Barrett; and doting mother to twin toddlers, Mindy Blevins. The craft elements are deftly weaved into the story and figure more into the mystery than first appears. Author Mary Ellen Hughes has a nice way with words that is shown when Jo wonders if she is dragging Charlie into dangerous waters and decides it's okay as long as she swims beside him. The mystery itself is well plotted and the identity of the murderer comes as quite a surprise.

"Wreath of Deception" is a well-done cozy mystery and I look forward to reading more books in this series. ( )
  drebbles | Oct 20, 2012 |
Jo McAllister, A recent widow, returns to her hometown to open a craft store with her best friend. On the day of the grand opening, the clown that she hired to greet the customers is found dead in the storeroom after the festivities. The police seem to zero in on her since the murder took place in her shop, with knitting needles from her stock. Jo feels that she needs to vindicate herself and with the help of her friends and the crafters that come to her different workshops, she finally figures out the culprit, but maybe a bit too late.

I loved the characters in this story. The way that the author used not just the older members of the small town but also Charlie, Jo's 15 year old godson, to wheedle information that Jo needed to solve the murder was very amusing. Jo's character especially was well-presented making her very believable and sympathetic. I'm going to have to track down another of this series. ( )
1 vote cyderry | Oct 14, 2009 |
Mary Ellen Hughes mystery Wreath of Deception was cute. It follows Jo McAllister. She's trying to pull her life together after the loss of her husband. Using what little insurrance money she receives, she opens a craft shop with an old friend. On the grand opening, the clown she hired is murdered. What follows is standard mystery fair, with the police detective trying to link Jo to the murder. Jo has to investigate the crime herself in order to clear her name, and hope that her business doesn't fail due to bad publicity.

Hughes gives her characters some depth and realism. The killer is somewhat obvious early on, so I wasn't really surprised at the end of it. I couldn't say that I really became involved with the characters though. I didn't feel Jo's peril at all. I'm not sure if that's the fault of the writing, or the fact that I couldn't really identify with Jo at all. I love crafting though, so I'm not sure what the problem is.

All in all I think the book needs a bit more humorous interaction or to develop more of a sense of peril. ( )
  Antares1 | Jan 27, 2009 |
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Recently widowed, Jo McAllister has set up Jo's Craft Corner in the small town she now calls home. But when the clown she's hired for opening day is murdered at the store, Jo realizes that no town is too small for secrets, scandal-even murder.

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