Judith Stacy

A baffling murder, multiple storylines, and engaging characters make this second in the series a winner!

Hanging By a Thread is the second book in author Dorothy Howell's cozy series, the Sewing Studio Mysteries, and along with the murder of an abhorred local golddigger, there are multiple subplots of interest to unwind. This robust story caught my attention from the start, and I was quickly drawn into the community life of Hideaway Grove.

The main character, Abbey Chandler, a recent arrival show more to town after her high-pressure life in LA imploded, is good-hearted and willing to help her friends and business acquaintances out any way she can. She is swamped with work, mostly favors for others, including Janine, the town's flighty tourism manager, in preparation for an important upcoming women's conference. All the while, Abbey is trying to establish her fledgling tote bag business and juggling volunteers for her charitable project making pillowcase dresses for young girls in Africa. It was exhausting considering what she had on her plate, but I could relate to her load as will many other readers who have pitched in to make things happen.

The murder sets off the small town gossip mill, and along with the fear of a killer on the loose, local business owners are scrambling, worried the failure of the sheriff to solve the case will impact the lifeblood of the tourist-dependent economy. Abbey's friend and local business owner, Anna, was most often the herald of imminent doom, spreading any and all rumors, no matter how outlandish. It got to the point that Abbey had to talk to her about her gossip's impact, but someone needed to have an honest "Come to Jesus" with the woman.

The murder victim is a perfect target, almost universally disliked for her well-discussed and dissected shady past behavior. Not a soul sheds a tear on her behalf, and the sheriff appeared to drag his feet on the investigation. Even with Aunt Sarah directly in his sites, he makes zero effort to drag her in for questioning. However, Abbey, believing she needs to solve the crime herself to save Aunt Sarah, puts off talking to her aunt for far too long. However, I loved where the story goes regarding the resolution of the murder, though.

Other intriguing subplots were winners with me and will have me anxiously awaiting future books in the series. Abbey and Zack's relationship teeters between romantic and antagonistic. Props to Abbey for refusing the flowers; she was way more understanding of how Zack spoke to her than I would have been. Caitlin's personal saga will be one to watch, too, with her perceived future and past dreams so at odds and the presence of a third party in the wings with his own unrequited hopes for a future with her. The baffling mystery at the toy shop was also a great side story, especially with the lovely reputation and personality of the suspect. Also, tidbits detailing Abbey's projects and business are sprinkled throughout for the craft-minded among us to enjoy.

With multiple storylines and an engaging array of characters, I recommend HANGING BY A THREAD to cozy mystery readers, especially fans of the previous book and those who enjoy craft-themed stories or tales featuring small businesses.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. show less

Haley Randolph finds herself on administrative leave for irregularities at her new accounting job, then suspected of murder at her part-time sales clerk job. She has an unusual passion for handbags that gets her into credit trouble, but helps her solve the murder mystery. She falls for the owner of the department store and nervously makes up stories to cover up what she’s doing. I found myself laughing out loud when she explains her dented car by saying she ran over something, actually a show more puppy, that she adopted and named Pancake. There are a lot of times Haley Randolph gets carried away with her imagination. You’ll end up smiling or laughing, but sympathizing with her situation. I think the author, Dorothy Howell, created a quirky character with a funny story and a great mystery. I really enjoyed this book. show less

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

This cozy mystery is set in the fictional California town of Hideaway Hollow, an owl-obsessed small town packed with gossip and primed for murder. Abbey visited her baker aunt there during her childhood summers, but now has rolled up in town, fleeing Los Angeles and an embarrassing incident at work that's left her mortified. Upon arrival, she encounters a hit and run accident that leaves a local librarian dead. When her car's bumper dent makes her a show more suspect and causes her vehicle to be taken by the police, she busies her days trying to solve the suspicious death so she can leave--and in the meantime is embroiled in small town gossip and volunteer work.

The set up is great, but the execution didn't click for me. So many of the major aspects of the mystery felt forced. The way Abbey is regarded as a suspect doesn't make sense to me as a reader or even to anyone in the book, but managed to trap her in town. She doesn't do anything to try to get her old job back--that situation escalates on its own. She doesn't even want to start the sewing studio, but is horned into it by busybodies who ignored every word she said. I felt more frustrated as I read, and didn't feel satisfied at the end when my prime suspect from the start ended up being guilty. show less

This was a really fun book. The main character is a bit ditzy at times and has a serious problem with binge spending. Her rationale is not the average. Besides that, the book had quite a few funny moments and great snide comments. The character reminds me so much of Sophie Kinsella's heroines.....just the American version. I read this book in one day because it kept me interested in the two mysteries that Haley was involved in with work. I liked the guys in her life. No bad apples. The show more ending made me smile because it left me with enough of a cliff-hanger to look forward to the next book in the series. show less