Crewel and Unusual

Molly MacRae

Jan 2019 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

Yarn shop owner Kath Rutledge is looking forward to the grand opening of the Blue Plum Vault, a new co-op of small shops, but in the week before the grand opening, two of the new shopkeepers, Nervie and Belinda, declare each other’s embroidery patterns and antique embroidered linens fakes, copies—and stolen goods. Kath is caught in the middle when she’s asked to use her textile expertise to decide if there’s any truth to the accusations.Then, the day before the grand opening, an exquisite tablecloth that Kath has fallen in love with—the pride of Belinda’s shop—is found cut to shreds. Belinda accuses Nervie of the outrage, but Nervie has an airtight alibi: she was at Kath’s shop, the Weaver’s Cat, teaching a crewel embroidery class.Despite worries over the rivalry and vandalism, the opening is a success—until Belinda is found dead, stabbed in the back with a pair of scissors from the Weaver’s Cat. Geneva, the ghost who haunts Kath’s store, claims she saw the murderer leaving the scene of the crime. But the ghost is the ultimate unreliable witness—only Kath and her shop manager can see or hear her. That means it’s up to Kath, TGIF, and especially Geneva the ghost to solve the crime before the killer cuts another life short.

Ratings and reviews

I've missed Blue Plum, the yarn shop, Kath, Geneva, the Posse, and even the Spiveys. Welcome back! The author gives enough background information that this book could be read as a stand-alone without having read the previous books in the series. I have been to the Art Vault in Tuscola, IL that inspired our local author to create a new venue for artists and antique merchants to sell their wares out of a historic former bank in Blue Plum, TN. It's the site where much of the action occurs in the book.

This cozy mystery has definitely been worth waiting for! The author brings to life the charm of small-town life, close-knit friendships, creative fiber craft folks, a lamenting ghost who is finding new value, and a complex mystery. Sixth in the series, it can be read as a standalone, yet each novel builds on the next. Kath jumped into The Weaver's Cat and Blue Plum, Tennessee with both feet since losing Granny, Ivy, earlier in the year. One of her favorite groups is TGIF, Thank Goodness It's Fiber, specifically its offshoot, Fast & Furious Friday. The members of this group make newborn caps for babies born in the hospital, a great service to the community. They have also contributed to the community in other, more controversial ways. Kath and her Posse, as the F&FF group call themselves, have contributed to solving several murders since Kath has come to town. Even Geneva, the mournful ghost, has been an unknown part of the Posse. Only Kath and Ardis, the shop manager, are able to see or communicate with her. Oh, and Argyle, the shop cat. The mysteries this time are complex. First, one of the people spearheading the Blue Plum Vault, Gar, was found murdered at a hiking trail parking area just a couple weeks before the grand opening. The Vault was formerly a bank that Gar worked at for many years before his retirement. It is now set up with many vendor booths, primarily for crafters and collectors to sell their beautiful works. A couple days before the opening, Kath hears of a vendor, Belinda, who is selling an antique silk embroidered table runner, and also finds a fabulous embroidered museum-quality tablecloth that she absolutely falls in love with. The day before the grand opening, Belinda finds that someone has destroyed the tablecloth, an act of rage or revenge based on how completely it was destroyed. As a gifted textile restorer, Kath's heart aches for the loss of this tablecloth that cannot be saved. The following day, Belinda is found murdered. Minor thefts occur throughout the Vault, and a couple strangers are popping up everywhere there seems to be trouble. This is such a suspenseful, fascinating mystery! The crafting is, as always, fabulous, and I always learn about different crafts in each mystery. The characters at the Weaver's Cat overall get along well together, and Geneva is a hoot, as always. She becomes more "person"able with each mystery, and it is fun to watch her learn more about life in the 21st century, more than 100 years since she died. I really enjoy this novel, and the series in general! There is a unique mix of characters and wit that just works. There is humor even in the darkest moments. The mysteries were simply beyond my ability to solve, and the motivations and solutions related to people I never considered. For those who enjoy cozy mysteries with fiber arts, humor, and a bit of magic, I highly recommend this mystery! From a grateful heart: I received a review copy of the mystery, and this is my honest review.

About the author

Molly MacRae is the national bestselling author of Plaid and Plagiarism, Scones and Scoundrels, Thistles and Thieves, and Heather and Homicide, all available from Pegasus Crime. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine for more than twenty years, and she has won the Sherwood Anderson Award for Short Fiction. Molly lives with her family in Champaign, Illinois.