Seams Like Murder by Dorothy Howell

 Seams Like Murder

Book Summary

Dorothy Howell returns to the Kensington Cozy Mystery program with the first in a new crafting cozy series focusing on the members of a Sewing Studio.

Abbey Chandler needs a new start and a place to escape, so Hideaway Grove, where she spent her childhood summers, seems like a perfect choice. Once there, she takes up a rewarding new hobby—but also gets tangled up in a hit-and-run homicide . . .

Abbey has barely arrived in the quaint, quiet town of Hideaway Grove before things turn from blissful to bloody—as the new librarian is mowed down by a car. The only witness on the scene isn’t much help, aside from handing Abbey the bag of books dropped by the victim. Even worse, the sheriff’s office seizes Abbey’s car because of a suspicious dent in the right front fender.
 

While she waits for the problem to be sorted out, Abbey is drawn into a charity sewing project—even though she can’t tell a bobbin from a seam ripper. Before she knows it, she’s graduating from pillowcase dresses to aprons, setting up a studio in a back room of her aunt’s bakery, and making plans to participate in the upcoming craft fair.
 
But through it all, she keeps looking for patterns and possible conflicts in the late librarian’s personal, professional, and romantic life. Then a shocking discovery sends her in a new direction, and as the truth begins to unspool, she’s got a notion about who’s guilty . . .

My Thoughts

Abbey Chandler arrives in Hideaway Grove where she spent summers as a child with her Aunt Sarah.  Her life in Los Angeles went awry and Abbey needed a place that was peaceful.  Unfortunately, Abbey’s peace is short lived when the town librarian is run down in the alley behind Sarah’s bakery.  Sheriff Grumman does not believe the eyewitness that Iris, the librarian, was deliberately hit.  He focuses on Abbey who has a suspicious dent on her car which results in him having her car towed away to be examined.  The only way to get her car back and clear her of suspicion is to investigate.

Seams Like Murder by Dorothy Howell is the debut of A Sewing Studio Mystery series.  I found the story easy to read.  While we get to know some details about our main character, I felt the others lacked development.  The story is told in the first person which has readers privy to all of Abbey’s thoughts (the job in LA, bakery smells good, when will she get her car back, and the hunky deputy sheriff is so cute).  The pacing of the story picks up late in the second half when Abbey begins questioning people.  The whodunit was straightforward.  A woman is run over in an alley.  Sheriff Grumman believes it is an accident despite the statement from the eyewitness.  He does believe her when she tells him it was a white car which has him focusing on Abbey’s car.  I found this baffling since she was new to town, did not know the victim, and was inside the bakery at the time of the incident.  The rude and idiotic Sheriff Grumman then impounds Abbey’s car without a warrant (I know it is fiction but come on).  Identifying the killer is a cinch.  There might as well as been a neon arrow with killer on it pointing at the person.  The why was easy to deduce.  Abbey went around asking questions.  All the pieces come together for Abbey in the end.  

I did feel there was a little too much romance.  I wish the author had let Abbey and Zach (the deputy sheriff) become friends and then as the series progresses work towards romance.  Instead, Abbey finds him attractive, her heart beats faster at the sight of him, his touch sends zings through her system, and so on. There is some repetition as well as some mild foul language.    There was a lot of focus on pillowcase dresses which were being made for children in Africa (Little Dresses for Africa).  It was interesting learning about the cause and how the dresses are assembled.  There are instructions and tips at the end of the book.  Seams Like Murder is a crafty cozy with a plowed down librarian, a disagreeable sheriff, scrumptious cookies, a sewing studio, a confiscated car, a striking deputy sheriff, darling dresses, and a fun festival. 

Seams Like Murder will be out on Tuesday, September 27 and it can be preordered from Amazon*.  You can find Dorothy Howell's other novels here.  Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to stop by and read my latest book review.  I will return on Monday with The Amish Matchmaker by Amy Lillard.  It is the second book in the Paradise Valley series.  I hope that you have a relaxing weekend.  I am working on the final plans for my outdoor Halloween displays.  I am missing one of my key inflatables (lost in the mail).  I am hoping it will be found and arrive in time (I doubt it, but you never know).  Do you have plans for your weekend?  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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