Assault and Beadery (A Cora Crafts Mystery)
by Mollie Cox Bryan
About the Book
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kensington (September 25, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1496716442
ISBN-13: 978-1496716446
Digital ASIN: B078QM4V66
All of Cora Chevalier’s dreams are coming true. Since moving to Indigo Gap, North Carolina, the busy crafting maven has been blessed with a great boyfriend, a lovely home, and a booming craft retreat business. But on the eve of her first Crafty Mom’s Escape Weekend, tragedy strikes again in Indigo Gap. This time, it’s curtains for Stan Herald, the disagreeable director of the local theater group, who’s murdered on the opening night of their new production. Worse, Cora’s friend Zee is accused of the crime.
Cora is determined to prove her friend’s innocence, but Zee’s mysterious past is making that difficult. And with a list of suspects longer than a double spool of satin cording, getting a bead on the real culprit won’t be easy. With her friends Jane and Ruby at her side, Cora must string together the clues and solve Stan’s murder before the killer gives an encore performance.
Includes crafting tips!
About the Author
Mollie Cox Bryan is the author of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbooking mystery series and the Cora Crafts mystery series. She is also author of two cookbooks, the regional bestseller Mrs. Rowe’s Little Book of Southern Pies and Mrs. Rowe’s Restaurant Cookbook: A Lifetime of Recipes from the Shenandoah Valley. An award-winning journalist and poet, she currently blogs, cooks, and scrapbooks in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband and two daughters. Scrapbook of Secrets was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Visit her on the web at molliecoxbryan.com.
Author Links
Website - http://molliecoxbryan.com/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/molliecoxbryan/
My Thoughts
Assault and Beadery by Mollie Cox Bryan is the fourth book in A Cora Crafts Mystery series. Cora Chevalier and Jane Starr are touching up the sets for IndigoArts production of Fiddler on the Roof which begins that evening. They then hurry home to make sure all preparations are complete for their Crafty Mom’s Escape Weekend which begins the next day. Cora is surprised when she gets a call from Zee Mancini, musical director for IndigoArts, later that evening. Stan Herald, the play’s director, was found murdered on the stage with an unconscious Zee beside him. Cora knows that Zee did not commit the crime. She teams up with Jane and Cora to dig into Stan’s life looking for alternate suspects. The ladies need to string together the clues to get a bead on the killer. It would help if Zee was not so mysterious about her past. In between talking with their suspects, the ladies need to teach their classes and make sure their guests have a pleasant crafting weekend. Can they wrap up the case before the killer strikes again?
Assault and Beadery may be the fourth book in the series, but it can be read alone. The author provides the background on the main characters and how the retreat came to exist. The current crafting retreat, Mom’s Escape Weekend, is for mother’s whose children just went back to school. It is a chance for them to get away, relax and learn some new skills. Beading is the focus of the weekend. French beading, making rose beads, polymer clay beads, wet felting, knotting and artist trading cards are a few of the crafts described in the book. Instructions for different crafts are included at the end of the book. I like that crafting is featured in this series (many cozy mysteries used to feature crafts). The crafty fun is described with delightful details. If not for the pesky murder, I would love to be a guest at this retreat. I still do not understand why they do not employ a cook for their retreats instead of using a caterer. The retreaters could bound over delectable dinners. Indigo Gap sounds like a charming town. There are a variety of shops that I would enjoy browsing. I like how the shops and streets have blue themed names. I have still not taken a liking to Cora. This series would have benefited from a different main character. Cora with her anxiety issues and panic attacks make her unappealing. It is mentioned frequently throughout the story with it becoming an issue near the end for Cora. Panic attacks are a serious issue and the author has shown how Cora tries to cope without resorting to medication. However, reading is supposed to be relaxing and Cora gives me anxious and uncomfortable. Cora is not the right person to be the main character who investigates crime which puts in her situations that exacerbate her condition. However, Ruby is a hoot. She keeps things lively and her son, Cashiel is handsome and handy to have around since he is a lawyer. The whodunit has a variety of suspects and misdirection to confuse the reader. Readers will have no problem untangling the clues and identifying the killer. It was fun to have the characters from A Cumberland Creek Mystery series visit Indigo Gap. The pace is a little slower in Assault and Beadery and there is mild foul language along with copious amounts of alcohol (these ladies let loose while Cora was out of the house). Join Cora, Jane and Ruby in Indigo Gap for crafts, creativity and killing.
The other novels in A Cora Crafts Mystery series are Death Among the Doilies, No Charm Intended, and Macrame Murder. In honor of the tour, Mollie Cox Bryan is hosting a giveaway. You can enter here or use the Rafflecopter form below. Please take the time to visit the other stops on the tour (schedule below). Thank you for joining me today. I will be sharing my review of Silver Anniversary Murder by Leslie Meier tomorrow. It is the 25th A Lucy Stone Mystery. Have a fabulous day and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
The other novels in A Cora Crafts Mystery series are Death Among the Doilies, No Charm Intended, and Macrame Murder. In honor of the tour, Mollie Cox Bryan is hosting a giveaway. You can enter here or use the Rafflecopter form below. Please take the time to visit the other stops on the tour (schedule below). Thank you for joining me today. I will be sharing my review of Silver Anniversary Murder by Leslie Meier tomorrow. It is the 25th A Lucy Stone Mystery. Have a fabulous day and Happy Reading!Kris
The Avid Reader
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
September 25 – The Power of Words = REVIEW
September 25 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
September 25 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers -SPOTLIGHT
September 26 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 26 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
September 26 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
September 27 – The Self-Rescue Princess – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 27 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
September 28 – T's Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 28 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 29 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW
September 29 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 30 – cherylbbookblog – REVIEW, RECIPE
September 30 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW
October 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 1 – Varietats – GUEST POST
October 2 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
October 2 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
October 4 – Valerie's Musings - GUEST POST
October 4 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 5 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
October 6 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW
October 7 – The Montana Bookaholic - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
October 8 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
October 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT/RECIPE
