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Seams Like Murder - (A Sewing Studio Mystery) by Dorothy Howell (Paperback)
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About this item
Highlights
- From USA Today bestselling author Dorothy Howell, a brand new cozy mystery series featuring twenty-something Abbey Chandler and her fellow sewing circle members in the quaint, touristy town of Hideaway Cove.
- About the Author: Dorothy Howell is the USA Today bestselling author of nearly fifty books, including the Haley Randolph Mysteries and the new Sewing Studio Mysteries.
- 320 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Mystery & Detective
- Series Name: A Sewing Studio Mystery
Description
About the Book
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...Book Synopsis
From USA Today bestselling author Dorothy Howell, a brand new cozy mystery series featuring twenty-something Abbey Chandler and her fellow sewing circle members in the quaint, touristy town of Hideaway Cove. 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 . . .Review Quotes
Praise for Dorothy Howell's Cozy Mysteries "Seams Like Murder is a charmer of a mystery, a thoroughly engaging tale of murder, romance, and yummy desserts. (Not to mention a nifty sewing project!) I was hooked from page one." --Laura Levine, author of Death By Smoothie on Seams Like Murder "Danger, intrigue, and charm combine in this whodunit set in Hideaway Cove." --Woman's World on Seams Like Murder "Flippant fun." --Kirkus Reviews on Beach Bags and Burglaries "Howell continues to deliver light, fun beach reading. Fans of Laura Levine may also enjoy this one." --Booklist on Beach Bags and Burglaries
"A fun, lighthearted whodunit." --The Mystery Gazette on Beach Bags and Burglaries "Enjoyable . . . an unlikely but engaging sleuth." --Publishers Weekly on Evening Bags and Executions "The well-crafted plot, humor, and designer details will appeal to fans of Laura Levine and MaryJanice Davidson." --Booklist on Tote Bags and Tote Tags "Howell's winning debut...Reminiscent of Reese Witherspoon's character in the Legally Blonde films, Haley evolves from a total airhead into a semi-airhead without breaking a nail. A cool cliffhanger will leave readers eager for Haley's next adventure." --Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW for Handbags and Homicide
About the Author
Dorothy Howell is the USA Today bestselling author of nearly fifty books, including the Haley Randolph Mysteries and the new Sewing Studio Mysteries. Translated into a dozen languages, her novels have sold millions of copies worldwide. She lives in Los Angeles and can be visited at DorothyHowellNovels.com.Dimensions (Overall): 6.6 Inches (H) x 4.1 Inches (W) x 1.1 Inches (D)
Weight: .35 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 320
Series Title: A Sewing Studio Mystery
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Mystery & Detective
Publisher: Kensington Cozies
Theme: Women Sleuths
Format: Paperback
Author: Dorothy Howell
Language: English
Street Date: August 22, 2023
TCIN: 89084193
UPC: 9781496740403
Item Number (DPCI): 247-18-9512
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.1 inches length x 4.1 inches width x 6.6 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.35 pounds
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3.5 out of 5 stars with 2 reviews
100% would recommend
1 recommendations
A crafty cozy mystery!
3 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
- 2 years ago
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.
Can Abbey Sew Up a Murder?
4 out of 5 stars
- 2 years ago
When her life in Los Angeles falls apart, Abbey Chandler heads up the California coast to the town of Hideaway Grove where she spent many happy summers as a child visiting her aunt. Abbey’s hardly arrived before she catches a glimpse of a hit and run behind her aunt’s bakery. Now, instead of trying to figure out what to do with her life, Abbey is trying to figure out who killed the town’s new librarian. Everyone seemed to love the victim. Who wanted her dead? This book gets out to a quick start, but then the pacing becomes uneven. There is lots of set up for future books in the series here. I enjoyed seeing Abbey reconnect with old friends and making new ones as well as discovering a love of sewing, but it did slow things down. Don’t misunderstand, there is a good mystery here, and I like how things came together at the end. I also really liked most of the characters, although the sheriff was shockingly clueless. There are many scenes in the aunt’s bakery that will have you drooling, but this is a crafting cozy series, so our extra is a guide to creating pillowcase dresses. If you are looking for a promising new series, this is one to check out.