Perfect for fans of Betty Hechtman and Maggie Sefton, Holly Quinn’s third Handcrafted mystery aspires to wrap you in its warmth.Community Craft proprietor Sammy Kane must piece together a patchwork of clues when a “live” mannequin ends up stone-cold dead.Snowcapped pines and glittery dusted sidewalks adorn tranquil Heartsford, Wisconsin, while residents cuddle beneath heirloom quilts in front of … beneath heirloom quilts in front of cozy wood fires. But come the next day, the below-zero temperatures won’t keep the locals away from Heartsford’s annual Fire & Ice event. To boost customer traffic at Community Craft’s one-night-only sale, Samantha “Sammy” Kane persuades a few of the craftspeople who sell their wares at the store to participate in a live mannequin window display contest.
Local quilter Wanda Wadsworth emerges as a favorite to win the contest, as she manages to not move a muscle for an unusual amount of time. Onlookers outside the window try everything to get her to crack–tapping on the glass and making funny faces–but nothing disrupts Wanda’s stillness. When the eagle-eyed spectators realize Wanda isn’t breathing, a blanket of grief and fear descends upon the wintry town.
Detective Liam Nash can’t seem to piece the clues together. Fortunately, Sammy’s cousin, Heidi, and her sister, Ellie, are on hand to reconvene their detective team, S.H.E. They set out to solve Wanda’s untimely death before the case grows as icy as a sub-zero Wisconsin winter. But they are all too aware that the killer is too close for comfort.
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A Crafter Quilts a Crime by Holly Quinn is the third A Handcrafted Mystery. Sammy Kane has Community Craft ready for the town’s annual Fire and Ice event. Sammy dreamed up a live mannequin contest that will take place in her front display window. Sammy goes to check on Wanda’s progress and notices her lips are blue. Wanda is dead and her husband is MIA. When Ellie’s husband, Randy becomes a suspect, the S.H.E. team convenes. Sammy, Heidi and Ellie work to stitch together the clues that will reveal Wanda’s killer. A Crafter Quilts a Crime can be read as a standalone for those new to A Handcrafted Mystery series. I like the close, heartwarming relationship between Sammy, Ellie and Heidi. They get along well together and make a formidable team. I admit that I prefer Ellie and Heidi to Sammy. Sammy is nervy and lacks understanding of Liam’s position. She does not understand when the police cannot share information with civilians. Holly Quinn captured the feeling of winter with her word imagery. I could feel the cold tingling my ears and nose from her descriptions. I remember what that bitter cold feels like. I enjoyed the images of Community Craft with its beautiful handmade items inside. I wish my town had such a place where people can learn a craft and sell their handmade wares. The live mannequin contest was a unique event that had an unfortunate end. The investigation progressed slowly for Detective Liam Nash because he had limited clues. He is searching for Wanda’s husband as well as a reason why someone would want to harm Wanda. Sammy feels Liam is moving too slow. When her brother-in-law is brought in for questioning, Sammy quickly calls Ellie and Heidi. The three of them (S.H.E.) will do what it takes to prove Randy is innocent. Sammy’s sleuthing methods could use some fine tuning. She is a little reckless and is quick to break the law as well as obstruct justice. I like how quilts tied into the mystery. There were some interesting clues to help readers solve this whodunit. A Crafter Quilts a Crime is a cute cozy mystery that interweaves Sammy’s daily activities with the mystery of Wanda’s death. A Crafter Quilts a Crime has a big bonfire, wintry weather, quilt clues, a spouse gone astray, and the snoopy S.H.E. squad.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Sammy just cannot help herself in this newest installment to a great crafty cozy series. A January event is starting and to bring in shoppers she thought of the idea of having a real life window display with a contest for the one person that does the best. The idea goes better then she ever could have planned for until the second slot goes too still. Wanda never gets back up instead being taken away by paramedics after failure to revive her. This closes the craft center for the day. Well of course Sammy just has to start asking questions recruiting help when needed despite who tells her not to. Mixed in between clues are some wonderful quilting bits making for a great story that is sure to delight cozy fans. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Welcome to winter in Wisconsin and the fictional town of Heartford where the residents are celebrating with the annual Fire & Ice event. The shops are open late and the evening will conclude with a giant bonfire. Sammy Kane wants her shop Community Craft to really stand out and bring in the customers so she has asked a few of her crafters to take part in a “live” mannequin contest. The front window is all decked out and ready for the crafters to take a starring role.
Wanda Wadsworth is ready to shine, she even brought one of her quilts to feature. She immediately captures the attention of the audience as she remains completely frozen in her pose as people do their darndest to disrupt her performance. When someone suddenly notices Wanda’s lips turning blue people jump into action but it is too late. Then when police try to notify the husband of her passing they find the man is missing.
Detective Liam Nash warns Sammy to stay out of the case but soon she, her cousin, Heidi, and her sister, Ellie, the ladies of S.H.E. are bustling around in the cold and snow trying to find the killer. Things start to heat up as the killer is close on their tail.
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This is such a fun series. I have come to think of the main characters as friends and they have their share of strife this time as they don their Nancy Drew hats to try to find who killed their friend. These characters are relatable and believable and continue to evolve over the course of the story. I do like the way the girls work together and that they each have their own strengths. All the characters presented in the story are well crafted but again the four-legged one steals my heart.
The story is very fast-paced with plenty of twists. Sammy’s drive for the truth gets her in trouble making for some very tense moments. There is a nice blend of daily life with the mystery and a real community feel over the whole book. I liked the way the crafting group came together with an idea to remember and honor the friend they had lost. What I really enjoyed most was something people see all over the state of Wisconsin have a new purpose when it comes to solving the mystery.
As a Wisconsin resident, Holly Quinn really brought a real Wisconsin winter to this story. The frigid cold, the blowing, and drifting snow. Waiting for the roads to get plowed noting that for some it can be a long wait. Also showing that snow is not the be-all and end-all. After being cooped up with kids after a snow day, moms will plow through the snow themselves to get to a craft meeting to converse with adults, drink hot chocolate that may include alcohol, and nosh on homemade treats for a few hours before heading back to fray at home ready for anything.
I do love the way this author tells a story. A Crafter Quilts a Crime is quite entertaining and checks all my cozy boxes. I truly can’t for the next book!
It’s winter in Heartsford, Wisconsin, and Sammy Kane is preparing for the annual Fire and Ice event with a live mannequin window display contest at her store, Community Craft. When a member of the quilt group dies during the contest, and her husband goes missing, Sammy, her sister Ellie, and her cousin Heidi work together to find the culprit.
I found this book to be an entertaining and fun read. I enjoyed the author’s writing style and the cozy winter setting. The relationship between Sammy, Ellie, and Heidi was heartwarming. They were very loyal to each other, and I liked their interactions. I have mixed feelings about Sammy. She came across as pushy and selfish. Her careless sleuthing and willingness to obstruct justice rubbed me the wrong way. But she did own up to her mistakes in the end, so I will give her character a second chance. Ellie and Heidi were both likable characters and in my opinion, more interesting than Sammy. The murder mystery had plenty of suspects to choose from and I actually guessed the real culprit halfway through the story, but the author provided plenty of red herrings to make me second guess myself.
I definitely recommend this book. It’s the perfect winter cozy and will make you want to curl up on your sofa with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa.
I received an ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I liked so much about this book. The relationship between the sisters and cousin was heartwarming and their antics were laugh-out-loud funny. The community blends loveable people and crusty curmudgeons. The whodunit plot kept me guessing. But Sammy’s lack of impulse control when it came to jumping into dangerous situations rather than calling in law enforcement professionals stretched my willful suspension of disbelief more than a little. Still, I recommend this for lovers of cozy mysteries with sleuths who don’t respect their own safety.
I requested and voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my honest opinion in response.
It’s winter in Wisconsin and Sammy Kane is rapidly putting on the final touches for her display window of Community Crafts. Sammy has gone all out in preparation for the Fire and Ice festivities with the plan to have live mannequins creating a Christmas scene. All the volunteers are lined up and ready to go, with each presentation lasting 20 minutes. First up, Sammy’s cousin Heide, who did an excellent job by not moving, drawing people to the display as well as inside the store. Next is Wanda, a much-loved citizen and fellow crafter, with her lap quilt. When Heidi comes in to tell Sammy what a great job Wanda was doing, take a peek into the window. Once they realized her lips were turning blue, they sprang into action! Heidi started CPR while Sammy called 911. Unfortunately, Wanda was dead! Although Wanda was considered a health nut, the first thought was a heart attack. When Wanda’s spouse suddenly goes missing, it begins to look a lot more like murder! Sammy, Heidi, and Ellie (S.H.E) go into investigative action. Forming the group during their childhood, they have been fairly successful in solving cases. Involving themselves in a murder investigation aggravates the handsome Detective Nash, as it’s always a challenge to keep the trio safe.
I am really enjoying this series, each one better than the last. With the descriptions throughout the book I can visualize the cold, Wisconsin winter. Sammy has a tenacity that gets her into trouble, which sometimes, like Detective Nash, can drive me crazy. I love that her deep concern and care for others keeps her going to bring a killer to justice. The plot was skillfully thought out keeping the question of did he, or didn’t he in the forefront of my mind. Each character is well developed and likeable, adding their own element to the story. The ending was suspenseful as I really thought I knew who the suspect was, yet once again I was caught off guard. A well-crafted and entertaining cozy! I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.
Very good book!! I love the relationship between Sammy, her sister Ellie, and cousin Heidi in this series. The S.H.E. detectives are so much fun and have a great sense of family and looking out for one another. The girls once again get involved after a customer who was posing as a mannequin in Sammy’s display window is discovered dead. The woman’s husband is discovered to be missing. The girls find themselves in some hot water and interesting situations. The storyline for this book was intriguing and I liked the developing relationship between Sammy and Detective Nash. I would love to visit Community Craft sometime as it sounds like such a neat store. Hope to see more of this series, the S.H.E. gang, Sammy and Detective Nash, and Heidi and Tim. Ellie, her family, and Bara the dog, too!!
It’s Winter in Wisconsin and the citizens of the town of Heartsford are getting the shopping district all decked out to celebrate the Fire and Ice event. Sammy has planned to feature living models in her window display but things go terribly wrong when a member of the quilting group dies while in the display. Things then go from bad to worse when the dead woman’s husband is nowhere to be found.
Sammy along with her sister Ellie and cousin, Heidi set out to track down the killer. They work well as an investigating team.
This may be the third in the series but it works fine as a stand alone. The puzzle is well constructed and led me down some dead ends with a few red herrings. The plot kept me well entertained and I have no doubt that I will enjoy the fourth entry just as much – it already has a spot set aside for it on my TBR.
My thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
A Crafter Quilts A Crime is the third book in the A Handcrafted Mystery series.
Samantha “Sammy” Kane has been trying to come up with a store window display for the Fire and Ice festival to draw more customers into the Community Craft Shop. Sammy has decided on “live” mannequins to display the crafts they make. It seems to be working at foot-traffic is picking up. When Wanda goes in for her stint, everyone that comes in is commenting on the excellent job she is doing. Wanda’s time is up and Sammy goes to let her know her time is up but doesn’t get any response. Heidi, who works at the hospital checks of Wanda and tells Sammy that she is dead. The police try to notify her husband, but he is nowhere to be found. Soon, Ellie’s husband Randy becomes a suspect and S.H.E. needs to get into action and find the killer.
One afternoon, Sammy is heading home and happens to see Wanda’s husband driving is Wanda’s car. She gets him to stop and gets into the car to tell him about his wife. The only thing he is concerned about is getting out of town. He takes Sammy to an old barn where he ties her up and puts her in an RV he owns. Now Hiedi and Ellie need to also worry about finding Sammy so that S.H.E. doesn’t end up becoming H.E.
It’s always an enjoyable time visiting with the folks in Heartsford, WI. The stories are always well-written and the residents are well-developed and believable. The book kept me guessing until the end.
Also included with the book is a quilt block pattern and delicious-sounding recipes.
I will be watching for the next book in this cozy series.
I really enjoyed A Crafter Quilts a Crime. For one thing, I love reading books that are set during the winter. I don’t like winter because it’s cold, gets dark early, rains as soon as it starts to warm up, snows just enough to make driving difficult…I could go on and on. However, I like reading about it! It makes me feel warm and cozy, and I have zero clue why. Do you know what I mean? It’s like I told you in my Bonbon With The Wind review. I like reading about storms and tornadoes and stuff, but I don’t want it to happen to me!
Well, A Crafter Quilts a Crime is set in mid-January where temperatures in Wisconsin are way below zero! And, I think I have it bad in Ohio?! Those temperatures come into play during the book as Sammy, Heidi and Ellie (AKA S.H.E.) try to figure out what happened to Wanda Wadsworth. Of course, they’re not supposed to be trying to find this out since they’re not police, and it’s dangerous! That doesn’t stop their inquisitive minds though…especially when the police think Ellie’s husband might be involved.
Though this is the first book I’ve read in the A Handcrafted Mystery series, it was easy for me to get a grip on the characters. I appreciate when authors don’t give you major plot points from the prior books because I like to go back to read the ones I’ve missed sometimes. Holly Quinn does a great job of developing the characters enough for us to understand and know them without giving away too much of what happened (like who the murderers are) before.
A Crafter Quilts a Crime is a cozy mystery that you’ll get through quickly since you won’t want to put it down! I definitely recommend you check this one out soon.
Less than half way through the first book in this series, I knew and said it was going to be one of my favorites. Having now finished this third book, I stand by my word.
Author Holly Quinn has created something special with her Handcrafted Mysteries. With a good number of cozy mysteries getting “edgier” (Not a word I think of when I think of cozies), Ms. Quinn has stayed true to the roots of the genre, and I for one am thrilled.
A CRAFTER QUILTS A CLUE was a fast paced read from cover to cover. Feeling as though I was a participant in every scene, I was totally invested in finding out who killed a local woman and why they did it. With skillful plotting and a knack for knocking the reader off track, the author had me duped right up until the reveal.
I’m sure I said this about the second book of this series, but I think A CRAFTER QUILTS A CLUE may be my favorite book in this series so far. It’s been delightful watching the characters grow from book to book, and I feel this story shows them at their best and strongest yet. The feeling of community was palpable and I enjoyed being a part of it.
With A CRAFTER QUILTS A CLUE is the perfect book to treat yourself to a dose of cozy.
Once again, Sammy and her S.H.E. Squad are up to their eyebrows in trouble, and this time it might mean the end of everything. I am thoroughly enjoying this series. It’s sweet and funny, filled with dramatic tension and awe-worthy small-town moments. This story had so many wonderfully diverting twists, I never saw the ending coming – I was completely surprised by the villain. And as frustrating as the dynamic between Sammy and Liam is to me, I love watching the friction between them. Their chemistry is palpable, and it hurt my heart to see the distance between them in this book. I also think it’s wonderfully appropriate that while I read this book, I’m surrounded by my own blizzard-y weather after several weeks that made us all wonder if spring would make an extra early appearance. This is kind of important to me, because the weather’s almost a character of its own in this story. (And anyone who’s ever survived a northern “prairie” winter can attest that winter weather is an entity all of its own.) Already I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store for Heartsford next after they dig themselves out from beneath this storm.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.
I really enjoyed that the novel was set in Wisconsin and that the murder mystery began early, quickly bringing me into the plot. The murder motive was interesting and I appreciated that it was very “Wisconsin”. The way quilts were tied into this book was also fascinating. My recommendation is to read the series in order and not begin with this book as it is the third in the series, so that you are familiar with the characters and their history.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #ACrafterQuiltsACrime #mystery #cozymystery
Just how much trouble can the S.H.E.’s get into? How much fun would it be to hang with these ladies? I would love to have a place like Community Craft, either to own or just visit. This book has an interesting story line that may have a surprise twist or two. I love these characters and enjoyed hanging with them for a while. I can’t wait till we can meet up again. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
I enjoyed this read, my mind kept jumping as to whom the guilty party was, and then I would come to another conclusion.
Now this is my first book in this series that I have read, and no I wasn’t lost, and the author did a great job of keeping everything updated without being redundant.
Now I’m a quilter and also have a farm and barn, so right away my interest was piqued, and I loved the barn blocks, and the trail, and a wonderful job was done to make it part of the story. Even to putting the binding on the quilt, it all added to the mystery.
Yes, surprises abound here, and I loved the ending, wow!!
I received this book through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. and was not required to give a positive review.
I definitely enjoyed this 3rd in the Handcrafted Mystery series! To me, the characters are like visiting with delightful friends active in their community. It is a challenging whodunit that includes the charm of historic farms and crafts of the Midwest and plot twists that kept this reader on her toes. I am already looking forward to coming back again!
Sammy is preparing for the evening’s Fire and Ice Event, an annual town festival in January every year. Shopkeepers at the downtown Heartsford stores, including her Community Crafts store, celebrates with special sales. The stores stay open late and everyone gathers at the bonfire to finish out the night.
Community Crafts offers various needlework-related classes and sells goods made by specialty crafters in the community that include anything from knit socks to woodworking. Its importance in town includes people coming together as friends as well as to plan and make things to help others in the community. Sammy will captivate shoppers’ this year with special mannequins in the display window. Those who make and sell their crafts will display them in the window, as real-life, albeit still, mannequins.
Heidi, Sammy’s cousin, is the first person in the display window in a gorgeous Ice Princess costume, and next will be Wanda, an excellent local quilter and yoga instructor. Wanda, who isn’t feeling well, sits with her heirloom-quality lap quilt. Ellie, Sammy’s sister, oversees the cash register. Sammy and Heidi step outside to see how Wanda looks. Wanda seems to be doing a great job of sitting without moving. Until Heidi, a nurse, notices Wanda’s lips are turning color, and knows that it is not cold in the display. They race to see if she is okay, which she is not. Wanda is dead. The next day they learn her husband is missing.
On the case are Tim, a police officer and Heidi’s boyfriend, and Liam, a detective who may have an interest in Sammy, and she in him. When Sammy, Heidi, and Ellie get into full S.H.E. mode (Sammy-Heidi-Ellie), they sometimes step on the men’s toes but often get leads that the police can’t. S.H.E. is a group started when the sisters/ cousins were growing up and went on adventures to solve mysteries in the neighborhood. Sammy is typically the ringleader, but Heidi and Ellie willingly participate. This time they may have met their match, especially when they are trying to protect Ellie’s husband from being a suspect and become privy to information that they are told to keep from the police. Heidi and Tim might be over for good this time, and Sammy and Liam may never make it to a first date.
What a great plot! The twists and turns point to only a couple suspects, but something doesn’t feel quite right. Watching the S.H.E.’s, especially Sammy, wind their way through the town in the below zero Wisconsin winter! This is a riveting adventure as the cousins try to determine the role of an heirloom-quality lap quilt and a vast number of farms have lost many of their crops. I was surprised to discover the real whodunit and just how wrong a terrible plan played out. The end is very satisfactory with all loose ends tied. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy challenging cozies set in the deep, cold, Midwest winter, quilts, and women who work well together!
From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is such a fun and entertaining series. I love the concept of the “community craft” area in the store and the characters are wonderful people that I want to meet. This series started out with sadness as Sammy’s friend, Kate, died unexpectedly and Sammy inherited her shop but Sammy has turned it into a gathering place for all, especially crafters. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!
A Crafter Quilts a Crime by Holly Quinn is such an incredible mystery filled with family love, town pride, and revenge.
Will S.H.E. figure out what happened to Wanda before they share her fate?
Sammy owns the Community Craft Store. One of her live window mannequins dies during the town’s Fire and Ice Festival, which leaves Sammy at a loss and her curious nature in overdrive. So, she invokes the powers of S.H.E. to figure out what happened to Wanda and where is Wanda’s husband Marty.
In this installment, there are some substantial personal changes for Samantha, Heidi, and Ellie. I don’t want to spoil anything, but…Yay! It doesn’t matter what the girls get into; they always have each other’s back. You can see how much they love each other. However, these girls continually manage to get themselves into trouble. I know they don’t go looking for dead bodies, but the girls find them just the same.
Mystery
A friend dies, and her husband is missing, a coincidence, or did he kill his wife? And where is the husband? These are the questions that Sammy, Heidi, and Ellie are trying to figure out. So, I caught on to the why in the story, but I got the culprit wrong. I suggest you pay attention to the clues as Ms. Quinn is a sneaky one.
5 Stars
I have to say that I enjoy this series. Sammy has a wealth of love, compassion, and curiosity. Heidi is a secret store of knowledge into the workings of the local farmers, and her loyalty to her cousins is magnificent. Ellie brings the level head, the voice of reason that Sammy lacks. The three of them compliment each other wonderfully. The mysteries that Ms. Quinn brings to life are so inventive, true to human nature, with a shocking amount of real-life issues added in for good measure. Therefore, my rating is five stars. I highly recommend this book and the first two in the series too.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Crafter Quilts a Crime by Holly Quinn.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
When a local quilter dies in her shop, Sammy and her sisters are determined to find the killer. The writing is skillful, the plot is tight and multi-layered, and the characters are well developed and believable. It was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s work. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
A fun cozy mystery ! Sammy her sister and cousin are at it again! When a murder accurs they get together again to solve the crime before anything else can happen. Loved the fast flow of the story with great characters looking forward to reading more of this series