Pieces of this mystery are scattered everywhere but Taylor Quinn thinks she sees a pattern…
Two years after the tragic death of her mother, Taylor is living her best life. She’s got a steady boyfriend, stable business, and the coup of hosting a hugely popular quilt expo in her small town.
If that weren’t enough good news, outtakes of her mom’s old YouTube show have exploded online, bringing … her mom’s old YouTube show have exploded online, bringing fame and money to everyone involved.
Things are literally perfect until the quilt expo’s keynote speaker fails to show up for her morning class. It appears the young woman died of a tragic allergic reaction—but looks can be deceiving.
Since murder has a way of killing business, Taylor is willing to do anything to make her town safe. But a tangle of troubled teens, amateur detectives, and haunting clips of her dead mom have her tied up in knots. This might be the murder that makes her pack it all in for good.
Praise for Tess Rothery and The Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop Mysteries
“Quilters and cozy lovers are going to absolutely love the series. Even non-quilters who like cozies will find this extremely enjoyable. The author has created an interesting world and it makes me want to visit the little community and the shops on the Main Street. Recommend.”
Bobbi Holmes, author of The Haunting Danielle Series
“These books are very fun, realistic, modern, and interesting. I’ve loved this author’s other books for a while now and I appreciate how she is blatant about real life issues for people’s lives.”
Amazon Reviewer
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This series just gets better with every book!
It has been a rough two years for Taylor since her mother passed. But things are finally clicking into place for her. In her personal life, she has settled down with a steady guy. I was always on Team Hudson. I am glad he has won her heart. Professionally, her family business is solid and due in large part to Taylor’s efforts, a hugely popular quilting expo is in town for two weeks. Taylor’s paternal grandparents have whisked her maternal grandfather away on a vacation for those two weeks; allowing her some much needed “me” time. Her sister is doing well in college and has big plans to pursue. Just as Taylor was beginning to relax and enjoy life, the keynote speaker for the expo dies throwing everything into chaos. And the chaos is not limiting itself to the expo. This death, which is certainly murder, is affecting not only her professional life, but her personal life as well. Her family, including her work family, are all adversely affected by this murder in some way. Taylor feels a responsibility to help solve this murderer before the end of the expo. Will the clues she uncovers and shares with her favorite lawman help to reveal the identity of the killer before it is too late?
This is a well-written story; a clean, fun, and easy read. There is no crude language or graphic violence. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a great mystery with a little romance added to warm your heart.
I received a free ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review is my honest opinion of the book.
Pattern included: Flour Sax Block – Spin a Tale
It is delightful to be back in Comfort, Oregon to visit Taylor and Roxy at the Flour Sax Quilt Shop! This time, most of the action takes place at the Cascadia Quilt Expo at Taylor’s alma mater, Comfort College of Art and Craft. Taylor and right-hand staff person Roxy will be at the two-week expo, both at the shop’s booth and attending various events.
Roxy’s teen son, computer wizard Jonah has long been in charge of the quilt videos that Laura, Taylor’s late mom, and Roxy made in the past and put on YouTube. Taylor has been filming some since but doesn’t have nearly the following Laura did. They have netted quite a nest egg from the years on YouTube. Laura’s pays for Belle’s college tuition, and Jonah’s are set aside for his college needs.
Jonah has been experimenting on TikTok and SnapChat, showing past video clips of Laura. He also has his own YouTube show, with Nike as a corporate sponsor. He has quite the following of young women, many of them teens like himself. He is staying in close contact with Roxy as the Expo begins.
Albina Tschetter is the keynote speaker at the Expo; she is an author of Amish fiction. While not a quilter, she has written a non-fiction book about Amish quilts. She was highly recommended by Shara, owner of the Double Hex quilt shop in Comfort. Attendees have mixed feelings; her Amish fiction wasn’t based on traditional Amish communities. When she was found dead in her room at the dorm, even more rumors started.
Jonah and Taylor are both curious, but Jonah’s followers take it to a new level. He asks for anyone with info they hear at the Expo to contact him, and the groupies become known as Jonah’s Juvies. At times it seems like a game to him, especially when it is announced he has just officially earned $1 million on YouTube. Rumors abound, including whether Albina was murdered and if her books were written by computer, based on software Jonah ran it through. One jaw dropper is learning that Albina Tschetter is not her real name; it is an actress playing the author.
Some of the Juvies look up Taylor, knowing her reputation for solving other murders. Taylor tries to enjoy the Expo, but the death has put a damper on the entire event. She wants the whodunit found if indeed it was murder, in part because she doesn’t want a killer on the loose in their town. It gets personal when Roxy is a suspect, then a young woman, Lizeth, seeks out Taylor and says she is the actress’s sister and revealed the woman’s allergies. Then Jonah and Belle seem to disappear.
There are many elements to this novel that kept me reading! I appreciated learning what Taylor has done to help recover from losing her mother, as well as her heart for other people. This can be read as a standalone, with important backstory seamlessly stitched in. I admit that my “pet” suspect, for reasons I couldn’t put my finger on, didn’t pan out! I was somewhat surprised at whodunit and the motive, despite the clues pointing in that direction from the beginning. I did learn more about social media I was unaware of. I highly recommend Dutch Hex to anyone who enjoys well-written cozy mysteries with quilting topics, a variety of ages, and mystery to keep you guessing.
From a thankful heart: I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
4.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting story in the series
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2020
This story was a bit different from the others in the series as Taylor seems to hit a fresh wall of grief in the passing of her mother. Trying to deal with this and set up a quilt expedition and a murder might be too much for Taylor. Read it to see what happens. I really enjoyed this story. I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
In Dutch Hex, Taylor continues to be involved in murder investigations. As always, the book is well written. I definitely did not see this ending coming. There were several suspects but the motives remained unclear. The characters are well developed and interesting. I had to read straight though because I could not put it down.
Taylor has taken two weeks off from the quilt shop to work the Cascadia Quilt Expo being held at Comfort College of Art and Craft.
But murder doesn’t take time off. Another adventure filled with twists and turns and a few surprises too; Rothery has penned an excellent continuation in the Quilt Shop adventures. I thoroughly enjoyed it, I know you will too!
[Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read a copy of this book. I was not required to write a review. This is my honest review, the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own. ]
Taylor Quinn has settled in at Flour Sax Quilt Shop. She’s excited to be at the Quilt Expo at Comfort College of Arts and Craft. Taylor has high expectations. Who knew that murder would change her hopes to worry and fear? The keynote speaker is an Amish author who doesn’t quilt and may not have written her own books. The controversy is unsettling especially when Jonah, Roxy’s son, becomes involved. When the author dies mysteriously, Taylor has to find the truth. She needs to clear Jonah and his mom as well as herself. It won’t be easy. I was hooked. Dutch Hex is suspenseful. There are countless people who didn’t like the victim. Who knew being at a Quilt Show was so dangerous? The action is nonstop and our author adds unexpected surprises that kept me guessing. I enjoy the creative writing style of Tess Rothery. Nothing is as it seems. It’s best be watchful. I’m enjoying this cozy mystery series.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.