Thursday, March 25, 2010

Books

I've got books on the mind. I just finished Adrienne's (it's real good!) and I'm thinking up questions for her now. Check back for the interview March 31.

My library sends me e-newsletters recommending books; sometimes they're new and sometimes they're not. Some obscure, many I've heard about before. I get the fiction newsletter and the mystery one. This month, in honor of National Craft Month, craft mysteries. I thought you'd be interested. I have severely cut these descriptions because I am sure they are copyrighted by someone.

While My Pretty One Knits
, Anne Canadeo
Publisher: Pocket Books
Pub Date: 05/12/2009
Cozy Mystery. Is one small Massachusetts town big enough for two knitting shops? After one shop owner is killed the rival knitting-shop owner Maggie Messina is a suspect. Her friends from her knitting group band together to prove her innocence. This 1st book in a new series is "a charmer" (Publishers Weekly); the 2nd, Knit, Purl, Die, was recently published. For other mysteries that combine knitting and murder: Maggie Sefton's Kelly Flynn series and Sally Goldenbaum's Seaside series.

Keepsake Crimes, Laura Childs
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: 05/01/2003
Cozy Mystery. Owner of a New Orleans scrapbooking shop, Carmela Bertrand turns amateur sleuth when a murder occurs in the midst of a Mardi Gras parade. She unearths a clue stuck in a scrapbook. This lighthearted and humorous 1st mystery in Laura Child's scrapbooking series, which now numbers seven, is for readers who enjoy reading about New Orleans, food (recipes are included), and scrapbooking.


Thai Die: A Needlecraft Mystery, Monica Ferris
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: 12/02/2008
Cozy Mystery. If you like cozies with an international flavor (or have ever wondered how to spin yarn directly from an Angora rabbit), pick up Thai Die, the 12th in a series. I've reviewed other books in this series here and here.

Seven Sisters: A Benni Harper Mystery, Earlene Fowler
Publisher: Berkeley Prime Crime
Pub Date: 04/01/2001
Cozy Mystery. California quilter, folk art museum curator, and amateur sleuth, Benni Harper finds herself in the middle of a dangerous family feud. This is the 7th book in this popular series; the 14th, State Fair, is scheduled to hit the shelves in May.

The Lover's Knot: A Someday Quilts Mystery, Clare O'Donohue
Publisher: Plume
Pub Date: 09/30/2008
Cozy Mystery. Nell Fitzgerald goes to see her grandmother, who owns a quilt shop. While there, Nell enjoys the attentions of local handyman, until he is found dead in her grandmother's shop. This is the 1st in a series; the 3rd, Double Cross, is due out later this year.



Radegunde had expressed an interest in the Piecework magazines that I had, but I had no way of getting back to her. If you are still interested, please e-mail me at annavsxsATgmail. I've decided to sell them for $9 per year plus shipping--which is about $1 less than they are going for on ebay. All reasonable offers accepted.

5 comments:

Donna said...

You missed one. "The Girl on the Wall." Jackie H. reviewed it at Needleprint.blogspot.com today. Sounds very interesting. Non-fiction!

Susan said...

I've read most of these (but only as a break from more lofty literature, of course :) ) I enjoy the Monica Ferris books most of the time because I like the characters. Not Jill so much, but Betsy and Goddy are interesting. Laura Child's scrapbooking series is fun, and there are lots of creative ideas in the book although I'm not a scrapbooker. I enjoyed While My Pretty One Knits. It has almost the same plot at the Sally Goldbaum book I read--title escapes me, but probably the first one in the series--and it was much better written. I've given up on the Maggie Sefton books. Her main character isn't growing much and the dialogue is terrible. Lover's Knot is going with me on vacation next week.

Melody said...

Here's a book recommendation from me....Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. It's been one of my favorite reads so far this year.

Melody

doris said...

I just finished listening to Find Me by Carol O'Connell. It had absolutely nothing to do with needlework but it was great.

Siobhán said...

I second the recommendation for Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. Not a whole lot happens in it as far as dramatic plot points but it is a very good read. I also enjoyed A Long, Long Time Ago & Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka. Both are first time authors and I'm anxious for more books from them.

Of the books you mentioned, I think Benni Harper's books are my favorite. I just love that character--I've always felt like I could go to central California and find Dove and Gabe and Benni and it'd all be real. I know, lame-o, but I love that series.