Review: Let It Sew by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

Let It Sew
(Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries)
7th in Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (November 6, 2012)
Published by The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425251713
Cover Illustration by Mary Ann Lasher
Cover Design by Judith Lagerman

Down south, the holidays mean family—and for Yankee librarian Tori Sinclair, family means the Sweet Briar Ladies Society sewing circle. It may not be a white Christmas, but it’s one she’ll never forget—no matter how hard she tries…

The Sweet Briar Holiday Decorating Committee has been taken over by an outsider. Margaret Louise has been replaced without any notice. She has been replaced by “The Grinch” who just happens to be dating councilman Avery Jordan. To try to keep things under control Margaret Louise volunteered Leona, Rose, Dixie and Tori to help “the councilman’s little hussy”. Tori and Dixie have their hands full with the Holiday Book Extravaganza but can’t turn their backs on helping Margaret Louise.

And the season has brought sad tidings as well: Charlotte Devereaux, a sewing circle founding member who unraveled after her storybook marriage fell apart, has passed away. Charlotte loved to draw and near the end of her life while her while her mind was foggy, she sketched some things that make Tori realize her husband didn’t leave her – he was murdered!!!

Santa’s naughty list will be overflowing as Tori sorts out all the clues.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

After 7 stories I feel like the ladies of the Sweet Briar Sewing Circle are old friends I get to see not near enough. Visiting them for the holidays was absolutely perfect. I was as upset about Miss Maime Wellington as the ladies. I have to admit I thought she may be another victim found dead before this story ended. Thankfully my friends had their own “sweet” way to deal with their Grinch.

The actual murder mystery in this story was pretty complex with several possible suspects and the author kept me guessing right up to the end. She is a master at this. I am always one  or two steps behind.

I really enjoyed learning about The Devereaux Creek Center and hope the ladies keep up their volunteer work. There seems to be a bit more to to its story.

Elizabeth Lynn Casey has created wonderful caring characters and placed them in a beautiful place. She also puts them in real situations outside the mystery. Whether it be a book fair or a crafting session you will be inspired. She even includes an easy stocking pattern in this edition that will have you wondering if you can do a project just like the Southern Sewing Circle.

I highly recommend a holiday trip over the river and through the woods to Sweet Briar and while there may not be a lot of snow these ladies really know how to Let It Sew!!

To find out more about Elizabeth Lynn Casey visit her blog at http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/ and her Facebook Fan Page here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”