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eggjen's review
4.0
This one kept me guessing until the end. I really enjoyed the setting and characters. Definitely planning to read the next book.
book_concierge's review
3.0
Digital Audio read by Cris Dukehart.
From the book jacket: When Angela Braddock inherits her late aunt’s beautiful Amish quilt shop, she is welcomed to Holmes County, Ohio. With her snazzy cowboy boots and her French bulldog, Angie doesn’t exactly fit in with the predominantly Amish community, but her aunt’s quilting circle makes her feel at home as she prepares for the reopening of Running Stitch. On the big day, Angie gets a taste of success as the locals and tourists browse the store’s wares while the quilters stitch away. But when Angie finds the body of ornery Amish woodworker Joseph in her storeroom, the future of Running Stitch looks bleak.
My reactions:
I found this moderately entertaining as cozy mysteries go. There’s a decent premise, and I did like Oliver (her bulldog, who is afraid of birds). Alan gives the reader the beginnings of a possible love interest, which will likely develop in subsequent books in the series. And there’s a reasonable cast of supporting characters. Of course, our heroine believes she is the number one suspect in the murder and MUST investigate on her own to prove her innocence. I know this is a common thread in cozy mysteries, but frankly, it’s really not a very plausible plot device.
Still, it held my interest and I was sufficiently entertained that I would read another in the series.
Cris Dukehart did a fine job performing the audiobook. Clear diction and a decent pace.
From the book jacket: When Angela Braddock inherits her late aunt’s beautiful Amish quilt shop, she is welcomed to Holmes County, Ohio. With her snazzy cowboy boots and her French bulldog, Angie doesn’t exactly fit in with the predominantly Amish community, but her aunt’s quilting circle makes her feel at home as she prepares for the reopening of Running Stitch. On the big day, Angie gets a taste of success as the locals and tourists browse the store’s wares while the quilters stitch away. But when Angie finds the body of ornery Amish woodworker Joseph in her storeroom, the future of Running Stitch looks bleak.
My reactions:
I found this moderately entertaining as cozy mysteries go. There’s a decent premise, and I did like Oliver (her bulldog, who is afraid of birds). Alan gives the reader the beginnings of a possible love interest, which will likely develop in subsequent books in the series. And there’s a reasonable cast of supporting characters. Of course, our heroine believes she is the number one suspect in the murder and MUST investigate on her own to prove her innocence. I know this is a common thread in cozy mysteries, but frankly, it’s really not a very plausible plot device.
Still, it held my interest and I was sufficiently entertained that I would read another in the series.
Cris Dukehart did a fine job performing the audiobook. Clear diction and a decent pace.
typographic_whimsy's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
zermeena's review against another edition
3.0
This book was okay. At times it veered into the ridiculous. When Angela is being stalked by Danny, instead of calling the police she decides to help him. But when her dog is threatened in a vague way, she doesn't hesitate to call the police. I had a lot of problems with this book, but I loved the quilting theme. It was well executed and worked into the story. Also this is the first Amish book I have been able to finish. The others I started were too preachy for me. I'm not sure if I will continue with this series.
nursenell's review
5.0
A cozy mystery set in a Amish quilt shop, easy reading, good characters, and until the end I didn't know who had murdered the victim. This is the first book in the series, #2 not due out for a few more months.
mrsjkamp's review
4.0
I have been enjoying Amish cozies lately! This is another good one from Amanda Flower (this is her pen name too). If you like cozies, I say give this one a shot. I'm looking forward to the next one.
lazygal's review
2.0
A little too long to be a cozy, and the sense of place isn't quite there - yes, this is Amish country, but surely that's more than a few German words, less use of technology and disapproval of English ways?
Angela wasn't raised Amish, but her visits to her aunt gave her some familiarity with the culture (as well as a former friend, JoJo, now a happily married man). So why there's little curiosity about the culture as an adult, and her inappropriate boundary crossing with JoJo, is a little puzzling. And then there's the quilting aspect, which should have been more prominent. The article at the end doesn't go far enough describing quilts and quilting, or patterns, and much of that information should have been sprinkled throughout the book for readers - waiting to the end just felt wrong.
Angela wasn't raised Amish, but her visits to her aunt gave her some familiarity with the culture (as well as a former friend, JoJo, now a happily married man). So why there's little curiosity about the culture as an adult, and her inappropriate boundary crossing with JoJo, is a little puzzling. And then there's the quilting aspect, which should have been more prominent. The article at the end doesn't go far enough describing quilts and quilting, or patterns, and much of that information should have been sprinkled throughout the book for readers - waiting to the end just felt wrong.