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A review by celia_thebookishhufflepuff
Crossed By Death by ACF Bookens
4.0
[b:Crossed by Death|56953337|Crossed by Death (Stitches In Crime, #1)|A.C.F. Bookens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612488148l/56953337._SX50_.jpg|89050914] is one of the most unique setups I've read for a cozy mystery.
To start, the main character is a historical salvager (as opposed to a small business owner as so many of them are). She is interested in telling the stories of women and people of color, and in returning items and people's own history to their rightful owners, as well as making hidden stories public. This gives her a lot more stake in the mystery, especially since there is a historical mystery to solve as well.
I like how she goes into it not with the plan to solve the murder she discovered, but to understand more about the historical (unsolved) one at the same location. She approaches it with methodical research and an open mind, and doesn't actively take a role in the case.
In this way, a lot of things come as a surprise, but not in a plot twist way. Paisley is just an ordinary person with a life that happens to involve finding a dead body, as well as having a best friend, a child, and parents who are a big part of her life because she has a child.
I liked how her being a mother to a toddler was navigated as well. So often, the main characters in cozy mysteries have children who are either grown and out of the picture, or at least old enough to be self-sufficient (if they have them at all). Paisley deals with having a two-year-old, navigating life as a single mother, making ends meet, and also her work and the murder case. The reader sees a lot more of the daily life than in most cozy mysteries. I really liked that about this one.
I will say that [b:Crossed by Death|56953337|Crossed by Death (Stitches In Crime, #1)|A.C.F. Bookens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612488148l/56953337._SX50_.jpg|89050914] is one of my first 4-star reads where I didn't feel there was anything special about the characters or the setting. Neither makes me want to continue the series or stay invested in the story. I actually like the way this ended, and I think leaving it as a standalone makes a lot of sense. I don't want to read the other books; to see Paisley turn into more of a typical cozy mystery detective. I don't really care about how Sawyer grows up or how Paisley's relationship with Santiago progresses. It's a good story that doesn't need any more to it. I enjoyed this a lot, and maybe I'll reread it someday, but I don't plan on going further in the series.
To start, the main character is a historical salvager (as opposed to a small business owner as so many of them are). She is interested in telling the stories of women and people of color, and in returning items and people's own history to their rightful owners, as well as making hidden stories public. This gives her a lot more stake in the mystery, especially since there is a historical mystery to solve as well.
I like how she goes into it not with the plan to solve the murder she discovered, but to understand more about the historical (unsolved) one at the same location. She approaches it with methodical research and an open mind, and doesn't actively take a role in the case.
In this way, a lot of things come as a surprise, but not in a plot twist way. Paisley is just an ordinary person with a life that happens to involve finding a dead body, as well as having a best friend, a child, and parents who are a big part of her life because she has a child.
I liked how her being a mother to a toddler was navigated as well. So often, the main characters in cozy mysteries have children who are either grown and out of the picture, or at least old enough to be self-sufficient (if they have them at all). Paisley deals with having a two-year-old, navigating life as a single mother, making ends meet, and also her work and the murder case. The reader sees a lot more of the daily life than in most cozy mysteries. I really liked that about this one.
I will say that [b:Crossed by Death|56953337|Crossed by Death (Stitches In Crime, #1)|A.C.F. Bookens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612488148l/56953337._SX50_.jpg|89050914] is one of my first 4-star reads where I didn't feel there was anything special about the characters or the setting. Neither makes me want to continue the series or stay invested in the story. I actually like the way this ended, and I think leaving it as a standalone makes a lot of sense. I don't want to read the other books; to see Paisley turn into more of a typical cozy mystery detective. I don't really care about how Sawyer grows up or how Paisley's relationship with Santiago progresses. It's a good story that doesn't need any more to it. I enjoyed this a lot, and maybe I'll reread it someday, but I don't plan on going further in the series.