Welcome to Litsy!

I've never read a cozy mystery that had such unlikeable characters. If anyone can convince me that the books get better, please let me know but I found nothing charming or nice in any of these characters.

I‘m a rubbish reader of series. Triple that for cosy mysteries.

There‘s a lot to like about this, not least the setting (a needlecraft shop in Minnesota) & the mystery itself, which was a tad different.

But 3 is enough for me. More potential perpetrators would‘ve been good. And possibly the timing is off - it‘s old enough to feel dated (in technologies/attitudes) but not old enough to be charming.

So just ok. But I may yet come back for book 4

One of these days, I‘ll decide whether to give lacemaking another try, or to admit that my eyesight/patience aren‘t up to it and give the pillow and bobbins away. Tomorrow maybe.

Meanwhile, this is an enjoyable cosy series, set in a Minnesota needlework shop. When a streetcar ferry is lifted from the lakebed, a skeleton is found inside. As one of Betsy‘s friends is a key suspect in the 50-year-old murder, Betsy has her arm twisted to investigate.

I‘ve dug out the festive cross-stitch, which I must have started about 2 years ago. Oh dear. It‘s not just books! I thought I‘d nearly finished - I‘m not even half way!

Anyhow, this is a cozy set in an embroidery shop in Minnesota. Despite a couple of reservations (it‘s dated, what DO they have against young people? and

I found three things from my wishlist at the Book Market, including a cross stitch collection I‘ve been searching for for 12 years! It has an unfortunate title but many lovely charts. An older lady was going to buy it, but she very kindly let me have it instead when we chatted about how long I‘d been looking for it.

I‘m glad to have more by Sara Douglass and Kate Elliott, too, plus a cool-looking old Penguin chosen at random.

Throwback to yesterday, when I took a great #audiowalk while I finished another of Monica Ferris‘s fun Needlecraft Mysteries. Unfortunately, I ran out of water and the only restaurant along my route didn‘t accept my only payment method, so the last part of the walk was way less great.

I‘ve started #audiostitching another little dog! This one‘s for my aunt, who recently gave me all her cross stitch supplies in a clear-out. I made good progress on this stitched version of her dog, Charlie, while I finished another great needlecraft mystery by Monica Ferris.

I‘m done with the actual stitching! Now I‘ve just gotta figure out how I want to finish this wee #audiostitching project.

I found a smashed piano on my hot, windy #audiowalk. 😔

Y‘all, I‘ll be honest: I tore through this cold case cozy mystery a long time before I set out to make supper, but I‘m pleased with my zucchini with tahini sauce and tomato so I‘ll ask you to PRETEND this was an act of #audiocooking.

The book was great, too. I enjoyed the case, I feel inspired to make stuff, and I appreciate Ferris‘s attempts to make her series more diverse.