Review: Seams Like Murder by Dorothy Howell

 

About the Book

Genre

Cozy Mystery

Format

E-ARC

Publisher

Kensington Cozies

Release Date

September 27, 2022

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Abbey Chandler needs a new start and a place to escape, so Hideaway Grove, where she spent her childhood summers, seems like a perfect choice. Once there, she takes up a rewarding new hobby—but also gets tangled up in a hit-and-run homicide . . .

Abbey has barely arrived in the quaint, quiet town of Hideaway Grove before things turn from blissful to bloody—as the new librarian is mowed down by a car. The only witness on the scene isn’t much help, aside from handing Abbey the bag of books dropped by the victim. Even worse, the sheriff’s office seizes Abbey’s car because of a suspicious dent in the right front fender.

While she waits for the problem to be sorted out, Abbey is drawn into a charity sewing project—even though she can’t tell a bobbin from a seam ripper. Before she knows it, she’s graduating from pillowcase dresses to aprons, setting up a studio in a back room of her aunt’s bakery, and making plans to participate in the upcoming craft fair.

But through it all, she keeps looking for patterns and possible conflicts in the late librarian’s personal, professional, and romantic life. Then a shocking discovery sends her in a new direction, and as the truth begins to unspool, she’s got a notion about who’s guilty . . .

My Review

After being suspended from her job in Los Angeles, Abbey Chandler decides to get away from it all.  She visits her aunt, Sarah, in Hideaway Grove.  What she thought would be a relaxing visit, turned into anything but relaxing.  

A beloved local librarian is run down by a car and the car resembles Abbey’s car.  The sheriff immediately suspects Abbey and takes her car in as evidence. There is one witness who gives Abbey a bag of books the librarian had dropped, but the witness soon vanishes.

Since the sheriff is determined to blame Abbey, she decides to do some of her own investigating. She quickly learns the librarian wasn’t beloved at all.  There are many other potential suspects that fit the bill better than Abbey.  After all, she didn’t even know the woman.

As the investigation continues, Abbey keeps herself busy by opening a sewing studio in the back of her aunt’s bakery.  She gets a group of townspeople to work on a charity sewing project.  While that occupies her time, she can’t get her mind off the investigation and clearing her name.

I fell in love with Hideaway Grove right away.  The town is made up of interesting characters and shops. It felt like a town I’d enjoy living in without the mystery part, of course.

Abbey is a strong character.  There are hints at a romance, but the main focus is the mystery. The story is fast paced with many twists and turns along the way.  I was engrossed from page one until the end.  I kept trying to figure out whodunit, but I didn’t get it until the end when things started to come together.

This is a solid start to a brand new series.  I look forward to reading more and re-visiting these characters.

For reading challenges:

Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge 2022
Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2022

FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.