I’m once again returning to the Most Popular and Recommended Series list that I have been compiling for quite some time now, this time focusing on Amanda Lee‘s Embroidery Mystery Series. Specifically, I read The Quick and the Thread, the first entry in the series.
The Quick and the Thread is definitely made in the mold of the modern Cozy mystery, as the sleuth, former accountant Marcy Singer, has decided to give up her crumbling professional and romantic lives in her old home of California to put down new roots in a smaller, “Cozier” community, in this case Tallulah Falls, Oregon. What’s more, she’s decided that the best business venture for this small community is a hobby store catering to her own personal passion, embroidery.
Unfortunately, as with all too many small start up businesses in small towns that normally seem to have low crime rates, her financial success is quickly threatened by the repeated murders occurring on, near, or related to her property. In this case, the previous tenant of the shop attempts to approach Marcy at her grand opening party, but she avoids him because he seems obviously inebriated… which turns out to be possibly more than just alcohol, as he turns up dead in her storage room the following morning, having left a cryptic message scratched in the wall. Naturally, this isn’t the only corpse that will turn up associated with Marcy’s shop in one way or another!
Tallulah Falls feels like a nice, comfortable community with plenty more stories to tell, and the fact that the sleuth is a genuine outsider instead of a “small town girl getting back to her hometown from the big city” definitely gives more opportunities for her to be uninformed about relationships among the townspeople without feeling like she’s been strangely out of the loop. Fans of romance subplots will likely also be satisfied by one of several possible suitors, though I’d wager that particular plot thread won’t see resolution for at least a few more books.
A “themed” Cozy tends to either go very heavy or very light on the theming, and I’d say that The Quick and the Thread leans a bit more toward the less end than the more. Though this may be my own reaction, as embroidery is one theme that I personally have some experience with, so my personal tolerance for going “off the rails” to discuss the theme instead of the mystery might be a bit higher here than in some other cases. That said, I think that even readers without a particular interest in embroidery or other similar crafts shouldn’t have any issue getting through the themed parts.
I’d say that overall, The Quick and the Thread is a great start to what feels like on of the “classic” series of modern Cozies. If you’re interested in a quaint, small-town American Cozy set in modern day with a focus on a embroidery and featuring light romantic elements, this will be “right up your alley”.
Click here to read more posts about the most popular and recommended Cozy Mystery series.
P.S. As Gayle Trent she writes the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery Series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery Series. As Gayle Leeson she writes the Down South Café Mystery Series.
Melissa says
I really enjoy this series. =)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Melissa, I’ve definitely come to understand the high praise the series has received!
Kathy Cornelius says
I have read all the books of this series so far. I enjoy the characters and like you, I do embroidery so I enjoy the themed parts. Really looking forward to the next book.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathy, I hope that there is one – the last one published was in 2016 and there hasn’t been any word of a new entry since then.
Hanna says
A problem that I have with the more “modern” cozy books is that the talented smart women who solve murders also end up putting their own lives in danger. Yes, we know, they will survive, otherwise there will not be a series but I always think: why are you putting yourself in a situation that we, the readers, know could be dangerous? And I often think that neither Poirot nor Miss Marple were ever personally threatened. (Tommy and Tuppence were..)
Still, will be looking for this series. Sounds interesting.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hanna, if they were in danger, it was certainly very rare. Of course, both also worked with either police or more active partners/sidekicks if danger did loom (especially in television adaptations, which often injected a bit of “action” to the arrest scenes).
Christine says
Absolutely love this series! The characters are fun and I’d love to sit with Marcy in her store, passing the time stitching. Unfortunately I don’t see a new book advertised anywhere.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Christine, it has been a while! I’m not even sure if the author is writing under this name any more >>> her last few books were in another series under the name Gayle Leeson.
Janice G says
This is a series that I have always enjoyed reading. I love her dog, a huge Irish wolfhound and also Marcy’s relationships with her friends and customers. The author also did not drag out the two men scenario for too long. Marcy’s relationship with her mother is also refreshingly healthy. I hope that the series is going to continue.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Janice, I certainly hope that it continues as well! And I’m glad to hear that the relationship angle resolves before it feels too drawn out.
James A. says
All I have read is just what has been printed here in the review about this “Embroidery Cozy”…..& being a HUGE fan of cozies (as an alternative to the”kill every living soul with as much gore possible” so we can sell books)…..I would like to offer this up:
If ever there was a story to come along & replace “Murder, She Wrote” (another fave of mine, WHICH, BTW, they did try to do, unsuccessfully a couple years ago) THIS WOULD BE MSW’s successor! I hope this author goes far in life….& I can’t wait to read this offering on my Kindle.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
James, it’s definitely up there – there’s definitely a similar atmosphere to Cabot Cove, though I’d say that ideally a successor to “Murder, She Wrote” would star an older sleuth than Marcy.
Susy S says
I have read all the books in this series and quite enjoyed them. Many of the characters are typical of what you expect in a cozy mystery, but there are a few interesting twists thrown in for good measure.
She has an Irish Wolfhound that she take with her to her shop and pretty much all over town. He is a sweetie, but sometimes, he seems to figure out who the murderer is before the people.
Unfortunately, I am having quite a bit of trouble finding the Gayle Trent books in print form. I will keep looking, as that is my preferred medium.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susy, good luck! Some of her earlier works do seem to be really overpriced on Amazon. It might be down to trying used bookstores and hoping to get lucky.
Susy says
Danna, I buy most of my books in used bookstores. I can get picky about condition and some vendors on Amazon and other on-line sites, have a different definition of what ‘very good’ means. I also hate trying to remove the stickers they put on the books. I understand the need for inventory control, but some of those can damage a book when you try to remove them.
My husband and I have driven hundreds of miles to visit used bookstore because our local area doesn’t have many, and the ones around here are too proud to carry cozy mysteries (I do not get that, but it is the case). I also have a couple of drives, when I go to Arizona, that between them allow me to visit 9 used bookstores.
Jimmy Guzik says
When you are in Arizona, do you ever go to Bookman’s? There are several in Tucson, at least 2 in Phoenix, and one in Flagstaff. Every book I’ve ever gotten there was in good to excellent shape. I don’t know if they have an online store yet, but it was talked about.
robin in oregon says
I love the embroidery series. I’ve been reading it since the beginning and it is one of my keeper series. What makes it enjoyable is that she mentions and visits places that are right here where I live on the Oregon coast, except *spoiler alert* there is no Talullah Falls! I really like series that are placed where or near where you live and as you read I catch myself nodding and Saying “I’ve been there, I know where that is”.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Robin, that must be nice! Oregon sounds like such a beautiful place to live.
I suppose it’s not a surprise that there’s no Tallulah Falls – a lot of authors don’t intentionally set their “murder town” in a real place, as that might be a bit of a mixed blessing!
Melanie says
This series sounds like one I would enjoy. I’ve added it to my wish list.
When I was looking-up these books on Amazon, another series by Amanda Lee popped-up in the “related books” recommendations…the Wicked Witches of the Midwest series. These look interesting too.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Melanie, I haven’t read that one yet >>> that said, if it’s about the same quality as what I have read by Amanda Lee, it’s probably worth checking out if you enjoy a supernatural themed Cozy series.
Susy says
Melanie, Make sure they are not showing you books by Amanda M Lee. They are different authors. I have not tried any by Amanda M, but they all appear to be paranormal mysteries.
Janice G says
I’m not sure if these two series are by the same author. The witch books are listed as being written by Amanda M. Lee.
Melanie says
Susy & Janice – Thanks for the clarification. I guess the authors’ same names were enough for Amazon to consider their books related.
Barb says
I LOVE the Embroidery Mystery Series!!!!!!! I have read so many book but this was my favorite series!
I Hope she writes another book to follow up with the same characters!
Donna Hanson says
I have all of them now and keep hoping for another one Love them all and there’s bound to be a need for a new case
Cindy says
This is my first ‘cozy mystery’, that landed in our Free Little Library. I’m hooked. Even though Tallulah Falls is fictional, her nods to real towns and places makes it fun.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cindy, welcome to the site, and I hope this is the start of many great Cozies for you to enjoy!