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HANGING BY A THREAD
by Monica Ferris
Berkley Prime Crime, January 2003
272 pages
$6.50
ISBN: 0425187144


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Betsy Devonshire is the owner of Crewl World, a needlecraft store in Excelsior, Minnesota. Betsy inherited Crewel World from her sister after she was murdered a few years earlier. Before owning the store, Betsy knew little about needlecraft but she's since discovered a love for counted cross stitch, needlepoint, DMC thread, and solving unsolved murders. It was Betsy who figured out who murdered her sister and since then many of the townspeople have asked her for help.

Foster Johns walked into Betsy's life to repair the roof of Crewel World. Each time Foster came into the store the other patrons would stare at him and give him nasty looks. Betsy couldn't understand why everyone was reacting to Foster like that, he seemed a decent and hard working man. After asking around and getting only cryptic answers, she finally got the full explanation from her co owner, Godwin.

Five years earlier, Angela Schmitt was shot to death at her job in the bookstore in town. Everyone thought that her abusive husband, Paul, killed her. But as the police were conducting their investigation Paul Schmitt was found murdered, beaten up, and then shot by the same gun that killed Angela. Although there wasn't any evidence against him, the town decided that Foster Johns, who was in love with Angela, was only person who could have killed them both.

The townspeople could understand why Foster would kill Paul. Although he always had a strange smile on his face and would give a helping hand to anyone, Paul was known to be abusive to his quiet wife. Yet nothing but speculations abounded in Excelsior as to why Foster would kill the woman he loved. Some people held the theory that it was because Angela refused to leave her husband for him.

The murders were investigated and no proof could be found that Foster killed either Angela or Paul, so the charges were dropped. That was five years ago but the townspeople believed in Fosters' guilt none the less and made it a point to ostracize him within the town.

After years of being treated like a murderer, Foster wanted to clear his name once and for all. When he heard that Betsy had a knack for solving crimes, he asked her to look into the murders and perhaps find the person who really committed the crime.

Betsy, who was always interested in investigating murders, agreed to help Foster out.

I've read quite a few of Monica Ferris' Betsy Devonshire mysteries and am very found of them. To tell you the truth, I don't really read the books for the mystery aspect of them. I like the characters that live in Excelsior and think that owning a needlecraft store and living above it is just about the best thing that could happen to anyone. I love reading about all the threads, needle craft projects, and experiencing the cozy friendships that are knit during the sewing classes that are given at the store.

Although I haven't done cross stitchery in years, I still especially like the counted cross stitch pattern that is given at the end of each novel. The fact that every book so far seems to be around Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, just makes the books that much cozier. I guess needle crafts stores do most of their business during those times of the year.

HANGING BY A THREAD's solution to crime and discovery of who the murderer was, turned out to be a little too contrived for me. I really can't see it happening the way Betsy figured it came about. It was much too complicated and more than a bit silly. It also doesn't make sense that the sole Police detective in that town messes up every murder investigation so pathetically. The fact that a needlecrafts store owner is the only one who can solve every murder in the town makes for a rather inane premise anyway. Where would Excelsior be without Betsy?

I liked HANGING BY A THREAD though. I like all Ms. Ferris' books. The people and setting makes for an enjoyable visit, as long as you aren't hoping for a well done mystery. It's okay to close your eyes to all the problems in this book because if you don't, the huge holes in the solution to the crime will exasperate you to no end.

Read the book for the fun of it. There are even a couple of ghost stories in there that might scare you. This book isn't a good murder mystery that will keep you guessing, but it is a lovely way to spend some time in a place with likeable characters.

Reviewed by Sharon Katz, January 2003

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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