Crewel World

By: Monica Ferris

Narrated by: Susan Boyce

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

When Betsy Devonshire arrived in Excelsior, Minnesota, all she wanted was to visit her sister Margot and get her life in order. She never dreamed her sister would give her a place to stay and a job at her needlecraft shop. In fact, things had never looked so good - until Margot was murdered. In a town this friendly, it's hard to imagine who could have committed such a horrible act, but Betsy has a few ideas. There's an ex-employee who wants to start her own needlework store. And there's the landlord who wanted Margot out. Now Betsy's putting together a list of motives and suspects to figure out this killer's pattern of crime….

©1999 Monica Ferris (P)2011 AudioGO

I don't know if it was the story or narrator..

I don't know if it was the story or the narrator but Betsy's stupidity really annoyed me. How do you get to 50 years old with out thinking to check if your sister already made arrangements or whether or not she has money or consulting her lawyer. I understand that people fall apart during a crisis, but this was just to a painfully stupid degree. Then all the morons around her afraid to say anything to her. I had to skip it to be honest.

Dot

Loved the book just wished I had listened to this book first. It kept me guessing which one had killed Margo till close to the end.

predictable plot line

A bit of a struggle to listen to. Do not plan to purchase any others

What I call a fun fluffy mystery.

Would you listen to Crewel World again? Why?

I already have. Probably will again as I like the characters ,subject matter and not too graphic.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Crewel World?

When the ladies start to suspect who the killer is (don't want to give it away)

Have you listened to any of Susan Boyce’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listen at work so am happy to have long stretches to keep up with the story.

Predictable but fun

Where does Crewel World rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It ranks at a five out of ten.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the dialogue and relationships between some of the characters.

Have you listened to any of Susan Boyce’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Susan Boyce does an OK job in this book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really, it for made good company during my walks and runs.

Great Book

What made the experience of listening to Crewel World the most enjoyable?

This book kept me listening to see who was the murderer. I really had no idea who it was.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Crewel World?

I loved the references to knitting. It made me want to knit again.

Any additional comments?

I'll definitely read the rest of the series.

Interesting story.

I can't say I loved it but it was good to listen to while painting.

Another needlecraft mystery favorite.

Betsy, Godwin, and the Monday Bunch are my favorite characters. A wonderful read by Susan Boyce.

Nice little cozy

The only time I buy books this short are when I'm spending a bonus gift card, so frequently I end up with a book written by an author I don't know, a book whose chief asset was that it didn't cost more than the value of the gift card. This was one of those, and a lucky buy.

I like a good cozy now and then -- at least to intersperse with some of the more violent or hard-boiled thrillers -- and this one was exceptionally good. It starts very differently, that's for sure. The woman you think is going to be the protagonist isn't -- its her sister instead, Betsy, who turns out to be a more interesting person than her goody-two-shoes, civic-minded sister would have been -- something about the lure of that 'sadder but wiser' girl that Prof. Harold Hill lusted after in 'Music Man'. Betsy has a bit of history behind her, which makes her all that much more interesting.

The first part of the book deals with Betsy's stepping into her new role, so we get an unusually long 'introduction'. No doubt some listeners will be screaming to get on with the detection part, but I liked this more gradual entry. And besides, it makes you think: What if you arrived in a brand new town, and within a day, found yourself entirely responsibly for planning -- and paying for -- a funeral? Good stuff -- I'll be looking for more books by this author, and I'm glad to know how it all began.

I don't think any knowledge or interest in knitting or crafting of any kind is required -- nor is it gender-specific. Male crewel artists appear, too -- it's ART, and not just for women any more, which this book proves beyond a doubt.

The narrator was new to me as well -- there's a faint trace of Brooklyn or maybe LonGuyland in her voice, even though the story is set in small-town Minnesota. Didn't matter -- she probably wouldn't know what to do with lutefisk or lefse, but she did a fine job reading.

Good book! Now I just wish it had been longer....

Perfect for me

As Peter's wife, I have knitted & needleworked for most of my life, this is a perfect series for me to listen to while driving. It's amusing but not distracting, the characters are believeable as well as the story lines.