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

Nice start for Cozy Mystery Series

In this first book of Monica Ferris' Needlecraft Mystery Series, big-city gal, Betsy Devonshire's life comes crashing down around her.

An almost penniless Betsy, loads up her middle-aged, high-flying self and heads to stay with her widowed, sister Margot. Margot, is a successful, needlecraft shop owner in small town, Excelsior, Minnesota.

You might want to Curl up with a Cuppa Cocoa, because it's gonna be a while, for the murder to occur. Ferris establishes strong characterizations, in the early chapters that evoke an appealing ambiance about the real-life, town of Excelsior.

Margot, gets Betsy working in the shop, to revive her sagging spirits. Betsy learns more about the curious world of needlework, a complicated sub-culture with practices, etiquette, and a language all its own. What she doesn't learn until it's too late is that Margot has an enemy who is willing to kill.

Now, as Margot's grieving heir, Betsy reluctantly takes on not only the responsibility
of a small town business, but the job of finding out who could have murdered her exceedingly, popular, kind-hearted, sister.

Clues to the perpetrator are subtle, and sprinkled throughout the book. The solution to the mystery, when revealed, is intriguing and satisfying. Betsy Devonshire and the other characters grow, through this poignant and harrowing experience. They emerge from the story and feel like old friends, we'll enjoy meeting again, in the future books of the Needlecraft Mystery Series.

I hope Susan Boyce, will be the narrator again, she is perfect! A very enjoyable listen!

Fluffy, feminine, but not much fun

When I choose a "cozy" mystery centered in traditional women's worlds of cookery, needlecraft or typing, I look forward to clever story told with warmth and humor. This story had a fairly surprising windup at the end (rather abruptly), but the characters were tired and not very likable. Two sisters who know nothing of one another's lives, yet there is no explanation of an estrangement. They had a happy childhood and are close in age. One falls on hard times and comes to live with the other knowing NOTHING about her sister's life, career, friendships or finances. They treat each other as virtual strangers. One is surrounded by friends and everyone loves her, so why has she been so cold to her sister? It would have made more sense to make them old college roommates just back in touch. Anyway, it was a completely humorless tale and the writing was mechanical at best. The solution to the mystery comes out of left field at the end. Susan Boyce did a fine job reading. I found her delivery a little stilted after a while but I don't think there was much more she could do with the prose she was given.

An Entertaining Listen!

This book was easy listen and very entertaining! The characters were well developed, and the narrator was quite good!
No excessive violence sexual content which I appreciate.

Good for readers who are needleworkers

If you are a needleworker and you can forgive the narrator's style, you may enjoy this book.

The Saddest Crewel World

This audio performance was so sad. Can you imagine driving from California to Minnesota to live with your sister. You are doing this because you have no job and you are out options. And then your sister is murdered. The tone is one of sadness. It was interesting but so unfortunate.

Good main characters, but narration a little flat

Listened at 1.20 speed which helped as I found the narration a bit flat. I liked that the main character is more mature than in some cozy mysteries.

I didn't think a "cozy" could be so entertaining!

VERY pleasantly surprised by a truly interesting, and actually educational story. The only downside is a tendency to repeat minor details to a near annoying level, (I will never be able to forget the brand of Sophie's cat food, though none of my own pets ever cared for it!) ; >

Good, but ...

Good story. Struggled listening to it, narrators choppy speech was somewhat annoying. I'll try one more, hoping it gets better.

Love this series

I have listened to the entire series. These are easy listening stories - not complex murders full of gore, interweaved with the lives of needle pointers. I am waiting (hopefully) for the next story.

Good Mystery

Characters were well developed and the needlework theme was a nice touch, without over doing it for non-stitchers. Story well laid out and clues evident but not too obvious.