Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads

By: S. R. Mallery

Narrated by: Suzie Althens

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

The 11 long short stories in Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads combine history, mystery, action, and/or romance, and range from drug trafficking using Guatemalan hand-woven wallets, to an Antebellum U. S. slave using codes in her quilts as a message system to freedom; from an ex-journalist and her Hopi Indian maid solving a cold case together involving Katchina spirits, to a couple hiding Christian passports in a comforter in Nazi Germany; from a wedding quilt curse dating back to the Salem Witchcraft trials, to a mystery involving a young seamstress in the infamous Triangle Shirt Factory fire; from a 1980s Romeo and Juliet romance between a rising Wall Street financial "star" and an eclectic fiber artist, to a Haight-Asbury love affair between a professor and a beautiful macrame artist gone horribly askew, just to name a few.

©2013 S. R. Mallery (P)2014 Sarah Mallery

A little of everything

The author brought us across time, cultures, and to various countries. Some of the stories seemed so plausible I'm going to look up the historical accuracy. I had no idea what to expect... I laughed, cried and was pleasantly entertained.
I think my favorite story was the one when a husband and wife were sewing passports into a quilt to save some Jews from the Nazis. Heartbreaking. I felt like I needed to reach out to the couple at the end.

I would definitely read/listen to another book by this author.

The narrator did a lovely job reading these stories and her voices were unique story to story. I have not listened to a book by her before but gladly would again.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.

Who knew the importance of sewing!

As the daughter of a seamstress I know how dangerous sewing can be, having stepped on a fair share of pins left on the floor. (Okay it might have just happened once, but ouch!) I was excited to listen to this book and was not disappointed.

This book contains 11 short stories that all relate back to sewing in one way or another. I think my favorite was the story of the pioneer woman whose husband bought her a sewing machine. She decided to keep it out in a shed in the field in hopes of preventing am Indian raid on her house. Her family became resentful of the time she spent sewing. One day a young Indian showed up at her sewing shed needing food and rest. She took care of him for several days and then he just left. Her husband found out after the fact and was very displeased. He changed his mind later when the relationship she formed with this boy ended up preventing an Indian raid.

The stories cover a wide range of historical eras and people. They were all well-written and interesting. I am looking forward to more audio books from this author!

The narrator did a great job in each of the short stories capturing the heart of the story and the characters. I would definitely listen to more book narrated by Suzie.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A Well-Executed, Intriguing Collection

S.R. Mallery has brought history to life again in this amazing compilation of short stories. Suzie Athens, the narrator, did an exceptional job using her wide range of voices to depict the numerous characters. Each story features a woman who sews and makes a difference in people’s lives at various points in history. The first story in the collection, “Sewing Can Be Dangerous,” begins with Susan’s curiosity about her relative, Sasha Rosoff, who died at the age of 16 in 1911. She learns about the family’s journey to the United States from Russia, and the hardships Sasha endures at the hands of Sasha’s father and as a worker at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. When the factory goes up in flames and Sasha’s body is identified, the girl’s mother isn’t convinced it’s her. Susan goes on a quest for answers.

Immediately hooked, I couldn’t stop listening to story after story. Each of the eleven stories is self-contained and has a unique setting and plot. In “A Drunkard’s Path,” a happy couple receives a prize quilt for a wedding gift. That gift drastically changes their life together. Can a quilt hold a spell dating back to the Salem witch trials?

“Lettie’s Tale” is about a deaf slave girl’s journey to making quilts with codes sewn in that show slaves how to access the trail to freedom. Lettie is in constant danger from her mistress as she sews escape routes in plain sight. “The Comforter” is set in the time of the Nazis where a group of conspirators work diligently to get Christian passports to Jews to help them travel to safe harbors. In order to get the falsified documents across the city, the passports are sewn into quilts. Danger rises when a quilt falls into the hands of a Nazi. In “Plague on Both Your Houses,” sparks fly when Mark, a Wall Street financial expert, and Lizzy, a fiber artist, meet. Their families have bad history and are determined to tear them apart. Can their love survive?

Other stories in the collection touch on themes of drug trafficking, cruise ship murder mysteries, and romance. The author’s exceptional knowledge of history, masterfully woven into these well-crafted stories, earned a Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal. I had already read the e-book of this great collection, but I’m glad that I received a promo code so I could listen to the wonderful way the narrator, Suzie Athens, told the stories. I highly recommend this audible book!

A tapestry of life

This was a wonderful journey through time and i loved it! I felt it demonstrated the strength and courage of your every day person making a difference. These stories need to be savored and I can guarantee you will think about the sacrifices that were made. Loved this audiobook!

Something for everyone!

Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads is a unique collection of short stories. S R Mallery has written a very interesting collection while Suzie Althens brings the stories to life with her narration. The collection begins with immigration to the USA of a family and the terrible working conditions. The collection has a story about the Salem witch trials. This is an interesting collection that has a variety of stories. I received a code for my honest review.

Great collection of novellas

This is a well put together collection of stories. This collection is described as short stories, but I think they are a bit longer, more like novellas. Each one has a connection to some sort of sewing. Some have relevance to real historical events and some are modern fiction.

I enjoyed the books. They can be read by anyone, although some have a more mature theme.

I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator did a great job.

Well-written stories from a very good author

Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads, my first read from author S.R. Mallery, an author I’d wanted to read for some time and hadn't got around to. I got the Kindle edition back in March of 2016 & when I got the Audible edition I decided it was time. A collection of 11 long-short stories across multiple genres, each well-written in its own right & each could easily be expanded into a longer work. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing. Suzie Althens’s narration adds to the book's enjoyment. Up next is Tea, Anyone? (A Brooke & Abby Cozy Mystery Book 1) from the same author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

Loved this set of short stories!

Another amazing work from the talented Sarah Mallery, and I can definitely say that I’m a fan now! The set of short stories, each one different, was brilliantly tied together by a common topic – sewing. Each tells a story of courage, defiance of circumstances, sacrifice, love, fighting against the system and many more, which make you sit and ponder after finishing a story. The hardships of a young Russian-Jewish immigrant trying to support her family working in the almost inhumane conditions in a sewing factory and almost dying in the horrible fire; a German family, risking their own lives in the perilous times of the Nazi regime to help their Jewish compatriots; a talented black slave, striving for freedom through her work; two young people coming from the opposite social niches and defying both society and their parents to be together, and many more similar and extremely important topics, which still resonate with today’s problems we’re facing now, definitely make it a must-read (must-listen?) for everyone. I once again applaud Ms. Mallery’s writing style, which both educates and entertains the reader, making us dive into the world of past and live through the eyes of the characters. A wonderful job was done by the narrator as well, who brought these fascinating stories to life. Highly recommended - a meticulously researched and compelling short story collection! Five stars!

Learning History in a fun way

I really liked these short stories. They kept my attention and interest. I learned a lot about history.

The narrator, Suzie Athens, has a very enjoyable voice, and a lot of potential, I look forward to listen to more of her narrations and see how she improves!

I received this audio-book free for an honest review by the author, narrator, or publisher. Thank you!!!

If you found this review helpful would you please take a moment to click yes below, thanks!

Wonderful stories.

What made the experience of listening to Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the diversity of the stories, how each one kept me intrigued and interested to the very end.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was really moved by the quilt story. What a wonderful, heartbreaking story.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed listening to this book.

Not up to scratch

I found myself shaking my head in disappointment whilst listening to these short stories. The plots are amateurish and lack substance.