Elizabeth Lynn Casey

Based in a small town in South Carolina, you have to laugh at times at the antics and nosiness of some of the characters. By the same token there are times that you would gladly kill the whole bunch. The books are cozies and they are not my favorite mystery genre… but occasionally they will fit…you guessed it…a challenge. Don’t expect anything intense or “on the edge of your seat” excitement in these mysteries. On the other hand they won’t give you nightmares either. They are among some of the best of this genre that I have read. If you just want something light to read…these just might be fit the bill..… (more)

Even though this is the 5th book in this series, I had no trouble following the story. There was a lot of background given (over and over) so I knew a lot about this group of ladies. The women of the Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle - Tori, Georgina, Leona, Margaret Louise, Dixie, Debbie, Melissa, and Beatrice - are a tight-knit group who gossip, share, celebrate, console, investigate, and sew together. There are times they are rather short and sarcastic with one another (at least Rose and Louise) but it is sorted out at one point.

In this story, Tori's ex (the one who cheated on her at the rehearsal dinner) comes to town for the funeral of his great-aunt. It is also the mother-in-law of the woman, Lynn, who Tori just met at the hospital getting chemo for breast cancer. Margaret Louise and Tori were there with Rose while she was getting an IV treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Jeff wants to get back together with Tori but his girlfriend Kelly is not happy about this turn of events. Also Garrett, Lynn's husband, shows up with his mistress. Lynn is still living with him and not pursuing divorce because she needs his insurance for her medical bills. Vera leaves all of her inheritance to Jeff and none to Garrett, but Lynn gets the house. With that all being said, it is no surprise that Jeff ends up dropping dead and there is more than one suspect. For some reason, Tori feels that she needs to investigate, after all, she was engaged to Jeff.

Even though the mystery is the main storyline, there was a lot going on. Tori was not as intrusive a sleuth as in some other series I have read, in fact, there were times that the mystery definitely took a back seat to some of the drama in the lives of these ladies. Tori is loved by all, but seems to be a bit simpering at times. I am not sure if I liked her or not. I did not dislike her, but she did not seem like a friend that I would sit down with. She has left her boyfriend Milo hanging for several months after he asked her to marry him because inside she thinks she was the cause of Jeff cheating on her, come on girl. I had figured out who and how the murder had occurred much earlier in the book than the big reveal. Not sure if this is a series I will continue with or not.… (more)

Tori Sinclair, local librarian, attends a birthday party for the daughter of one of her sewing circle friends and meets a really obnoxious Pageant mother who thinks that no one can measure up to her little girl. She is rude and cruel to everyone so when she turns up murdered, all the party going parents are a suspects. As Tori tries to figure out who was responsible she's also dealing with he return of her boyfriend's old flame.

Love the characters and the sewing references - mystery was fun.… (more)