Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
I always pick up a book expecting it to be good, but I have to admit that I was very pleasantly surprised by just how good Death Among the Doilies is. Mollie Cox Bryan has created a strong small town setting, given the hero of her tale a wonderful old Victorian mansion to live and work in, and then peopled it with a cast of very interesting characters. Having a good mystery to solve is icing on the cake.
The main character, Cora Chevalier, is a woman that I quickly grew to like. She's a bit of an old soul, sounding as though she's in her late forties when she's actually only thirty-two. Cora has seen much too much of the ugly side of life in that women's shelter, but this is her first experience at being a business owner, and she does make some rookie mistakes.
It's those rookie mistakes that added a great deal of interest to the story for me. I learned more about craft retreats, especially the security aspect, vetting instructors, and how to deal with caterers. It's amazing how details like this can add so much texture to a book. However, if I'm waxing so poetic over the craft retreat angle that you're beginning to think that there's not enough mystery, think again. There's plenty of that. In fact, Bryan's combination of mystery, setting, and character make Death Among the Doilies one of the strongest cozy debuts I've read this year. I can't wait to see what happens next!
The main character, Cora Chevalier, is a woman that I quickly grew to like. She's a bit of an old soul, sounding as though she's in her late forties when she's actually only thirty-two. Cora has seen much too much of the ugly side of life in that women's shelter, but this is her first experience at being a business owner, and she does make some rookie mistakes.
It's those rookie mistakes that added a great deal of interest to the story for me. I learned more about craft retreats, especially the security aspect, vetting instructors, and how to deal with caterers. It's amazing how details like this can add so much texture to a book. However, if I'm waxing so poetic over the craft retreat angle that you're beginning to think that there's not enough mystery, think again. There's plenty of that. In fact, Bryan's combination of mystery, setting, and character make Death Among the Doilies one of the strongest cozy debuts I've read this year. I can't wait to see what happens next!
This book is the first in a new series by Mollie Cox Bryan and she does a remarkable job with it. The premise is a youngish woman (Cora) and her best friend (Jane) turn an old mansion in small town North Carolina into a craft retreat. This is the first weekend it is open and unfortunately there is a murder from a few weeks earlier to mess things up. The police question Jane regarding the murder and things continue to heat up when a second murder happens. One of the reasons I liked this book is it even has some people in it from her other series. I also like the idea of a craft retreat. I wish I could do that! I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Death Among the Doilies is the first installment in the Cora Crafts Mystery series. Coralie "Cora" Chevalier has purchased the old Kildare Victorian in the town of Indigo Gap, North Carolina. Along with her best friend Jane Starr and Jane's daughter, London and Ruby O'Malley, the elderly woman who came with the house, the woman are turning the old home into a Crafter's Retreat.
With the first retreat scheduled for only a few days away, Cora and Jane are shocked when Jane is suddenly under suspicion for the killing of the school librarian, Sarah Waters. Jane was a victim of domestic violence and had fought back to protect herself and her daughter resulting in a criminal record. Cora had worked for years in a battered woman's shelter until the daily injustices caused her to have massive panic attacks. Having moved to Indigo Gap, a relatively crime free small town, the woman begin to think they've made a huge mistake, and Cora sets out to clear Jane's name and find the real killer.
A great, fast paced storyline with lots of interesting characters that will keep you guessing until the last page. It will be fun to follow the next adventures of Sarah, Jane and Ruby - although I hope the author isn't planning the dreaded romantic triangle for Cora.
With the first retreat scheduled for only a few days away, Cora and Jane are shocked when Jane is suddenly under suspicion for the killing of the school librarian, Sarah Waters. Jane was a victim of domestic violence and had fought back to protect herself and her daughter resulting in a criminal record. Cora had worked for years in a battered woman's shelter until the daily injustices caused her to have massive panic attacks. Having moved to Indigo Gap, a relatively crime free small town, the woman begin to think they've made a huge mistake, and Cora sets out to clear Jane's name and find the real killer.
A great, fast paced storyline with lots of interesting characters that will keep you guessing until the last page. It will be fun to follow the next adventures of Sarah, Jane and Ruby - although I hope the author isn't planning the dreaded romantic triangle for Cora.
Death Among the Doilies by Mollie Cox Bryan is the first book in A Cora Crafts Mystery series. Cora Chevalier has moved to Indigo Gap, North Carolina and purchased a beautiful, big Victorian home called Kildare House. She is going to offer craft retreats with the help of her friend, Jane Starr (a potter) and her daughter, London (a little cutie). Her first retreat will feature Jude Sawyer, master broom maker. This will be a chance to work out the kinks. But Cora does not anticipate Jane being accused of murdering Sarah Waters, the school librarian. Jane's fingerprints (partials) turn up at the crime scene, and she is immediately arrested (like that would be enough evidence in real life). Ruby O'Malley, a gifted herbalist and lives on the premises (came with the house), calls her son Cashel (a lawyer) for assistance (he is also very handsome). Then Cora starts getting retreat cancellations from the locals. Cora knows she needs to find the Sarah Waters real killer before her business is in ashes. Cora has to investigate while handling her retreat. What Cora did not anticipate was ladies' man, Jude Sawyer. He seems to be working his way through the women at the retreat (and then leaving upset women in his wake). Join Cora in her investigation and find out about the doilies in Death Among the Doilies!
Death Among the Doilies is a good first book in A Cora Crafts Mystery series (there is much more going on in the book). I liked the characters (Ruby is a hoot), the small town setting of Indigo Gap, and the crafting ideas (especially Cora's reuse/upcycling ideas). The Victorian house sounds gorgeous (I want it). The mystery was interesting and complex. The main mystery can be solved, but there are parts that have to play out (not everything is revealed to the readers). I give Death Among the Doilies 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I hope that there will be more crafting (especially pottery) in the next book. We are given a lot of information about the main characters in this book (as expected) since it is the first book in the series. The author does a good job of laying out the character's background and why they have relocated. I will definitely be reading the next book in A Cora Crafts Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Death Among the Doilies is a good first book in A Cora Crafts Mystery series (there is much more going on in the book). I liked the characters (Ruby is a hoot), the small town setting of Indigo Gap, and the crafting ideas (especially Cora's reuse/upcycling ideas). The Victorian house sounds gorgeous (I want it). The mystery was interesting and complex. The main mystery can be solved, but there are parts that have to play out (not everything is revealed to the readers). I give Death Among the Doilies 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I hope that there will be more crafting (especially pottery) in the next book. We are given a lot of information about the main characters in this book (as expected) since it is the first book in the series. The author does a good job of laying out the character's background and why they have relocated. I will definitely be reading the next book in A Cora Crafts Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Jody M. (jodymcgrath) -
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
This is the first book in the new Mollie Cox Bryan's Craft Retreat series. It is the story of best friends, Cora and Jane, who have moved to the quaint town of Indigo Gap to open up a craft retreat in a gorgeous restored Victorian home. While planning and throwing their first retreat, Jane becomes a person of interest in the murder of the school librarian. Although the cops are working the case, Cora cannot allow her friend to go to jail for a crime she did not commit and she can also not allow the bad press to ruin this new venture for them; therefore, Cora decides to get a little crafty and do some snooping on her own.
This book followed along the same lines as most cozy mysteries, but that is my favorite genre so I did not mind. It had enough twists and turns, that I did not see the ending coming, but their were enough clues that it wasn't completely out of the blue either. Both Cora and Jane were likable enough characters, the POV changed between the two of them, but they were hard to distinguish between. Their 'voice' was too similar. The supporting characters seemed to have more, well, character. I had a hard time believing that Jude, a hired broom making teacher, was so well known and famous in the crafting world. He made brooms. I didn't realize that was a really popular craft. It sounded interesting, but how many brooms can one person have?
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I probably would not continue with the series. It just wasn't special enough in the sea of cozies out their nowadays.
This is the first book in the new Mollie Cox Bryan's Craft Retreat series. It is the story of best friends, Cora and Jane, who have moved to the quaint town of Indigo Gap to open up a craft retreat in a gorgeous restored Victorian home. While planning and throwing their first retreat, Jane becomes a person of interest in the murder of the school librarian. Although the cops are working the case, Cora cannot allow her friend to go to jail for a crime she did not commit and she can also not allow the bad press to ruin this new venture for them; therefore, Cora decides to get a little crafty and do some snooping on her own.
This book followed along the same lines as most cozy mysteries, but that is my favorite genre so I did not mind. It had enough twists and turns, that I did not see the ending coming, but their were enough clues that it wasn't completely out of the blue either. Both Cora and Jane were likable enough characters, the POV changed between the two of them, but they were hard to distinguish between. Their 'voice' was too similar. The supporting characters seemed to have more, well, character. I had a hard time believing that Jude, a hired broom making teacher, was so well known and famous in the crafting world. He made brooms. I didn't realize that was a really popular craft. It sounded interesting, but how many brooms can one person have?
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I probably would not continue with the series. It just wasn't special enough in the sea of cozies out their nowadays.
