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wilko's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fun read with great characters, two murder mysteries that may be intertwined along with plenty of potential suspects and new friends. Poly is a hoot and can be accident prone as well as stubborn when she decides to do something and I loved seeing her reconnect with her past when she comes back to San Ladron and her Aunt and Uncles fabric store. I was hooked from the beginning and was glad I could dive into the next book as soon as i finished this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
kashicaat's review
4.0
I received the book and after looking at the title, I didn’t know what to think. After reading the description, I was worried that this book was going to be cheese and that the author was going to rely on a shtick to tell a story.
The author does a great job of tying in all innuendos regarding fabric without getting cheese. Even the main character, Poly (Polyester) is explained in a way that doesn’t make you cringe.
One of the strong points in this novel is the cast of characters. They’re a unique bunch. They help progress the story and keep it moving at a decent pace and there’s plenty of opportunity to expand several of the main characters later on in future books.
The issues I had were minor: Poly’s relationship with Carson seemed off. It made no sense that they were together. The author tried to justify it, but it just didn’t seem to feel genuine.
My other issue was with how the mystery was solved. I thought the author did a good job at throwing out red herrings, but when it came time to reveal the killer, I was a bit disappointed. The scene felt rushed and the why and how, came about too easy.
This isn’t a high tension mystery, but it’s good, enjoyable and I will look for more of her books.
**I was sent this book in return for an honest review.
The author does a great job of tying in all innuendos regarding fabric without getting cheese. Even the main character, Poly (Polyester) is explained in a way that doesn’t make you cringe.
One of the strong points in this novel is the cast of characters. They’re a unique bunch. They help progress the story and keep it moving at a decent pace and there’s plenty of opportunity to expand several of the main characters later on in future books.
The issues I had were minor: Poly’s relationship with Carson seemed off. It made no sense that they were together. The author tried to justify it, but it just didn’t seem to feel genuine.
My other issue was with how the mystery was solved. I thought the author did a good job at throwing out red herrings, but when it came time to reveal the killer, I was a bit disappointed. The scene felt rushed and the why and how, came about too easy.
This isn’t a high tension mystery, but it’s good, enjoyable and I will look for more of her books.
**I was sent this book in return for an honest review.
_wmjb_'s review
4.0
One of the better cozy mysteries in my opinion. I'm starting on the second one right away. Could have used a little tighter editing. At times she seemed to contradict something she said earlier but it was a minor and infrequent offense. I liked the fabric descriptions and I was amused that she knows all about fabric, design and sewing machine repair but she's not a fan of the actual sewing. I'll bet that is what most designers are like. Hire someone else to do the actual dressmaking even when they're just starting out.
chrisrin's review
4.0
This was an enjoyable, fast paced cozy mystery read. I liked Polyester and I enjoyed the mystery. I'm looking forward to reading more cozy mysteries set in Poly's world.
hedgielib's review
1.0
This had a lot of potential but aimed too much for extremes in characters--especially the lead. Disappointing.
wilko's review
5.0
This was a fun read with great characters, two murder mysteries that may be intertwined along with plenty of potential suspects and new friends. Poly is a hoot and can be accident prone as well as stubborn when she decides to do something and I loved seeing her reconnect with her past when she comes back to San Ladron and her Aunt and Uncles fabric store. I was hooked from the beginning and was glad I could dive into the next book as soon as i finished this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
hugbandit7's review
5.0
Loved this book! I'm not sure what exactly it was that drew me in and kept me engaged, but whatever Diane did, do it again!
I love how Poly was named...although wonder if she was heckled a lot as a kid with a name like Polyester.
There are some good strong characters that it will be interesting to see how they develop in future books, like Charlie, the female auto mechanic/shop owner. I liked her right off the bag and hoped she wouldn't end up being the killer. Then there is Vaughn...I think Poly needs to dump Carson who appears to be too self centered and check out what Vaughn has to offer.
And as with many mysteries, I didn't figure out who the killer was until that person was revealed. I guess that means that the author did a good job of throwing enough red herrings out there and subtle clues. I never would have guessed this person (and I tend to say that a LOT!)
Great new series, one to definitely check out.
I love how Poly was named...although wonder if she was heckled a lot as a kid with a name like Polyester.
There are some good strong characters that it will be interesting to see how they develop in future books, like Charlie, the female auto mechanic/shop owner. I liked her right off the bag and hoped she wouldn't end up being the killer. Then there is Vaughn...I think Poly needs to dump Carson who appears to be too self centered and check out what Vaughn has to offer.
And as with many mysteries, I didn't figure out who the killer was until that person was revealed. I guess that means that the author did a good job of throwing enough red herrings out there and subtle clues. I never would have guessed this person (and I tend to say that a LOT!)
Great new series, one to definitely check out.
dianevallere's review
The audio book for [b:Suede to Rest|63334046|Suede to Rest (A Material Witness Mystery #1)|Diane Vallere|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1671333131l/63334046._SY75_.jpg|41153313] is here! https://www.audiobooks.com/promotions/promotedBook/678321/suede-to-rest?refId=73320
And for a fun breakdown of the cover design, check out this blog post: https://www.dianevallere.com/post/cover-design-suede-to-rest
Happy reading/listening!
Diane
And for a fun breakdown of the cover design, check out this blog post: https://www.dianevallere.com/post/cover-design-suede-to-rest
Happy reading/listening!
Diane
alina_b25777's review
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75