cj_mo_2222's review
4.0
Beatrice Coleman can’t believe she allowed her friend and fellow quilter Meadow Downey talk her into crashing a party at a Victorian mansion, in the middle of nowhere. The owner, Muriel Starnes, grudgingly allows them to stay and make their pitch for why their quilting guild would be the perfect fit to administer the quilting scholarship Muriel plans to fund. Beatrice feels uncomfortable and unwelcome among this disparate group of quilters and can’t wait to leave. Unfortunately, an ice storm hits and strands everyone in the home, with no heat and no electricity. It’s bad enough the guests have to deal with the cold temperatures and a shortage of food, but soon they are also dealing with a very dangerous murderer. Now, it’s up to Beatrice to find the killer before it’s too late.
By the end of the second chapter of "Quilt Trip", the stage is set for a classic murder mystery plot that would make Dame Agatha Christie proud. Muriel Starnes, a dying, elderly woman, along with friends and family members she has wronged, are all stranded together in her home. Beatrice and Meadow and a few others are strangers to the wealthy Muriel, and also find themselves part of this dangerous drama with no way to escape. I was immediately pulled into this classic plot and loved the eerie atmosphere of the mansion and the build-up of tension as the situation became more and more perilous for everyone in the house. Beatrice is a combination of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot and her calm manner and level-headed intelligence is just what is needed to find the murderer. Her friend Meadow is a great contract, but while I appreciate her energy and optimism, her immaturity makes her seem much younger than the mature woman she is supposed to be.
Some of the characters started to become irritating as the forced time at Muriel’s house is prolonged. Some of this is probably an intentional choice by the author adding to the tension in the home, but after a while, I was ready for the book to end. There was also a reoccurring supporting character that I just couldn’t connect with. I assume “Miss Sissy” is supposed to have some level of dementia, but even in her lucid moments her one word exclamations, such as “Evil!” got old. Even though I don’t understand Miss Sissy’s character, many of the other characters had interesting enough back-stories to provide plenty of suspects for Beatrice as she tries to discover the identity of the murderer and overall, this is an enjoyable cozy mystery.
I’ve missed out on the previous Southern Quilting mysteries, but I enjoy the Memphis Barbeque series that author Elizabeth Craig writes under the name Riley Adams. I think "Quilt Trip" will appear to fans of either the Riley Adams books or the Southern Sewing Mysteries by Elizabeth Lynn Casey. The book ends with a few quilting tips, as well as recipes for the comfort food that the characters only wish they would have had access to while they were trapped in Muriel’s isolated home.
This review was originally written for The Season EZine. 3.5 stars. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
By the end of the second chapter of "Quilt Trip", the stage is set for a classic murder mystery plot that would make Dame Agatha Christie proud. Muriel Starnes, a dying, elderly woman, along with friends and family members she has wronged, are all stranded together in her home. Beatrice and Meadow and a few others are strangers to the wealthy Muriel, and also find themselves part of this dangerous drama with no way to escape. I was immediately pulled into this classic plot and loved the eerie atmosphere of the mansion and the build-up of tension as the situation became more and more perilous for everyone in the house. Beatrice is a combination of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot and her calm manner and level-headed intelligence is just what is needed to find the murderer. Her friend Meadow is a great contract, but while I appreciate her energy and optimism, her immaturity makes her seem much younger than the mature woman she is supposed to be.
Some of the characters started to become irritating as the forced time at Muriel’s house is prolonged. Some of this is probably an intentional choice by the author adding to the tension in the home, but after a while, I was ready for the book to end. There was also a reoccurring supporting character that I just couldn’t connect with. I assume “Miss Sissy” is supposed to have some level of dementia, but even in her lucid moments her one word exclamations, such as “Evil!” got old. Even though I don’t understand Miss Sissy’s character, many of the other characters had interesting enough back-stories to provide plenty of suspects for Beatrice as she tries to discover the identity of the murderer and overall, this is an enjoyable cozy mystery.
I’ve missed out on the previous Southern Quilting mysteries, but I enjoy the Memphis Barbeque series that author Elizabeth Craig writes under the name Riley Adams. I think "Quilt Trip" will appear to fans of either the Riley Adams books or the Southern Sewing Mysteries by Elizabeth Lynn Casey. The book ends with a few quilting tips, as well as recipes for the comfort food that the characters only wish they would have had access to while they were trapped in Muriel’s isolated home.
This review was originally written for The Season EZine. 3.5 stars. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
emsterino19's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book. Once I picked it up, it was difficult to put down, but I wasn't thinking about it or wondering about the characters when I wasn't reading it. It was a good "whodunnit" story that I recommend for a cozy evening.
I received this book for free as a part of the Goodreads First Reads program.
I received this book for free as a part of the Goodreads First Reads program.
dollycas's review
5.0
In this third installment Meadow is dragging Beatrice to meeting they were not even invited to attend. Meadow has no qualms about “crashing the party”, but the sky looks like it is cooking up a storm and Beatrice would just like to stay home safe and sound. But there is no stopping Meadow so off they go to find the Victorian mansion in the mountains beyond Dappled Hills, North Carolina, that belongs to Muriel Starnes. Muriel is an elderly eccentric woman who wants to start a foundation to introduce and teach quilting to young people in the area. Meadow is on a mission to get her to choose the Village Quilters Guild over everyone else at the meeting to administer the foundation.
As expected the storm Beatrice was worried about strikes just as they arrive at the mansion. The rain soon turns to sleet and then ice. It isn’t long before an old tree limb falls blocking the driveway which it now just a thick sheet of ice, the power goes out, and of course there is no cell phone reception.
They have no choice but to bed down for the night. At least Muriel has plenty of beds and quilts to keep everyone warm. But everyone does not survive the night. They find in the morning that Muriel has passed away. She was in poor health but Beatrice sees she did not die of natural causes. She was murdered and they have a houseful of suspects. They are also all trapped in the house with a killer. Beatrice and the Village quilters are on the case to figure out just who is responsible for their host’s early demise.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
These are some of my favorite fictional characters. Beatrice, calm, cool, collected, and just so darn nice. She can’t say “no” to anyone especially Meadow. Meadow, “bless her heart”, it is always in the right spot, but she is like “a bull in a china shop” and her brain does not filter what comes out of her mouth. Miss Sissy is battling Alzheimer’s so she has her good times and bad but she always seems to be on the right track when it comes to figuring people out. Posy is sweet as can be and she handles Miss Sissy perfectly. And when they are all stuck together, with barely enough food, the all pull out their works in progress and quilt.
The author has written a very Christie-esque mystery where all the suspects are trapped together and someone (Beatrice) figures out the Who – Why and How. It all takes place is a mansion with all the turrets and attic complete with hidden rooms and spaces. It also seems the deceased had a pretty big secret.
The was a really fun mystery to read. With the bitter wind blowing outside my own window I felt like I was right in the story with them. All I needed was the fire to warm my toes. I enjoyed this Quilt Trip very much and can’t wait for my next trip to Dappled Hills.
As expected the storm Beatrice was worried about strikes just as they arrive at the mansion. The rain soon turns to sleet and then ice. It isn’t long before an old tree limb falls blocking the driveway which it now just a thick sheet of ice, the power goes out, and of course there is no cell phone reception.
They have no choice but to bed down for the night. At least Muriel has plenty of beds and quilts to keep everyone warm. But everyone does not survive the night. They find in the morning that Muriel has passed away. She was in poor health but Beatrice sees she did not die of natural causes. She was murdered and they have a houseful of suspects. They are also all trapped in the house with a killer. Beatrice and the Village quilters are on the case to figure out just who is responsible for their host’s early demise.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
These are some of my favorite fictional characters. Beatrice, calm, cool, collected, and just so darn nice. She can’t say “no” to anyone especially Meadow. Meadow, “bless her heart”, it is always in the right spot, but she is like “a bull in a china shop” and her brain does not filter what comes out of her mouth. Miss Sissy is battling Alzheimer’s so she has her good times and bad but she always seems to be on the right track when it comes to figuring people out. Posy is sweet as can be and she handles Miss Sissy perfectly. And when they are all stuck together, with barely enough food, the all pull out their works in progress and quilt.
The author has written a very Christie-esque mystery where all the suspects are trapped together and someone (Beatrice) figures out the Who – Why and How. It all takes place is a mansion with all the turrets and attic complete with hidden rooms and spaces. It also seems the deceased had a pretty big secret.
The was a really fun mystery to read. With the bitter wind blowing outside my own window I felt like I was right in the story with them. All I needed was the fire to warm my toes. I enjoyed this Quilt Trip very much and can’t wait for my next trip to Dappled Hills.
More...