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zurpel's review
3.0
And Then You Dye is the latest installment in a series of cozy mysteries featuring Betsy Devonshire. Betsy runs a needlework shop in Excelsior, Minnesota. However, the work in her shop often gets interrupted by Betsy's sleuthing habits. This time she is asked to find the murderer of Hailey Brent. Hailey spun and dyed wool which Betsy sold in her shop ... until Hailey is found shot in her house.
This is the first book by Monica Ferris that I read. It took me some time to get into the story and the narrator. While the story itself does not depend on knowing the first books in the series, I would probably have had an easier time in getting into the story had I known the first parts. I'm certain that most of the characters appearing here were introduced earlier in the series, which would have given them more depth and background.
Considering this I was surprised at how fast I was drawn into the story. I might have needed two or three chapters, but after that I was really beginning to enjoy this cozy mystery. Betsy has a nice way of dealing with the case. She might ask around to get information, but she doesn't pry or overstep the border between legal and illegal actions. In spite of her sleuthing she recognizes the police as being the responsible body for apprehending the murderer. She rather sees herself as a person helping the police in gathering evidence and information that the police might not be able to get in their official capacity. This makes her a very amiable sleuth.
The mystery itself was well-written, with appropriate hints dropped in the right places. While I actually guessed right as to who might be the murderer, I wasn't quite certain until the person was revealed. It has been a while since I read a mystery where I found the hints so well-placed in the story. Not too obvious but still there.
Some small side-stories (like Godwin and his friend Rafael and their excursion into the world of coin collecting) provided a nice background to the story to give it life. Even though these parts did not actually belong to the mystery, I didn't find them superfluous and enjoyed them just as much as the rest of the book.
Susan Boyce does a decent job on her narration. For the first few chapters I needed some time to get accustomed to her voice. One reason for this might be that before And Then You Dye I listened to an audiobook narrated by a male narrator and for some reason I always find it easier to listen to a male voice than a female one. However, Susan Boyce's voice soon felt comfortable to my ears and her narrating a book won't keep me from listening to it in the future.
All in all this is a nice cozy mystery and I'll probably get the first fifteen books in the series as well (not all at once, but whenever I feel the need for some cozy entertainment), starting with the first.
This is the first book by Monica Ferris that I read. It took me some time to get into the story and the narrator. While the story itself does not depend on knowing the first books in the series, I would probably have had an easier time in getting into the story had I known the first parts. I'm certain that most of the characters appearing here were introduced earlier in the series, which would have given them more depth and background.
Considering this I was surprised at how fast I was drawn into the story. I might have needed two or three chapters, but after that I was really beginning to enjoy this cozy mystery. Betsy has a nice way of dealing with the case. She might ask around to get information, but she doesn't pry or overstep the border between legal and illegal actions. In spite of her sleuthing she recognizes the police as being the responsible body for apprehending the murderer. She rather sees herself as a person helping the police in gathering evidence and information that the police might not be able to get in their official capacity. This makes her a very amiable sleuth.
The mystery itself was well-written, with appropriate hints dropped in the right places. While I actually guessed right as to who might be the murderer, I wasn't quite certain until the person was revealed. It has been a while since I read a mystery where I found the hints so well-placed in the story. Not too obvious but still there.
Some small side-stories (like Godwin and his friend Rafael and their excursion into the world of coin collecting) provided a nice background to the story to give it life. Even though these parts did not actually belong to the mystery, I didn't find them superfluous and enjoyed them just as much as the rest of the book.
Susan Boyce does a decent job on her narration. For the first few chapters I needed some time to get accustomed to her voice. One reason for this might be that before And Then You Dye I listened to an audiobook narrated by a male narrator and for some reason I always find it easier to listen to a male voice than a female one. However, Susan Boyce's voice soon felt comfortable to my ears and her narrating a book won't keep me from listening to it in the future.
All in all this is a nice cozy mystery and I'll probably get the first fifteen books in the series as well (not all at once, but whenever I feel the need for some cozy entertainment), starting with the first.
bikes_books_yarn's review
3.0
I felt like the time line in this book was a little confusing, and the writing seemed a little stilted. Maybe it was because I listened to this book rather than reading it - which is a first for me with this author. The narrator mispronounced the name of the city of Edina. It's E-DINE-AH Not E-DEEN-A. And she pronounced the hot dog like sausage you cook on a grill "Brats" not "Brahts" which I have to wonder about as well. We here in Minnesota call them Brahts and Brahtwurst. But apparently Alton Brown pronounces them Brats and Bratwurst (which just conjures images of people eating Brat Dolls - ick.) So I don't know. I guess when I read a book that is supposed to take place in my stomping grounds I expect the reader to get the local dialect correct.
Picky Picky Picky.
I enjoyed the story overall, but I think I will stick to the paper version in the future.
Picky Picky Picky.
I enjoyed the story overall, but I think I will stick to the paper version in the future.
mullinstreetzoo's review against another edition
5.0
Always a quick and easy read. Thanks, Ms Ferris!
sheilabookworm3369's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this one as much as the 1st story in the series. Nice, cozy mystery in a charming town. Will pick up others as I run across them!
swaanderer's review against another edition
2.0
I'm trying out cosy mysteries, and I wanted to like this book, and I did enjoy aspects of it (especially the fiber arts theme), but the ableist stuff took me out of the story. The protagonist casually discusses the possibility of involuntarily institutionalizing a woman with a traumatic brain injury because she has difficulty with anger management. It is talked about as if it were a totally normal and reasonable thing for her husband to do. The only barrier mentioned is the cost - not, you know, the woman's civil rights or anything?
mullinstreetzoo's review against another edition
5.0
Always a quick and easy read. Thanks, Ms Ferris!
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