Book Review: Unraveled Sleeve

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Unraveled Sleeve     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Monica Ferris
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth   Crafts   Woman Main Character
Series: Betsy Devonshire # 4
Berkley, Jul 2001, $5.99, 256 pp.

In Excelsior, Minnesota Betsy Devonshire inherits the million-dollar estate of her late sister Margot. Betsy also suffers nightmares from her homicide investigations which include a friend trying to kill her. Then there is the invading army of people trying to hit on Betsy for a piece of her inheritance. Listening to her friends, Betsy accompanies police officer Jill Cross on a wintry vacation to Nanitoujou for a stitch-in convention. At the Lake Superior resort, Betsy meets a sad woman who says she is trying to reconcile with her spouse. Later, Betsy enters her room only to find that same woman dead. She obtains assistance from lodge employee James, but reenter her room only to wake up Jill with no corpse in sight. After talking with Jill, Betsy realizes that she went up the wrong stairwell and entered the wrong room. With James and Jill, Betsy retraces her steps. In the room where she saw the body, they meet Eddie Owen, who insists he is alone and estranged from his wife, leading Betsy and Jill to begin to investigate. The third needlecraft mystery (see CREWEL WORLD and FRAMED IN LACE) is an entertaining amateur sleuth tale. The murder mystery is fun due to the strong cast though it relies too heavily on coincidence to begin the happenings. Betsy is a great character having trouble sleeping and struggling with the horde of individuals wanting her cash. The Excelsior residents add depth to Betsy while the lodge individuals augment the who- done-it. Sub-genre fans will enjoy Monica Ferris' UNRAVELED SLEEVE.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner