Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
A Bias for Murder is the third installment in the Queen Bees Quilt Shop series set in the community of Crestwood and featuring Po Paltrow and her group of quilters. Oliver Harrington is a beloved member of Crestwood and although many don't know him well, they do know that he had a fascination for the stars and planets and was a familiar face on the college campus. Sadly, Ollie passes away early on in the book with signs pointing to a heart attack. Shortly after his death his twin sister Adele arrives in town for the first time in years and begins an immediate renovation on the families mansion which angers the neighbors. Also, information comes to light that there were quite a few people including the college and a local developer that were anxious to get their hands on the Harrington property - so was Ollie really a victim of murder? Po and her friends set out to uncover the truth and find themselves in harms way.
I have not read the first two in the series so found myself struggling a little to keep the characters straight (several have names starting with the same letter of the alphabet), and also to really connect with them as I didn't know their individual histories. With that being said I'd strongly recommend reading the series in order. The mystery was well crafted although I did figure out "whodunit" pretty early on. I wish we'd gotten to know Ollie a little better before his death as he seemed like a lovable and interesting fellow. I did enjoy getting to know the abrasive Adele and found myself rooting for her to win over the townspeople.
I have not read the first two in the series so found myself struggling a little to keep the characters straight (several have names starting with the same letter of the alphabet), and also to really connect with them as I didn't know their individual histories. With that being said I'd strongly recommend reading the series in order. The mystery was well crafted although I did figure out "whodunit" pretty early on. I wish we'd gotten to know Ollie a little better before his death as he seemed like a lovable and interesting fellow. I did enjoy getting to know the abrasive Adele and found myself rooting for her to win over the townspeople.
A Bias for Murder is the third novel in A Queen Bees Quilt Shop Mystery series which I recommend reading in order. It will allow you to become familiar with the characters (they can be hard to keep straight) and their relationships. I thought A Bias for Murder was easy to read with heartwarming characters, charming small town, and beautiful quilts. Po Paltrow has a proven track record in solving crimes. Po along with the other ladies in the Crestwood Quilters have the necessary connections to get the information they need. The group is also busy working on eight quilt tops for Adele's new bed and breakfast including a special quilt for Oliver's former bedroom. The mystery is straightforward. There are multiple suspects and direct clues. The killer can be identified very early in the story and the reason why is equally apparent (unfortunately). I liked that there were a series of incidents that provided action to keep the book moving forward. I loved the quilt descriptions and comradery between the quilters. They are a close knit group of women who get together to quilt, solve crimes, enjoy good food, and so much more. There are plenty of lovely cozy moments in this character driven book. A Bias for Murder is a heartwarming cozy mystery perfect for a rainy afternoon or an afternoon relaxing poolside. A Bias for Murder has a greedy developer, a publishing professor, an offensive sister, a magnificent mansion, striking quilts, and seven sewing sleuths.
