Helpful Score: 1
I continue to enjoy this mystery series with its emphasis on crafts and murder. Cora is the type of character I really like (even though she suffered from a few too many panic attacks in this book)-- she's smart and compassionate, and the years she spent being in charge of a shelter for abused women gives her a different perspective on the human race. Her former career also taught her not to behave as though she's a trained police officer. Cora is primarily a businesswoman who hires teachers for her craft retreats; she isn't the Martha Stewart type who can run any sort of class she puts her mind to, so I was puzzled when I learned that she was teaching at this South Carolina retreat. When I found out what her class was all about, it made perfect sense-- and I'll let you find out what it was for yourself.
I was happy to see that Cora and her friends were in South Carolina. This avoids the old Cabot Cove Syndrome nicely, and-- let's face it-- if you found out people kept getting bumped off at a craft retreat you were thinking of going to... would you go? Probably not, unless you believe yourself to be Miss Marple reincarnated.
I enjoy the craft retreat setting and the characters, and I also enjoy trying to solve the mysteries. The mystery in Macramé Murder is complex, and I didn't have it all figured out before the reveal, which is always a good thing. Speaking of "good things" (didn't Martha Stewart used to do that?), that sums up Mollie Cox Bryan's cozy series perfectly, and I hope you give it a try.
I was happy to see that Cora and her friends were in South Carolina. This avoids the old Cabot Cove Syndrome nicely, and-- let's face it-- if you found out people kept getting bumped off at a craft retreat you were thinking of going to... would you go? Probably not, unless you believe yourself to be Miss Marple reincarnated.
I enjoy the craft retreat setting and the characters, and I also enjoy trying to solve the mysteries. The mystery in Macramé Murder is complex, and I didn't have it all figured out before the reveal, which is always a good thing. Speaking of "good things" (didn't Martha Stewart used to do that?), that sums up Mollie Cox Bryan's cozy series perfectly, and I hope you give it a try.
Macramé Murder is the third installment in the Cora Crafts Mystery series featuring crafter and owner of the Kildare House Craft Retreat, Cora Chevalier. Having been invited to the Big Island Craft Retreat on the shores of Sea Glass Beach to be instructors, Cora and her friends Jane and Ruby leave the comfort of Indigo Gap along with Cora's boyfriend Adrian Brisbane, Jane's daughter London and Ruby's son Cashel, the lawyer.
Their first night on the island Cora and Adrian witness a beautiful beach wedding, the bride wearing a gorgeous tiara of diamonds, metal and sea glass. Unfortunately, Cora is woken by alarms during the night and quickly learns that the bride Marcy Grimm has been found dead on the beach. The police originally suspect a venomous jellyfish sting, but the signs quickly point to foul play.
Adrian seems to have connections to the bride and becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Feeling betrayed by Adrian's secrets but knowing that the librarian wouldn't hurt anyone, Cora sets out to find the killer. She and Jane soon discover that island life outside of the resort gates isn't all sunshine and sea glass. Instead they learn of plans to build another huge resort which will leave many of the islanders homeless and uncover a wide reaching drug cartel.
Quick moving plot, plenty of suspects and the opportunity to see the crafters outside of Indigo Gap. The only thing that does get tiring is Cora's constant references to Adrian as "her boyfriend", the reader does not need to be reminded at least once a chapter that Adrian is Cora's boyfriend.
Their first night on the island Cora and Adrian witness a beautiful beach wedding, the bride wearing a gorgeous tiara of diamonds, metal and sea glass. Unfortunately, Cora is woken by alarms during the night and quickly learns that the bride Marcy Grimm has been found dead on the beach. The police originally suspect a venomous jellyfish sting, but the signs quickly point to foul play.
Adrian seems to have connections to the bride and becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Feeling betrayed by Adrian's secrets but knowing that the librarian wouldn't hurt anyone, Cora sets out to find the killer. She and Jane soon discover that island life outside of the resort gates isn't all sunshine and sea glass. Instead they learn of plans to build another huge resort which will leave many of the islanders homeless and uncover a wide reaching drug cartel.
Quick moving plot, plenty of suspects and the opportunity to see the crafters outside of Indigo Gap. The only thing that does get tiring is Cora's constant references to Adrian as "her boyfriend", the reader does not need to be reminded at least once a chapter that Adrian is Cora's boyfriend.
