This book is the first in a new series, set in a permanent Renaissance Fair Theme Park in Myrtle Beach, SC. It caught my eye since I am from SC, and so I enjoy reading books set in my area of the country. The book was ok, but I had trouble getting through it. In retrospect, I suspect it was because there were too many quirky characters introduced too quickly with scant descriptions who kept popping up during the main story. Perhaps they will become major players in later books during the series. There were also some errors, as well as stereotyping of the characters that were distracting to me while I was reading. For instance, the protagonist is an assistant professor and a graduate student in history at a major university in SC at the same time. There were other characterization errors like this that bothered me.

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I liked this book. The mystery was good, but I actually liked the Renaissance Faire setting and lifestyle that is explained even more. I wasn't thrilled with the solution to the murder, but it was a enjoyable read nonetheless. I ordered the second in the series just now.

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Review I normally like their mysteries but this one draggggggggggggged. And I figured out who had done it when the character was first introduced. Maybe it's the challenge of reading during the ballot counting phase.

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"We believe he is dead, faithful squire," Queen Olivia pronounced in grand, dramatic fashion.

WICKED WEAVES is the first book in the Renaissance Faire Mystery series by Joyce and Jim Lavene. The Faire is a year round attraction in Myrtle Beach, SC. History professor, Jessie, has worked at the faire every summer since college. This summer she is working with Mary Shift, a Gullah basket maker. A stranger is found dead in the village with basket weave around his neck. Mary becomes the prime suspect and Jessie steps forward to investigate. Jessie's summer romance with Chase, the village bailiff, adds an ally for both her and Mary.

This is an enjoyable read from the Lavene team. The portrayal of the Renaissance Village and its people is quite accurate. I had the pleasure of working at a festival for a couple of years and it is amazing how into character these folks become. The addition of the Gullah basket weaving is educational. The Gullah traditions are very evident in the low country of South Carolina. Their basket weaving is a long standing tradition. The sweetgrass used to weave the baskets is in short supply so they are quite valuable and often quite expensive.

I always enjoy reading local authors and look forward to reading more in this series. I believe the next book has Jessie working with the glassblower.

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One of my favorite series. Who would have thought such quirky and funny things could happen at a Renaissance Faire Park? Pirates invade the local tavern, the brotherhood of the bread run the bakery, Merlin is flashing nude under his robes, Robin Hood and His Merry Men steal toaster ovens, fairies flit and flirt, Mother Goose nursery rhyme characters make trouble, The Queen and King and their court and knights rule the Faire, and no end of other slightly weird inhabitants enliven the paying visitors' day. Each book in the series has Jessie Morton apprenticing in a different shop to learn Medieval crafts for her PhD dissertation, in between her romance with the faire's bailiff, Chase Manhattan, and solving murder mysteries.

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