Kristina A. reviewed on 6/19/2017 + 1528 more book reviews

Patterned After Death by Elizabeth Lynn Casey is the twelfth (and final) book in The Southern Sewing Circle Mystery series. Librarian, Victoria âToriâ Sinclair lives in Sweet Briar, South Carolina with her elementary school teacher husband, Milo. Tori's car is on the fritz and Margaret Louise tells Tori take it over to her son, Jake Davis. Milo and Tori are going out after dinner to check on Rose Winters and stop by Jake's garage. Jake is working on a fancy silver car, but takes time out to show them around the newly expanded garage. Tori notices the trunk of the silver car ajar and goes to close it. A piece of fabric is in the way and as she tucks it inside the car, Tori touches a hand. Inside the trunk is Jake's new business partner, Noah Madden. People in town were surprised when Noah and Jake went into business together. The town has been split since the two men were rival quarterbacks in high school (over eighteen years prior). Unfortunately, the evidence is stacked against Jake, and he is arrested for Noah's murder. Margaret Louise is extremely distraught and she asks Tori to find the real killer. Tori starts asking questions and gathering clues so she can get Jake out of jail and back to his family. Tori's attention is split, though, with Rose being under the weather. Tori is worried and cannot bear to lose the dear woman. The members of the sewing circle will need to band together to help their friends during their time of need and to capture a murderer.

Patterned After Death is well-written and has a good pace which made the book easy to read. It contains delightful, friendly characters and a welcoming, Southern town. It was wonderful to catch up with Tori, Milo, Rose, Margaret Louise, Leona, Georgina, Charles, and the other members of sewing circle (and town). I have read this series from the beginning and each book is better than the previous one (Wedding Duress is my favorite). Patterned After Death has a sweet ending that will delight admirers of the series. While Patterned After Death can be read alone, I recommend reading the series in order. You can watch the characters (and their relationships/friendships) grow and develop over the course of the series. I give Patterned After Death 5 out of 5 stars. I thought that the mystery was well-crafted. There is a good twist that will surprise many readers. The whodunit can be solved, but not easily (my favorite type). Elizabeth Lynn Davis took various elements and stitched them together into one engaging, heartwarming cozy mystery. I am sorry to see this charming cozy mystery series come to end.

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