Tapestry of Lies by Carol Ann Martin

First Line: Life is full of surprises.

Although some folks may think she's crazy, Della Wright couldn't resist buying a very big antique Irish loom for her shop, Dream Weaver. She may have been a bit psychic, since celebrity designer Bunny Boyd comes into her shop, inspects the place and the merchandise, and puts in a huge custom fabric order for her latest project.

Bunny is refurbishing millionaire Bernard Whitby's mansion there in Briar Hollow, North Carolina, and that fabric order could mean guaranteed survival for Della's fledgling business-- especially since Whitby has just announced his candidacy for governor. But all the buzz surrounding the announcement is cut short when a local coffee shop owner is murdered. With one of her friends on the suspect list, Della knows she must do a little investigating on her own.

My enjoyment of the cozy Weaving series continues with this second book (after Looming Murder). There's just enough information about weaving to make the crafty part of me happy, and the mystery kept me engaged throughout by way of a long suspect list and some excellent misdirection.

But-- like any cozy mystery worth its salt-- it's the characters who make or break a book, and author Carol Ann Martin has created a winning cast. Della's friends are a diverse group, and I like how they've all banded together, not only in friendship, but in the quest to earn a living through their artistry. Della's romantic yearnings for Matthew in conjunction with the matchmaking manipulations of their mothers adds zest and humor to the book.

Carol Ann Martin's Weaving mystery series is rapidly becoming one of my favorites-- light, fun reads to curl up with in the afternoon!

Tapestry of Lies by Carol Ann Martin

ISBN:  9780451413611

Signet © 2014

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Cozy Mystery, #2 Weaving mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen.

Looming Murder by Carol Ann Martin

First Line: Sometimes in the middle of the night, I worried that this might all have been a huge mistake-- this being the leap I'd recently made.

Della Wright worries that opening her lifelong dream-- a weaving studio-- in Briar Hollow at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains might be more than she can handle. Her idea of conducting weaving workshops for all levels of ability is increasing business, and her request for weavers to form a charity group to make baby blankets for a local hospital seems to have gathered together a group of people who have their fingers on the gossip pulse of the area.

At the moment she's living rent-free in the house that's also home to her studio, but that sweet deal may be at an end when the homeowner and her friend, criminologist Matt Baker, returns home. Looking for another place where she can house her studio-- and perhaps live over her business-- Della stumbles over the body of a shady local businessman. It's no time at all before she finds herself picking over clues like she chooses yarns to weave into beautiful creations. But can she put those clues together fast enough to stop a killer?

I've always been fascinated with weaving, and this book has just enough information to fan its flames. The small town setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina is very well done, and Martin has assembled an interesting and eclectic cast of characters that sets the series off to a good start. As I turned the last page, I found myself looking forward to meeting these characters again in another adventure.  Martin's series is definitely one to watch.

Looming Murder by Carol Ann Martin

ISBN:  9780451413604

Signet Eclipse © 2013

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Cozy Mystery, #1 Weaving Mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen