Sins and Needles

by: Monica Ferris

Published by: Berkley Prime Crime

Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann, Chanhassen (MN) Librarian

This is the tenth in the Needlecraft Mysteries by Minnesota author Monica Ferris.

This one involves a mysterious box buried on Big Island, a wealthy eccentric aunt with a curious will murdered in her bed (with a knitting needle!), a woman adopted as an infant in 1959 searching for her birth family, and a houseful of unusual and valuable antiques.

One of the more important clues is an embroidered map, which is hidden for years as a backing for a knitted pillow and found mildewed and rotting in an old stored boat. Ferris, as usual, has created some interesting characters: Betsy Devonshire, the owner of the needlework store Crewel World, and her customers and their families, and of course, the local police.

Godwin is teaching a class on knitting socks when a newcomer to the class, Lucille Jones, a visitor from Texas, causes a stir. She is the spitting image of Jan Henderson, a woman born and raised in Excelsior. It turns out that Lucille is searching for her birth family, but it seems that none of Jan's relatives could possibly be a parent. Then Jan discovers her great aunt Edyth dead in bed--and she and her mother Susan are in line to inherit a fortune.

Did Lucille and her husband Bobbie Lee come from Texas to get in on the inheritance? Did Jan's Uncle Stewart, not mentioned in the will, rush things along? Will he manage to get his hands on some of Aunt Edyth's money or possessions to finance yet another of his crazy business schemes?

The setting of Minnesota landmarks of Excelsior and Lake Minnetonka is also a major part of the story.

Armchair Interviews says: Perfect summer reading.