This entry includes the mystery books whose authors include some type of needlework as a theme:
Barbara Bretton: Chloe Hobbs' Paranormal Mystery Series… Chloe is one half sorceress and owns the Sticks & Strings Knitting Shop in Vermont…
Anne Canadeo: Black Sheep Knitting Mystery Series… Maggie Messina owns the Black Sheep Knitting Shop in Massachusetts. (Canadeo co-authors the Cape Light Series with Thomas Kinkade.)
Elizabeth Lynn Casey (aka Laura Bradford): Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series… Tori Sinclair is a librarian/sleuth who is also a member of the Sewing Circle in South Carolina…
Monica Ferris writes the Needlecraft Mystery Series. Betsy Devonshire inherits the Crewel World needlework/yarn shop. Not only does she have to learn about needlework from the ground up, she also has to solve mysteries. I love that Ferris's books are usually stocked in needlepoint shops where needle-pointers can be introduced to cozy mysteries!
Sally Goldenbaum has the Seaside Knitters Mystery Series, in which Izzy Chambers owns the Seaside Knitting Studio in Massachusetts… where she not only sells beautiful yarn… but also sleuths.
Betty Hechtman writes the Crochet Mystery Series, and is herself hooked on Crocheting. And, for those crocheters out there… She even includes a crochet pattern in each of her mysteries!
Mary Kruger is another author who sets her cozy mystery series amongst the world of deeply hued yarns…. Ari Evans owns the Ariadne's Web knitting shop in this cozy series.
Amanda Lee (aka Ruth Glick & Rebecca York) writes the Embroidery Mystery Series which takes place in Oregon, and features the owner of the embroidery shop. As Glick she writes cookbooks, specializing in cuisine for Diabetics. As York she writes the paranormal Moon Series.
Does the House of Lambspun sound like a yarn shop to you? It should! It is the name of the shop where Maggie Sefton's cozy mystery sleuth (Kelly Flynn) learns how to knit.
One of the site's readers (a very helpful librarian, Janet) told me about a new cozy mystery series that should be out pretty soon: Betty Hechtman's new series will be a cozy crochet mystery. "Hooked on Murder" is the title of the first book in the series.
And, as Janet reminded me…. Miss Marple knits!
I recently added Debbie Macomber to the site, even though she doesn't write mysteries. She writes the Blossom Street Knitting Series…
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
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Just a note. In the Maggie Sefton knitting series with Kelly Flynn, the name of the yarn shop is the “House of Lambspun” and not the “House of Homespun” as listed above. (Just in the middle of the latest one “Needled to Death” and thought that I’d send that correction)
Nancy,
Thanks so much for pointing that out. I don’t know how I made that mistake!
You may want to add Sally Goldenbaum to your cozy knitter mysteries list. She’s just had published Death by Cashmere, a new series set in New England.
Thank you, Cookie, for reminding me about Sally Goldenbaum! (I don’t know how I missed annotating her new series’ knitting theme when I added it to her page.”
Thanks, again…
What has happened to Mary Kruger if anyone knows?
Thanks
The last book I posted for Mary Kruger’s Knitting Mystery Series was published in 2007, but it looks like her previous one was published two years earlier… so maybe she will be putting a new book out soon.
Any idea if there’s a cross stitch mystery series? Always thought it would be neat to have a cross stitch series with patterns.
Hi Rochelle,
As a cross stitcher >>> I think that would be a phenomenal idea. I don’t know of a series that only features cross stitching. I guess that Monica Ferris is the closest, though, with her needlecraft theme.
Hopefully someone will read your comment and let us know if there is an author who includes cross stitch patterns and a cross stitch theme in his/her mysteries.
The Crossed Stitcher — by Pamela Sue James came out in Feb 2010 for you cross stitchers!
Thanks for telling us, Sheryl. There are a lot of us cross stitchers out there who are always looking for a new Cozy mystery series.
Have you read the book? Is it Cozy?
“Thai Die” by Monica Ferris contains a counted cross stitch pattern.
I am so happy I found this site. I just love sitting down with a “cozy” book, particularly the “rustling leaves in the fall” variety and your site has made it possible to find what I like.
Thank You!!!
Welcome to the site, Roe!
I’m with you >>> I love the seasonal Cozies, also.
Hi,
I am so glad I found your website. I am adding you to my favorites list. I have read Maggie Sefton and Rhys Bowen. Both were fun and cozy reads. I am so glad to find some other authors to add to my collection.
I just found this website. You have created the perfect “Cozy” website. I am a great fan of the needlework cozies (my favorites) and have found a couple of authors I have not heard of. The breakdown by author, topic, etc. is fantastic. This website is a cozy dream come true!
Welcome to the Cozy Mystery site, Elaine. As a fellow needle worker, I also like this particular list. Unfortunately, the more Cozies I read, the less time I spend on my cross stitching!