I have a little talent that has proved itself useful over the years. I don’t need an alarm clock. Before I fall asleep, I picture a clock in my head with the hands set to the time I want to wake up. And I wake up within five minutes or less of that time. It doesn’t matter that I’m in a different time zone or that we’re going off or on daylight savings time, I will wake up at the time I set. Maybe I’m like Peter Pan’s crocodile and somehow swallowed a clock.
On an ordinary weekday I wake at six, bathe, dress, make breakfast for myself and my lady, annoy the cat Thai, log on to my computer and, if the world hasn’t come to an end, begin the unscheduled portion of my day.
This consists of housework, needlework, shopping, visiting friends, short sight-seeing trips, fishing, skiing, volunteering at a local nursing home, working occasional hours in a needlework shop, and reading history and action novels.
My lady, whose name is Elizabeth but who is called Betsy, owns her own small business, over which, like the Queen of England (of similar name, though I doubt she was ever called Betsy), she lives. It is a needlework shop, focusing mainly on needlepoint and counted cross stitch, with a side aisle devoted to knitting and a corner to crochet. I myself am a knitter – I spent many years at sea and there are long idle hours in that occupation, so taking up a craft that does not occupy a great deal of space or make a big mess is called for. Though I am now retired, I still knit. Fortunately, I am a muscular man with a harsh, weathered face, so no one dares to remark unkindly when they see me working with needles.
I sometimes help out in the shop, because Betsy has a second occupation, of which I secretly strongly disapprove, because it can be damned dangerous. She helps people wrongly accused of a serious crime prove themselves innocent. Often this calls for discovering the actual perpetrator, who very naturally resents her interference. I am clever enough not to try to talk her out of her sleuthing, because I want to continue living with her. So I support her efforts when I can, condole with her when things become difficult, and soothe her troubled spirit when it turns out that the culprit is someone she came to like.
Her latest adventure involved a local man injured when a tree fell on his house during a violent storm. When rescue crews broke in to save him, they discovered his house was full to the rafters with an astonishing mix of trash and treasure. A cousin drove all the way from Indiana to help care for him and organize a clean-up. While he was still in the hospital someone entered his room and smothered him with a pillow. The police, of course, suspected his cousin, who was seriously in need of the money she would inherit from the sale of his property. Betsy, bless her heart, set out to prove her innocent.
I would like to marry Betsy, but she is twice divorced and so does not trust her judgement of the male sex. I think she’s a terrific judge of character – how else could she so successfully investigate her cases? – but dare not press my cause too strongly for the reason given above: I want to continue to live with her. I am beginning to see how the characters in a romance novel come to live such tangled lives. I hope ours comes to as happy an ending as they do.
You can read more about Connor in Darned If You Do, the 18th book in the “Series” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Crewel World.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 p.m. eastern on February 27 for the chance to win an autographed copy of Darned If You Do. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
About the author
Mary Monica Pulver sold her first short story to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine in 1983. Her first novel, Murder at the War, appeared from St. Martin’s Press in 1987. Four in that series followed. In 1992, the first of six medieval Tales, written in collaboration with Gail Frazer as Margaret Frazer, appeared, and was nominated for an Edgar. In 1998, writing as Monica Ferris, she began writing a new series for Berkley featuring a needleworking sleuth named Betsy Devonshire.
To learn more, go to Monica-Ferris.com.
I thoroughly enjoy this series and am looking forward to Betsy’s latest adventure!
This sounds like an interesting story. I don’t usually need an alarm clock but I never thought of myself like Capt. Hook!
Darned If You Do sounds like a great book. I will check out the books in the series. Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
It would be very exciting to win Darned if You do! Thanks for the opportunity to participate.
I especially like this series because I can recognize places in my home state of Minnesota. Betsy seems like a friend.
Another great series. I always love that picture. Congrats on the new one.
Sounds fascinating…and very different…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
This series of mysteries is my absolute favorite. I always learn something fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book, Darned If You Do. It’s remarkable this is the 18th book already as I remember when the author joined the RCTN newsgroup years ago as part of her research for Crewel World. I’m very glad to know there are more books to come.
What a delightful romp. I love this set up of the shop & sideline muder solving the title Darned if you do was one of my mother’s favorite expressions. Thanks for the chance @ the giveaway.
I already have this author on my t-b-r list. Now I must put at least one of her books on top.
Connor sounds like the perfect mate for a sleuth.
Thank you for sharing. Sounds like a great book
I haven’t read any stories in this series but this sounds fantastic! Would love to win this one Thanks Dru!
thank you for the chance to win a great book 🙂
This sounds like a great book! I can’t get up with an alarm clock~
Thank you for a great contest!
I’ve been reading this series and love it. Can’t wait for the next installment in Betsy’s life
I love this series. Would be delighted to own this one!
Very enjoyable series and I would love to win a book.
This is one of my favorite series. After so many books in the series, the main character Betsy continues to grow. I don’t ever want this series to end.
I’ve seen this book recently and thought it would be a fun read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Great series. Thank you for the giveaway.
Love crafting books.
A murdered horder. Interesting concept.
ANOTHER series I can’t wait to get back to!!!!
How does a store owner who sells needlecrafts become a sleuth? If I win a copy of this book, perhaps I will find out the answer to it. Thanks for the chance.
Sounds like a great read!
A great series. Thanks for this feature and giveaway.
I’d like to read and see how this relationship develops—-should be interesting.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Great giveaway!
I love this series! Betsy’s character (and her sleuthing) gets better with each new book in the series! servedogmom@yahoo.com
I have not read any books in the series yet, but look forward to reading them all. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I have quite a few of books from this series in my TBR pile….
Thank you for the giveaway….
Great point of view! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love this series and need to catch up. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Darned If You Do.
This sounds really good. I would love to read this.
I haven’t read this series. It sounds like a good one! Thank you!
Sounds like a good series–looking forward to this.
Love this series and look forward to reading this book.
I really enjoy this series! I’m looking forward to reading the newest book. Thanks for the chance to win!
I have several Monica Ferris books and would love to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Thanks for the giveaway. Would love to win this for my mom because she loves this series!
The author in the magnificent purple hat sure got my attention. Then I just realized I have a couple of her books TBR. But I’d love to have this one in my collection too.
I just started reading the Needlecraft mysteries series, and I love them! Can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
This book sounds really good. I love the cover. Thanks for having the giveaway.
contest is closed.