Dangerous Alterations by Elizabeth Lynn Casey is the fifth book in the “Southern Sewing Circle” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin), November 2011

Yankee librarian Tori Sinclair has finally found a place to call home, thanks to the Sweet Briar Ladies Society sewing circle. But when her past comes back to haunt her, will her tight-knit group of friends be able to keep her safe?

When Tori accompanies the circle’s feisty matriarch to the local health clinic, the last person she expects to run into is her ex-fiance’s great-aunt. And the old woman is so shocked at seeing Tori that she promptly has a heart attack and dies. Now Tori’s philandering ex, Jeff—the man she’s vowed to steer clear of—has shown up in Sweet Briar, insinuating he’s ready for another shot with Tori.

Then Jeff turns up dead, apparently from a heart attack as well. Except the police chief believes it was murder—and that Tori may have been involved. Now she must rely on her ladies from the sewing circle to help her piece together the clues while she keeps her life from coming apart at the seams.

This series keeps getting better with each book that is published. When Tori’s ex arrives in Sweet Briar for his aunt’s death and days later dies unexpectedly, feeling that something is amiss, Tori looks into who wanted Jeff dead and why. What a great read! There are no words to describe how this book makes me feel when I read the last word and have to close the book. It’s like I’m going to miss the comforts of my friends until I see them later. What continues to bring me back to this series is the warm relationship that Tori have with the ladies of her sewing circle who have become her family. The mystery was enjoyable as the author pointed us in several directions before the killer was revealed. This is the best one yet in this charmingly wonderful and delightful series and I hunger for the next chapter in the lives of Tori and her friends.

Elizabeth Lynn Casey is the pseudonym of Laura Bradford.