Death Among the Doilies by Mollie Cox Bryan is the first book in the NEW “Cora Crafts” mystery series. Publisher: Kensington, August 2016

For thirty-something blogger Cora Chevalier, small-town Indigo Gap, North Carolina, seems like the perfect place to reinvent her life. Shedding a stressful past as a counselor for a women’s shelter, Cora is pouring all her talents—and most of her savings—into a craft retreat business, with help from close pal and resident potter Jane Starr. Between transforming her Victorian estate into a crafter’s paradise and babysitting Jane’s daughter, the new entrepreneur has no time for distractions. Especially rumors about the murder of a local school librarian . . .

But when Jane’s fingerprints match those found at the grisly crime scene, Cora not only worries about her friend, but her own reputation. With angry townsfolk eager for justice and both Jane’s innocence and the retreat at risk, she must rely on her creative chops to unlace the truth behind the beloved librarian’s disturbing demise. Because if the killer’s patterns aren’t pinned, Cora’s handiwork could end up in stitches . . .

I like this one. When Cora’s BFF and partner becomes a prime suspect in a recent murder, there’s nothing left for Cora to do but clear her friend’s name while saving the craft retreat business she just started.

This begins a wonderfully crafted mystery where the narrative gave me insights into how this intriguing drama was going to play out. The author did an excellent job in setting this up by leading me one way and then changing the directions with several twists and turns that kept the story moving to a level that not only enhanced the telling of this tale, but had me enthralled in all that was happening with the murders, the theft and the vandalism. Are they connected? It’s a tangled weave of emotions that encapsulates how this will all ends. I loved how Cora took her role as an amateur sleuth one step further by working with the police instead of going off her own.

With great character development, engaging dialogue and a comfortable tone, this is a delightfully charming addition to the cozy mystery genre and I look forward to the next adventures in Indigo Gap with Cora and her friends.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from publisher via NetGalley.