Monica Ferris, Embroidered Truths

Monica Ferris, Embroidered Truths - In Excelsior, Minnesota, Betsy Devonshire wonders where her best friend and shop manager of her needlecraft store Crewel World, Godwin "Goddy" DuLac, is as he is never this late. Goddy eventually shows up unshaven and wearing yesterday's clothing. His wealthy lover John Nye tossed him out of the house. Betsy helps Goddy cope with his personal crisis though being dumped is a recurring theme. The two men make up when Goddy takes his lover to Mexico for fun and sun although he maxed his credit to the limit and a shade beyond that.

Not long afterward, John throws Goddy out again. Quite depressed, he moves in with Betsy, but this time there is no reconciliation. Someone murders John with Excelsior Police Sergeant Mike Malloy arresting the deceased's former lover, who had the means, the opportunity, and the motive. Betsy knows Goddy could not hurt a fly so she investigates who actually killed John.

A stitch in time saves nine seems apropos as Betsy puts aside her needlepoint to prove Goddy is innocent, risking her life to do so. The storyline is fast-paced with several cross stitch twists that will please amateur sleuth fans. Though the murder comes towards the middle of the tale, fans will understand the need to display indirectly the relationship between the gay couple as one becomes the victim and the other the prime suspect. Monica Ferris stitches together such a fine who-done-it that her readers will appreciate it and newcomers will seek the CREWEL WORLD backlist.

Berkley, Jun 2005, $23.95, 288 pp.

ISBN: 0425203018

Harriet Klausner