Another great read by Ms.Lee. ( )

I figured out whodunnit about 30 pages from the end; what a great read! ( )

Better Off Thread is the tenth book in the An Embroidery Mystery series.

I really enjoy this series. A wonderful cast of well-developed characters in a well plotted story. The stories easily flow from one page to the next. And Angus, Marcy’s Irish Wolfhound, is a great store mascot and provides a calming effect to just about everyone he comes in contact with.

Moe, a long time friend of Marcy and her boyfriend Ted has asked Marcy to dress as an elf and help him celebrate the Christmas with the children at the local hospital. As Marcy was arriving for the first program, Marcy hears Moe in an argument with the hospital’s administrator, Sandra Vincent. Vincent wants Moe to give extra attention to the son of Dr. Carstairs , a member of the hospital’s board. He refuses and tells her to get another Santa. Then, as Marcy arrives to get ready for the next meeting with Santa, she learns that Moe had found Vincent, stabbed to death on the sleigh in Santa’s area.

Marcy is confident that Moe is not responsible for stabbing and sets off to find out who might have. She soon learns that Vincent has not been the administrator for very long and begins to look into those that were also up for the position. One of those is Carrie, the head of the pediatric floor and the other is Melanie Carstairs, wife of Dr. Carstairs. Also in her sights is John Martin, a local contractor who has a history of violence, He also has been banned from doing any work at the hospital and has also been stalking Marcy.

Marcy has help from her boyfriend Ted, who is not on the case as it in a different jurisdiction, Ted’s mother, Veronica, and most the others from previous books.
This series has a wonderful cast of believable characters who work well with each other and always have Marcy’s back.

So looking forward to the next book in the series. ( )

I have read quite a few cozy mysteries lately . This book is probably one of the best I've read in awhile. The characters are extremely well developed and the mystery is one I found to be so skillfully written , I couldn't put the book down. The book has a lot of characters, but the author does a great job of introducing them with ease. They each play a pivotal part in the storyline and make the story interesting.

I loved the shop that Marcy owns. It's called the Seven-Year Stitch and is a perfect setting for a small town store. The details of the shop were so perfectly described I could see the needlework as Marcy worked on it. I loved how the author showed how much Marcy loved her job and was always willing to sit with customers and show them how to do a particular stitch. It's funny how the story kept reminding me of my mom. She loved to crochet, do embroidery and make beautiful things from a needle and thread. I was so captivated by the store and how Marcy was truely gifted.

Marcy's side kick was such a nice treat to be introduced to. Angus the Irish Wolfhound was at the center of the story and I found him to be adorable, fierce and very protective . He is a perfect fit for Marcy as he keeps her company at the shop. Her boyfriend Ted , a detective is smart, loveable and has deep feelings for Marcy. They are funny at times and he has such a cute nickname for her. I can't wait for you to find out her nickname cause it is so fitting for her.

Now Marcy has been asked to do a huge favor for her friend . He needs her to dress like an elf and help hand out candy and coloring books while he talks to children. . Santa must hsve his elf to help and who better then Marcy. I can picture her in her little costume all cute and happy. Well her happiness doesn't last long, when her Santa finds a body in the room where the children were to meet Santa. The story really picks up with many suspects and a trio of ladies who are bent on solving the crime. Marcy is determined to clear her friends name and she puts herself in danger on more than one occasion. Marcy just can't let things go and finds herself making enemies fast.

The author does talk about organ donors and sick children with great compassion and I appreciate that she brought these subjects into the story. Christmas time is suppose to be cheery and a time to spend with family. I loved how the author brought Marty together with several families who were dealing with very ill family members. Marty has a real gift to make people feel at ease and special. The story is full of little twists and surprises. Will Marty help solve the crime and help set her friend free from prosecution? Will it be a Merry Christmas in the town? Make sure you don't miss this Christmas cozy that will give you a smile, laugh and appreciate the love of family and friends.

I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tour. The review was my own opinion and I was not compensated for it. ( )