A Patchwork of Clues
(Queen Bees Quilt Shop #1)
by Sally Goldenbaum

Kindle Edition
Published June 4th 2019 by Lyrical Underground



Goodreads synopsis:
Small-town quilters look for a killer's pattern in this delightful new series by the national bestselling author of the Seaside Knitters mysteries . . . 
 
On her morning jog, Portia Paltrow comes upon the dead body of antiques store owner and college professor Owen Hill, sprawled across the back doorstep of Selma Parker's fabric and quilt shop on Elderberry Road. The site of their Saturday morning quilting bee just became a crime scene. Violent crime is rare in the charming village of Crestwood, Kansas, and rumors are soon circulating of a burglary gone wrong. But who would rob a quilt shop? No, Owen Hill has been murdered.
 
Selma and her assistant manager Susan are understandably at loose ends over the crime. So while the tightly knit covey of quilters—who range from a new mother to a wise octogenarian—work together on a Crystal Pattern quilt for Selma's store's anniversary, they also get busy stitching together a patchwork of clues. But they'd better work fast—before a crafty killer bolts 


***

3 Stars

This is the first book in the Queen Bees Quilt Shop series by Lyrical Underground. It had previously been published as “The Murders on Elderberry Road.” This is an updated and renamed version.

I have to admit that I am the biggest crafty fanatic around, although quilting is not my particular jam. My great aunt is a quilting guru. So, I am not unfamiliar with this world.

There is a lot going on here. LOTS of characters. I had a hard time distinguishing ages between residents since there seemed to be a big gap in the age range. I wasn’t certain who the main character was through most of this. There is lot more small town gossip going on than actual mystery solving here. It was a struggle to wade through it all.

Po was getting a lot of second hand information and being as she is the main character, I think a majority of her clues should come from her own investigation not heresy. Maybe that’s just me and what I like to see in a cozy mystery.

I wasn’t engaged. I didn’t care about solving the mystery of who killed Owen and ran down the lawyer. I hadn’t met them. Didn’t know them. Why would I care? Po barely seemed to care either. I felt a lot of standoffishness between the characters in general as if they all were there not to connect with each other but to do their due diligence and get their check mark for doing a good deed.

The actual “hey we need to solve this mystery” atmosphere didn’t even come into the picture until 66 percent into the novel. Everything before this was just busy work and I wondered if I had learned anything in the previous 65 percent that amounted to more than a hill of beans. I am reading this for the mystery. I got a glance here and there but nothing definite until 66 percent in. So, if you are a person who likes to DNF a book in its early stages, you might want to wait and stick this one out.

Once the story rounded the 80 percent mark, it was off and running. Don ’t give up on this book. The end is worth the trudge through the beginning. What unfolds is a great unveiling of what will happen in future books in the series. I found myself opening to the players at the end and found it a really heartwarming conclusion that tugs at your heartstrings.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I liked this book and found it engrossing and entertaining.
Unfortunately it took so long to start the mystery part that I was started to thinking I was reading women's fiction featuring the relationship of a group of women.
When the mystery part finally started I can say it was good, no plot hole, and it kept me guessing till the end.
I am curious about the next installment to meet againg the likable cast of characters.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

A Patchwork of Clues is a light, entertaining cozy mystery. It is the first book in Sally Goldenbaum’s “Queen Bees Quit Shop” mystery series, and a promising one at that. Po Paltrow, a 60-something widow, is the main viewpoint character. She along with her group of quilters find themselves with a mystery to solve when a beloved college professor is murdered. Goldenbaum does a good job of providing clues and red herrings, and, although I had settled on the culprit early on in the book, the various tangents made me think twice. As with most cozy mysteries, A Patchwork of Clues has a very “down home” vibe, and it is fun meeting and getting to know the town and its inhabitants. The title, too, seems apt as Po and her large group of friends have to work to “patch” together the solution to their friend’s murder.

Although the murder occurs in the first chapter, the mystery doesn’t really get going until halfway through the novel. An inordinate amount of time is devoted to backstory, which, though interesting, detracts from the urgency of the mystery itself. Po, for her part, is an engaging character, and one I’d like to see again. The other quilters (I believe there were seven others) seemed to overwhelm this novel. Although they represented various ages and occupations, there was little real differentiation between them, and I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep up. The novel (and any future novels) would be better served by concentrating on three or four of the quilters and letting the others fade into the background. That said, A Patchwork of Clues was an enjoyable read, and the series has lots of potential.

Note: I received an ARC of A Patchwork of Clues from NetGalley and Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground. The above is my honest review.

Portia “Po” Paltrow is out early when she notices things seem too quiet along the Elderberry Road shops. She follows her instincts and finds the dead body of Owen Hill, board member of the Elderberry Shop Owners Corporation, blocking the open doorway to Selma Parker’s quilt shop. Unfortunately, suspicion is swirling around the small community of Crestwood and it’s up to the quilters who frequent Selma’s shop to uncover who is behind the murder.


Po is a fascinating main character and I love her spunk! She’s the main narrator of the storyline although we meet a plethora of other characters, particularly quilters. It’s difficult in a first novel to fully develop characters and Sally Goldenbaum has quite a few of them. I look forward to getting to know each of the characters better as Kate Simpson, Selma, Susan, Phoebe, and the rest of the quilters are all very different in personalities but extremely loyal to their friends.


A PATCHWORK OF CLUES is the first book in the <i>Queen Bees Quilt Shop</i> mystery series. I love the quilting aspect of the story line, and Sally Goldenbaum incorporates it into almost all aspects of the mystery. I didn’t know much about quilting when I first started reading A PATCHWORK OF CLUES, but Sally Goldenbaum has helped me better understand the intricate work that goes into such beautiful, handmade works of art. I can’t wait to read the next book, A THREAD OF DARKNESS! If you love cozy mysteries and have any interest in quilting, then A PATCHWORK OF CLUES is the perfect mystery for you.

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

“A Patchwork of Clues” is a new murder mystery series which involves a group of quilters who meet at the Queen Bees Quilt Shop. It is an ensemble cast though Portia Paltrow (aka Po), is the central character in many ways. To be honest, I keep thinking of Kung Fu Panda, each time I read her name and it was a bit distracting!

As with most book series which a large group of characters, much of the first book is spent introducing each character and how they relate to one another rather than in the actual whodunnit. The plot of the mystery was interesting but I would have liked it fleshed out a bit more. I expect that future books will give more details.

A murder occurs right outside their favorite store and, for a time, the quilters have to meet at Po’s home. While there, they decide they must solve the murder and remove suspicion from the quilt show owner.

While I am not a quilter, I do a lot of handwork and I can appreciate the description of the quilt projects and the dedication of the quilters. This same dedication moves, logically, to their endeavors in solving the whodunnit.

It promises to be a good series, with interesting plots and even more interesting characters.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

Clever and Cozy Whodunit
This is a wonderful cozy mystery! This is the first in a new series. If the series is anything like this book, it will be great! The story is filled with everything that makes a good cozy. The reveal was quite surprising and worth the wait. I can't wait to read more of this author's work! I received the ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest opinion.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Absolutely fantastic book! As good or better than the Seaside knitters series. You feel like you have stepped right into Po's living room and started to quilt (and talk about murder) with the group. Wonderfully entertaining, well written with fully bloomed characters. Enjoy! 📚

"A Patchwork of Clues" earns 5/5 Colorful Quilt Patches...Engaging Fun!

Sally Goldenbaum has penned quite the complex mosaic of an engaging murder mystery and rich, even quirky, characters with a fun camaraderie that kept me totally engaged. Selma Parker's fabric and quilt shop, the creative center for an eclectic group of women dubbed the Crestwood Quilters, has become a crime scene. The victim's desire to spruce up the business district had led to arguments and hard feelings, but murder? The police are focusing on the crime as a robbery gone wrong, but their suspect is released for lack of evidence. When another incident occurs, the Quilters are sure the police are going in the wrong direction.

With the large group of characters, Sally rightfully chose to use a third-person narrative, and although not my favorite literary perspective, it was well down focusing on the group as a whole. Unlike most first books the murder victim is discovered right off and introductions and connections are creatively done as sirens are heard in the distance. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the town, the shops, and the people along with dialogue that illustrated well the various personalities. I was fascinated by the references to quilting since in my younger days I, too, created three elaborate quilts as wedding gifts and family mementos. Sally mentions details about the Crystal Star pattern the Quilters are using for the special Quilt they are creating as a gift, but I'd love to have more specific directions as a treat or a special recipe for something from one of the Elderberry Road shops. Just saying...

This is a fun mystery about a quilting group that manages some pretty good detecting. There are several possible suspects, but the culprit turns out to be a surprise, even though the explanation was there.

Portia Paltrow (Po) goes on her jog through the alley by the Elderberry shops. She discovers the body of Owen Hill, on the doorstep of Selma Parker's fabric and quilt store. He was a wealthy professor at the college and owner of an antique store on the street. He was killed late during the night after the shopowners meeting the evening before. The quilters usually meet Saturday morning, so Po moves the meeting to her house. The quilt group includes the young Kate, whose mother used to be be best friends with Po, a young woman Phoebe, who has twin babies, Selma of the quilt store and her assistant, Susan, Maggie, who is a veterinarian, and Eleanor, another older woman.

A young policeman, P. J., who went to school with Kate tells the women that they have caught the person who killed Owen. He charged things with Owen's credit card and was wearing his rolex. However, he later tells them that the man's alibi is strong. Shortly, Reverend Gottrey tells the congregation that Owen's wife, Mary, has given Owen's farm to the church.

The shops have hired Wesley Peat to patrol the shops during the evenings. He is a very scary man who is often drunk and ogles Susan, and thus one of the suspects for the quilters. Meanwhile, Kate seems to be seeing P. J. frequently and goes jogging with him. There have been several arguments among the shop keepers, and several are angry with the way Owen has been running the association. His Lawyer, Max, is trying to continue what Owen had started, and also seems to have enemies. The killer could have been any of the shop owners. Then Max is run over by a hit and run.

One night someone leaves out a bottle of Chivas Regal which Wesley has taken. They then open the dumpster and put two hundred dollar bills in it. Wesley is killed as the lid slams on him while trying to reach the money (he was blackmailing the killer). Another suspect killed. The quilters get involved trying to solve the mystery. Kate figures out several things when she visits Susan. Po goes to visit Susan, and suddenly, the killer (who had seen the chart of suspects in the quilt store) arrives with a gun for an exciting ending.

A Patchwork of Clues is the first in a new quilting series. The setting is in Crestwood Kansas and starts out with one of the quilters (Portia or Po) finds the body of an antiques store owner and professor dead on the doorstep of local quilt shop owned by her friend Selma. Initially the group of quilters who are of various ages and backgrounds leave well enough alone until Owen's attorney is run down by a hit and run driver. Now it appears something fishing is going on in their quite town. The ladies jump in and begin investigating. There are multiple ladies doing the sleuthing and a lot of background with this many main characters does slow the story down a bit, however, it lays the foundation for the series. I think this is to be expected in the first of a series as you have to get some background on the town and the cast of characters. I enjoyed this and look forward to the next in this series.

A new series by Sally Goldenbaum? Sign me up! Crestwood, Kansas is similar to the "I must visit there village of Sea Harbor, MA" with a new set of villagers to meet & learn about. Typical in writing style, Ms. Goldenbaum pulls the reader in with a murder & a dear set of friends. I know little of quilting, and did not feel confused while reading the quilting sections. The murderer was a surprise reveal. Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Books for the opportunity to review a delightful new series!

A nice start to a new cozy series featuring Po, a "mature" woman who is both a writer and a quilter. Something is going on in Crestwood, Kansas, which is not a place where one would expect to have one murder much less a murder and an attack. Because this is a set up book for the series, Po, who finds the body of Owen Hill on the doorstep of her friend Selma's shop, will take some time to begin to investigate- and that time is well spent getting to know the member of the quilting group who will form a really good team. You'll recognize each of these women (although they are unique) and enjoy their interplay. I'm not a quilter so I appreciated that Goldenbaum did not assume that the reader was familiar with ins and outs of the craft. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A classic cozy featuring a good heroine and a fun group of women.

I love a mystery that has a crafty theme, "A Patchwork of Clues" is the first book in the Queen Bees Quilt Shop Mystery series by Sally Goldenbaum. This is my first book by this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed it.

The story was a little slow to get started as murder was in first chapter but wasn't till 2/3rds of the way through that they decide to sleuth. (only reason why I gave 3 stars)

But with that said the mystery is interesting and I loved the characters which are well developed. The Queen Bees are a mixed group of eight women of different ages and lives who gather together at a local quilt shop to work on quilting projects. (Made me think of my relative Barbara in Maine who quilts much like this)

There are just enough twists and turns, suspicions to keep you to keep you guessing and second-guessing on whodunnit. I feel like I would still give it a chance as I am interested to see what the future holds for the Queen Bees.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from the Lyrical Underground and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a new series for this author and while I was not sure what to expect, I really liked it. Her characters are so real, almost like your own friends. Her descriptions are awesome, and the story kept me hanging on until the end. I highly recommend this book.

A Patchwork of Clues is the first book in Sally Goldenbaum’s Queen Bees Quilt Shop series. The author did a good job of introducing a diverse group of likable, caring, and giving characters and providing their backstories, which makes for a good foundation for the series, but I felt there was too much background and not enough mystery. The discovery of a murder victim occurs in the first chapter; however, no amateur sleuthing occurs until the last third of the book. That said, I enjoyed reading this well written book. The mystery was interesting, and the reveal came as a surprise.

Portia (Po) Paltrow lives in the small town of Crestwood, Kansas and meets with her quilting group in the back room of the Queen Bee Quilt Shop every week to work on quilts and enjoy catching up with each other. In addition to Po, Kate Simpson (Po’s goddaughter), Maggie Helmers, Eleanor Canterbury, Leah Sarandon, Phoebe Mellon, Selma Parker, and Susan Miller are members of the Crestwood Quilters. The quilters are working on a special quilt for the fiftieth anniversary of Selma’s store. While on her morning jog, Po discovers the body of Owen Hill at the back entrance of Selma Parker’s quilt shop. Owen was a college professor, and he and his wife, Mary, own Windsor House Antique Shop. The police believe it was a burglary gone wrong, and arrest a suspect, but release him when they discover he isn’t the culprit. The group discusses the status of the police investigation, their thoughts about who killed Owen, possible motives, and local gossip, and the fact that they think the police are on the wrong track. When Max Elliott, Owen’s best friend, and Elderberry Shop Owners Corporation’s lawyer and accountant, ends up in a coma after being involved in a deliberate hit and run, Po begins to suspect something is seriously amiss in Crestwood. Phoebe tells everyone that it’s time to get organized and that there has to be a connection between the murder and the hit and run. Po and her quilting friends finally decide to take matters into their own hands and start asking questions and snooping around.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

While out for her morning job, Po discovers a body in the alley behind her friend Selma's store. At first, everyone thinks it was a simple heart attack, but they soon learn that isn't the case. Was it a robbery gone wrong, or was it murder? Po and the other quilters decide to pool their skills and contacts to see if they can figure out exactly what happened.

This is the first book in a new series, and my first book by this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I liked the characters, with a few exceptions, and I think we will get to learn more about a lot of them as the series progresses. I admire their tenacity in resisting the efforts of those who want to 'gentrify' the street that Selma's shop calls home. Upscale isn't always a good thing, especially in small towns, and I would love a chance to browse the quilt shop, the book store, and of course, stop by Marla's for a down-home meal.

The book was a little slow to get started, but I've come to expect that in books that start a new series and introduce an entirely new cast of characters. Once it picked up, though, I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next. There were multiple potential suspects, and I zeroed in on the wrong one! I was surprised during the reveal, but I probably should not have been. I look forward to reading the next book in this series when it comes out later this summer.

Series: Queen Bees Quilt Shop - Book 1
Author: Sally Goldenbaum http://www.sallygoldenbaum.com/
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Hobby/Writer
Publisher: Lyrical Press https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/37562
Page Count: 155

New from Lyrical Press https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Sally Goldenbaum’s first book in her “Queen Bees Quilt Shop Mystery ” series, A Patchwork of Clues is an easy to read, entertaining book with great characters and a wonderful setting.

Portia (Po) is a woman on a mission, she is in the middle of writing a new book about famous strong women in history and their connection with Quilting. She also tries to get out and keep in shape. As an older woman, it isn’t easy to stay fit, busy and happy all at the same time, but she is making it work.

Po’s Quilting group meets every week to create works of art, catch up with each other and spend time with like-minded people. The fact that their age range is very wide, they are close and comfortable with each other and accept each of them for who they are, and who they want to be. All the characters in this book are interesting, the kind of people most of us would like to have as friends. Warm, caring, giving and filled with a sense of purpose, each character adds a facet to the story that makes it worth reading.

The murder on first impression appears unpretentious, however, as the story progresses readers begin to realize that it is far from simple and at its heart is sinister and complicated. The reveal of the killer and the motive are a head-shaking moment that is very believable, even ordinary with just enough unhappiness to make us realize that life can be messy and sad.

Although A Patchwork of Clues is on the slow side, it isn’t uncommon for a first book in a new series, but it certainly could have used more action and less description. The first book sets up the characters, locations, and overall what readers can expect from the sleuth, motives, and murders in future books. Overall, this is a pleasant first book in a new series and I expect it will get better with each new addition.

ARC Provided by Kensington via Netgalley

When a local business owner is found dead at their beloved quilting shop, this eclectic group of women, led by upbeat widow Po, become determined to find out whodunit. This first book in a captivating new mystery series will keep you guessing until the very end & leave you waiting impatiently for book 2!

A Patchwork of Clues is the debut of the Queen Bees Quilt Shop series set in the small town of Crestwood, Kansas and features Portia (Po) Paltrow and her group of quilting ladies. On an early morning jog down Elderberry Road Po discovers the body of antiques owner Owen Hill wedged in the doorway of Selma Parker's quilting shop and the police are quick to claim his murder was an act of burglary gone wrong. But when Owen's lawyer Max Elliott is run down and left for dead Po begins to suspect something dangerous is happening in her charming town.

The book starts off slow with the author giving a detailed background of each of the ladies in the quilting group, but eventually weaves the diversity of each woman into the solid foundation of friendships. A steady plot offers a variety of suspects including members of the Elderberry Road beautification committee, the alcoholic security guard who patrols the shops and several disenchanted spouses.

An interesting cast of characters and a touch of romance offers up the potential for more adventures with Po and her friends.

I received an advanced copy of A Patchwork of Clues from NetGalley via Lyrical Underground. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

In the first chapter, an anxious black cat leads Portia Paltrow (Po) to the dead body of Owen Hill, his foot lodged in the back door of Selma Parker’s quilt shop.

The local police quickly arrest a suspect who was found with Owen’s watch and claims he found it. When the suspect’s story checks out, he is released. And then Owen’s lawyer, Max Elliott is the target of a hit and run, ending up in a coma.
With two community leaders attacked, Po and her quilting friends – Kate, Leah, Phoebe, Eleanor, Maggie, Susan and Selma – start nosing round, asking questions.

Sally Goldenbaum writes a good mystery populated with interesting characters. While the pace in this adventure is a little slow perhaps the action in the next book will be a bit more stimulating.