Well-crafted characters and a great storyline make - A Bias for Murder - a must-read.

This cozy mystery will keep you guessing until the very end.

A Bias for Murder is the third book in the series but my first. I thought it worked well without reading the first two. It's a charming, fun and entertaining cozy mystery with a wonderful setting and likable characters.

When a beloved local resident Oliver Harrison is found dead of a heart attack, his not-so-beloved twin sister Adele comes to town to claim the family home. Tempers soon flare when she announces her plan to turn it into a B&B and when police find out that Oliver was poisoned, all eyes turn directly to Adele. Other suspects soon emerge, though, including a local developer who has his own plans for the house. When a fire breaks out and another death occurs, Po and her Queen Bees decide to find out exactly what's going on in their little town...

Sally Goldenbaum has created a wonderful world with an amazing group of characters. Despite not knowing a thing about quilting personally, I find myself sinking into tale with delight. I ultimately had the killer figured out pretty quickly in this one, but the author tosses out her clues with a careful deliberation that make me question my choice several times. Looking forward to reading book #4!

This is the third book in the series but my first book. The plot was well-developed and well-plotted. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing whodunit. The characters are likable and relatable.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

A Bias for Murder is the third installment in the Queen Bees Quilt Shop series set in the community of Crestwood and featuring Po Paltrow and her group of quilters. Oliver Harrington is a beloved member of Crestwood and although many don't know him well, they do know that he had a fascination for the stars and planets and was a familiar face on the college campus. Sadly, Ollie passes away early on in the book with signs pointing to a heart attack. Shortly after his death his twin sister Adele arrives in town for the first time in years and begins an immediate renovation on the families mansion which angers the neighbors. Also, information comes to light that there were quite a few people including the college and a local developer that were anxious to get their hands on the Harrington property - so was Ollie really a victim of murder? Po and her friends set out to uncover the truth and find themselves in harms way.

I have not read the first two in the series so found myself struggling a little to keep the characters straight (several have names starting with the same letter of the alphabet), and also to really connect with them as I didn't know their individual histories. With that being said I'd strongly recommend reading the series in order. The mystery was well crafted although I did figure out "whodunit" pretty early on. I wish we'd gotten to know Ollie a little better before his death as he seemed like a lovable and interesting fellow. I did enjoy getting to know the abrasive Adele and found myself rooting for her to win over the townspeople.

I received an advanced copy of A Bias for Murder from NetGalley via Lyrical Press. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

I read the first two books in this series and was not very impressed. They didn't appeal to me as much as Goldenbaum's other series, the Seaside Knitters. But, this third book in the quilters series was so much better--very interesting characters, a little more familiarity with the ongoing characters, and a well-crafted mystery storyline. It involves the murder of a young man whose twin sister then shows up and creates all sorts of discord. I still prefer the seaside setting of the other series, but this one is growing on me. Looking forward to #4.

When the town is blanketed in suspicion and murder, it falls to the Crestwood Quilters to uncover a killer in this latest case from Sally Goldenbaum, author of the Seaside Knitters mysteries. Oliver Harrington died from a sudden heart attack at the age of 52 despite being the picture of health. His twin sister, returns to start a B&B in her brother’s home. A developer wants to build many homes on his property. When it is revealed Oliver was poisoned, suspicion falls on his sister. Although I enjoyed this book, it dragged a bit in the middle. The plot could have been developed a bit more. I enjoyed all the characters and it was an interesting read.

I enjoyed reading this book and found it a good story. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. The mystery was interesting and the plot easy to foll I recommend to all cozy mystery lovers.

4.5

In this installment of the Queen bees Quilt shop mystery series, the Crestwood Quilters have been commisioned to make several quilts to be used in the home of a dearly loved, recently deceased friend Oliver Harrington. His twin sister Adele has returned to town to take over Oliver's coveted mansion and turn it into a B&B. When it's determined that Oliver has been murdered, Po and the other Crestood Quilters are determined to find out who did the evil deed.

Oh how I love spending time with the Crestwood Quilters. All women of varied ages, backgrounds and marital status, they work together to support each other and their town. Po usually takes the lead in solving the murder mysteries, but the other ladies are involved in one way or the other. I find these stories to be very smartly written and I enjoy watching the quilters piece together their clues, just like they would a quilt! This series is highly entertaining.

My thanks to kensington Books and Netgalley.

A Bias for Murder is the third novel in A Queen Bees Quilt Shop Mystery series which I recommend reading in order. It will allow you to become familiar with the characters (they can be hard to keep straight) and their relationships. I thought A Bias for Murder was easy to read with heartwarming characters, charming small town, and beautiful quilts. Po Paltrow has a proven track record in solving crimes. Po along with the other ladies in the Crestwood Quilters have the necessary connections to get the information they need. The group is also busy working on eight quilt tops for Adele’s new bed and breakfast including a special quilt for Oliver’s former bedroom. The mystery is straightforward. There are multiple suspects and direct clues. The killer can be identified very early in the story and the reason why is equally apparent (unfortunately). I liked that there were a series of incidents that provided action to keep the book moving forward. I loved the quilt descriptions and comradery between the quilters. They are a close knit group of women who get together to quilt, solve crimes, enjoy good food, and so much more. There are plenty of lovely cozy moments in this character driven book. A Bias for Murder is a heartwarming cozy mystery perfect for a rainy afternoon or an afternoon relaxing poolside. A Bias for Murder has a greedy developer, a publishing professor, an offensive sister, a magnificent mansion, striking quilts, and seven sewing sleuths.

I am a fan of Sally Goldenbaum. Her cozy mysteries never disappoint me. This book is well written and the charaters come to life like old friends. The mystery is satisfying and I eagerly await more in the series.

I really like this author and was excited to learn she would be having a new series. I liked this book very much. She does such a good job in describing the surroundings and really goes in depth with the characters. By the end of the book I felt like they were my friends. I think this is going to be another hit series for Ms. Goldenbaum and I am glad.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 3 in the series.

This book seems to have clicked for me. I liked it much more than the previous books, maybe because Po seems to have taken the lead a bit more. That said, there are soooo many characters that sometimes I have to stop and try to figure out who is who. That takes me out of the story a bit. Maybe they'll eventually all find their places in my head in future books.

The story was good and I enjoyed it, but I admit that I figured out who killed Oliver fairly early on.

It was fun coming back to the Crestwood Quilters. This book had a bit slower pace than the two others, but it's not a bad thing really. I love the camaraderie of the quilters and their friends and I wouldn't mind eating a Sunday dinner at Po's place. The plot itself was interesting and it kept me guessing for a little while due to the twists and red herrings.

The quilters got a large commission in this book when the twin sister of a recently murdered beloved local scholar arrived in town. She didn't leave the best impression on people and shocked the town when she announced that she was opening a B&B in her family's mansion. The Queen Bee Quilt Shop quilters were happy to take on the task of making eight quilts to go in eight of the rooms of the B&B. In the meantime, a killer was lurking out there someplace, and Po & Crew knew that they'd be investigating.

Somehow this book seemed to move a lot slower than the previous two. The story was good, and we got the usual camaraderie of the ladies and their friends. I always love it when Po has Sunday dinner at her house for her friends. It give them a chance to talk about the case and pick any brains, but PJ wasn't even working the case this time which seemed a little odd. All in all, I did like it and the showdown was exciting. As it turned out, the town had a couple of new people to call friends. Now I'm wondering if the original fourth book in this series is going to be redone. I know this author's name isn't on it, and I'm not sure if the name Marnette Falley is a pen name for her or not. I at least have a copy of the original fourth book called "Dog-Gone Murder", so I intend to read it and see if any closure was brought to this series that ended. I have two couples in mind that I would like to see happily ever afters for! ;)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

When Oliver Harrington II, despite being perfectly healthy, dies of an unexpected heart attack, the whole town in thrown into an uproar trying to figure out who would hurt such a sweet man. Having kept to himself most of his life, it's up to the quilting group to try and piece together the little clues they have. Adele returning to town after her brother's death, doesn't make the job any easier. Once again, Po and the quilting group do their best to bring peace back.

This is the third book and I must say that I've just enjoyed each one more than the one before! Ms. Goldenbaum really has come up with the most enjoyable cast of characters. They're all so interesting and I love each one's time on page. Po, who takes most of the lead, is my favorite. She has such a sweet and honest way of looking at the world, and as I've said in previous reviews of these books, a maturity that I find to be such a breath of fresh air.

Being a quilter myself, I love the way she describes the patterns, the process, and the finished quilts. It's so fun to picture these gorgeous pieces, I could almost reach out and touch them. However they never bog down the story and I strongly believe even non-quilters will still find this a most enjoyable read.

As for the mystery itself, I had an idea of who might be the killer pretty early on, but frequently doubted myself because of the many twists and turns the clues seemed to take me on. I devoured this book quickly, eager to find out the truth, but regretful when it ended that I had to leave.

Overall, a great addition to the series, and if you haven't started them yet, pick up them all up and you'll have a wonderful time.

Warnings:
Cozy mystery standard murder on par with Murder She Wrote level violence

Thank you to Netgalley for a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review!

An interesting cozy with just the right amount of the builder's quilting and trying to keep supposition at bay. Lots of changes are happening in town and not all of them good

Though this is the third book in the Queen Bee Quilt Shop series it can easily be read as a stand alone. When Oliver (Ollie) Harrington, liked by just about everybody in the small town of Crestwood, dies at the young age of 52, it is declared an accident caused by a heart attack. Not so fast - further investigation reveals that Ollie was poisoned. Before his body has a chance to cool, his twin sister, Adele, shows up and takes over his grand house, declaring that she is intent on turning it into a bed and breakfast. With that plan in motion, she hires the Crestwood Quilters to create a quilt for each of the 12 guest rooms. Her plans hit the skids when other people start to lay claim to the home and grounds, each claiming that Ollie had promised his estate to them. One wants the vast library of astronomy papers from his teaching, his passion. Another is a land developer claiming the estate is rightfully his and he has grand plans - to divide the land into many homes. More than one person is lying and the Crestwood Quilters start their own investigation when Ollie's twin sister, not the easiest person to like, is the focus of the homicide investigation. More than one death has occurred and soon there is also a fire to deal with.
The combined brains of the Crestwood Quilters, led by Portia (Po), will find out who the killer is and keep Adele out of jail. They are certain she is innocent and there is a killer in their midst. Again.
I have enjoyed everything about this mystery series, Each book is a well crafted puzzle with twists, turns and red herrings that every mystery must have. All in all it's a great escape.
My thanks to the publisher Lyrical Underground and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The town of Crestwood is reeling over the death of Oliver “Ollie” Harrington. Unfortunately, Ollie’s death also leaves quite a few people claiming he had made promises to them over the years regarding the disbursement of his estate and wealth. Meanwhile, Ollie’s twin sister, Adele Harrington, moves in immediately and ruffles feathers, both with her seemingly icy demeanor and her plans for the estate. Who poisoned Ollie? The Crestwood Quilters are determined to regain peace in their small town, even if it means finding another murderer.

I love how quilts continue to play such a central role in the <i>Queen Bees Quilt Shop</i> series! Adele commissions the Crestwood Quilters to create quilts for the bed and breakfast she intends to open at the Harrington estate. Sally Goldenbaum magnificently shows us the art of quilting and the care that is taken in carefully selecting and piecing together such beautiful works of art.

A BIAS FOR MURDER is the third book in the <i>Queen Bees Quilt Shop</i> series and can be read as a standalone. Sally Goldenbaum helpfully provides new readers a list of the main characters with a short description of each one. The relationships between the quilters is part of the enjoyment of the <i>Queen Bees Quilt Shop</i> series and I suspect new readers will want to read the two earlier books to get to know the characters even better. A BIAS FOR MURDER is yet another charming crafty cozy mystery that is sure to delight readers!

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

When their town is blanketed in suspicion and murder, it falls to the Crestwood Quilters to uncover a killer in this latest case from Sally Goldenbaum, the national bestselling author of the Seaside Knitters mysteries . . . Oliver Harrington II was one of the most beloved members of Crestwood's community. Despite being the picture of health at age 52, he died from a sudden heart attack, leaving behind the family mansion on a sprawling piece of property. His twin sister Adele returned to the town she despises to claim her brother's home, intent on turning it into a B&B. And she's hired Po Paltrow and the Crestwood Quilters to craft quilts for the guest rooms.

But Adele is not the only one interested in the future of the Harrington estate. A developer wants to put multiple houses on the land. The townsfolk just want their neighborhood to retain its small-town charm and not become a tourist trap. But when an autopsy reveals that Oliver was actually poisoned, suspicion falls on his sister. Po doesn't believe Adele is guilty, leaving her determined to discover who else harbored deadly designs on the Harrington home . . .

This was a quick, interesting read.