The first book in a new cozy series is always a gamble if I will like it or not. The book Seams Like Murder is a great start in the new series A Sewing Studio Mystery.
Abbey Chandler is the main character in the series. Abbey lost her job so she decides to go and visit her aunt Sarah who owns Sarah’s Sweet Bakery in the town of Hideaway Grove.
A hit and run puts Abbey at the top of the police chief’s list of who was responsible for it. This sets Abbey out to get to the truth!
This was a fun cozy mystery and a wonderful first book in the series. I am looking forward to the next book.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC. This is my personal review.

I love cozies and this was a good start to a new series! The characters were entertaining and the storyline was interesting. I can’t wait to read the next in the series!

A nice start to a new series. Pleasant variety of characters. A hint of romance. Clever mystery to solve. Clues are there, so one is happy to solve this one before it becomes obvious to the protagonist. Nice to be right once in a while. I look forward to reading the next one when I am in the mood for a cozy mystery. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Seams Like Murder by Dorothy Howell is the debut of A Sewing Studio Mystery series. I found the story easy to read. While we get to know some details about our main character, I felt the others lacked development. The story is told in the first person which has readers privy to all of Abbey’s thoughts (the job in LA, bakery smells good, when will she get her car back, and the hunky deputy sheriff is so cute). The pacing of the story picks up late in the second half when Abbey begins questioning people. The whodunit was straightforward. A woman is run over in an alley. Sheriff Grumman believes it is an accident despite the statement from the eyewitness. He does believe her when she tells him it was a white car which has him focusing on Abbey’s car. I found this baffling since she was new to town, did not know the victim, and was inside the bakery at the time of the incident. The rude and idiotic Sheriff Grumman then impounds Abbey’s car without a warrant (I know it is fiction but come on). Identifying the killer is a cinch. There might as well as been a neon arrow with killer on it pointing at the person. The why was easy to deduce. Abbey went around asking questions. All the pieces come together for Abbey in the end. I did feel there was a little too much romance. I wish the author had let Abbey and Zach (the deputy sheriff) become friends and then as the series progresses work towards romance. Instead, Abbey finds him attractive, her heart beats faster at the sight of him, his touch sends zings through her system, and so on. There is some repetition as well as some mild foul language. There was a lot of focus on pillowcase dresses which were being made for children in Africa (Little Dresses for Africa). It was interesting learning about the cause and how the dresses are assembled. There are instructions and tips at the end of the book. Seams Like Murder is a crafty cozy with a plowed down librarian, a disagreeable sheriff, scrumptious cookies, a sewing studio, a confiscated car, a striking deputy sheriff, darling dresses, and a fun festival.

Things are not going well for Abbey but she hopes an impromptu visit to see her aunt will help her figure out what to do next. However, a questionable hit and run accident behind her aunt's bakery causes the sheriff to be suspicious of Abbey and it appears the deputy is always lurking in the shadows. Now it seems like Abbey might have even bigger problems.

This was an entertaining mystery with relatable characters and just an innuendo of romance. There are so many ways this story could go and I look forward to seeing what the author does with the second book in the Sewing Studio Mystery series. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

A nice start to a new cozy series! Abby didn't hit and run Iris, the new librarian but the sheriff thinks she did because her car, which has some damage, is white- the only detail he believes from Earlene who witnessed the event. Abby's newly back in town licking her wounds from a bad career problem and living with her aunt Sarah who owns a bakery. She's determined to find the real killer but she's also determined to help the charity movement that's making pillowcase dresses (I'd never heard of these). It's a classic cozy wrt to the mystery but there are good red herrings. Howell has done a nice job of creating a character to build on as well as a potential romantic interest in Zack. If it's a little unrealistic that someone who has never touched a sewing machine is suddenly turning out all sorts of things, well, go with it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.

Only Earlene saw it--when Iris was hit by the car--but nobody believed it was deliberate. The whole town said Earlene was unreliable and erratic. Only Abbey believed her, but given the attitude of the sheriff, she wasn't talking.

Abbey was in town (where she spent summers in her youth) to visit her Aunt Sarah and Sarah's Sweets bakery. She had nowhere else to go when her life in LA imploded.

Now, in a small town, resting (for a few days) and wondering what to do about her possibly ruined career, Abbey's car has been confiscated by the police (read idiot sheriff) because it's the same color as the hit and run car--white.

This book flows pretty well, but Abbey needs to use the Notes feature in her phone, or a reminder app, because she drops the ball on a whole bunch of things. Just looking at that evidence, she's an airhead, but we know it's not the case. So we must hope the author didn't make her inattentive and forgetful just to suit the story (because I hate that).

Although the title speaks of seams, the first part of the book is about the bakery (cupcakes, brownies, cookies), and it later features basic sewing of pillowcase dresses for little girls in Africa. (Instructions are included.)

I was glad that Abbey didn't immediately fall madly in love with anyone. Refreshing!

3.7/5 Stars

Thanks to Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies, and NetGalley for the temporary ebook preview. Any review is voluntary and entirely my own opinion.

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3.5 stars, rounded up

Her personal life in turmoil, Abbey retreats to Hideaway Grove, where she spent summers with her aunt Sarah. Almost immediately, Abbey becomes a suspect in the hit and run death of the town’s new librarian. Determined to clear her name, and to fill her days while waiting for a resolution to her job crisis, she investigates the librarian’s background and discovers more than she expected to learn.

This is the first book in a new series by a new-to-me author, but the premise caught my attention so I took a chance, and I’m glad I did. It didn’t have a lot of the issues usually found in series introductions, probably because this isn’t the author’s first book. The small town setting reminded me of many other small town settings, with everyone knowing everyone else’s business, but also with a core of good people who are willing to help when necessary.

The core group of characters are likeable, although many of them seem to have secrets waiting to be discovered. I like the way they all look out for each other and don’t hesitate to get involved in a good cause. It seemed a little unrealistic that Abbey, whose early adventures in sewing were pointedly unremarkable, was able to learn how to operate a complicated sewing machine so quickly, but for the sake of the story, that was important. I had never heard of pillowcase dresses before, and was fascinated not only by the idea, but by the apparent popularity of making them for various charities and causes. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if donations to these causes increase following this book’s release.

Although the character ultimately revealed to be the culprit was at the top of my list almost from the moment the person was introduced, the motive didn’t become clear until much later in the story. When I figured that out, I expected more characters to be involved, so I was surprised to learn that wasn’t the case. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Mini Review: I really enjoyed reading this cozy mystery! I liked the cast of characters, the town was nice, and I thought the mystery was well written. Overall, this was a cozy that I would definitely recommend, and I look forward to more books in the series, too!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Seams like Murder by Dorothy Howell is the first book in the A Sewing Studio Mystery series. It follows Abbey Chandler as her life falls apart in Los Angeles, so she moves to Hideway Grove where she spent her childhood with her Aunt Sarah.
Abbey falls under suspicion after there's a hit and run murder that the police think involves a similar car to hers. Her car is impounded and she's stuck in town longer than she expects.
She uses that time to investigate the murder, recconnect to with old friends and volunteer to help sew some dresses for charity.
As time passes, Abbey falls in love with the town again and with her creative pursuits. She also unravels the mystery. A lovely cozy mystery.

This was a very enjoyable and interesting first book in a new series. Abbey Chandler's job in L.A. comes to an unplanned and sticky end and she runs back to a place from her childhood, appropriately named Hideaway Grove. Almost immediately she is in the wrong place at the wrong time when the local librarian dies in a hit and run. Was it an accident or was it murder? Abbey sets out to find out.

What I enjoyed the most was the pillow case dresses which people in the town are making for African missions. Abbey gets very involved in this and I was mystified as to what they must look like. Then I looked properly at the cover and there are a couple hanging up there which are absolutely gorgeous. It was totally new to me but what a great idea!

Of course there are lots of fun townsfolk, a very unpleasant policeman, a much nicer policeman who is the love interest and a mysterious orange cat called Cheddar. The mystery is intriguing and practically unguessable until the end of the book. It was all well written and entertaining and I look forward to a second book.

Thought the book was very charming. It was a quick read. This is a lovely beginning to a cozy series, jumped right into the plot which was really nice no poking around. The characters were very likable. Overall it was a good start to this series. I hope to see more to come.

Seams like Murder by Dorothy Howell is the first book in her A Sewing Studio Mystery series. I enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the next in series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity

Abbey Chandler finds herself at odds after her life completly implodes in Los Angeles. She moves to a quiet place Hideway Grove where she spent happy times with her Aunt Sarah as a child. Once she arrives the librarian is hit by a car and killed. Abbey unfortunatly falls under suspicion of the police and is ordered not to leave town.
While she awaits the outcome of the investigation she joins in to make donated items for a festival and investigates on her own. Soon Abbey is finding red herrings abound and clues she finds suspicious.

A very well crafted mystery with fun charcters. I enjoyed this new debut cozy series.

Seams like Murder by Dorothy Howell is the first book in her A Sewing Studio Mystery series. Abbey Chandler finds herself trying to prove the death of the new librarian in town was murder and not a hit and run accident. Abbey recently returned to Hideaway Grove after her life fell apart in Los Angeles. Abbey had spent summers in Hideaway Grove with her Aunt Sarah. She gets roped into making pillowcase dresses for African missions and soliciting donations for the town's annual arts and crafts festival which cuts into her sleuthing time. Sleuthing that Deputy Zack McKenna is very much discouraging.

What a super beginning to this cozy mystery series. The pacing is just right. The storyline flows well and the characters are very likable. I really enjoyed this whodunit and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Life is not going well for Abbey Chandler. She's been fired from her PR job by a wicked boss and returns to her the town of Hideaway Grove where she spent fun filled summers with her Aunt Sarah who owns a bakery. Abbey hasn't been in town an hour when she becomes involved in the investigation into the death of the likable town librarian. Was it a hit and run accident or calculated cold blooded murder? As the new person in town, Abbey has to find out before she's thrown in jail or into the sights of a killer!

I really enjoyed meeting Abbey and the citizens of Hideaway Grove. It was an accurate description of small-town life at its best and worst. it was fun to see a cozy character solve a mystery and find a new life, doing something she never thought she could do. Just a clue - if you've ever had a home ec sewing project, you'll relate to Abbey and like her even more! The book is fast-paced with twists and turns that will keep you reading. The supporting characters are well-written and have secrets of their own. I can't wait to read the next book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the expressed in this review are my own.

This book caught my eye as I was looking for something light and fun to read and I thought a cozy mystery would be just right. The book has a cute cover and is the first in a new series.

Abby Chandler was living in Los Angeles and it seemed like everything in her life was falling apart. She packed up and went to her aunt's home in Hideaway Grove, the place she had spent her childhood summers. Soon after she arrived the town's librarian was hit by a car and died. The driver didn't stop and the circumstances were somewhat suspicious as a witness is convinced this was not an accident. Through circumstance Abbey comes under suspicion by the local Sheriff and her car is taken as it has a suspicious dent in the fender. Abbey is stranded at her aunt's house. While she is staying there, she becomes involved in some of the town's activities, takes up a new hobby, and resolves to find the librarian's murderer.

This was just what I was looking for and I enjoyed this mystery. There were a number of suspects and I wasn't sure who the culprit was until near the end. This is a short, easy read I would recommend to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

Thanks to Kensington Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on September 27, 2022.

I thought this book was charming. It was fast paced, I don't think I've encountered a book that jumps right into the plot point at the start, it was very well done. I couldn't get down with the cop though, but I think that was the point! Any time he came up I was like "here we go with some more BS." Other than HIM.. I did enjoy this mystery - it was plenty of twists and turns to make me question the suspect list so many times. I am excited to see how the series continues!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

As a first book in a new series, I found it to be a quick, easy read. The plot was ok, but I am hoping for something stronger is a future installment,

This was an easy read, cute Cozy Mystery. Abbey has had some professional and personal setbacks and comes back to her aunt’s home in Hideaway Cove. This is where she had all her favorite childhood memories and she needs to find herself again. Of course on the first day she is in town she witnesses a deadly hit and run, and the only other witness has fled town. The sheriff is suspicious of Abbey, and seems there aren’t a lot of suspects. So naturally Abbey decides to do her own sleuthing and figure out who would want to hurt sweet, elderly Iris.
Great book, I truly enjoyed .
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love cozy mysteries but this new one didn’t capture me like others do. I think I didn’t get enough backstory of the main character early on like a lot of books give so I didn’t connect with her as the book went on.