Abby just arrived in Hideway Grove, where she spent her childhood summer and where she hopes for a new start, when she gets tangled up in a hit-and-run homicide.
This cozy mystery is the first book of the Sewing Studio Mystery series, and I will be on the lookout for the next books. It has plenty of red herrings that keep you guessing, is a good read with great characters and pacing. It also includes a pattern.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A whirlwind introduction to Abby and Hideaway Cove featuring, murder, escape, crafting, baking and more. Very enjoyable and I look forward to visiting this quiet small town again.

A fun and interesting new series that established great characters as well as setting up room to grow in the series. As with any new cozy series, a lot of time was spent establishing the characters and setting, but the murder took up the majority of the book. I suspected the culprit but hadn’t figured out the motive, so I was still satisfied by the ending.

Seams Like Murder
A Sewing Studio Mystery
by Dorothy Howell
Publisher’s Blurb:
From USA Today bestselling author Dorothy Howell, a brand new cozy mystery series featuring twenty-something Abbey Chandler and her fellow sewing circle members in the quaint, touristy town of Hideaway Cove.

Abbey Chandler needs a new start and a place to escape, so Hideaway Grove, where she spent her childhood summers, seems like a perfect choice. Once there, she takes up a rewarding new hobby—but also gets tangled up in a hit-and-run homicide…

Abbey has barely arrived in the quaint, quiet town of Hideaway Grove before things turn from blissful to bloody—as the new librarian is mowed down by a car. The only witness on the scene isn’t much help, aside from handing Abbey the bag of books dropped by the victim. Even worse, the sheriff’s office seizes Abbey’s car because of a suspicious dent in the right front fender.

While she waits for the problem to be sorted out, Abbey is drawn into a charity sewing project—even though she can’t tell a bobbin from a seam ripper. Before she knows it, she’s graduating from pillowcase dresses to aprons, setting up a studio in a back room of her aunt’s bakery, and making plans to participate in the upcoming craft fair.

But through it all, she keeps looking for patterns and possible conflicts in the late librarian’s personal, professional, and romantic life. Then a shocking discovery sends her in a new direction, and as the truth begins to unspool, she’s got a notion about who’s guilty…



My Thoughts
I dabble in sewing, having picked it back up in the last year or so. When I saw the title and description of this book, I was intrigued, and Howell didn’t disappoint. It was fun watching the main character, Abbey Chandler, try to rebuild her life after a possible career ending mistake at her high-pressure job in Los Angeles. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, she finds ways to occupy her time-and taking up sewing is one of those ways. So is solving a murder, but more on that in a bit. Abbey decides to help the community meet its quota of pillowcase dresses, even though she was a disaster in sewing classes in high school. She takes on the challenge and even organizes a community sew-a-thon if you will to complete the pledged number of dresses. She doesn’t stop there; with a little bit of instruction, she makes aprons for her aunt and employee of her aunt’s bakery, and also starts a side-hustle making bags and other items complete with a logo of her own design. All of this while trying to solve a murder and decide what kind of a life she really wants.
And she really needs to solve this murder. The sheriff is certain of Abbey’s guilt and isn’t motivated at looking at other possible suspects. If Abbey wants to clear her name, then it’s up to her to solve the mystery.
I’m ready to read the next one in the series.

Thanks to #Netgalley and for providing a copy of #SeamsLikeMurder

Read a preview
Publishing Information
Kensington Books
288 Pages, 5.50 x 8.25 in
ISBN: 9781496740397
ON SALE: 09/27/2022
FICTION / MYSTERY & DETECTIVE / COZY / CRAFTS

If you are looking for a sweet new entry into the cozy venue, this book is right up your alley. You’ve got your obligatory murder, sewing, new friendships, and a librarian. I really enjoyed Seams Like Murder, though I thought it was very easy to solve the murder fairly early in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. This review can also be found on my Goodreads page.

I really enjoyed the way this cozy mystery built into a heartwarming fellowship of good neighbors helping each other. Abbey Chandler left the hectic pace of Los Angeles behind for the much slower pace in Hideaway Grove where her Aunt Sarah runs Sarah’s Sweets Bakery. Almost immediately, an ill-timed hit-and-run accident takes the life of the town’s librarian, Iris Duncan. It happens in the alley behind several stores, including the bakery! The intriguing plot begins to move swiftly forward. Soon, the only witness leaves town.

Abbey decides to prove Iris was murdered and find the killer herself! She also starts organizing a storage room where Sarah and her neighboring shop owner, Gretchen, planned to turn into a gift shop. Gretchen, who is out of town, made pillowcase dresses for girls in Africa, but Abbey isn’t confident she can sew well enough to keep up the flow of donations. However, the space is soon called the Sewing Studio and many folks stop in and admire it while encouraging Abbey to continue sewing the simple dresses. Someone is also breaking into shops and making a mess in the alley. Handsome Detective Zack McKenna tries to keep Abbey safe and welcomes any information she can provide to move the case forward.

I liked Abbey’s strength of character. Her idea for a Pillowcase Party was fun, and she got to meet a lot of people. I felt like the story’s pacing was just right, and the ending and reasoning for Iris’s death was surprising and satisfying. The author includes a dress pattern.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Seams Like Murder was a fun read. It is the first of this series. Abbey Chandler is the main character who has come to visit her aunt Sarah who lives in the town of Hideaway Grove. Her aunt owns Sarah's Sweets Bakery. Abbey left her job in L.A. as she made a mistake on an account but word had gone around that she had a fight with her supervisor and was taken out by security which was not true.

While visiting her aunt's shop they hear Earline screaming and went to investigate. They found Iris Duncan the librarian, dead against the building. Earline shouted that someone killed her by a hit and run. Iris had moved to Hideaway Grove a few months ago an was liked by everyone. They called 911 and the police came. Ed Grumman, police chief and Zack McKenna, policeman arrived. Later that day the sheriff came and possessed Abbey's car as it had a dent on the front bumper. Abbey was afraid that the sheriff thought that she was involved with the hit and run so she felt that she would have to find out who did it to clear herself. Earline was upset that the townspeople did not believe her and she would be the talk of the town with the gossip. When delivering cookies to Earline from her aunt Earline tells her that she is going to get out of town and go and visit her sister. She gives her a tote bag with books in it to return to the library. She had picked it up when Iris was killed in the alley. Abbey says she will check on her house for her. When having lunch at the Parliament Cafe talking with the waitress, Melanie Abbie realized that Earline did not tell them that she had left town. She was a waitress there.

This is where the story takes the reader on an adventure of Abbie following up on whodunit and Abbie fitting into the town, There is the second part of the story about a group of woman sewing pillow case dresses for the children in Africa. Abbey learns how to sew the dresses as well as aprons and tote bags, etc. The two parts of the story emerge together to bring the story to the exciting climax.

I look forward to the next book in the series to Abbie adjusts to her new life in Hideaway Grove along with her friends and townspeople. There is also romance in the air.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for this ARC.

What to do when things come crashing down? Go to your favorite childhood place, in this case, Abbey’s aunt Sarah in a small town. Add in a sweet, nice, and hot cop, old friends, and new hobbies, and a great book is born. Throw in a hit and run, a sheriff who doesn’t believe it’s murder but that the newcomer is to blame and you have an awesome cozy mystery.
Seams Like Murder was a great book. The characters, the location, and mystery all worked together for a delightful read. Abbey found herself involved in a brand new life as a side effect of investigating the hit and run that killed the town’s librarian. She makes new friends, gets reacquainted with old friends, and realizes she enjoys small town life. Can’t wait for the next book!

I enjoy reading cozy mystery series with a variety of themes. When I saw Seams Like Murder available to request on Kensington Publishing's NetGallery page, I wanted to give this book a try.
A cozy mystery with a sewing theme? It sounded like a book I would enjoy.

Dorothy Howell's sewing knowledge and tips are shown throughout the story. For sewing beginners like me, I can relate to the protagonist
Abbey Chandler. This book was fun to read and a great introduction to the series. I found both the characters, setting, mystery, and storytelling charming from start to finish. There's also instructions and tips for sewing pillowcase dresses within the book as well.

My thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGallery for a digital copy of this book for my review. I look forward to reading more of A Sewing Studio Mystery series!

This is book 1 in a new series, and it's a pretty zippy read, and a sweet cozy. The clues to why the victim is killed are pretty obvious, though, and the killer is no real surprise, either. And the author's habit of describing people as "annoyed, for some reason," when it's perfectly obvious why they're annoyed, does make me grind my teeth a bit! But it's a decent story and I'm hopeful for the next book in the series to be even better!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This cozy mystery was enchanting. Abbey needed a new start after being temporarily released from a high powered marketing job in LA. She lands in her Aunt's little town of Hideaway Grove where her aunt runs the local bakery. Abbey soon witnesses a hit and run that results in a death or is it a murder of the local librarian? Abbey finds herself the prime suspect and works to prove her innocence. Along the way, she finds self confidence, friends, and a new beginning. Abbey assumes responsibility for the town's annual festival as well as adding a community sewing area to her aunt's bakery. The author captures small town living. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

What a great start to a new cozy mystery series. The main character, Abbey, is very likeable. She's looking for a break from her life (it's in a bit of a mess) in L.A. and heads to the small town of Hideaway Cove where her Aunt lives and where she spent many childhood summers. She gets involved in solving the mystery of an apparent hit and run that kills the local librarian. As she's helping her aunt clean out a room in her aunt's bakery, she winds up getting back to a hobby she dabbled in as a teen there in Hideaway Cove, sewing. I love all the sewing talk and Abbey getting involved in charity work with her sewing. She gets back in touch with some friends of her youth and it looks like she's going to stay in town and work on this new sewing studio she has brought to life. I'm looking forward to another book in the series, I love the sewing theme!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this wonderful ARC. I’m submitting my honest review and opinion. I will post this review to my blog, Goodreads, Bookbub, & Amazon accounts on the publication date, 9/27/22.

A brand new series from a most excellent author! Going back to Hideaway Cove where she spent many summers as a child is Abby Chandlet. But on the first day back she finds herself a suspect in a hit and run. Lots of action with many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Excellent solid mystery with great characters. Highly enjoyable!!! Thanks #netgalley and #Keningston for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Ugh, I am completely fed up with mystery authors writing utterly incompetent cops who don't follow the law!
A cop cannot take a car into custody in this way .. I just can't even finish this utter drivel.

Abbey Chandler has left LA behind after things seem to fall apart. To get away from it all and start fresh she heads to her Aunt’s house, where she spent many happy Summers. But it seems Abbey’s run of bad luck isn’t over yet as she’s the prime suspect in the murder of the local librarian who was run over. Abbey knows if she’s going to change her luck, she’ll have to start with solving this murder. Can she turn the tides, or will her luck, or lack there of, be the death of her?

A great start to a new cozy series. I am eagerly awaiting the next entry in the series and what life has in store for Abbey moving forward.

This brand new cozy mystery series is off to a great start! Abby Chandler's life in L.A is a mess so she decides to seek solice with her Aunt Sarah in Hideaway Cove, the small town where she spent many happy summers as a child. Her first day back in town and Abby finds herself a suspect in the hit and run death of the town librarian. The ornery sheriff impounds her car because of the dent on her fender but the hunky deputy seems to believe in her innocence. This was an enjoyable read. Lots of red herrings. Likeable characters. The perfect cozy! I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Thank you Kensington books and netgalley for the advance copy!!!

This was a great start to a new series. It has all the cozy elements that I enjoy.
Abbey Chandler flees Los Angeles to Hideaway grove where she spent her summers as a young girl. Her life feels like its falling apart and she needs a break. The break was short lived as someone was killed in the alley behind her aunts bakery. Abbey is enjoying her time away from the city. I cant wait for book 2!
#SeamsLikeMurder #NetGalley

After a series of disastrous events in her work and private life, Abbey Chandler flees Los Angeles and heads to Hideaway Grove, where she spent her childhood summers visiting her aunt. Her aunt is thrilled to see her and Abbey is happy to see some old friends. Abbey is just settling down and thinking about her future plans when the new librarian is hit by a car and a witness insists it was murder. The sheriff seems to want to blame Abbey for the crime and she decides to investigate it herself – and takes up a charity sewing project in part to be able to question the townspeople. The more she investigates, the more she comes closer to finding out the killer – but she needs to be careful or she’ll put herself in very real danger.

“Seams Like Murder” is the nicely done first book in Dorothy Howell’s Sewing Studio cozy mystery series. With a new series, it sometimes takes a book or two to establish the setting and characters but I found myself immediately hooked on this book, characters, and setting. I especially liked the Sewing Studio idea – a nice touch instead of having Abbey work at her aunt’s bakery which has been done many times before. I had never heard of pillowcase dresses before reading this book and spent some time looking them up – what a great idea! The setting of Hideaway Grove is a nice one and I loved the description of the owls (the town symbol) and the crafts at the fair. The mystery is well done – with plenty of suspects, twist, and turns. While the mystery is nicely solved, there are some loose ends in the book that have me looking forward to the next book in the series.

“Seams Like Murder” is a nicely done cozy mystery.

Enjoyed this fast cozy mystery read. Likeable characters and an enjoyable mystery along the way. Five stars!

A murder on your first day back in town isn't what anyone needs. Abby has just come back to her Aunt Sarah and her bakery for some serious peace and quiet but someone has other plans. Who ran over the shop neighbor in the alley behind the bakery? The local cop seems to set his sights on Abby.
A nice new series. I love both sewing and baking.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read.