Another fun cozy from Dorothy Howell. Abby is working part-time at the visitor center as she tries to earn some money for in tote bag business. She shows up at work one morning to find a co-worker dead and Abby is the prime suspect. A young co-worker mistook spilled tomato juice as blood and the victim was killed by a pair of sewing shears with Abby's name engraved on them as well as her fingerprints. Abby has to figure out who was able to take the shears from her studio to frame her and who is so mad at her to do this?

This was a nice escape. The writing style is easy-to-read and I enjoy the characters.

Her custom embroidered tote bag business isn't the success she'd hoped for, so Abbey is working part time at the Hideaway Cover visitor's center. That's where she discovers a body in the huge boxes of stuff they've collected for the annual lost and found sale. What she doesn't immediately notice is that the silver object embedded in the dead woman's chest is a pair of engraved sewing shears with Abbey's name on them. Her favorite pair of jeans has become too difficult to button, which led to the travel cup of tomato juice, which could help confirm her story...if she hadn't pitched it into the dumpster. This mystery is fast paced and fun with lots of small town gossip and Abbey continually getting in her own way as she tries to solve the murder and clear her own name. I'm going to keep wondering how someone with so few sewing skills decided to open a sewing studio and I'm going to keep happily reading this series.

I didn't realize that this was book 3 in a series but with that being said I didn't feel lost when reading. I enjoyed the story and characters and the suspense was nice. It was a fun little read

This is the third book in this series, but the only one I’ve read so far. I didn’t have any issues keeping up with the story.
Abby has moved back home after things didn’t work out in LA. She’s struggling to make ends meet working at the Visitor Center and working on her small business making totes. There are a lot of characters in the story and many relationships to juggle. There’s also one very intuitive cat who raises havoc on occasion.
I did enjoy the book but the drama around Caitlin was a bit much for me. I really wanted to smack some sense into her. Even the cat was smarter.
I did also guess a good part of the drama around Gloria. There was even more involved but I was on the right track.
I did receive this book as a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Shear Terror by Dorothy Howell is about a young woman who lives in a small town named Hideaway Grove and has opened a sewing studio in a room off her aunt’s bakery. She does small sewing jobs as well as hosting a pillow case dressmaking class/get together for charity. Someone commit a murder and she is the prime suspect because a pair of scissors that had her name engraved was the murder weapon. Two things: the room was never locked when the bakery was open, people dropped things off all the time; and the scissors had been one of four that someone donated for use in making the little dresses. But, all things still pointed at her, and Abbey was not going to let that stand.

This was a funny, whimsical book, despite the murder. The man she had been circling was a deputy and now that she was s suspect, he didn’t seem as interested. She was a good character, just a simple young woman looking for a better life for herself. It was an enjoyable, quick read. Good characters, a decent mystery, and pillow case dresses for charity. How fun is that?

I was invited to read Shear Terror by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #DorothyHowell #ShearTerror

A good addition to the A Sewing Studio Mystery series. There's a couple of mysteries, a killer on the loose, the sheriff breathing down Abby's neck as she tries to do her own investigating, a hint of romance...or not? I'm already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

A delightful mystery with charming characters. A solid mystery that keeps you guessing. Lots of twists and turns. Thanks#Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

When Abbey finds the body of a fellow volunteer third take an even more ominous turn…when Abbey’s scissors are the murder weapon. Getting a new business off the ground is hard enough without being a murder suspect. Can she cut through the who and stitch up who dunit to clear her name? Or will her whole life unravel at what seems like she did it?

I have really enjoyed this series so far. you can’t help but root for Abbey and try to solve the right along side to help save her. This is a well written and developed character that makes reading this a visit with a friend rather than just a book.

I didn't enjoy book 3 as much as I'd hoped to. There were many threads that were brought up over and over and over again. Whether it was the "Abbey being a cleaner" thread or the totes she needed to do for Brooke or the whole luxury cabinet. And the new employee who did absolutely nothing all the time. It seemed obvious from the beginning what was connected to the death. And then some things that I thought were going to pay off didn't--and were anti-climactic. I hate it when the actual moment of apprehending the criminal is just summarized in retrospect!

Anyway, this one just didn't gel for me. Not enough suspense, not enough surprise, and too much repetition. I really wanted to like it more, because I like the character of Abbey.

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

A good addition to a charming and delightful series. A nice variety of characters in a small-town setting. Some surprises and potential for future stories. The mystery does get solved, along with some other problems. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Shear Terror is book #3 in the Sewing Studio Mystery series by Dorothy Howell.

Abbey is working to grow her custom tote bag business. She has a job at the Visitor Center to pay the bills. While there, she makes a terrible discovery. Worse, she finds herself a suspect in the murder. I like Abbey and really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is the third in this delightful sewing mystery series by cozy author Dorothy Howell. I enjoy this series for the authors talent in sewing included and the well planned sleuth that always keep this reader guessing. My review opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity.

Our protagnist Abbey is still working out of the back of her Aunt's shop and dreaming of expanding her business. She realizes that she needs to take on more paid work then her sewing is paying. She goes to work for the local visitors office and sorts donated goods to help generate funds for the towns lost and found drive. When one reliable volunteer does not come to work Abbey is worried . .She goes to find the volunteer and finds her dead. Complications arise for Abbey when a sewing shear was the weapon with her name on it. Now Abbey is the prime suspect and she must struggle to save herself, solve the mysterious crime and save her reputation.

This is a charming series and always a fascinating sleuth with multiple layers to keep the reader guessing. Abbey is a smart savvy person who needs a break in life and a hard worker. She is a good investigator and entertaining character. I enjoy the small town and the friendly people the author features. A enjoyable revisit to this series.

Shear Terror is the third book starring Abbey Chandler. She moved to Hideaway Grove when her life in LA imploded. Three books in and she isn’t very successful at building a new life in Hideaway Grove.
This book let me down. There was excessive drama associated with all the relationships in the book. The work relationships, family relationships, friendships and associations were all expressed in dramatic fashion. Abbey and Zach are supposed to be starting a relationship, but it has made no progress over the course of three books.
The mystery was drawn out. Abbey took a long time to connect dots that were obvious.
The culprit just wasn’t a very nice person. For all the dramatic happenings in the rest of the book, the ending was fairly mundane.
I don’t want to put in spoilers because this book might be your cup of tea. It likely has a number of good points that I glossed over.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the chance to read the book.

"Shear Terror (A Sewing Studio Mystery #3)" by Dorothy Howell has got some series game changers dropping in this book. I wont go into detail because it would be some big spoilers. Let's just say that if you don't read this one before any books that may come after it, you'll probably be lost.

Abbey is still trying to get her tote bag business where she'd like it. However, she's making necessary money working for the town's visitor's center part time. Why getting ready for the annual lost and found sale they discover that the lady who was late for work may have actually been extra early. Things all point to Abbey as a suspect which really puts a damper on her relationship with Zach. If there even is a relationship?

There was one particular character that really started to grate on me. I think that was the author's intention though. If so, congratulations, it worked and I was kind of starting to really hope they were the culprit. However, there was one other character that disappeared that I'm not totally sure what happened to them. Maybe I missed that part in my reading of all the reveals.

This was a very fast paced cozy and I absolutely loved it! There’s not much to say about this one, besides that you should definitely read it!

3.5 stars, rounded up

When Abbey is not busy sewing custom tote bags for her new business, she works part-time at the town’s Visitor Center. When one of the volunteers doesn’t show up for her shift, Abbey finds her body – and becomes the primary suspect in the woman’s death. She sets out to prove her innocence before she ends up in jail.

This is the third book in this series, and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. I like Abbey, but unlike other cozy MC, she comes across as more nosy than curious. At least she’s finally admitting to herself that her new business isn’t all she’d thought it would be. I love her aunt Sarah, and deputy Zach seems to be a good guy too.

I got more than a little frustrated with the sheriff and his single-mindedness, but was grateful for the deputies who were determined to learn what actually happened. As more was learned about the murder victim, more potential suspects were added to my list. I should probably have figured it out sooner, but I didn’t identify the culprit until just before it was revealed in the book.

With so many series ending after only three books these days, I’m not sure if there will be another book in this series, but I hope there is. I want to find out how the events at the end of this book work out :)

I’d forgotten how funny this series could be in places, and I also remembered what a smart kitty that Cheddar, the community cat was. He definitely knew what he liked or didn’t like. I was pretty sure I knew who was behind all the mysteries going on in the town. The ending was a really satisfying one and the very ending was really sweet too!

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

Shear Terror is the third book in the Sewing Studio Mystery Series. The main character, Abbey, does a lot in her community. The community plays a major role in the series. You really get to meet, and know, many of the people in the neighborhood. There are many female business owners who drop by Abbey’s aunt’s bakery (the bakery houses the sewing studio). Abbey needs these strong women in her life because she is a little clueless at times and makes ‘not so wise’ decisions. Abbey’s heart is in the right place, but she misses a lot of clues (mystery wise, and life wise) and acts irrational at times. The best part of the book, and series, is hearing about the community volunteering in different ways to help others in need. I also get a kick out of Abbey’s nemesis, Brooke.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for this ARC. I’m submitting my honest review and opinion. I will post this review to my Goodreads and Bookbub accounts now, & to my Amazon account on the publication date, 9/24/24.

Business and life is looking up in Hideaway Grove, so much so that Abby's growing her own business, and working a part time job to fund it. And then, then she finds Eleanor dead- killed with a pair of Abby's shears and pow- she's got to find the real killer. Luckily, she's got good friends and her aunt Sarah to help her sort out the truth about Eleanor. Cozy readers know that not everyone appreciated Eleanor's advice and that she wasn't always a nice person but murder? Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's classic cozy territory and while this is the latest in a series, it will be fine as a standalone. A good read.

I love this series, and this newest book did not disappoint at all. While I did figure out the mystery easily, it was a lot of fun going through the process of eliminating suspects with Abbey. The characters are enjoyable to get to know, and the plot moves very quickly with a little bit of romance sprinkled in. This could absolutely be read as a stand alone.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.