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Read if you like:
🧶 cozy mysteries
🧶 strong friendships
🧶 small town charm
🧶 quirky and eccentric characters

Lydia Barnes is ready for her fresh start after finding out her husband was cheating on her 😡☠️ and moves to the quaint mountain town of Peridot, Georgia. Her friend Fran offers her a job at her fabric store Measure Twice. Fran even sets her up on a date with a handsome stranger, who just so happens to be her next door neighbour 😜 After the worst first date in the history of the world, the night gets even worse when Lydia stumbles upon a dead body! And then another body is found at Measure Twice. Lydia is quite predictably the prime suspect, and must work fast to clear her name and find the real killer before it’s too late!

My favourite characters were OBVIOUSLY the animals, but I also really liked all the quirky small town characters. I really liked Fran as a best friend, and I really really liked Lydia and all the trouble she got herself in 🤣 Baby Lobster and Charlie 💕💕Cynde just kills me 🤣🤣 I’m assuming that’s like “Cindy” but spelt out that way… it made me laugh everytime I read it. The crazy spelling for names in here was hilarious.
There’s just something about a small town cozy ❤️❤️ I loved all the descriptive scenery (I really felt like I was in Peridot myself 🤪) and I absolutely loved all the small town specialty stores. I wish I had some of these in my real life!
The thing I like most about cozy mysteries is they all have their own little “niche”, ie. bake shop mystery, book store mystery, library mystery etc… This allows them to all be slightly different and that’s why I enjoyed about this one. It was set in a fabric shop, which I have never read a cozy in a fabric shop, so that was very enjoyable and different for me. The premise of cozies are pretty much the same so it’s how the author does those little things to set their work apart, which is what happened here. A very enjoyable read!
I love a good pun! From the title to all the cutely named little shops in town; it made me giggle everytime 😀
I DID NOT SEE THE END COMING! That is my absolute number one requirement in a murder mystery, and this one certainly shocked me!! I really really enjoyed this first in series book and hope there are more books coming!!

I received an e-copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

The story seemed to start off a bit slow, but eventually I got into it and flew through the book. There were some attempts at romance, but in the end nothing quite worked out. Maybe in future books? Being a pet person I was happy to see that not only did the main character have pets, but how well she treated them.

I highly enjoyed reading about Lydia. Seems like Peridot, Georgia is a great getaway spot.. Poor Lydia has her share of problems from cheating exes to an expired date. I found the story fun and the plot moved smoothly. Great characters. Let's have more of this series please! Thanks#netgalley and#Crookedlanebooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Seams Deadly is the first book in the series called A Measure Twice Sewing mystery.
This cozy murder mystery was perfect for what I was in the mood for. There were so many unique characters to meet along the way. Even Peridot, Georgia felt like its own unique character that was a joy to get to know. Lydia was a likeable main character and it was easy to relate to her and her emotional reactions to the situations she found herself in.
This was an easy, smooth moving story that checked all the boxes for a cozy murder mystery. I found the writing style to be easy to digest and an enjoyable read. I'll be keeping Maggie Bailey on my reading list. I really enjoyed this new start to what I think is going to be an engaging and entertaining series.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Poor Lydia couldn’t win. Her ex was a cheater so she starts over in a new town, and manages to find not one, but two dead bodies. She’s already a suspect after the first, and the second just seems to be the icing on the cake.
I really liked this story. I don’t think I’ve ever read a cozy that dealt with making your own clothes so there were some interesting details there. I liked the demon cat and mellow dog. Lydia is a believable person. Jeff, the train guy, is a little creepy. The other characters seemed good but I’m hoping there will be more books with some more character development.

There was one detail that bugged me. They kept referring to the Purple Heart one character has. It was referred to as the highest honor you can receive. No. Not even close. Highest would probably be the Medal of Honor. A Purple Heart is for being wounded in some type of military action. Soldiers who were partying in a Berlin disco that terrorists attacked got Purple Hearts. While it is an honor and a big deal, it is far from the highest honor. But I did learn something. I did not know about Stolen Valor. I had to look it up. It is a thing. Doesn’t necessarily involve jail time but it can.

amateur-sleuth, state-of-Georgia, cozy-mystery, divorced, new-series, first-in-series, sewing, quilting, small-town, small-business, friends, friendship, murder-investigation, murder, pet-dog****

Excellent portrayal of a woman in shock after finding the body of a recent acquaintance and finding herself the prime suspect. You could think that she was a bit dim unless you've had experience with people who have had too many shocks in their recent past. The sleuthing is pretty good and I think that this series will get better as time moves along. I'm a knitter and fiber freak, so I learned a lot about being a sewist.
I requested and received an EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

After Lydia drops her diet lemonade - Oh and discovered her husband was cheating on her - she flees to her new friend in a small mountain town, Peridot, and begins a new phase of her life working at Measure Twice and living in the apartment above the shop. Disaster strikes after an awkward date and Lydia is now suspect number one in a murder investigation and as she's trying to deal with the shock of finding a dead body, fingers are pointing in all directions. Finding a second murder victim means the police are even more suspicious of Lydia and she starts to question who is framing her.
I feel like I'm always saying this, but this was such a classic cosy mystery and I loved it! The sewing theme and fun characters made it such an enjoyable read, I was guessing until the end at who the murderer was and fell in love with the characters. Lydia doesn't do as much investigating as in most mysteries, while she meets up with her friends to talk about the possible perpetrator she doesn't search for clues. I definitely recommend cosy mystery lovers to give this book a go when it comes out on 5 September 2023
Thanks Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC

Lydia’s world collapsed after discovering her husband’s infidelity in their home. Lydia drove on autopilot to Measure Twice, one of the stores in Peridot, where she’s been a customer and enjoyed friendly conversation with the owner Fran. Now Fran has become a friend, employer, and landlord too. Lydia’s happy to enjoy the peace of a small town in North Georgia, away from Atlanta and everything that defined her in marriage to Graham. Fran has even taken it upon herself to set up Lydia on a date. The evening has an unexpected ending, and suddenly Lydia’s new beginning is stitched with suspicion by the police.

A refreshing opening to a new cozy mystery series with a woman’s new beginning without receipt of an inheritance and/or return to her hometown. The sewing theme with fabric, quilts, sewing tools, and notions is appealing and provides added interest with the different ages of the women working together in the store, clientele, and police investigation. I also loved Lydia’s rescues of Charlie and Baby Lobster.

I’m looking forward to future visits to Peridot.

Thank you to Maggie Bailey, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

#SeamsDeadly #NetGalley

Lydia Barnes finds herself as the prime suspect in a murder investigation with Peridot, Georgia. While Lydia doesn’t investigate the murders herself, she does have an involvement with them.
The mystery within the story is intriguing, and was not the direction I expected the story to take. The story moves quickly but doesn’t feel rushed. The writing style is easy and is perfect as a cosy mystery.
There were several parts I struggled with, firstly was the number of characters. At times a character would appear who we’d met before, but I could not recall, or would blend with another character. I’m not sure if this was because there were too many characters with little bearing on the story, or if they needed to be fleshed out a bit. Additionally, the place names had me chuckling a few times as they all seemed to be on the same vein, and all sounded equally absurd. However, they did allow you to immediately identify what each business sold. Lydia’s age and personality didn’t match up, her actions often felt younger, as if she lacked life experience.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read that leaves you satisfied.

Lydia is new to Peridot, Georgia. She is recovering from an unfaithful spouse. She left her home and job in Atlanta to start over. Even though she is an English teacher she is working at a quilt store and staying in the apartment above. Her boss and landlord fixes her up on a date. The date didn’t go too well but it gets worse when she finds her date’s body in his apartment. The police sergeant considers her the main suspect. It gets worse when she stumbles upon another body in the quilt store.
The police sergeant says she is the only link between them.
That is a little too much - this is a small town and the two people worked together! Not too believable in my opinion.
I am trying to like Lydia but she is too timid.
Overall, I did like the book and would read more from this author.

I very much enjoyed this. The characterization was well done and the town portrayed so I could visualize it. I would call this the quintessential cozy mystery (though I don’t know an official definition of the term), with bonus fun for quilters and sewists and even bakers.

The plot was well developed with plenty of plausible suspects. The solution to the mystery was clear and well-reasoned. And the wrap-up of all the friendships among the characters was neatly done.

I will hope for more in this genre by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest option. Seams Deadly is the first book in the Measure Twice Sewing Mystery series. I was very interested in reading a cozy mystery that is centered around fabric. I enjoyed reading about the sewing and quilting descriptions that were woven into the story. Although this book is a cozy mystery, it has themes of friendship, trust, and confidences interlaced throughout the story. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series has to offer.

I struggled to read this book. I think this book just isn't for me. This is the first cozy I've read where fabric is the focus and I was very bored by it. I also tend to gravitate toward cozies where the main character helps solve the mystery and this character just happend to be there.

In addition, I didn't find the characters to be engaging or likable. The MC didn't seem mature enough to be 40. She came across as naive and somewhat self absorbed.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a read! Just love myself a murder mystery. Fast paced. Couldn't put it down. A definite must read...

When I saw this title on NetGalley, I was excited to get the book in my hands. It was so intriguing, the bright cover, and the vivid description captured my attention and I immediately downloaded it.
From the moment I read the first line, I knew I was going to love this book. Lydia is trying to gain control of her life after a heartbreaking discovery of her husband cheating on her. Moving to a small town seemed difficult for her, and working in Measure Twice, the local fabric store, seemed like a dream to Lydia. Things were progressing well until a sort of date turns deadly, and all evidence points to Lydia. When another murder victim is discovered, Lydia once again is the suspect and she has no idea who would be setting her up. When the investigation concluded I was absolutely stunned by who the murderer was. I am thrilled to have found another author who can impress me with a great first in a new series

If you enjoy the story beats of a traditional cozy - a woman starting over in a small town with quirky residents and small businesses plus an adorable pet - but you’re more of a women’s fiction reader, give SEAMS DEADLY a read.

In most cozy mysteries, the MC takes a very active role in trying to find the killer. But Seams Deadly is more about Lydia putting her life back together. She’s adjusting to life in a small town, making new friends, and deciding what she wants - instead of her ex telling her what to do.

I enjoyed the sewing tips and tricks plus Lydia’s body positivity. Yay for a curvy FMC! Her pets’ antics made me giggle. And those Peri-Dough doughnut descriptions were delicious sounding. A fun read!

A story centred around a fabric store - right up my alley. Characters are likeable and the story was enjoyable in a comfortable sort of 'curl up in a big chair with lots a cushions and a cat' way. I received this as an advance copy from the author via NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really had no experience with the "cozy mystery" genre and I must say that I loved it.
The construction of the characters is not based on going deep into their personal stories, but rather everything is based on the interaction between them, on the group dynamics. The characters from this book are colorful and diverse.
The plot is really well written, it maintains the mystery, but at the same time the story it's warm. The prose is simple and effective. Without a doubt Maggie Bailey is a great writer, I can't wait to continue reading the saga.
And of course Demon Crab (hahahahaha) stole my heart!

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Realmente no tenia experiencia sobre el genero "misterio cozy" y debo decir que me encanto.
La construccion de los personajes no se basa en profundizar sobre sus historias personales, sino mas bien todo se basa en la interaccion entre ellos, en la dinamica grupal. Este libro posee personajes pintorescos y variados.
La trama esta realmente muy bien escrita, mantiene el misterio, pero a la vez la historia tiene tintes de calidez. La prosa es sencilla y efectiva. Sin lugar a dudas Maggie Bailey es una gran escritora, no puedo esperar para seguir leyendo la saga.
Y por supuesto Demon Crab (jajajajaja) se robo mi corazon!

I read a lot of cozy mysteries, they are one of my core interests in terms of novels. That said, I was interested in this one from the beginning because it was unique. Many are about bookstores, cafes, etc and this was centered around sewing.

I enjoyed the main character although at times she could get on my nerves a bit. Some things she said, decisions she made, seemed rather beneath her age. That said I will definitely continue the series if it becomes one.

I loved the cover and the premise of this book, but I found the main character Lydia, very immature for someone over forty. The story started very slow but got more interesting as it progressed. There were lots of red herrings, a feisty cat. and some Quirky characters. I was surprised by who the killer turned out to be. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.