Description
While escorting Bryn Derwyn Academy’s most infamous student downtown to be scared straight by a federal judge, amateur sleuth Ginger Barnes is shocked to find her childhood babysitter, textile Professor Charlie Finnemeyer, on trial for fraudulently aging an Oriental rug. Even more alarming, two witnesses against him died suspiciously convenient “natural” deaths. Eager to help Charlie’s attorney any way she can, Gin pries a tightly held secret from a university president and exposes murder motives for a popular TV craft show host, and two antique dealers. Charlie’s overprotective wife also has a talent for showing up at the wrong place at the worst possible time. Still, the evidence implicating Charlie can’t be swept under a rug. Before Gin can persuade anyone else he’s innocent, she must first convince herself.

My Review
Lie Like A Rug is the first book I have read from Donna Huston Murray and hopefully not the last. Besides the book being well written and the characters were all well-crafted, I actually learned about the art of textiles and antique frauds. Amazing right?

I am glad that even though this is the 6th book in the Ginger Barnes Mystery series it can be read as a standalone. I can tell you I am going to go and start the series from the very beginning.

This ARC was provided in exchange for my honest opinion. I have to tell you it was surprising a huge success. I highly recommend Lie Like A Rug.

This is the seventh book in A Ginger Barnes Mystery series. This is the first in this series that I have read. I saw this in the read me now section on Netgalley after publication. I was intrigued by the cover and the description.

This can be read as a standalone book. I found humor in Gin’s opinions of what she deemed insanity at her husband’s work place.

I would pick up another of this author’s works.

Thank-you Netgalley & St Martin’s for allowing me to read this book.

Ginger Barnes knows a thing or two about investigating homicides but when she blithely volunteers her time to act as escort for the least liked student at her husbands prep school and her husband is fast to accept her offer.....well, little did she expect that another homicide - or two - would be the result.
Arriving at the courthouse and delivering her charge to the federal judge who will attempt to scare the little creep straight, Ginger has time on her hands and decides to sit in on a case underway in one of the courtrooms. To her great surprise, she realizes that she knows the defendant. He used to babysit her and was a professor. Now he is on trial for antiques fraud involving an antique rug. Being certain that he is innocent, she starts to investigate and, before long, several witnesses turn up dead.
I was drawn to this mystery because of the textile theme and it didn't disappoint me. Now that I have read this, book #7 in the series, I will go find the remaining seven that I somehow missed when the were first published from 1995 to 2001. They have been updated and repackaged for a new mystery reading audience.
My thanks to the publisher, IBPA and to NetGalley, for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Once upon a time I read several books in the Ginger Barnes Cozy Mystery series and enjoyed them very much. So, I was delighted to get reacquainted. Lie Like a Rug is the seventh book in this series.

Ginger Barnes is the wife of the headmaster at a private school and she has a nose for crime. This time, she finds herself investigating charges of antiques fraud which have been brought against her childhood babysitter. Even though the evidence is overwhelming, Ginger is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and exonerate her friend.

Lie Like a Rug is an entertaining cozy with likable and varied characters, a few twists and a satisfying mystery. I love to learn something new when I read and I found the information about antique textiles particularly fascinating. It was a fun read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Helping her headmaster husband by escorting Bryn Derwyn Academy’s most infamous student Ryan Cooperman to Philadelphia to be scared straight by a Federal judge, Ginger "Gin" Barnes sits in at another trial to keep occupied. Gin is shocked to recognize the accused as her childhood babysitter, textile professor Charlie Finnemeyer on trial for fraudulently aging an Oriental rug. When a key witness is found dead in his car and another dies in suspicious circumstances, Charlie's attorney Eric needs help. Eager to aid Eric, who is also a former college schoolmate of her husband, Gin seeks the truth behind Charlie's early retirement and uncovers a scandal involving a quilt made by one of his prized students.

This is a revised version of the 2011 novel and was a quick fun read. Gin is a stubborn determined amateur sleuth.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

This charming cozy mystery is up to the minute with its portrayal of entitled children and helicopter parents - it could easily be part of the recent college admissions scandal. In addition to the mystery, the lovely setting and relatable characters, the book also shows us just how hard the family of a prep school headmaster has to work. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a great cozy mystery - suspense. Ginger likes to solve mystery puzzles and she is ready to help a family friend. Thank you Netgalley for this nice adventure,

I thought that this book seemed familiar and then I noticed that it first published in 2001. However, as it been a few years since I read it, it was a pleasure to read, again.

Ms. Murray writes easy to read books with nice twists and turns. She also provides some insight into an elite private school. Although this reads well as a stand-alone, I think that this series should be read in order.

Swift pacing and ongoing suspense are always present... A likeable protagonist who uses her political and legal connections for a good cause...Readers should eagerly anticipate the next installment of this wity and highly enjoyable series !

I wasn't as excited by this book as I hoped to be. I thought that I would enjoy this book, but I found myself skimming the pages and just wanting to be done with it.

This book is a delight. Not only is it about antique textiles (something I adore), but Ms. Murray's descriptions of characters and locales really bring the book to life. The main character is likable and smart, and the mystery is entertaining. An added bonus is that I actually learned something about antique textiles. Solid research, entertaining characters and an involving mystery. I can't wait to read the rest of the series if they're all this good!
I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Great cozy mystery. Well written with a good plot. I enjoyed the author’s writing and look forward to reading more of her books. I received an arc and this is my unbiased review.

Lie Like a Rug is another wonderful mystery with sleuth Ginger Barnes. The veteran sleuth and her family are all vividly portrayed. The author's knowledge of textiles is amazing. Ginger happens upon the fraud trial of an old neighbor/former babysitter. Of course, she has to get involved while also helping her husband with a problem student. Two deaths of witnesses and many plot twists later, will Ginger figure this out before the student pulls more pranks and more witnesses die? This book is very well written. It is not to be missed.

The seventh book in the Ginger Barnes mystery series by Donna Huston Murray. Ginger Barnes is a wife and mother, who occasionally acts as amateur sleuth to solve mysteries. Her husband is headmaster at a private school, and she often helps out at the school. This novel opens with Gin escorting a troublemaker student to the courthouse, and ends up spotting a familiar face in a courtroom.

Gin discovers an old family friend is on trial for antiquities fraud. She doesn’t believe him to be guilty of the charges, so Gin uses her amateur sleuthing skills to help. Unfortunately, the evidence seems to be against her friend, and the dead key witnesses are not helping his case.

This book is in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. I have read book 1 of the series, The Main Line is Murder, but not the other books. This book was originally published years ago (2001), but has been updated by the author.

An entertaining cozy mystery with some humor. Likable characters in an enjoyable, light mystery.

I received a free ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Very well written story about a housewife sleuth doing a sort of indirect murder investigation. Great characters and good plot, and it's very easy to get into the setting with the side stories.

Donna Huston Murray brings us a fast paced mystery based on the textile antiques trade - the basis for authentication and the responsibility of the seller and the buyer to know what they have. The necessity to actually authenticate your own sales or purchases or trust the professional you hire in that capacity has never been more important. However, this novel while emphasizing those facts was both entertaining and compelling.

I found this a very interesting story, one that kept me engrossed through its entirety. Ms. Murray is an author I will watch for in future, and the Ginger Barnes Mystery's and Lauren Beck Crime novels are series I must catch up on.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Donna Huston Murray, and IBPA in exchanger for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

Despite dealing with issues at the local prep school run by her husband, the main character is brilliant at solving problems. And what does an antique rug with a shaky provenance have to do with murder? You'll have to read this fun, fast-reading cozy mystery to find out! I'd definitely read more books with these characters set in Main Line Pennsylvania settings.

An entertaining and enjoyable cozy mystery.
I liked the cast of characters, likable and relatable, and the style of writing.
The plot was good, no plot hole, and it keeps you guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

Lie Like A Rug is a cozy mystery. It seems it is a series. It is quite funny and I laughed out loud.
Amateur sleuth Ginger Barnes is shocked to find her childhood babysitter, textile Professor Charlie Finnemeyer, on trial for fraudulently aging an Oriental rug. Even more alarming, two witnesses against him died suspiciously convenient “natural” deaths. Then things become fun.
I am not a big fan of cozy mysteries but not reading the other 4 I saw happy reading to those that have made it to number 5. I enjoyed.
Thanks very much for Netgalley for an ARC of the book.

Lie like a rug is a cozy mystery where Ginger Barnes finds out her old babysitter is on trial for faking an antique rug. While she's investigating, a couple of the key witnesses turn up dead and things look worse for him and his wife.

This was a fun read, but as with all cozy mysteries, requires the suspension of disbelief at coincidences. Ginger is an interesting character as the wife of a private school headteacher and her interactions with her husband were a strong point of the book for me.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.