Hems and Homicide is the first book in a new series by Elizabeth Penney. Due out 31st Dec 2019 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a fun and engaging 'shopfront' cozy set in a small town in Maine. I enjoyed the interplay between main character Iris and her grammie, as well as the genuine BFF Madison. There's a light romance element, a sleazy landlord, a hidden skeleton from long ago in the basement of Iris' shop location, and lots of hidden motives seething under the surface of the otherwise peaceful small town.

The book's admittedly formulaic, but it is quite well written and fun and full of the whimsical amateur cozy vibe which keeps readers of the genre ticking over the pages. I liked Iris' dedication to her cat, Quincy, her honesty, and her loyalty to her friends. There were a few twists on the way to the denouement, and I liked the ending.

The book also includes a sneak peek at the next book in the series, Thread and Dead.

Four stars, entertaining and fun.

Welcome to Blueberry Cove, Maine and its new store, Ruffles and Bows. Sounds innocent enough, run by Anne and her granddaughter, Iris. Iris had come back home when her grandfather fell ill and she decided to stay after he died, taking her online fabric business to a bricks and mortar location.She and her grandmother plan to teach classes, sell fabrics and the hand made aprons. All of their plans depend upon some renovating. The bump in the road comes in two forms - both dead ones. They are a skeleton found in the basement, a missing person known to Anne, dating back to the 70's. The other is their landlord, a man who Anne disliked and was trying to halt the opening of their store. With ties to both deaths, Anne becomes a prime suspect. Iris knows that her grandmother is innocent and wonders if the two crimes are somehow connected. If the killer isn't caught all of their plans are in the dust bin and Anne will spend her last days behind bars.
I enjoyed getting to know Iris and Anne, spending time in Blueberry Cove and the various residents. It brought to mind a time when my grandmother showed me how to make an apron, one that I still have more than a few decades later. Not the homicide part, though. The only blood spilled was when I kept poking my fingers with the straight pins.
The setting and the mystery were very well crafted and there were enough twists, turns and red herrings to keep me guessing to the final reveal. Now that I know Elizabeth Penney has written other cozy mysteries I will be playing catch up while I wait for the next mystery with Iris and Anne.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book has all the tried-and-true tropes of cozy mysteries these days, so it could have been boring and put-downable. Instead, it was engaging and fun. I really liked Iris and her energetic grandma, and I enjoyed spending a few hours with them as they get ready to open Ruffles and Bows. I did find the solution to the crimes a bit puzzling, and I had to circle back to reread an early scene to confirm the motive of one person. I liked that Penney didn't hit us over the head with a constant repetition of facts, though, and I think the fact that I was reading this book over the few days before Christmas probably means I was a bit more distracted than usual! I'm looking forward to reading book #2 of the Apron Shop series :>)

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

Vintage linens, fifties aprons, a hippie murder and a 1963 Falcon named Beverly are all part of the atmosphere in Hems & Homicide, the first in the new Apron Shop Series of cozy mysteries.

Iris and her Grammie Anne are preparing to open their own brick-and-mortar apron and vintage linen store in rural coastal Maine. When Iris tumbles down the basement stairs, she is flung feet first into a murder scene. The skeleton hidden for over forty years in the store’s wall appears to be Grammie old friend, Star Moonshine. Star was thought to have left town in 1973. When another person is murdered and the police focus their investigation on Grammie, Iris rushes in to find the real murderer.

A sweet will they or won’t they romance and a twisty mystery are the heart of Hems & Homicide. Iris, Grammie and their friends already seem real to me. The unique mix of both generations and decades within the story is innovative. If you love cozy mysteries, you will enjoy starting this new series. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Great Escape Virtual Book Tours, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

A nice start to a new cozy series. Iris is working with her grandmother Anne on her vintage linen and apron shop in Blueberry Cove, Maine, when a fall down the stairs results in her finding the remains of Star Moonshine, a "hippie" who went missing in the 1970s. There are multiple suspects for this cold case but when one of them- Anne's landlord- is found dead in the shop, things get interesting. Iris has a good old romantic interest in Ian and some good friends (especially Madison) who help her sleuth out the solution to the murders and get her aunt off the hook. The characters are good, the plot zips along, and it's got all the elements we like in the genre (except recipes but that's ok!). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read and I'm looking forward to more.

This cozy mystery is set in Blueberry Cove, Maine. The book centers around the opening of Iris and her grandmother's new store. Iris goes down to the basement, discovers human remains and thus the mystery begins.
The title of this book caught my eye since I enjoy sewing and I wish the author would have included more sewing references sprinkled throughout the mystery. The book is action packed and each chapter has Iris getting closer to the real killer. The author put together an interesting line up of characters. I liked the companionship between Iris and her grandmother, but I didn't think there was much chemistry between Iris and her love interest. With the amount of characters in this book, the author had a lot of loose ends to tie up and it made the conclusion a bit rushed.
I was given an digital ARC of this book for an honest review from NetGalley.

Vintage aprons, linens and other retro fabrics are so popular now, Iris Buckley decides to open a shop with her newly widowed grandmother in Blueberry Cove, Maine. In Hems & Homicides by Elizabeth Penney, while working on the repairs and renovations at her shop, Ruffles & Bows, Iris is shocked by find a skeleton in the wall of her basement. When it appears her grandmother knew the person, the police focus on her as a suspect. Iris knows her sweet grandmother is no killer, so she decides to find the real murderer. A well-paced mystery and a terrific start to anew series.

This was an excellent first book of a series! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the character introductions and the description of Blueberry Cove, it had a wonderful cozy small village setting that I could picture. I say pleasantly surprised because this didn't read like book one, the details were seamlessly woven in without having anything be "told" to us readers.

I loved Iris and all her friends, there were times I was laughing out loud at some of the comments and antics. Just as important, excellent mystery with just enough plotting to keep us guessing on the whodunit.

I can't wait until book 2 comes out!

Iris Buckley returns to her hometown of Blueberry Cove, Maine after her grandfather's death. She and her beloved grandmother, Anne, decide to open a storefront apron and linen shop called Ruffles and Bows to add a more personal touch to Iris' online sales. But their plans are halted almost immediately when they find a skeleton at the bottom of the basement stairs. Anne believes it may be her long-lost friend who disappeared in the 1970's. Once the area is cleared to re-open, it seems their landlord will stop at nothing to prevent the store from opening. Iris is determined to see justice served by solving the mystery or her business will go out of business before opening day.
This was a very enjoyable debut for this new series. I admit, I wasn't sure how an apron and linen shop could carry the storyline but the characters were really the gems here. Iris is a very likeable character: she is determined, creative, loyal to her family and a smart businesswoman. She and her grandmother make an excellent team, along with her best friend Madison. The story was very well-paced and I read it in two sittings. I look forward to spending more time in Blueberry Cove again very soon!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for a digital ARC. My review is voluntary.

Hems and Homicide
(Apron Shop #1)
by Elizabeth Penney 

Paperback, 288 pages
Expected publication: December 31st 2019 by St. Martin's Paperbacks




Goodreads synopsis:
Welcome to the quaint village of Blueberry Cove, Maine, where an expert seamstress turned amateur sleuth is getting measured for murder. . .

Iris Buckley is sew ready for a change. After the death of her beloved grandfather, Iris decides to return to her Maine hometown to help out her widowed grandmother, Anne--and bring her online hand-made apron designs to real-time retail life. Her and Anne's shop, Ruffles & Bows, is set to include all the latest and vintage linen fashions, a studio for sewing groups and classes, and a friendly orange cat. The only thing that they were not planning to have on the property? A skeleton in the basement.

Anne recognizes the remains of an old friend, and when a second body shows up in the apron shop--this time their corrupt landlord, whom Anne had been feuding with for decades--she becomes a prime suspect. Now, it's up to Iris to help clear her name. Enlisting the help of her old high-school crush Ian Stewart who, like certain fabrics, has only gotten better-looking with age and her plucky BFF Madison Morris, Iris must piece together an investigation to find out who the real killer is. . .and find a way to keep her brand-new business from being scrapped in the process.

***

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Apron Shop mystery series by Elizabeth Penney.

Iris is ready for a new beginning in the town of Blueberry Cove, Maine. She will be helping out her grandmother with a new shop called Ruffles & Bows. The building where they open the shop is a somewhat popular commodity. Everyone seems to want to open a shop there. When Iris falls down the stairs and dislodges an old coal chute, what stares back at them is the dead body of someone her grandmother is immediately familiar with, an old friend. Then their landlord, Elliott ends up dead and Iris’s grandmother, Anne has shot to suspect number one!

This is a pretty inventive series. Iris’s whole store concept seems unusual. I know people buy all sorts of things but I am not certain her type of store/online business would sell like hotcakes. This story has a real vintage vibe and Iris seems to wear vintage inspired clothing. Maybe that is why she is so inspired by linens and aprons. Do people still wear aprons? I could be wrong, but needless to say that has nothing to do with the success or failure of this book.

This book is great. You get sucked in from the very beginning and feel for their unusual circumstances and the dead body that is unearthed in their new store. Iris stumbles a few times verbally getting herself into hot water and pushing away people she would rather stay close to… like the strapping Ian. The characters are fun and capture your attention, even the dead ones. I would have kind of like to see Star Moonshine on the page just to see who she would have been in flesh and blood form.

If you are looking for a good cozy mystery to read during this chilly weather, definitely give this one a go. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I found this cozy absolutely delightful!
With a genre that is quickly gaining popularity - with new releases around every corner - it is easy to forget some titles.

Not the case with this one! This cozy had a strong main character, Iris, FUN supporting characters (BFF Madison, Grammie etc), a swoony love interest ( Ian), and a puzzling mystery. The mystery was well done, although it spanned years and years - making some of the "clues" a stretch - it was still executed well. A lot of suspects, not sure who to trust. Multiple people with believable motives.

The writing itself was entertaining. Great flow, and FUNNY. There were some witty lines in there - always fun to read. Good character development. Will definitely be checking out the next one.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher/author for affording me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For a brand new series I was surprised how well written this book was. Enough background story to cover the bases but the characters were well written and fleshed out. The story never missed a beat and the ending wasn't rushed and well thought out.
I'll read more by this author and can't wait for the next installment of this series!

This was a really enjoyable first in a new series.
Entertaining characters and a well written whodunit.
I highly recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

From the character’s introduction to past remembrance to suspects that had secrets to keep and to friends collaborating on solving this case, the author set the stage for this well-written and fast-paced drama that quickly becoming a pager-turner as I had to know how this was all going to end.

The mystery was nicely done with a comfortable tone and enough intrigue to keep me enthralled in the story unfolding. When I thought I had a handle on who was responsible, the author changed direction, all to the betterment of how well this story was being told. I really enjoyed all that the author put forth in the telling of this tale, a nice multi-arc plot, a lovable cast of characters, engaging dialogue, a small-town atmosphere, a romantic interest or two (no love triangles), a few furry friends, and a tale that was enjoyable.

I had such a good time reading this delightfully entertaining debut series and I look forward to more adventures with Iris and her friends.

Hems and Homicide is an interesting story that takes place in a small Maine town. The main character and her best friends plus her grandmother discovers a long buried skeleton. They set out to solve the murder. You'll enjoy this cozy mystery read.

After her grandfather's death, Iris Buckley moves back to the quaint village of Blueberry Cove, Maine to help her widowed grandmother Anne. Iris has an online apron business and with her grandmother's support, decides to open a storefront. While renovations are going on, she finds the skeletal remains of her grandmother's friend Star who disappeared in the 70s. Then a few days later, a man is found dead in their store. There seems to be a connection between the two murders and Iris is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Hems and Homicide is an enjoyable new cozy mystery series. It has a delightful cast of characters, a charming, historic small-town setting, and two intriguing murder mysteries. The plot is complex, well-paced, and has plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. Iris and her grandmother were likable characters and I loved their strong bond with each other. If you like vintage clothing and historic towns, then this is the perfect cozy for you. This is a promising start to a new series and I look forward to the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hems and Homicide is an excellent start to a brand new series! I am literally going crazy for cozy mysteries and am always on the lookout for new series to start! Well, this one was brilliant! I loved the plot, characters, and the who-dun-it! I highly recommend it.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the setting of the town and the characters. I really liked how they dwelled on the past to try to figure out the mystery of who Star was and who killed her and who killed Elliot which turned out to be a separate issue. I thought the pacing was good, #HemsHomicide #NetGalley

I just love when a new series starts with an excellent book. This is a well written cozy mystery that is sure to keep you entertained. A charming small town in Maine, an apron shop, interesting characters, and 2 murders! What's not to love?! Highly recommend!

I was pleasantly surprised by this new series by Elizabeth Penney. It takes place in Maine and Iris is opening an apron shop with her grandmother. A body is discovered in the basement and soon Iris becomes involved and is eager to solve the mystery. I'm looking forward to her next novel in this series.