Great start to what promises to be a very interesting new series. The mystery was intriguing and well-written, and I really enjoyed the main character, Abby, and her Aunt Sarah. The town and the townspeople are as interesting and alot of depth to the mystery.
I'm looking forward to reading more books on this 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.

I really expected this to be a book that grabbed my attention from first few pages but unfortunately this wasn't the case. They mystery was well-done but I found that I didn't have much interest in the characters.

Seams Like Murder: A Sewing Studio Mystery
By Dorothy Howell
Kensington
September 27, 20022

Review by Cynthia Chow

After a perfect storm of disasters that had Abbey Chandler losing her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment all at the same time, she has understandably retreated to Hideaway Grove, the town where she spent summers with her beloved Aunt Sarah. The owner of Sarah’s Sweets took in her niece while Abbey’s parents were off doing archaeological adventures, making Hideaway Grove the place where Abbey always felt most at home. So as she metaphorically licks her wounds and decides on what to do next in her life, Abbey finds herself unexpectedly taking over a charitable venture of sewing and donating pillowcase dresses to girls in Africa. Abbey’s welcome into Hideaway Grove would be going more smoothly if the local sheriff didn’t connect her to a recent hit-and-run accident, one that occurred just as she arrived in town and was witnessed to have been done by a car the same color as Abbey’s.

While Earlene’s witness statement is taken in as possibly incriminating Abbey, no one seems to believe Earlene’s other belief that the hit-and-run intentional. Feeling sympathetic to Earlene as they both share the humiliation of unflattering gossip, Abbey takes it upon herself to not only prove that librarian Iris Duncan was murdered, but to find the killer as well. It’s a task not made easier by the looming presence of Deputy Zach McKenna, who is either stalking her because he believes she’s a murder or is flirting with her because he finds her attractive. Confused about her own feelings and whether a job still remains for her back in Los Angeles, Abbey attempts to investigate the life of the very secretive librarian who was either adored or despised by other Hideaway Grove residents.

This debut series by the author of the extremely enjoyable and hilarious Hayley Randolph mysteries debarks into a far more cozy direction with this equally entertaining new book. While Zach’s innuendos and teasing at times could border into harassment territory considering that he is the investigating law enforcement officer, Abbey’s intrigue with him makes it reciprocal. The introduction of Sarah’s and Abbey’s neighbors opens up the possibility of more exploration of these fascinating characters in the future, none more so than Abbey’s childhood friend, whose engagement to her fiancé seems more like an arrangement of convenience than a true love match. Readers will be very invested in these young women’s lives and the possibilities that await them both romantically and professionally. The author’s involvement in Little Dresses for Africa helped to inspire this new series, placing a deeper and more emotional importance on this fun, sewing-centric new mystery.

This book was an enjoyable relaxing read. For a 1st book in a series, it was amazing. It got my attention from the start to the end of the book. Hideaway grove is appropriately named especially abbey is running from her job and going to visit a place she used to spend her summers, she keeps landing at the wrong place at the wrong time. But in the end, she figures out the mystery. Dorothy Hwell did a great job writing the book. Hope therir will be mor to come!!!!

Seams Like Murder is the first in a new series and it features Abbey Chandler, a twenty-four-year-old who returns to Hideaway Grove, her aunt's hometown, having left her job in Los Angeles. Aunt Sarah, age 59, owns a bakery called Sarah's Sweets. Abbey bumps into one of her acquaintances, Brooke, then as she and Sarah are on their way back to Sarah's house on Hummingbird Lane they hear screaming from one of Sarah's neighbours, Earlene, who has just witnessed a hit-and-run. Iris Duncan, the new librarian is dead.

A great mystery with a good number of suspects, I had a ball puzzling over the likely culprit. Good concealment by the author and excellent characterisation. I hope to follow this series.

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Kensington via NetGalley.

Abbey Chandler moves back to Hideaway Grove where she spent her childhood summers after being suspended at work. After the new librarian is hit by a car, Abbey is suspect because of a dent in her car. Taking up a new hobby while waiting for things to be sorted out, she learns to sew and sets up a studio in her aunt's bakery.

This is a great start to a new series. The characters are well thought out and likeable. I'll be sure to read the next book in the series.

Abbey comes to Hideaway Grove to hide from her problems in Los Angeles. It’s disguised as a visit to her Aunt Sarah. Once in Hideaway Grove, Abbey quickly gets immersed in a hit and run resulting in death. The victim, Iris, is not what she seemed.
Early on I pinpointed why the murder happened, what was behind it and who had committed the murder. It took quite a long time for the author to bring us to the point of reveal.
In reading the authors note at the end, the story seems to be a platform for the pillowcase dresses that are donated to Africa. A worthy cause, but maybe not the way to bring about a hit cozy mystery.
The story seemed to be a mash up of other cozy mystery themes - a bakery, a library and librarian, and a craft theme centered on sewing, painting dog statues and wood working.
The pillowcase dresses were a nice part of the story, but it was most the story and the mystery doesn’t shine. The book is longer than necessary for the story that is being told. The ending felt abrupt.
For these reasons, I rate Seams Like Murder at 3 stars. It is a nice read, but didn’t make the cut for me into the really liked it category.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

Seams Like Murder highlights the pros and cons of small town life and in doing so, proves itself as a promising start to a new cozy mystery series!

Abbey Chandler needs some time to de-stress and think, having been put on leave from her job in LA. She returns to her Aunt Sarah in the small town of Hideway Grove, where she spent time as a youth and where many of the residents remember her. Problems arise almost as soon as Abbey returns to town, one of which is the apparent hit-and-run of the head librarian by someone in a white car, which just happens to be the color of Abbey's car and it has a dent in the front fender. Of course the car is impounded, the sheriff believes Abbey to be involved. As more things start to happen around town and the sheriff becomes more convinced Abbey is involved, Abbey decides the only way to clear her name is to solve the crimes being committed herself.

Hideaway Grove, which is a great name for a small town, is full of unique and quirky characters. Some you like, some you don't, but all very well described and relatable. Police officer Zach McKenna, who seems to believe Abbey is not involved in the crimes, eventually becomes Abbey's love interest.

A 'side-story' to the murder is the vacant space adjacent to Sarah's bakery and how Abbey undertakes the transformation of the space into a sewing studio where children's pillowcase dresses will be made for the local church's mission project in Africa. As Abbey transforms the space, she too is transformed and slowly begins to put her life back together and find purpose in this small town.

Overall the book is engaging and holds your attention from the start. The crime however was very easily solved if you were astute and able to put the not-so-hidden clues together. With that being said, I will look forward to reading the second in the series!

Great start to a new series! I loved the setting and the characters; the town is so quaint and is the quintessential small town – everyone knows each other, they help each other out, they gossip. Abbey is a breath of fresh air; she’s smart, she’s capable, and she stands up for herself (for the most part). The mystery was intriguing and, although I figured out who the murderer was early on, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.

This was a good start to a new series. I enjoyed the fact that she went to her aunt’s, but learned the skill instead of already knowing it. It’s nice to see a MC learning something instead of already being super good at a skill. The murder was good, if easy to guess the murderer.

Seams Like Murder is the first book in The Sewing Studio Mystery series by Dorothy Howell.

Abbey has been suspended from her job in Los Angles and has decided to head to Hideaway Grove to spend time with her Aunt Sarah. Sarah runs Sarah’s Sweet’s, known for delicious cookies and cakes. Abbey drops by the store, and Sarah suggests that Abbey head over to her house, get cleaned up, and maybe a nap. First, Abbey is helping her aunt take the trash to the dumpster when she hears a loud noise and a woman scream. They head for the screaming woman, Earline, commenting that a car hit Iris Duncan, the new librarian in town, and kept on going. Sheriff Grumman comes to investigate and determines that it was an accident, not murder, as Earling claimed. Later, Grumman shows up and questions Abbey some more. Grumman ends up impounding Abbey’s car, as it matches the description of the vehicle that killed Iris. Later that day, she is introduced to Deputy Sheriff Zack McKenna, who refuses to offer Abbey any information on the investigation. Naturally, he tells her not to get involved and to leave the investigation to the police.

Abbey soon realizes that to get her car back and clear her name, she must conduct her own investigation. Reportedly Iris had been seeing a man in the alley. Maybe he wanted to break off their relationship and decided to run her down. Abbey also learns that Iris was not as well-liked as some thought. She needs to look into Miss Merriweather, an eighty-year-old who drives through town recklessly and has a white car. There are others that she needs to look into.

A subplot to the book involves a room in the cookie shop that Sarah’s friend Gretchen used as a sewing room to make pillowcase dresses. These dresses were being sent to Africa for young girls. Gretchen had to leave to care for her sick daughter and grandchildren. Everybody is pushing Abbey to take over making the dresses. But Abbey remembers, all too well, her attempt to make a skirt one summer during her teen years.

Instructions and tips for sewing pillowcase dresses are also included in the book.

Abbey Chandler arrives in Hideaway Grove just in time to be the prime suspect in a hit and run homicide. Her car is white, and has a dented fender, and has been impounded by the local police until they conclude their investigation. To keep herself occupied, she takes over a charity sewing project, even though her only experience with a sewing machine was as a teenager and it seems like everyone in town remembers the awful dress she made. It took me a little while to warm up to this one, but by the second half of the book the mystery element and Abbey's enthusiasm for pillowcase dresses had both started to become more central parts of the plot.

I love cozy mysteries and this one did not disappoint. Only I had an inkling of who the killer was and the motive. However, sometimes there's a twist so I kept reading just in case. I loved the small town with its quirky citizens. I'm also excited to see where the series goes and glad I started in the beginning.

Abbey Chandler's life has imploded and one night she decides to get in her car and visit her Aunt in Hidden Grove. Her Aunt Sarah owns a bakery in town called Sarah's Sweets. Abbey used to spend her summers with Sarah when her parents traveled for work. Abbey decides to help take out the trash in the back alley when she hears a scream and a car crash. The sheriff decides to take Abbey's car in as evidence of the hit & run. Her car has an unexplained dent in the front and the sheriff finds her suspicious. Abbey must look into the investigation to redeem her innocence.

On one hand, coming home to having your car accused of being used in a possible homicide was pretty awful for Abbey, but the possible friendship with Zack the handsome deputy would've been the saving grace, at least for me. But Abbey couldn't bring herself to be even halfway nice to him until it was well into the book and he'd done what he could to prove to her he didn't think she killed anyone. Poor guy having to work for that grumpy sheriff though! He was a piece o' work for sure!

I loved how Abbey and Caitlin were able to resume the bestie friendship they'd only enjoyed for summers and how the rest of the businesses kinda pitched in to help with the investigation. Everyone had the interest of getting a killer off the streets once they started believing said killer wasn't Abbey. There were enough cars in town that looked similar to hers it could've been anyone driving the car that killed the librarian. I know one person I was hoping might be the perp, but there were lots of good distractions and other possibilities too.

The showdown was pretty epic and as a seamstress I can totally laugh and say yep, that's just what a bunch of people who sew or craft (or want a killer off the streets) might do with a wily killer! I loved how an embroidery machine was included in the story too probably because I really like using mine and it's just fun to find something I can actually relate to in a book. This book releases tomorrow, September 27, don't miss it! It's pretty much everything I could want in a cozy mystery.

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

Abby’s life is at an all time low. She’s lost her abode and her job. Now she’s lost her car since the sheriff’s department Impounded it, believing it may be involved with the murder of the new librarian.
I liked the sewing stuff. It makes for a soothing read. There definitely are some unhinged people in Hideway Grove.
For the first time, I’m unsure about the love interest. Zack seems very controlling and suspicious. Demanding that Abby not leave town without his permission and keeping her car that long?? I’m not sold on him at all.

I received a free epub copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

I enjoyed this novel a lot. The writing in the beginning was a little rough around the edges and I felt like the characters were basically written to follow the standards that are found in a cozy mystery. The mystery in this one was good and kept me guessing till the end. The characters were all a little flat and not a whole lot was learned about any of them.

With that being said I can't wait to see what happens next in this series and how the relationships develop as the series progresses.

After having her life collapse, Abbey Chandler seeks refuge where she spent her childhood summers with her aunt. When she arrives, the towns librarian is mowed down by a white car and soon the sheriff sets his sights on Abby being the driver. While she is waiting for the police to solve the murder, Abby is embraced by the town and talked into helping organize the local craft fair and sew dresses for a charity. She also starts her own investigation and finds a new love for sewing.

I enjoyed Dorothy Howell's first book in her new series Seams Like Murder so much. This book made me want pick up sewing again and to learn how to sew with an embroidery machine. It was so much fun reading about all the sewing aspects.

The town in the book was welcoming and very stars hallowish. It really gave you that small town feel. The story kept me interested till the last page. I can't wait for the second installment in this series and find out what new sewing projects Abby is working on.

Thank you net gallery and Kensington for the ARC

After being suspended from her job in Los Angeles, Abbey Chandler decides to get away from it all. She visits her aunt, Sarah, in Hideaway Grove. What she thought would be a relaxing visit, turned into anything but relaxing.

A beloved local librarian is run down by a car and the car resembles Abbey’s car. The sheriff immediately suspects Abbey and takes her car in as evidence. There is one witness who gives Abbey a bag of books the librarian had dropped, but the witness soon vanishes.

Since the sheriff is determined to blame Abbey, she decides to do some of her own investigating. She quickly learns the librarian wasn’t beloved at all. There are many other potential suspects that fit the bill better than Abbey. After all, she didn’t even know the woman.

As the investigation continues, Abbey keeps herself busy by opening a sewing studio in the back of her aunt’s bakery. She gets a group of townspeople to work on a charity sewing project. While that occupies her time, she can’t get her mind off the investigation and clearing her name.

I fell in love with Hideaway Grove right away. The town is made up of interesting characters and shops. It felt like a town I’d enjoy living in without the mystery part, of course.

Abbey is a strong character. There are hints at a romance, but the main focus is the mystery. The story is fast paced with many twists and turns along the way. I was engrossed from page one until the end. I kept trying to figure out whodunit, but I didn’t get it until the end when things started to come together.

This is a solid start to a brand new series. I look forward to reading more and re-visiting these characters.







FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

It's the good start for a new cozy series and I throughly enjoyed this book as it's fast paced, well plotted, and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
I like Abbey and the cast of characters, the lovely setting.
I can't wait to read the next story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

This cozy mystery is set in the fictional California town of Hideaway Hollow, an owl-obsessed small town packed with gossip and primed for murder. Abbey visited her baker aunt there during her childhood summers, but now has rolled up in town, fleeing Los Angeles and an embarrassing incident at work that's left her mortified. Upon arrival, she encounters a hit and run accident that leaves a local librarian dead. When her car's bumper dent makes her a suspect and causes her vehicle to be taken by the police, she busies her days trying to solve the suspicious death so she can leave--and in the meantime is embroiled in small town gossip and volunteer work.

The set up is great, but the execution didn't click for me. So many of the major aspects of the mystery felt forced. The way Abbey is regarded as a suspect doesn't make sense to me as a reader or even to anyone in the book, but managed to trap her in town. She doesn't do anything to try to get her old job back--that situation escalates on its own. She doesn't even want to start the sewing studio, but is horned into it by busybodies who ignored every word she said. I felt more frustrated as I read, and didn't feel satisfied at the end when my prime suspect from the start ended up being guilty.