Death by Arts and Crafts is book #6 in the Abby McCree Mystery series by Alexis Morgan.

Abby McCree is on the planning committee for the town’s first Arts and Crafts fair. She and friends check out a few other local fairs the weekend before their fair. Despite her determination to stay away from murder investigations, she unfortunately finds herself pulled into one.

This is the first book in the series that I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Abby, Birdey, Dayna, Tripp, Gage, Ben, and Zeke are wonderful characters. They like to eat! The mysteries were intriguing and determining if they were related kept me guessing. There were a lot of twists that had me changing my mind about who the guilty party was. I’ve purchased the earlier books to catch up on the series. The ending has me excited to read the next 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.

Death by Arts and Crafts is the 6th Abby McCree mystery. I have only read one other, but I enjoyed it so I was excited to drive back into this series.
Abby finds a dead body at a craft fair and is pulled into the mystery as she's one of the last people to see the person alive. I like how there are multiple police/ex-military officers that Abby interacts with to make it more realistic that she would get involved with a murder investigation.
Her romantic story line deepen in this book as well.
I enjoyed the read!

An outing for Abby (as a new member of the city council) and her two friends to check out vendors who have signed up to be part of Snowberry Creek's first Arts and Crafts fair turns out to have something unwelcome added - a dead vendor. Because her business cards were found at the scene, the police come asking questions. Abby promised to stay away from investigating, she really did. However when the police turn their attention to her friend. Dyna, making her more than just a person of interest, Abby jumps in to clear her of suspicion. With the help of friends and her tenant/boyfriend Tripp Abby sets out to find the killer.
This entry works as a stand alone. The small PNW town makes a lovely setting, the recurring characters are people the reader comes to care about and the puzzle has many twists, turns and a few red herrings. I guessed wrong but that never, ever bothers me. Oh and I mustn't forget to mention Abby's great dog, Zeke.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Death by Arts and Crafts continues the story of amateur sleuth Abby McCree. Abby is the newest council member and goes to some other craft fairs in the area to meet with future vendors of the Snowberry Creek festival. Someone is murdered at the craft fair she’s visiting and she soon is involved in the mystery. Abby is quite reluctant to be involved but her friend becomes a suspect.
The action doesnt really get started until about 40% in but this was a fast read for me. I thought the mystery was well done and I liked how it all played out. This series is a must read for those who love a great mystery and enjoyable cast of characters!

I read other books in this series and liked them, this one didn't work for me as I found it a bit too slow.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Death by Arts and Crafts by Alexis Morgan has Abby McCree once again in the thick of things. What looks to be a delightful trip checking out other craft fair so that the community of Snowberry Creek can plan their own leads to a murder investigation at one of the fair. Abby’s friend in a suspect so what’s a woman to do but play amateur sleuth to find the real culprit.

This is a fun cozy mystery read with visiting of the arts and crafts fairs around with Abby and her friends. Part of the pleasure of reading this story was the friendship between the women. Of course the mystery is solved, the murderer caught without graphic violence or gore. Perfect for a cozy by the fire winter read dreaming of craft fairs to come.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was zippy, but our MC really didn’t do anything. She was somewhat involved and basically spent most of the book scared. I really do wish that she did something. However, there were enough red herrings and the ending was a pleasant surprise.

Death by Arts and Crafts is the 6th Abby McCree mystery. Whenever I pick an Abby mystery up I wonder how she could not have a job and yet spend money so freely. I know she has money from her former business and inherited her aunt’s house free and clear, but still. You’ll see what I mean about spending when Abby visits craft fairs with her friends Bridey and Dayna.
After the last encounter with a killer, Abby promised Tripp, Gage and Ben that she would stay out of police investigations. And she really does try even though her thoughts whirl with curiosity and questions when she learns that one of the artists she visited has been murdered.
I like how creative the author is in coming up with settings for the mystery to play out. There has been a big movie night in the park, an auction, a race and an arts and craft fair. It allows the main players to be the same but bring together new characters that figure into the murder.
I think the mystery is well written and has some good red herrings. I didn’t connect the dots until the end. I enjoyed reading Death by Arts and Crafts. I think it’s a mystery you can pick up at any part of the series. The main characters are well described and the relationships clear, so if you haven’t gotten to know Abby McCree pick up Death by Arts and Crafts and make her acquaintance.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to review this book.

Death by Arts and Crafts: An Abby McCree Mystery
By Alexis Morgan
Kensington
December 27, 2022


Review by Cynthia Chow

Perennially overtasked and overcommitted Abby McCree has not only been enlisted as the newest member of the Snowberry Creek city council, she has been made their liaison to coordinate with the organizing committee of the first arts and crafts festival. In order to prevent any unexpected requests by the participants, Abby has been assigned the task of reaching out to the artists and visiting them beforehand at other events taking place in Washington. Since she will be staying at a hotel during the night she’s away, Abby has invited her friends Dayna Fisk and the very pregnant Bridey Kyser to join her and partake in a group spa day. It’s at one of the neighboring town’s festivals that Abby meets Josiah Garth, a talented blacksmith whose iron yard stakes she’s unable to resist. As she learns from a later visit by Snowberry Creek Police Chief Gage Logan and Homicide Detective Ben Earle though, Josiah was not long after impaled with one of those iron stakes while his niece and another woman go missing. After (again) warning Abby away from their official investigation, she finds herself unable to resist when Dayna is drawn into the circle of suspects.

Dayna had argued with festival artist Wendy Larabie over display space, and since the latter also disappeared during the murder the events seem to be linked. Even though they are all now back home in Snowberry Creek, Abby and her friends are unable to resist conducting their own investigation as they track down artists and other festival participants. An eerily prophetic reading by the festival’s Madam G has Abby somewhat forced into planning a séance, but first she must ensure that she isn’t made into one of the ghosts being called up to provide information.

This 6th in the series lures in readers with a charming cast of characters who make up Abby’s circle of friends. While Abby worries at the high number of murder cases she’s been involved in since moving to Snowberry Creek, it’s undeniable that she has also played a critical role in solving them and bringing about justice. Her relationship with Special Forces veteran Tripp has settled into a vague state between friends and something more, but hopefully that will change as other couples settle down and update their own relationship statuses. The suspenseful build-up towards the villain’s ultimate reveal and confession will keep readers invested in the plot as much as they are in the daily lives of Abby and her friends, with her dog Zeke proving to be the real star of the show.

This was my first book by this author and I will be happy to read more of her work. I am entering the series at book 6 but it was easy to understand who was who and what was going on.

Abby McCree is the main character and in this book she is liaising for the Snowberry Creek City Council and attending local Arts and Craft fairs as the council prepares for their own. Unfortunately there is a murder at one of the fairs and Abby's friend Dayna is a suspect. Abby goes into full super sleuth mode although she is kept in line by Tripp, her lodger and would be boyfriend, and Ben and Gage, the local law officers.

Th main characters are all kind and caring about each other and very protective of Abby. The dialogue is often very funny and the mystery is suitably mysterious. I found it to be a light, entertaining and interesting read. Four stars.

I love the relationship between Abby & Tripp. The setting would be a nice place to be. The mystery always keeps me guessing.
Thank you to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Delightful addition to a charming series. It kept me guessing. Engaging characters and cool dog. I look forward to the further adventures of Abby McCree. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Abby McCree lives in a Victorian house that she inherited from her Aunt. Her boyfriend Tripp, ex-militarily, rents the guest cottage. Abby hasn't figured out what Tripp is majoring in. Abby volunteers for the city council. The town is having a fair and they've requested that Abby meet the vendors at other fairs. Josiah owns a booth filled with iron works. Abby witnesses a fight and then later a dead body is discovered. Abby tries to stay out of investigation but somehow she gets sucked in.

This is the sixth book in the series and my first. I was definitely able to read it as a standalone. The writing and the characters are fantastic. I'm hooked on this series and I can't wait to read more.

This is the 6th release in the Abby McCree Mystery series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity to review .My review opinions are my own. The protaganist Abby is a savvy smart investigator and a charcter that grows with each book.

As a new city council member Abby is helping to plan a arts and crafts festival. She and her best friend travel to other small town festivals to learn from their sucess. When a murder occurs as one local festival Abby is on the case with help from her friends. With her record for solving crimes and talent for getting people to talk Abby is on the case that may derail her own towns festival if she does not solve this case.

The sleuth was fun and kept me guessing to conclusion. The charcters all add to the story . I enjoy this fun cozy small town mystery series.

Abby is such a delightful character, and I've enjoyed getting to know her throughout the series along with the rest of the charming town, oh Jean and her casseroles! It's never a dull visit to Snowberry Creek. Very enjoyable and recommend the whole series.

This is the sixth book in the Abby McCree Mystery series; however, it is the first one I have read. This is easily a stand alone read, so no problem there. Abby McCree is an amateur sleuth who is the newest member of Snowberry Creek's City Council. Snowberry Creek is planning to hold their first Arts and Crafts fair and Abby has been given the role of liasing between the council and the Planning Committee for the fair.

In this capacity she and a couple of her friends spend a weekend visiting nearby fairs to see what's available, meet the artists and entice them to exhibit at Snowberry Creek's fair. Unfortunately, there is a murder at one of the fairs and somehow Abby's friend Dayna becomes a prime suspect. Abby feels the need to get involved to prove her friend's innocence.

This was a fun cozy mystery and I enjoyed reading about the fairs. I also enjoyed the women's friendships and the romance between Abby and Tripp. The characters well interesting and I liked most of them. The plot was well paced and I didn't get bored at any point.

Thanks to Kengington Book through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on Decmber 27, 2022.

Washington State, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, friendship, craft-fair, pet-dog, series, murder-investigation, murder, law-enforcement, relationships, veterans, artisans****

This is the first I've read in this series and by this author, but I plan to go back and find more. The characters are definitely engaging, the scenarios believable, the storyline cohesive, and I appreciate the fast pace. A few plot twists and several creative red herrings make this a fun book.
I requested and received a free EARC from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you

I really enjoy reading the "Death by" "Abby McCree" series by Alexis Morgan. There's a little bit of everything in these books--romance, mystery, danger, a sweet pup, and a woman building her new life.

Touring crafts fairs looking for ideas for one in Snowberry Creek is fun for Abby, Dayne, and Bridey until they get home- and get the news that someone they met has been murdered! Unfortunately, Dayna becomes the prime suspect, even though no one believes she did it, because of a back story I won't reveal. Abby and her friends (and her dog) decide they will uncover the villain. It's a classic cozy in many ways (with regard to the crimes especially) but I like this most for the characters. Abby and company are friendly with law enforcement, Tripp is a good romantic interest, and Abby's got, as they say, spunk. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I've read and enjoyed all of the books in the series but I think this will be fine as a standalone. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Death by Arts and Crafts is a fun, easy to read cozy mystery. Once again, Abby finds herself in the middle of another murder mystery, no matter how hard she tries to stay out of it. When it involves a friend, how can she not do a little sleuthing? I love the character development of Abby and her friends, including her dog, Zeke and the trouble she inadvertently gets into. The book can be read as a standalone but I recommend all the books in the series. I hope to revisit Snowberry Creek in the future!