Publication Date: 09/01/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425275728
ISBN-13: 978-0425275726
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes
Nancy Haddock on the WEB: Website, Facebook, Goodreads
Excerpt from Basket Case, courtesy of the author's website
Synopsis:
First in a crafty new cozy mystery series from national bestselling author Nancy Haddock
There isn’t much crime in Lilyvale, Arkansas, but local authorities have their hands full with Ms. Sherry Mae Stanton Cutler and her housemates—a crafty group of retirees who’ve dubbed themselves the Silver Six. But when Sherry Mae’s niece, Nixy, arrives to keep them in line, Lilyvale also plays host to a killer.
When Leslee Stanton “Nixy” Nix gets the latest call from Lilyvale detective Eric Shoar, she knows it means trouble. There’s been another kitchen explosion at her Aunt Sherry’s farmhouse, and the dreamy-voiced detective has had enough. If Nixy doesn’t check on her aunt in person, the Silver Six could become wards of the court. But the trouble Nixy finds in Lilyvale is not at all what she expects.
The seniors are hosting a folk art festival at the farmhouse, featuring Sherry’s hand-woven baskets, when land developer Jill Elsman arrives to bully Nixy’s aunt into selling the property. When Jill is later found dead in the cemetery, Sherry is suspected of weaving a murder plot, and it’s up to Nixy and the Silver Six to untangle the truth.
Recipes and crafting tip included!
Thoughts:
Author Nancy Haddock is bringing readers a new series, with six, 60+ heroines with a penchant for murder and crafts. Basket Case, is great introduction to the Silver Six mystery series and readers will quickly fall in love with this eccentric cast of characters from Ms. Sherry to the local detective. Haddock does a fantastic job of setting up this series with colorful characters and back stories. You'll want to return to Lilyvale on a constant basis! Great new series!
What I Liked:
When a new cozy mystery series comes out I start speculating. How is this cozy series going to be different from the rest? How will it stand apart? Can it make it's mark? Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't, but once in a while a series comes along that is simply a stroke of genius. The new Silver Six series has tons of potential. Nancy Haddock did everything right in this first book in the series. Basket Case, introduces readers to six elderly ladies in the South who love to craft. This particular book centers around basket weaving, but the author leaves all kinds of possibilities for future books. Each of these ladies has quite the story to tell and I can just see the ideas for more books in the series on every page.
These ladies aren't just crafters though, they are mystery enthusiasts. When the dead body of a woman looking to buy Ms. Sherry's home ends up dead in the family cemetery, things don't look good. But with the help of the Silver Six, Ms. Sherry's niece, Nixy and Detective Shoar the killer will be brought to justice, one way or another. The characters in this one are just spectacular. So well developed and so fun! Haddock knew what she was doing when she started dreaming up Lilyvale, Arkansas and the people who would populate it. I can't wait to see what these ladies get into next.
What I Didn't Like:
I liked just about everything about this one and definitely feel it is 5 apple read. However, I do want to mention a strong trend in the cozy genre of late. There are a lot of 'Southern' cozies coming out. There are a lot of cozies coming out featuring older heroes and heroines, and there are a lot of cozies come out with a large group of possible heroines or heroes. I loved this one, but that just goes to show that trends happen even in the cozy genre and sometimes you get too much of a good thing. I hope to see more variety in the new cozies coming out soon, but in the mean time... this one rocks!
Bottom Line:
The mystery was well crafted and didn't start on the first page. Haddock allowed readers to get to know the town and the Silver Six first, before the murder occurred. I liked the undercurrent of romance between Nixy and Eric and I felt that added a different dimension to the story. The details about crafting and basket weaving were also nice touches. This is just a group of women I want to know more about and I think Haddock is really onto to something with this series.
Basket Case is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Basket Case by Nancy Haddock.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, September 18th.
1. Please leave a comment. Have you ever tried your hand at basket weaving? Do you decorate with baskets?
2. Please fill out the FORM.
25 comments:
LOL, no I have never attempted that, doubt I could do it. I have not decorated with baskets, either :)
I have never done basket weaving. I did decorate with baskets a couple of times. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I have not done any basket weaving myself. But I have a couple very pretty baskets that we bought while on vacation from a living history farm, so they are unique and hand done.
No basket weaving for me. It would never turn out. I did some macrame back in the 70s but that was hard enough. lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I have not done basket weaving but I do love to decorate with baskets
That would be another thing I would love to try, basket weaving. I love your review, and I definitely added this to my ever growing tbr list.
No basket weaving for me---but I have used them in decorating a few times since they can serve a dual purpose of decorating and storage.
That is a no for me on both accounts but it does look kind of fun. I might try basket weaving some day.
Thereadmaster@me.com
I have never attempted basket weaving but I do use baskets to decorate and use as storage. They are so much prettier than tubs or bags.
The only basket weaving I ever did was with construction paper. It's always been on my to-do list.
The closest I came was watching a demostration.
Meant to add that no I do not decorate with baskets. Humidity is high in this area and things like that tend to get moldy.
I have never tried basket weaving but I do decorate with baskets.
I've never tried to weave one but I do love unusual baskets!
no to both
I have never tried basket weaving! I use baskets for storage, but not solely for decoration. I love crafty cozies, and this sounds like a great start to a new series. :)
Love to decorate with baskets, but have not tried weaving them!
Have not tried it yet,seems interesting.
gloriawalshver@yahoo.com
I've never tried basket weaving but love baskets and have numerous examples around the house!
the closest I probably got to basketweaving is at Summer Camp, using strips of construction paper............
thank you for the giveaway.......
I do decorate with baskets but I have never tried basket weaving.
Thanks for the chance to win!
What a great title plus a new author for me and a new series so I would be able to start at the beginning.
wfnren at aol dot com
I do decorate a bit with baskets and use them a lot for storage in closets and cabinets, but no weaving. I enjoy reading about crafts. Doing them, not so much. Thanks for the giveaway.
I have never tried my hand at basket weaving. I have turned many a basket into a floral arrangement for my house, my Mom's house and as house warming gifts for friends.
I have never!
Post a Comment