:: May 2003 
Review
Hanging by a Thread
Hanging by a Thread is the latest in a series of needlecraft mysteries by Monica Ferris. It was preceded by the clever titles, A Murderous Yarn, Unraveled Sleeve, A Stitch in Time, Framed in Lace, and Crewel World. It is not necessary to read the mysteries in the order in which they were written; however, starting with Crewel World will explain to the reader how the main character, Betsy Devonshire, came to be the owner of the needlework shop of the same name. This shop is the central scene for the discussion of investigative clues and potential suspects in a variety of murder cases.
Of interest to the needleworker are the numerous references to actual fibres, patterns, kits, and designers. Of note to the careful reader is one place in Hanging by a Thread where the name of the wrong character appears twice (pp. 124-5). It is a minor mistake, and does not impact directly on the plot.
It is a treat to get to read mysteries in which fibre plays such a prominent role. Ms. Norris includes a simple crossstitch pattern in the back of each mystery. The length of her needlecraft mysteries is approximately 250 pages, so buy two if your vacation lasts longer than a weekend