What do You think about Embroidered Truths (2006)?
Of all Monica Ferris's books that I've read so far (I'm reading them in order), I think this was the least satisfying of them all. The writing was consistent with her previous work: an easy-going casual style. The plot though had too many holes in it; there were too many questions left unanswered. It seemed as if the author wasted too much time on describing how Betsy hired a lawyer and debated bailing Goddy out and then suddenly realized she had hit some mystery page limit and had to finish the book lickity-split. The ending itself was unsatisfying: one chapter the murderer is arrested, the next is months later and we are told how everything has resolved. Except everything isn't explained… like how the police could conclude that someone who committed other crimes could also be responsible for Nye's murder. Why did the murderer decide to kill Nye now, rather than months earlier? Why would the police not be able to break the passwords on Nye's computer and the encryption, when Betsy's teen friend did it in a few hours? If they did, why didn't the police suspect that there might be other people besides Goddy who might murder Nye? What evidence did the police have that made Goddy a suspect? How did the police figure out that Betsy couldn't give Goddy an alibi? And more fundamentally: why did Nye make the secret plans he did? Why was he finally tossing Goddy out? Maybe it is me, but just saying that he is a conflicted homosexual doesn't explain his actions. Ferris's books are light and fluffy-- that's one of the reasons I like them-- but they usually are light, fluffy but solidly thought out mysteries. This one wasn't.
—Gretchen
A good entry in this series with a satisfying mystery and the addition of a new character. One thing that I did have a problem with though, was the homophobia that was allowed to run through this book. Godwin, the suspect in this book and one of the series' main characters, is gay and throughout the course of her investigation, people make cruel and unwarranted comments about the homosexual lifestyle. I understand that the author was trying to make a point--that is, she (and we as readers) is tolerant, but we must remember that not everyone is. Well and good, but it's a marked contrast to the rest of the series, in which Goddy's homosexuality is barely talked about--it's a facet of who he is, not the main point. In this story, his gay-ness takes center stage in a way that is uncomfortable; that fact the he is gay should be treated, as it usually is, as a fact of life, not some strange new plot development. It didn't seem to fit well with the story itself, which aside from that was quite good.
—Christine
Another light, slightly fluffy read - perfect for a cold miserable weekend. In this one Betsy's shop manager Godwin is in a lot of trouble, as he is arrested for Murder. Thankfully Betsy comes to his aid, and begins her own investigation into the murder. Godwin is my favourite character in this series so it was great having him so much in middle of the story. There were a few places where I though Goddy's reactions to things were unrealistic, especially bearing in mind his boyfriend has just died. If I was being horribly picky I would have to say the characters have little depth to them in general, but this is a light cosy read, and not meant to be anything else.
—Ali
