After resting at the bottom of a lake for the last fifty years, the steam ferry Hopkins is being raised and returned to service. When crews bring it to the surface, it is carrying an unexpected passenger --the skeleton of a young woman. A scrap of water damaged lace is found near the body and Detective Mike Malloy is forced to once again solicit the expertise of Betsy and her group of needleworkers.

Shop customer, Alice Skoglund, recognizes the scrap as a piece of signature pattern bobbin lace made by Martha Winters, a longtime member of the shop's Monday Bunch needlecraft group. Most of the older folks in town remember Martha's philandering husband, Carl, disappeared with local waitress, Trudie Koch, right around the time of the ferry's sinking. Now the long absent Carl is suddenly found murdered in a local motel and the skeletal remains are identified as those of the missing waitress. All evidence points to a jealous Martha, but her friends at Crewel World are convinced of her innocence and turn to Betsy for help.

Betsy doggedly pursues clues while still reeling from the recent murder of her sister and attempting to adjust to a total lifestyle change after her divorce. Betsy should have been a sympathetic character, but I was never able to make a connection. This was also the case with many of the secondary characters, except Godwin, the gay shop assistant, who was particularly well drawn.

The clues leading to the perpetrator are clearly presented, although the fact the original crime takes place in the late 1940's certainly limits the possible suspects. The author definitely knows her needlework and descriptions of different techniques are scattered throughout the book. This is an effective tool in the resolution of the crime, but at times the needlework references overshadow the mystery.

Although the book was easily read in one sitting, I never felt fully involved enough to lose the sensation of being on the outside looking in. But if you are a needlecraft fan, the free cross-stitch pattern and detailed descriptions of lace making, knitting and counted cross-stitch could make this the perfect mystery for you.

--Karen Lynch