As a reader, I don’t read genres perel se. I do read several mystery authors, some suspense authors, and some science fiction/fantasy authors. And one of the mystery authors I do read is not a main stream mystery writer. I just finished “Thai Die” by Monica Ferris amd yes it is fluff, but enjoyable fluff and I did learn something.
For those not acquainted with Betsy and her Crewel World needlecraft shop, I can understand. But I appreciate the puns, learning about the different kinds of threads, and rarely do I know who did the foul deed before the book is over 2/3 read.
“Thai Die” looks at the world of artifact smuggling, acquisition fever, and origins of kinds of needlework. In this case, needlework brought home by a member of the Monday Bunch who gather at Crewel World that returned from Thailand with several samples of silk. And as a favor, a courier for a Buddha that is very atypical. And arouses suspicions among the group, especially when people start showing up dead.
What I enjoy about books like this is the exposure to worlds I’m not personally involved in. I don’t do a lot of Needlework but my sisters do, and our time together isn’t spent just on needlework talk. Learning about the different kinds of knitting, cross stitch, and the world of canvas, cloth, and threads properties in a ficiton book is much more interesting than asking my sisters and leads to more appreciative comments on their efforts. The needlecraft mysteries are more entertaining as well. And this book also delves in Asian culture, archaeology, collection development, (as for a antropology major and librarian those subjects are natural hooks)as well as the elements of mystery.
“Thai Die” also explores the continuing relationships, those we chose to include in our “family” and those chosen for us. I like the quirky characters as much as I like the salt of the earth ones. And Monica Ferris populates this series of Needlecraft mysteries with both.
Which may be why I have always liked Dick Francis’s works. He is knowledgeable, well written, and has very well developed characters. While his books always involve the world of horse, the overlap at the track of other worlds such as art, banking, etc. are real.
So hurrah for well research books! Which is more than I can say about a certain mini TV series where the last Templar saw Jerusalem burning from a ship. Really! Jerusalem isn’t even visible from the Mediterranean!
So writers, if you are going to include a detail make sure it’s right!
Tags: characters, Mysteries, Needlework
