Crafty Murder: A Sweet Cozy Mystery

By S. Y. Robins

After her parents died in her teens, Emmeline was adrift, but determined to make something of herself. That was what her parents would have wanted, right? She aced college and went to business school, then moved to her brother's new town, hoping to settle down. But plans have a way of not working out, and after a few years, Emmeline quit her stable, sensible job to open a tea shop. Successful and happy for the first time in years, Emmeline thought she had just about everything a girl could want. Who cared if she was pining after her downstairs neighbor, Nick? Who cared if the shop was just barely turning a profit? She got to do a job she loved all day every day. And with the town craft fair coming up, she set her sights on winning the big craft competition. Only… Emmeline's life is about to turn upside down. Because a murderer is lurking in her tiny town, and when they strike at the craft competition, they make sure that the blame falls squarely on Emmeline.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lovy Books Ltd
• Release date: Aug 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223768463

Book preview

1

Emmeline threaded her way through the dense knot of people, glowing with pride as she heard snatches of conversation—and plenty of compliments for her work. She probably wasn’t going to win first prize in the craft competition, but her honey-spice cupcakes were a definite hit, and she had almost sold out of the premeasured mix she made on a hunch.

Today was special for more than just the competition. A year ago to the day, she had screwed up all her courage and quit her job at the local bank, using her savings to buy a vacant storefront on Main Street. Emmeline’s Tea and Cakes had opened less than a month later, filled with comfy armchairs and thrift store tables, and with a freshly painted pink-and-gold sign she’d labored over on her living room floor. The shop had been a hit at once, and Emmeline now spent her days up to her elbows in flour and spices, turning out batches of her famous cakes.

The town craft fair seemed the ideal place to get a little more exposure. It was pricey to set up a booth, but Emmeline had bribed a few family members with a lifetime supply of cakes if they would sell mix for her, while she herself circulated through the fair with samples of her cupcakes.

Today, on the third and final day of the fair, she was hoping against hope that all the people who loved her cake had turned out to vote for her. She had stiff competition. Audrey, the mayor’s wife had been making exquisite quilts for as long as anyone could remember, and they had won at the craft competition for the last two years. The quilt this year, a depiction of the four seasons with falling leaves, flowers, and snow swirling to the center, took Emmeline’s breath away.

The only possible competition she might have was from James Pike, a town newcomer. Emmeline had seen him a few times at her tea shop, and had never taken much notice of him. With his sandy brown hair, roundish face, and retiring manner, he escaped attention most of the time—until three days ago, that was, when everyone found out he made gorgeous statues. The one he’d entered, a brass weeping willow, looked like something she might see in a high-end art gallery.

"This cake is delicious," someone said nearby, and Emmeline flushed with pleasure, turning to look as an out-of-towner polished off the last bite of a cupcake. She was so preoccupied with watching the woman fill out her ballot that she ran headlong into Audrey.

Mrs. Galloway! I’m so sorry. She bent to help the woman pick up a sheaf of papers and a plastic bottle caught her eye. Is this yours?

Yes, Audrey said coolly, reaching out to pluck them from Emmeline’s hand. Those are my husband’s eye drops.

Emmeline stood awkwardly. She had never warmed to Audrey, despite many people’s assurances that the woman was a great force for change in the community. Notably younger than her husband, Audrey seemed to have fended off the accusations of trophy wife by spending her time makeup free and