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  • Threadbare

  • A Needlecraft Mystery
  • By: Monica Ferris
  • Narrated by: Susan Boyce
  • Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (89 ratings)

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Threadbare cover art

Threadbare

By: Monica Ferris
Narrated by: Susan Boyce
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Summary

When an elderly homeless woman is found dead on the shore of Lake Minnetonka, she's wearing something that holds the key to her identity but also opens up a mystery. Embroidered on her blouse is her will, in which she bequeaths everything she owns to her niece: Emily Hame, a member of the Monday Bunch at Betsy Devonshire's Crewel World needlework shop! Emily's aunt turns out to be the second homeless woman to be found dead under mysterious circumstances. It's up to Betsy to discover the common thread between the deaths - and to determine if a murderer may strike again.

Sew much more: listen to another Needlecraft Mystery.
©2011 Mary Monica Kuhfeld (P)2011 AudioGO

What listeners say about Threadbare

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting story

This was a free book, and I don’t want to be ungrateful- however the reader kept going on about “hardinger” - it’s hardanger- and other slight mispronounciations. Other glaring mistakes could have been author/editor errors, or the reader, but Alec was sometimes Eric and Vicki-Sue went home but was then miraculously back at work (and let’s not forget the doggy sex change!). And British people do not talk in mock-Cockney. Please, just stop it.
However, the story was interesting and a bit poignant, being mostly about the tragedy of how easy it is to become homeless and invisible. There were lots of descriptions and set-ups that never went anywhere, and I found that rather fun. Will there be some mild peril? (Spoiler, no)
So, all in all, I did enjoy it. I wouldn’t have bothered to review except for the Mockney accent, which made me furious, but I would probably listen to more by the same author.

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Enjoy the stories…

But please please please stop with the utterly appalling Irish/English accents. Totally spoils it.

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Quirky

Lighthearted and cleverly funny. I am enjoying the series of Monica Ferris murder mystery books.

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One of the more interesting story lines

Well told. One of the better story lines.it is strange how some of the story lines are painfully predictable and then there are a few gems also. Easy listening for super light entertainment

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  • LilB
  • 02-01-12

One of the better entries in the series

If you could sum up Threadbare in three words, what would they be?

With Threadbare, Monica Ferris has gotten back into the swing with the Needlecraft Mystery series. A plot that you couldn't figure out immediately, more new characters, but retaining enough of the basic charm of the series to make it well worth reading/listening to.

6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Engineer Antonio
  • 25-09-18

Riveting

One of Monica Ferris’s best books yet. Found it difficult to stop listening until I had finished the entire story. As a native Minnesotan, there were a few towns pronounced incorrectly, which is why I only rated the performance at four stars, and not everyone in Minnesota has a wonky accent, as the reader imagines. Overall, this was a very enjoyable listen.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Diane
  • 02-01-12

OK for mind candy and you are a fiber person

What did you like best about Threadbare? What did you like least?

I enjoyed the light hearted story. It was a no brainer just to listen to it. It is very specific target audience: fiber artists. The story line was light on substance and a little moralistic but overall I enjoy her writing.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I will read the Tipping Point

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

nothing to recommend

Did Threadbare inspire you to do anything?

My grandmother worked hardanger so it was interesting to hear how difficult it is to do. I would like to explore it.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Chalis
  • 15-04-13

ENJOYED THE STORY, BUT NOT THE NARRATION

When I'm in the mood for an "easy listening" book I often choose Monica Ferris. The stories are entertaining and the characters are likeable. I also enjoy the setting. Excelsior is a real place I have visited many times. I've had lunch at Antiquity Rose - it really does exist and the food is very good. If you've enjoyed other Monica Ferris books, you'll probably enjoy this one.

Narrator Susan Boyce has a pleasing voice, good diction, and did an acceptable job with character voices. However her pauses and emphasis on words seemed "off" to me. Many times it sounded to me like she was reading the text for the first time. I would definately listen closely to the audio sample of any other book she narrated before I purchased it.

The only needlework I've ever done was a few crewel embroidery projects many years ago. I enjoyed it, but it did not become hobby for me. The book includes discussions of needlework, but I don't find them overly long or tedious.

This is a relaxing "cozy" mystery. I believe I might have enjoyed it more with a different narrator.

1 person found this helpful

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  • deirdra
  • 14-12-12

It was ok

The mystery was pretty solid, Betsy did her usual thing of investigating. The characters are well written and established. The usual characters are there plus a couple of new ones.

This book was a bit of a departure from the usual quaint and affluent town of Excelsior. Betsy investigates the death of two homeless women. In order to do so she takes a homeless women on to help investigate. In doing so, Monica Ferris highlighted the plight of the homeless. I was a bit disappointed that Betsy didn't offer the homeless woman at least part time employment. If you are going to highlight a problem as big as homelessness, you might as well become part of the solution. Also, I find it unbelievable that Betsy is so cozy with her adversary Mike Malloy. He appears lazy in this novel as Betsy does all of the work and reports to him. It's an ok book. It passed the time. I'll probably read the next one when I'm between books and have nothing else to read.

1 person found this helpful

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  • sam's owner
  • 02-01-12

Monica Ferris is one of my favorite authors

I always happy to have a new release from Monica Ferris - her charactors are very real.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Sam McGuire
  • 03-05-23

still amazing

I am enjoying this series so much! It makes me want to learn to knit or pick up my counted cross stitch again. I live how steady characters grow & weave in & out through the series. Off to listen to the next one!

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 03-01-23

Wonderful Mystery

Love all of Monica Ferris' mysteries. She never lets you down.

I thoroughly hearing about all of the needlework hobbies.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Utente anonimo
  • 29-10-22

Can

Glad to have Susan back as narrator. I am enjoying the books and her sleuthing to help solve the murders. Can’t wait to listen to the next book.
Also glad Betsy has a love interest again.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Debbie
  • 26-10-21

Homelessness and Murder

Fifteen books in the series and still going strong. When a member of the Monday Bunch is suspected of murder, Betsy is asked to look into the murder of a homeless woman. Soon its discovered, that another homeless woman is dead. And her will is written out on her clothing. Both women were left frozen in the snow. As Betsy looks into the lives of both of these women, she discovers that the two deaths may be connected. Befriending a homeless woman, Annie, at the funeral of one of the women, Betsy begins to dig into what it is like to be homeless. Annie is brash and difficult to talk to, but I found the interaction between Betsy and Annie to be very interesting. When the two women take the train to Fargo, North Dakota, to investigate the past of one of the women, Annie agrees to go undercover at the homeless shelter where she had lived. The investigation took many twists and turns and as always, Betsy is the one to get to the truth before the authorities do. Excellent addition to the series.