Book Review: One Sharp Stitch

One Sharp Stitch

One Sharp Stitch is a crafty cozy mystery featuring a charming setting, a family needlepoint shop, and a millenial protagonist with a big heart.

• Series: Nimble Needle Mystery (Book 1)

• Written by: Allie Pleiter

• Publication date: March 25, 2025

• Mystery type: Crafty cozy mystery

Graphic designer Shelby Phillips returns to her quaint hometown just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. She reluctantly takes over Nina's Nimble Needles, her mother’s needlepoint shop while her parents take a month long RV trip. Things come apart at the seams when Shelby gets entangled in a murder investigation and comes face to face with a crafty killer.

This fun new cozy was written by Allie Pleiter, an avid needlepointer and an internationally bestselling author who has written more than 50 books (including the Riverbank Knitting Mysteries). Allie’s crafting experience is evident in this book and helps to make the story a more authentic (and enjoyable) read.

The villain in this book is also crafty, making the mystery more puzzling than average. The sleuth, Shelby, is a good match for the killer. She is smart and has the support of a sister, a new friend, and some of the store’s customers.

Shelby is in her thirties and not super eager to take over the shop, even temporarily. She also has a few issues to work out with her “perfect” sister. So, there is some conflict to keep the subplots interesting. There is also a potential crush to offer up a hint of romance.

Small tidbits about needlepoint and crafting tools are sprinkled into the book to make this a true crafting cozy. People who do needlepoint will enjoy the details, and people who don’t do needlepoint won’t be overwhelmed or lost.

One Sharp Stitch concludes with a fun pattern for monogrammed coasters. This seems like a fun and very doable craft, even for beginners.

I really enjoyed reading One Sharp Stitch. The author has a great voice, the small lakeside town is charming, and the characters have room to grow. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

Disclosures: This page contains affiliate links. Cozy Crime Reads may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Cozy Crime Reads received an advanced reader copy of One Sharp Stitch from Kensington Cozies.