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Embroidered Truths: 03/13/16
Embroidered Truths by Monica Ferris is the ninth book in the Needlecraft mystery series. Can I just pause for a moment and say: Poor Godwin? Because that's what I was thinking through most of the book. Through the last eight books, it's been established that Godwin is gay. He's young but not as young as he acts. He's been in a long term, rocky relationship with a lawyer named John. John in the last couple books has been shown to be a bit of a sugar daddy and perhaps a gas-lamper too. And when he ends up murdered in Embroidered Truths after kicking Godwin out (again), Godwin is the police's first and only suspect. Except for a couple brief conversations with Betsy, John has remained of screen. At work, Godwin hardly mentions him beyond making it clear that John doesn't approve of Godwin's line of work or his friends. The why behind John's behavior isn't brought up nor is anything else about him until now when Betsy has to learn everything she can about him to prove one way or another Godwin's innocence. Embroidered Truths is also the first mystery, cozy or otherwise, I've read where the minutia of having a friend or relative in jail is ever addressed. Betsy, though recently come into her sister's inheritance, still has limited funds available. She has to decide how best to spend what she can to help Godwin i the best way possible: hiring a lawyer, investigating John's past, paying other legal fees. What this means for Godwin, is that he's stuck in jail until the trial. Like Betsy I must admit to assuming the worst for Godwin's prospects while awaiting trial. Here he gets to show what's under the surface of his happy-go-lucky persona. He doesn't come out a changed man but he's also not beaten and defeated by the experience either. Four stars Comments (0) |