This one fell flat for me. The beginning was slow and fairly boring. The mystery aspect did pick up but I didn't particularly like Martha or the love interest. I did enjoy the way in which the mystery was solved and how she figured it out - it was rather unique to write messages, stories into her quilts in braille. and I really enjoyed how that all came together. I guess the main issue is that by the end of the novel, I felt more connected with the dead woman, Claire. Her life and subsequent death and the circumstances surrounding her, were a way more fascinating and riveting story. On the other hand, I didn't care for Martha at all. I didn't care about her life story and her thoughts felt very messy - Martha's not the kind of person I'd be friends with - she just felt weak to me. I did like the supporting cast of Birdie and Lucy and the rest of Lucy's family but they certainly weren't unique enough or vibrant enough to make it worth reading. This isn't bad. It's just not anything to rave about. It's a bit more technical than the [b:Quilt or Innocence|13006585|Quilt or Innocence (A Southern Quilting Mystery, #1)|Elizabeth Spann Craig|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327561763l/13006585._SY75_.jpg|18167962] series and for a cozy mystery a lot longer than normal. Or at least felt like it was. Unfortunately I felt every bit of that extra length. ( )

My step-daughter gave this to me for Mothers' Day because I am a quilter. It's not my usual fare, but I loved it. It's a quick, fun read with friendly, relatable characters and quilt trivia. I liked it so much I bought the entire series. You can easily breeze through one in a day and they provide a much needed escape the stresses in today's COVID-19 world and you'll get some good quilt info, so even experienced quilters can learn something. ( )

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If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, then you won't want to miss debut author Mary Marks' new Quilting Mystery series. Forget Me Knot, the first novel in the series, is a clever whodunit that has an engaging cast of likable characters.

Quilters and best friends Martha Rose, Lucy Mondello and Birdie Watson are considering adding Claire Terry to their weekly quilting sessions. Claire is an extraordinary prize-winning quilter and she is also member of their local quilting guild. But when the quilting trio arrive at Claire's for their weekly meeting, they are shocked to discover her lifeless body. Her death is quickly ruled a homicide and the next day, Claire, Lucy and Martha's award winning quilts are stolen from a local quilt show. Is Claire's death somehow related to the thefts? But most importantly, why would anyone want to murder the wealthy philanthropist?

Martha Rose is the main protagonist of the series and she is a well-developed, unique character. The divorced mother of one is in her mid-fifties and disabled due to fibromyalgia. Martha is smart, savvy and nothing gets her back up faster than someone telling her she can't do something. She is a loyal friend and she is a woman who keeps her word. Quilting is more than her hobby. It is her passion and it is also her therapy. (As someone who also quilts, I totally understand the therapeutic benefits of losing yourself in a project.)

Sidekicks Lucy and Birdie are equally well-developed. They each bring different strengths to the investigation and I enjoyed getting to know them. Lucy has been married to her high school sweetheart Ray for fifty years and they have five grown sons. When Martha lands herself in a bit of a tight spot, Lucy, Ray and the boys are quick to help her out. Birdie's marriage is nowhere near as happy as Lucy's and I am curious to see if this will change in any of the upcoming books in the series.

Martha first begins investigating Claire's death at the request of Claire's bereaved mother. Despite numerous pleas from homicide/robbery detective Arlo Beavers to stay out of the investigation, Martha continues poking around in Claire's life. Martha uncovers important clues and her quilting expertise proves invaluable in eventually cracking the case wide open.

Forget Me Knot is a fast-paced novel that is sure to delight mystery lovers. The case is intriguing and just like Martha, I overlooked a vital clue that pointed to the killer's identity. The quilting aspect makes the series unique and these details enrich the overall story. There is just the tiniest bit of a romance between Martha and Arlo, but it is very understated.

Forget Me Knot is an enjoyable first installment in Mary Marks' Quilting Mystery series and I am very eager to read Martha, Birdie and Lucy's next adventure. ( )

I really loved this book. Martha Rose and her quilting buddies Birdie and Lucy are going to meet Claire, another quilter, to see if they want her to join their group. When they get to her house there is no answer. As they peek into the windows, they see someone lying on the ground. A neighbour lets them in and they find Claire dead. The mystery has begun. I do not want to give the plot away, so suffice it to say that Martha Rose meets with Claire's mother and she asks her to help her find out what happened to her daughter. The quilting information was interesting, but the way the mystery was solved was quite ingenious. I loved the ladies, they were each unique but meshed together well. Their love for each other was so apparent. Of course, the love interest that Martha develops in the book added another interesting twist. I can't wait to read the next one. ( )