Stamped Out

Packed full of family drama and small-town charm, Thayer’s enjoyable mystery series debut outshines most other crafting cozies. After her marriage crumbles and her interior decoration career deteriorates, April Buchert returns to her hometown of Aldenville, Pa., in search of a new beginning. She’s helping her father, Ed, on an extensive restoration project when a skull tumbles from the rubble of an old building. Ed was in charge of the building’s construction and demolition; a cop with a grudge now thinks he’s a killer, and April must clear his name. The only bright spot in April’s new life is the Stamping Sisters, a group of fellow craftswomen who support her when she feels like everything’s coming apart. Twists and turns keep the story fresh and compulsively readable, and the characters feel like family by the time the last page is turned. Thayer and the Stamping Sisters are worth keeping an eye on. (Sept.)