Patchwork and Quilting Terms: What are Quilt Mysteries?

Quilt mysteries are books and videos about mysteries that is somehow related to quilting. They are suspenseful stories about puzzling events that eventually get solved at the end of the story. As they are books written for adults, the puzzling event tends to be a crime of some kind. Sometimes a murder or other crime takes place in a quilt shop. Other times the person solving the mysteries is a quilter. Sometimes a victim or perpetrator is a quilter. Often, the detective is a quilt shop owner.

Like many mysteries, these quilt mysteries tend to be made into a series of books. While some series include quilters in one of their mysteries, quilt mystery series focus on quilters throughout the series.

Some popular quilt mystery series include:

• Benni Harper Mystery Series by Earlene Fowler. This is probably the most popular and well-known quilt series. Each of the books is based on a different quilt block pattern.
• Someday Quilts Mysteries by Claire O'Donahue
• Shipshewana Amish Mysteries by Vannetta Chapman involves the owner of Daisy's Quilt Shop.
• Harriet Truman/ Loose Threads Mysteries by Arlene Sachitano is about Harriet who inherits a quilt shop called Loose Threads.
• Killer Quilts Mystery Series by Karen Buck
• Elizabeth Blair Mysteries by Lizbie Brown is set in Bath, England.
• Queens Bees Mystery Series by Sally Goldenbaum is set in Massachusetts.
• Quilting Mystery Series by Terri Thayer involves Dewey who inherited the store, Quilter Paradiso, from her mother.
• Patchwork Mystery Series is written by a number of different Guidepost writers.

Because quilt mysteries and mystery quilts sound so similar, but are two completely different things, it is important to be careful with the terms you use to so that you can be sure you are getting what you want. Even if you use the right term, it is possible that the person you are talking to is thinking of the other one.

Quilt mysteries tend to be fun and fast, lighthearted reads, as long as you don't get too caught up in the fact that there was a murder involved. Most, but not all, of the books are written with a mature audience in mind, which means you are not likely to find curse words, risqué sex scenes, or gory descriptions of blood and guts.

Some quilt mysteries may also provide recipes or patterns for quilt blocks or even quilts. You can learn quilt terms and other information about quilting in a fun and casual way.

Quilt mysteries are great to read when you don't have time to make a quilt, like when you are commuting on a bus or train, or waiting at a doctor's or dentist's office. You can read these books and be involved in quilting without actually pulling out fabric or thread.

They also make great gifts for quilters and for mystery lovers.