A Bad Day for Sorry by Sophie Littlefield from Colorado mystery author Patricia Stoltey. She called it one of her three favorite fiction reads of 2009.
My First Impression
I love the cover. I know, I know. Book reviews aren't supposed to comment on book covers, since they are the work of the marketing department and not the author. But I think this cover is great. It made me want to pick up the book. I especially like the fabric on the apron. I realize it's probably all computer-generated, but given my love of fabric, every time I picked up this book I wanted to buy the fabric on that apron!
Our Quilting HeroineSpeaking as someone who is passionate about crafting, there's not quite
enough quilting in this book. There is a very brief quilting-related scene in the middle and a pivotal quilt-related moment at the end. (I can't be more specific without giving away the ending.) I'm not suggesting that the book needed a quilting bee scene. That would destroy the wonderful pace and tone of the book. But I expected Stella to see the world through quilter's eyes. Even when I'm out grocery shopping, I'm noticing things that I might use later as a crafter. Similarly, I'd expect Stella to notice quiltish things like the bright printed fabric of a toddler's dress or the crooked stitches on the deli clerk's apron.
My minor quilting quibble aside, I do believe everything else about Stella. I believe she has a thing for the sheriff, that she did kill her husband, and that she believes she is helping other women right wrongs. Stella feels like a real person with both good and bad characteristics. I believe that Stella's heart is in the right place, despite her violent tendencies. I liked her so much that I started reading very fast towards the end of the book because I wanted to make sure she would be okay!
- You are tired of "old lady quilter" stereotypes.
- You like hardboiled crime or revenge stories. (The author's short stories appeared in a publication called Thuglit, to give you an idea of her writing style.)
- You enjoyed Thelma and Louise.
- You want to read a well-written, refreshing new take on crime fiction. I wasn't at all surprised to learn that A Bad Day for Sorry is an Edgar finalist in the Best First Mystery category.
A word of warning: If you like your mysteries cozy, sweet, and safe with recipes and patterns at the back of the book, this is not the book for you. This is a hard-hitting crime book with swearing and up-close violence. This is not to say that there isn't any humor in it, but it isn't the typically gentle humor found in cozy mysteries. Before you buy it, I recommend you check out the excerpt on the author's website. If you like the excerpt, you'll love the book!