Kindle Edition Audiobook Download to your Nook (eBook) Download from Apple iTunes (eBook) Amazon Barnes & Noble Category:  Mystery/Suspense Publisher: Penguin USA ISBN-10:  0425239853 Type: Fiction Pages: 304 Copyright: Feb 3 2011 ISBN-13: 9780425239858 Price: $7.99 (eBook) While the cops are proceeding by the book, Katie Bonner investigates by the Artisan Alley booths to find a killer. The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner, Ezra Hilton, is found lying at the bottom of a staircase, bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. A collection of booths for artisans and craft sellers in a renovated applesauce factory building, Artisans Alley is the main attraction in the quaint Victoria Square shopping area. But business under Ezra had been faltering—enough to provoke someone to murder? While the cops are proceeding by the book, Katie is investigating by the booths—for the answer to the killer’s identity lies in the hidden secrets of Artisans Alley itself.         Excerpt “Are you thinking maybe Andy Rust killed Ezra?” Seth shook his head, cutting another piece of pie with his fork. “Why would he wait for a decade and a half for revenge? If he held a grudge, and I don’t think he did, why did he wait a year before killing Ezra?” “To avert suspicion?” Katie asked. “You’ve been watching too many TV cop shows,” Seth said, amused. Katie scraped another thin layer of chocolate and peanut butter onto her fork, trying to prolong the culinary decadence. “I did warn you I’ve spent the last few days thinking everyone’s a murderer.” “You might be looked at as a suspect yourself,” Seth admonished. Katie gaped at him. “Me?” “You had the most to gain. Or at least that’s the way Detective Davenport’s going to look at it.” “Me?” Katie echoed again. “Think of it from a police perspective. Because of Chad’s ten percent investment, when you inherit half the business, you’ll gave the majority interest, meaning you get to call the shots. You got to quit a job you didn’t like, and as the owner of your own business you get more respect, more prestige. People have been killed for a lot less. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gerald Hilton hasn’t already mentioned all this to Detective Davenport. Your favorite cop may also think you’re feeding him all your suspicions to throw him off the track.” “That’s ridiculous. I’m trying my darndest just to keep Artisans Alley afloat. If you want suspicious, why hasn’t anyone seen Gerald Hilton since last Saturday?” “I have.” “When?” “This morning—he came to my office. He wants me to persuade you to sell the land to the hotel chain.” “And you didn’t tell me?” Katie asked, forgetting about dessert and setting her fork aside. “How is it relevant?” “Oh, Seth—it proves he’s got a motive for getting rid of his uncle. You said Ezra changed his will in a hurry. Had Gerald been the sole heir before that?” Seth nodded. “I see what you mean.” He polished off the last of his pie. “I wouldn’t worry about any of this, Katie. Stay focused on keeping Artisans Alley open—if that’s what you want.”

Romance Readers Connection
A CRAFTY KILLING is the first in a new series and it begins with a bang! I can’t wait to see the next one. Katie is a likeable character with her quirky candy eating and her huge heart. The story line weaves you through multiple people’s lives and leaves open going back into the past, or moving forward. Lorraine Bartlett is an excellent writer, portraying perfect pictures with her words that the reader just steps in and becomes part of the story with ease. This will be a series to watch!

The Best Reviews
Katie Bonner busts her butt working for a slave-driver, a jerk who careS less about her and more about what she can do for him. But she needs this job. Every dime she makes at the insurance agency goes into paying first for her late husband's funeral expenses, and then towards replacing all of the money he took out of their savings to gain a small percentage of ownership in Artisans Alley. Ezra Hilton owns Artisans Alley, a renovated apple warehouse, divided into sections (booths), for individual artists to sell their work. In McKinlay Mill Artisans Alley seems to be the glue that holds them all together.

While driving to work one morning, Katie spots the police at the Alley and stops to see what is going on. She is shocked to find that not only has poor Ezra been murdered, but that she is now the majority owner of Artisans Alley, having both her husband's shares and half of the business from Ezra. Ezra's nephew inherits the other half. Up until this point, she has remained his 'silent' partner, as Ezra was extremely set in his ways, and not very open to making any changes. Katie knows that Artisans Alley is now not only her responsibility, but is also in a failing financial state. She can't afford to leave her tiresome, yet well-paying job to manage a failing business. But then she wonders -- what if she can turn it around? What if she can start to make a profit? Maybe, just maybe, she can sell it and use those funds to buy her dream -- the old, yet amazingly beautiful Victorian that she would someday love to turn into a Bed & Breakfast.

But then another man turns up dead, and it doesn't appear that the police care all that much about finding the killer: someone who obviously has issue with those associated with Artisans Alley. It's up to Katie to figure out just who is killing those associated with Artisans Alley and why. Is it the owner of the new pizza place across the street who doesn't like the fact that he hasn't been allowed to join the Merchant's Association? One of the artists who don't want "plain ole crafters" renting booth space? The nephew who was counting on selling the building and pocketing the money? Mary, the one woman who has been keeping company with or Nora, the woman the victim scorned for Mary and who is full of piss and vinegar about the situation?

A Crafty Killing is a fantastic start to a new cozy series written by the author of one of my favorite cozy series (see The Booktown Mysteries written as Lorna Barrett). I try not to expect too much from a first book in a series, but knowing the author and her writing style, I was certain I would not be let down. And I wasn't. Ms. Bartlett has created a warm, inviting town where everyone is on a first name basis and murder is a rarity. The characters are quirky, yet relatable. They are begging to tell you the rest of their story. Ms. Bartlett has laid the perfect groundwork for future books in this series that introduces us to Katie and the people who sell their wares at Artisans Alley. Will Katie run Artisans Alley long enough to turn it around and sell it for her dream B&B, or has she found a new dream? A Crafty Killing kept my attention from the very first word until I turned the last page. The red herrings were aplenty, and the killer a complete surprise. Ms. Bartlett has created a crafty tale that must be read.

Stuff & Nonsense
Recently widowed Katie Bonner is just getting used to the idea of her husband being gone. So when his former business partner Ezra Hilton dies unexpectedly, and she learns that she is the main beneficiary, she's flabbergasted. She works full-time, and knows next-to-nothing about the operations of Artisans Alley.

But when she takes time off work to deal with funeral arrangements and familiarize herself with how the Alley is run, her employer is extremely difficult and unsupportive. In frustration, she quits her job, and decides that operating and promoting Artisans Alley is more suitable to her education and talents anyway.

Frustrated, because she doesn't think the police are doing enough to determine the cause of Ezra's death, which she's certain was NOT accidental, she starts to investigate on her own. It's then that she realizes that her husband Chad's car crash might not have been accidental. She seeks the advice of the owner of the pizza parlor next door to the Alley, but the more she learns about him and the other shopkeepers, the more confused she is about whom to trust.

Bartlett's new series is going to be a hit. A likeable, intelligent, independent protagonist with just enough problems and insecurities to be realistic, and a convincing mystery make this an unputdownable read.