A Deadly Craft by Sydney Abrams is a Summertime Books Event pick #cozymystery #mystery #summerreads #giveaway
- N. N. Light
- Jun 26
- 4 min read
Title:
A Deadly Craft
Author:
Sydney Abrams
Genre:
Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb:
Alex and her artist friends from the Creative Workshop are in high spirits for the annual winter arts and crafts festival. However, the festival’s cheer could be masking a dark conspiracy. An unidentified hit-and-run victim is found dead in a snowbank, followed by the shocking murder of one of their own. When a member of her staff is framed for the crime, Alex must dive headlong into a labyrinth of clues and artfully piece together the connection between the two cases. But it will take some creative thinking to survive a deadly game of cat and mouse when Alex and her young assistant, Maggie, are stalked by the killer.
Excerpt:
I looked at my watch and blew out a soft sigh of exasperation. After an hour listening to Clive go on and on, I felt myself losing the will to live. I had slumped down in my chair to the extent my next step would be lying on the floor, so I slid back upright and looked around to see how the others were faring. I could only see the backs of most people’s heads as they discreetly looked at their phones or stared, unseeing, at the floor, but I could feel the quiet desperation in the room.
Okay, maybe I was exaggerating the situation to be more dire than it actually was. It was just a meeting, and eventually, it would be over. My eyes drifted up to the ceiling, and I distracted myself by taking a moment to appreciate the crown molding and tall windows that lent grandeur to the Bennet House mansion, now an event venue within the grounds of Bennet Park. I was pulled out of my reverie when I recognized a shift in the drone coming from Clive, indicating we might be wrapping this up.
“So, to recap,” Clive said, with an inflated self- importance, “as the Bennet House manager, I ask you to read through your welcome packets carefully and strictly adhere to all of the guidelines I’ve outlined today. Our beloved Bennet Library appreciates that their newly opened children’s wing will be the beneficiary of this annual Flat Rock Falls fundraiser, and your compliance will ensure we have another successful Winter Arts and Crafts Festival.” He paused during the half-hearted applause, then begrudgingly added, “And we must extend our thanks to Alex, and the Creative Workshop, for helping facilitate the festival this year.”
With a slight nod and a smile, I acknowledged those who had turned to look at me.
Clive looked up from his notes, preparing to pontificate further, but when his beady black eyes took in the distinct lack of attention in the room, he finished with a lackluster “Thank you. You’re dismissed.”
His bluster transitioned to fluster as he shuffled his notes together before quickly and awkwardly departing from the podium. Penny, his tireless secretary, hustled over to his side. I wanted to make a quick exit, so I grabbed my coat, gloves, and hat and made my way toward the front entry of the mansion.
The massive oak front door stood open, and the glistening white snow and fresh air breathed life into the group. I weaved my way around the lobby and found Ryan and Maggie, my two part-time staffers, chatting with some of the Workshop artists. There was a welcome feeling of camaraderie and excitement about the approaching festival until Clive entered the lobby and pulled Ryan aside. Knowing these two were like oil and water, I kept my eye on the situation, and when Ryan put his hands on his hips in a defiant manner, I had no choice but to approach.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
What makes your featured book a must-read?
Summer gives us longer days to enjoy a good book—whether at the beach, in the park, or just lazing on the couch—which, to me, means more hours to lose myself in a new mystery series. The slower pace of summer feels like the perfect unhurried time to travel through stories, and the setting of A Deadly Craft sparks the imagination. Suddenly, you're not just reading about a cozy artistic world—you're dreaming of starting an art project of your own.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs June 23 – June 30, 2025.
Winner will be drawn on July 1, 2025.
Author Biography:
Sydney Abrams' arts and crafts cozy mystery series is steeped in a life’s experience in the arts coupled with a love for mystery books. She was immersed in both worlds from childhood, and they’ve been a part of her life ever since. Sydney has created artwork for auctions and commissions and has been part of an art group composed of both professional and amateur artists for over twenty years. Literature and the arts often go hand in hand, but these worlds truly collided when Sydney realized her art group offered the perfect cast of characters for a cozy mystery series. Still Life, Still Dead and A Deadly Craft, are the first two books in Sydney's Arts and Crafts Mystery series. The third in this series, An Artless Murder, releases September 1st.
Social Media Links:
