Stitches in Time

ISBN: 0-7887-0339-0 Order from: Recorded Books

A paranormal mystery/romance with well-drawn characters, this book maintains suspense and reader interest, despite an implausible paranormal element and a somewhat tiresome protagonist.

Reviewed by David on July 04, 1999

Genre: Mystery (Romance, Occult)

Synopsis: Rachel is a graduate student researching the history of knitting and quilting in women's magic. When as part of her part-time job in an antique clothing store she gets close to some beautiful old quilts, Rachel gets dragged into both companionship and danger as old magic and modern passions rip apart her comfortable but lonely existence.

Full Review: This unabridged recorded version of Stitches in Time has been written by the popular mystery author Elizabeth Peters writing as Barbara Michaels.

The plot, which uses the magic of old spells bound in clothing, is in general rather implausible. Both the rules of ther magic, and the several coincidents make the convolutions of the story hard to take.

Despite that, the characters are very well portrayed in their likable but exaggerated attributes. The cosy tone is aided by the many pets warming and annoying the lives of the characters. The competent romance subplot is rather predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Unlike many of the likable secondary characters, the protagonist comes across as rather sullen, both due to the book's dialogue and the narrator's tone. The interludes of the "magician's voice", on the other hand, are chilling in their combination of slow, sweet southern drawl and malevolence.

Stitches is a very-well narrated book, which despite its flawed plot and saccharine ending succeeds in maintaining suspense with a combination of good characters, humor, mystery and romance.

Overall: 5.5; Plot: 4; Characters: 6; Style: 6; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 7;

ISBN: 0-7887-0339-0 Order from: Recorded Books