I’m happy to share a review of Seams Like the Perfect Crime, book 14 in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series by Lois Winston. Expected publication date is February 4, 2025, and I’m here to encourage you to preorder now! It’s important to have things to look forward to, right? Especially in the cold winter! 

285 pages, Kindle Edition, Expected publication February 4, 2025

It’s late summer and Anastasia is enjoying life with her husband Zack and her youngest son Nick. (Her eldest has just left for college). She’s simply determined not to get roped into any sleuthing, whatsoever. We know how that goes, right? 

New neighbors moved into a new mini-McMansion across the street. The husband is Barry Sumner, who religiously mows his tiny patch of lawn until his mower runs out of gas and then drinks enough beer to pass out on his front stoop. Barry is also a Revolutionary War reenactor — Anastasia and Zack witness him start a brawl at a local fair one weekend. Not many days later, Barry is found murdered on his front stoop. Detective Sam Spader is called to the scene and he’s convinced Barry’s widow is guilty.  

Anastasia isn’t as sure as Detective Spader and slowly finds herself dragged into the investigation. She even attends Barry’s viewing where absolute melee breaks out. And then another reenactor is murdered. Is it a serial killer or can the two be related? Before Anastasia knows it, she’s fully invested in the investigation 

This is such a page-turning mystery with some truly laugh-out-loud moments. Set in New Jersey, Anastasia’s new neighbors could have easily been on a reality TV show. I thought I had a guess as to the guilty party, but I was only half right. Leave it to Anastasia to figure out the whole truth. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Anastasia’s renovated house and the many meals Anastasia and Zack shared with Detective Spader. These details added to the cozyness of the story. 

Zack is a wonderful character – a bit of a dreamboat of a husband – and I’m so happy for Anastasia. Despite Detective Spader’s slightly bumbling nature, I love that he has Anastasia’s back. The scenes with Nick were heartwarming. And I certainly won’t give any spoilers, but in regards to Anastasia’s mother-in-law: you go, Anastasia! 

The New Jersey setting and traveling between Anastasia’s house and work made for an entertaining background for the story to unfold. 

As always with this series, there are some fun craft projects included at the end. I enjoyed this five star read!