Victoria (Tori) Sinclair has moved from Chicago to Sweet Briar, South Carolina, joined the local sewing circle, and recently become the head librarian. She has become a part of the community and quickly made friends with many of the local sewers. She has also formed a relationship with a local teacher, Milo.

Tori has a generous heart, so when she hears that Melissa needs a venue and theme for her daughter's birthday party, Tori springs into action. She volunteers the library as a venue and has the idea for the children to act out their favorite stories during the party. Although Ashley, the Alpha Mom of the town, is decidedly and universally disliked, Melissa is desperate to please her and keep her daughter off the children's version of the blacklist.

Although some in the sewing circle come to the party because they can't believe Ashley can be as bad as advertised, it's only a matter of time before each person in the group has uttered some version of the "I'd like to strangle her" threat. And within 24 hours, Ashley's body is found in her car, strangled with the very rope used to hang a tire swing at the birthday party.

With no shortage of suspects, the police chief systemically begins questioning each of the sewing circle members, and some of the sewing circle meetings turn tense as fingers begin to point in an effort to deflect attention from either themselves or their closest friends. Tori begins her own investigation as she realizes that the only way to keep the friendships together is to figure out who the culprit is - and she's convinced it wasn't any of her friends. In the meantime, however, Milo's former college sweetheart has shown up and is determined to win him back.

I don't normally like to read a book that is part of a series if it isn't the first book in the series, but this book was too tempting. DEADLY NOTIONS, is the fourth book in the Southern Sewing Circle cosy mystery series by Elizabeth Lynn Casey. I was tempted by it for several reasons: I love a good cosy, I've spent a great deal of time in the South, my mother is a seamstress, and, therefore, I also sew. This book absolutely did not disappoint.

I found the sewing references perfect - they weren't too simplistic for someone who is experienced, but neither were they too professional for a beginner. The Southernisms were charming, but not laid on too thick. The mystery moved at a great pace - it had great suspects, and I put the pieces together at the same as Tori. The only thing I have trouble with is her relationship with Milo; he seems just a little too perfect and smooth. Even in a romance, I like the guys to have their flaws.

Overall, though, this was a great book, and I'm eager to go back and pick up the first three books in the series!